Clippers Extend Sports Arena Ties

While continuing to conduct their oft-delayed search for a permanent playing site, the Clippers have signed a three-year extension on their 10-year contract with the Sports Arena, it was announced Friday.

The original contract was to have expired after this season.

For the first time, under the extension, the Clippers will have the right to play six home games each season somewhere else, and it is understood by all parties that this means the new Anaheim Arena.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Clippers will continue to pay the Los Angeles Coliseum Commission $5,000 for each game they play at the Sports Arena, plus 50% of the net of concessions.

But when the NBA team plays home games elsewhere, such as in Anaheim, it must pay the commission $10,000 for each of those games, thus compensating the commission for revenue it otherwise would lose.

Commission President N. Matthew Grossman said Friday that playing a few games in Anaheim was “something they (the Clippers) wanted to do very badly. They told us it would build additional support, expand their fan base in the Orange County area. They believe that to the extent they’re able to do that, it would be to our mutual benefit.”

All Andy Roeser, Clipper executive vice president, would say Friday on the subject of Anaheim was, “To us, it’s just an option.”

The extension agreement also calls for the Clippers to build a merchandise store within the Sports Arena to sell team paraphernalia.

The question of where the Clippers will play in the long run apparently remains unresolved.

Roeser said: “This agreement allows us to continue to make the Sports Arena our home while we finalize our plans for a new arena.”

Roeser said the team has received an “enormous” number of offers within the Los Angeles area for locating a new facility, but he again was vague on when the team expects to decide on building such a facility.

Team executives had said they would make up their mind by the end of 1992.

Friday, Roeser said: “It would be inappropriate to say anything (other) than that we will make the best decision that we can for ourselves and for our fans as quickly as we can make it.”

But Grossman and Coliseum/Sports Arena General Manager Jay Hagerman said they continue to work on a plan for complete renovation of the Sports Arena that would keep the Clippers playing there permanently.