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Leaky Sports Arena Roof Is Getting Patched Up

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Times Staff Writer

San Diego Sports Arena operators, faced with an ultimatum from the city to either make repairs on the building or face losing their operating franchise, announced Tuesday that work is under way to repair the arena’s five-acre roof.

The leaky roof has been one of several maintenance problems that put city officials at odds with Peter Graham, a Canadian investor who operates the arena. The roof repair--started April 1--is part of a $1-million plan to improve the condition of the facility, general manager Phil Quinn said.

Repairing the 19-year-old roof will cost about $340,000 and should be completed by the end of May, barring inclement weather. About $100,000 was spent in 1983 in an attempt to stop the leaks, but the efforts were unsuccessful, Quinn said.

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Complaints about the facility peaked in June, when a San Diego County Superior Court jury concluded it was not reasonably fit for professional basketball and ordered Graham to pay the Clippers almost $500,000 in damages.

Although Quinn said the roof is old and needs repair, he rejected the claim that the leaky roof damaged the basketball floor and was in part responsible for the Clippers decision to move to Los Angeles.

“They said that because they needed an excuse to get out of town,” Quinn said. “The (San Diego) Sockers have sellout crowds.”

The roof is in relatively good condition for its age, said Mark Miller, vice president of Saddleback Roofing, the company contracted to repair the roof. Similar roofs last about 20 years, and the Sports Arena roof has lasted about 19 years.

“A lot of people thought that it was done wrong the first time, but after we inspected it, that wasn’t the case,” he said.

Miller said the work his company does will be guaranteed for five years, but should last about 20 years.

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Another part of the renovation program was to reupholster all seats in the lower level of the Sports Arena, Quinn said. That work began in late February and should be completed by July 1.

Councilman Bill Mitchell, who was one of the city’s most vocal advocates for repairing the building, said he is happy that repairs have finally started, but added he will reserve judgment until the work is completed.

“I was very satisfied with the agreement reached about what they would do,” he said. “Their attitude when they first started was very good.”

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