[OhioGuy]

Warriors, Giants open to teaming up on arena near AT&T Park

An increasingly hostile political climate, coupled with the prospect of rocketing costs and a drawn-out permit fight, has rekindled prospects of the Warriors trying to team up with the Giants to shift the site for their proposed waterfront arena down to the parking lot across from AT&T Park.

Although the two teams have not had direct talks, both sides are said to be open to discussing the idea.

Although the Giants' Parking Lot A across McCovey Cove from the ballpark lacks the breathtaking dazzle of Piers 30-32, building a 17,000-seat arena there would still boost the Warriors' overall value. It would also be a sufficiently central location for hosting the 150 events a year, in addition to basketball games, that would be needed to make the arena financially viable.

Taking the arena off Piers 30-32 - and out of what is fast becoming one of the city's toniest neighborhoods - could also cut down on objections from nearby residents, plus ease concerns about traffic along the Embarcadero.

In other words, from the Warriors' perspective, it would get the job done in our lifetime and would still put them on the waterfront.

One big reason for the possible southward shift is the emergence of a June ballot measure that would require voter approval for all waterfront developments taller than the current 48-foot limit. The Warriors intend to build condos and a hotel across from the Piers 30-32 site to help pay for the arena, but a couple of polls in recent weeks show they could be a deal-killer with voters.

Those extras might not be needed if the arena were built on the Giants' parking lot instead of Piers 30-32, where the estimated rehabbing cost has doubled to $180 million.