An "increasingly hostile political climate, coupled with the prospect of rocketing costs and a drawn-out permit fight, has rekindled prospects of the Warriors trying to team up" with the MLB Giants to "shift the site for their proposed waterfront arena down to the parking lot across from AT&T Park," according to Matier & Ross of the S.F. CHRONICLE. Although the teams "have not had direct talks, both sides are said to be open to discussing the idea." Building an arena on the Giants' parking lot "would still boost the Warriors' overall value." It would be a "sufficiently central location for hosting the 150 events a year ... that would be needed to make the arena financially viable." Moving off the waterfront could help "cut down on objections from nearby residents, plus ease concerns about traffic." The potential move also could "help the Giants sell voters on their own plans to build a development around their ballpark, including two apartment towers." The collaboration could "boost plans for a 2,100-car parking garage the Giants need to build to make up for the spaces they would lose by building on their parking lot." One reason for the possible shift in the arena's location is the "emergence of a June ballot measure that would require voter approval for all waterfront developments taller than the current 48-foot limit." The Warriors "intend to build condos and a hotel across from the Piers 30-32 site to help pay for the arena, but a couple of polls in recent weeks show they could be a deal-killer with voters." Those extras "might not be needed if the arena were built on the Giants' parking lot." The "big question" is whether the teams "can come to an agreement over who gets what out of the deal" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/3).
