The MLB Giants have made "some rookie mistakes" that have "contributed to the near certainty the team will have to substantially downsize its development plans for a parking lot near AT&T Park," according to Knight & Cote of the S.F. CHRONICLE. A source said that while the Giants "mostly stayed out of the public debate" about whether the Warriors should build an arena on Piers 30-32, they "privately offered encouragement and agreed to provide money in the future to help the San Francisco Waterfront Alliance, a coalition of neighbors and others opposed to the basketball arena." However, the Giants "deny ever agreeing to fund the arena opposition or provide any other type of support." Then some of the arena opponents "backed Proposition B for the June 3 ballot." Widely expected to pass, it would "require any new building on Port of San Francisco property that would exceed the zoned height limit to win voter approval for a height exemption." Sources said that the Giants asked former S.F. Mayor Art Agnos and others involved in Prop. B "to 'carve out' an exception for their own development, but were rebuffed." Now, the Giants' proposal -- which includes "a tower up to 380 feet, three times the height of the Warriors' proposed arena at Piers 30-32 -- will almost certainly be subject to voter approval because Prop. B is expected to pass." The current height limit on the Giants' site "is, essentially, zero." The Giants "insist they didn't support the arena's opponents and aren't the subject of blowback with Prop. B." Giants Senior VP/Communications & Senior Advisor to the CEO Staci Slaughter said, "We were explicitly told we were collateral damage. We were told it wasn't targeted at us. It was targeted at other projects" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 4/30).
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: Cumulus Media Chair, President & CEO Lew Dickey yesterday revealed at the end of an earnings call that the company has sold its minority stake in the Giants to an undisclosed buyer for $13.5M. A Cumulus spokesperson told THE DAILY this morning that the company owned "a little less than two percent" of the club, and the transaction occurred within the past month. Atlanta-based Cumulus owns several sports radio stations, including the Bay Area's KNBR, the Giants rights holder since '79 (David Brougton, Research Director).
