The Warriors have signed to play the '96-97 season at San
Jose Arena while the Oakland Coliseum is being renovated,
"ditching" a tentative agreement with the city of San Francisco
to play at the Cow Palace. Peter Fimrite reports the deal will
not have any impact on the team's intentions to stay in Oakland.
Talks broke off two months ago between the Warriors and San Jose,
which attempted to lure the team permanently. The team
apparently was dissatisfied with the Cow Palace's schedule
options, which included only two Saturday dates. In addition,
San Jose Arena seats over 18,000, while the Cow Palace holds
13,500 tops (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/23). Oakland Coliseum chief
negotiator Ezra Rapport backs the deal, noting it puts the club
in a "stronger" marketing position in the San Jose area (Barry
Witt, SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 3/23). In S.F., John Hillyer
reports the deal "was paved" when Greg Jamison replaced Art
Savage as President of the San Jose Arena Management Corp. and
the Sharks. Jamison had a "friendlier relationship" with
Warriors Counsel Robin Baggett (S.F. EXAMINER, 3/23). The club
is still searching for a practice site and will set up temporary
offices in downtown Oakland next season (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/23).
