Warriors co-Owner Joe Lacob said the process of getting the team’s new S.F. arena built has been “one of the most complicated things I have personally ever been involved in in my life." Lacob, appearing on the MERCURYNEWS.com’s “The TK Show,” said, "It’s very complicated getting one of these things done, ask anyone who’s done it. And in San Francisco, probably more difficult than just about anywhere." He added, "We’re making great progress. We’re extremely excited about the design and the location and we’ve done a lot of work. We’re just kind of working to get the approval now and getting to the shovel in the ground.” Lacob said the court's design, the bowl and the seating in the new arena will “in many ways” look like Oracle Arena from the inside. He added, “There’s some noticeable differences, and certainly all the services people will love being there. It hopefully can mimic some of the great acoustics and environments that we have in Oakland. There’s a risk certainly that it doesn't, and we’re very aware of it. … I know it will be superior in many other ways, but certainly the environment and experience we want to be very similar.” Lacob said he "tries to learn from every stadium and arena construction around the country." He noted some people have been "critical of certain things that have happened" at Levi's Stadium. However, he added other things "have been done really, really well" at the 49ers' new venue. Lacob: "You have to pick the good and hopefully avoid the bad" (“The TK Show,” MERCURYNEWS.com, 3/13).
BENCH WARMERS: The AP's Janie McCauley reported Warriors coach Steve Kerr e-mailed three fans who were upset that he "rested his regulars Friday night" while playing the Nuggets in Denver. Kerr said, "I have great sympathy for those people. I really do. It's a tricky one. It's something that I think [NBA Commissioner] Adam Silver is trying to address through the scheduling shuffling that he's talking about. It's real important, because our fans deserve to see the best product out there" (AP, 3/14). In Ft. Worth, Dwain Price noted Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle has "occasionally rested a few of his players this season." Carlisle: "You just got to do what’s right for the team. I don’t know much about that situation (with the Warriors). I saw a little blip about it, but communication with the fans is a great thing and every situation is a little bit different" (STAR-TELEGRAM.com, 3/15).
