L.A. Challenger Enters Arena Fray

La Jolla millionaire Harry Cooper, co-owner of the San Diego Sports Arena lease, may be faced with a new problem in his attempt to build a sports arena in downtown San Diego.

It was reported Tuesday that Jerry Buss, owner of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team and the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, wants to build an arena in North County to lure a National Basketball Assn. or National Hockey League team.

Cooper spent part of Tuesday attempting to reach Buss and persuade him to join Cooper’s effort to build an arena downtown. He was unsuccessful, but he plans to speak with Buss soon. “I’ve spent an awful lot of time and effort this year trying to find a solution to the many problems of making it work downtown,” Cooper said. “I’d hate to see anything happen that would detract from that effort.”

Buss was unavailable for comment. Cooper said he last spoke to Buss about the arena four or five months ago.

“This isn’t a surprise to me,” said Cooper, who wants to assure Buss that they are not competitors. “When I discussed going downtown, he was concerned that it might take me a while. It’s just quicker in North County. Land is cheaper, you don’t have to demolish buildings, you don’t have toxic soils. . . . He’s talking about building on virgin land. The cost of land is three or four times higher downtown.”

Cooper wants to built the downtown arena at 12th and Imperial avenues.

County Supervisor Susan Golding and Cooper said Buss has looked at tracts in Escondido, Carlsbad, Encinitas and Poway. He is limited to sites outside San Diego city limits because Cooper’s lease for the existing San Diego Sports Arena prohibits the granting of building permits to a competing group within San Diego.

Golding said Buss contacted her in November about building an arena and stocking it with a franchise.

Buss has an office in Encinitas and is building a home in Rancho Santa Fe.

What it may come down to is a race to see who can secure a franchise first. Cooper said the same group is backing him and Buss as the two men try to find an NBA or NHL team. “They’re deep-pockets guys,” Cooper said. “If he can find a franchise, they’ll put up the money. If I find a franchise, they will help me.”