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Sports facility study under way in S.J.
By David Pollak
Mercury News


On paper, the task force has two broad missions: Examine every San Jose sports facility to see what needs upgrading, and determine what else can be done to lure a second major pro team here.

But one of the 22 civic leaders and business representatives about to undertake those challenges can focus quickly on the big prize out there.

``If you pressed individual task force members, the vast majority will tell you the brass ring is major league baseball,'' said council member David Cortese, making it clear he sees the relocation of the Oakland A's as part of San Jose's economic growth.

The Sports Facility Task Force holds its first meeting today. By the end of the year, said San Jose Sports Authority director Dean Munro, it plans ``to issue a report that will be a road map for bringing another one of the Big Four sports here.''

Munro, whose agency is responsible for attracting major events, wouldn't go into details, saying questions on priorities or stadium sites and financing methods are premature.

The sports authority originally established the task force to assess existing facilities and figure out how to improve the city's chances of landing the likes of a regional NCAA basketball tournament at HP Pavilion or major soccer events at Spartan Stadium. Buildings such as the civic auditorium, convention center and San Jose State's Event Center also would be reviewed.

In working with the city, the task force's agenda was expanded, and it became part of the council's overall economic-development strategy.

The A's have been unhappy in Oakland since their ballpark was reconfigured in 1995 for the return of the National Football League's Raiders. Owner Steve Schott has strong South Bay connections, and when the team announced in November that Lewis Wolff -- a developer with strong ties to downtown San Jose -- had been hired as its vice president for venue development, it only increased talk of a possible move.

``The moon, the stars and the planets have gotten so aligned that we would be derelict in our duty if we didn't see this as an immediate opportunity and try to seize the day,'' Cortese said.

Linda LeZotte, a second member of the city council on the task force, said she thought San Jose probably had the necessary fan base. The financing mechanism, however, would be the issue.

Cortese indicated people shouldn't be turned off by problems that exist elsewhere.

``If people start jumping to conclusions -- `We don't want a deal like the Raiders deal, so let's don't do that' -- that would be the worst thing that could happen,'' he said. ``There are plenty of ways to go about this without creating one of those situations.''

And both Cortese and Munro said the group shouldn't be deterred by the current down economy. ``Now is a good time for planning,'' Munro said.

The task force also intends to look at the feasibility of bringing the NBA to San Jose. HP Pavilion, home of the National Hockey League's Sharks, could get a second major tenant, but the NBA would have to be convinced the Bay Area could support a second franchise, as the Golden State Warriors already play in Oakland.

LeZotte said an NBA team could bring a bonus benefit: the WNBA. ``I'm an advocate for women's basketball,'' she said.

Attorney Jim Eller, co-chairman of the task force along with Santa Clara University Athletic Director Cheryl Levick, stressed that ``there's a whole range of things'' that will come up for discussion.

That range extends to sites for amateur athletics as well.

``You can't even host a regional softball tournament here,'' Cortese said. ``You can do that in Lodi; you can do that in Stockton.''

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