San Diego "could be getting closer to having a downtown arena" as numerous groups look into developing a parking lot and "some surrounding acreage" in the East Village, according to sources cited by Kevin Acee of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. Blue Pool Capital, which is owned by Alibaba Exec Vice Chair Joe Tsai, is among those looking at the area. Tsai also owns the NLL expansion team that will "begin play next fall at Valley View Casino Center." Blue Pool currently is in the phase of "gathering facts about whether it is viable to privately finance an arena and surrounding development in San Diego." Tsai "recently purchased" 49% of the Nets with an "option to buy controlling interest in the franchise in four years." Several people "insisted in recent weeks the Nets will remain in Brooklyn long-term and there are no plans to ever move the team to San Diego." However, the arena in the East Village would be "large enough for the NBA or NHL." Sources said that an NHL team "appears to be the most likely eventual target." The Padres, who also have interest in a potential development, are most concerned with "protecting parking for their games." Both the Padres and AHL San Diego Gulls are "willing to work with Tsai if he is interested in building an arena downtown, most likely with surrounding development that would include office and housing space along with parking above and below ground" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 12/19).
