Possible Relocations

All but a handful of NBA franchises will have moved into new buildings by the year 2000, leaving slim pickings for Anaheim and other cities trying to lure an NBA team. Franchises with leases expiring before 2005:

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The New Jersey Nets appear to want out of Continental Airlines Arena, uncomfortably shared with the New Jersey Devils. While their lease extends through 2020, the Nets can opt out in 2000 or 2004. The Nets had filed suit against their landlord, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, and the escape clauses were included in the 1996 settlement.

The Nets’ owners last month reached agreement in principle on selling the franchise to a group of New Jersey businessmen. The prospective owners plan to explore moving the team to Newark, N.J., but do not plan to relocate outside the state.

At various times, the Nets reportedly also have considered moving to Hoboken, N.J., Long Island, N.Y. and New York City. Even should the franchise sale fall apart, strong local interest makes it unlikely the team would leave the New York-New Jersey area.

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The San Antonio Spurs moved into the Alamodome five years ago, but they already want out. “We’re playing NBA basketball in a football facility,” said Leo Gomez, the Spurs’ vice president of government and community affairs. “We’ve got to consider a facility much more conducive to basketball.”

The Spurs’ lease expires in 2003. The Spurs also have a 90-day window at the end of each season to provide one year’s notice of their intention to leave, Gomez said.

A local sales tax increase financed the Alamodome, but a poll last year indicated residents would not approve another tax hike to pay for another Spurs arena. Gomez said the team is exploring a privately financed arena but has no plans to explore relocation. “That’s not an option we’ve stated or one we want to state,” he said. “We are committed to making something work in San Antonio.”

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The Charlotte Hornets play in the Charlotte Coliseum, which opened in 1988. Still, with no club seats and 12 luxury suites, the fewest for any NBA franchise not committed to a new building, the Hornets want a new arena.

They do not, apparently, want to leave Charlotte. The Hornets’ lease would have expired in 2000, but the team in April agreed to an extension through 2004. As part of the agreement, the mayor and city council will appoint a committee charged with completing a development and financing proposal for a new arena by Dec. 31, 2000. If a new arena does not materialize, the Hornets can leave in 2001.

The Hornets previously explored the feasibility of building an arena and entertainment complex in the city. Said city spokeswoman Julie Hill: “We’ve had every indication they really want to make it work here.”

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The Houston Rockets play in the Compaq Center, an arena that dates to 1975 and contains few luxury suites and no club seats. The Rockets’ lease expires in 2003, and the team unsuccessfully sued in 1996 to break the lease. Before filing suit, the team reportedly offered $32 million to buy out the lease, with payments contingent on the approval and construction of a new Houston arena.

Angela Blakeney, the Rockets’ manager of business communications, said the team continues to meet with Harris County officials and hopes to reach agreement on a public-private financing partnership for a new Houston arena. “The focus has always been on negotiating to stay in Houston,” she said.

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The Orlando Magic is negotiating a lease extension with the city of Orlando, according to Alex Martins, senior director of communications for the Magic. The lease is due to expire Sept. 30, but Martins said the team plans to exercise the first of two five-year options if it cannot agree on an extension by then. “We’ve stated our commitment to the city,” Martins said.

In addition, Anaheim Sports President Tony Tavares indicated Disney would oppose any Anaheim effort to move the Magic from Orlando, where four theme parks mark the pulse of the company’s amusement empire. Disney would incur severe local wrath if the Magic moved to Anaheim, depriving thousands of Disney employees and millions of residents of the area’s only major sports team.

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The Clippers signed the shortest of leases to play in the new Staples Center, with an escape clause in 2002 and an expiration date of 2005. While Disney Chairman Michael Eisner publicly suggests another overture to Clipper owner Donald Sterling, officials from Disney and the city of Anaheim privately grimace at the thought of renewed talks with Sterling, who only has eyes for Los Angeles.

Fox, which owns a minority interest in the Staples Center, wants to keep the Clippers away from the clutches of Disney. If the Clippers find themselves unhappy as the No. 3 tenant behind the Kings and Lakers, analysts suggest Sterling could use the threat of a move to Anaheim--and to Disney--to sway Fox into helping to sweeten the Clipper deal at the Staples Center.