CHICAGO – Vancouver Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley is
serious about moving his NBA team to Dixmoor, provided he can find
a place for his team to play while a stadium is built, the Chicago
Sun-Times reported Friday.
The major stumbling blocks are finding a place to play and
whether state government will help pay for the arena in south
suburban Dixmoor, the Sun-Times reported, citing an unnamed source
close to the team.
The NBA has given Heisley until Monday to pick a new city if he
plans to relocate by next season. Heisley has asked NBA
Commissioner David Stern for an extension, the Sun-Times reported.
A Chicago-based sports marketing firm spoke with officials of
the UI Pavilion last week about the possibility of the Grizzlies
playing there while the Dixmoor arena is built.
"We were told that for the Pavilion to be used by the
Grizzlies, it would need to be expanded by 4,000 seats and have
skyboxes added," University of Illinois at Chicago spokesman Mark
Rosati said. "That would cost roughly $10 million.
"We explained we have no plans for such an expansion, but if
they have the $10 million, we would be glad to talk with them."
Scheduling conflicts pushed Rosemont's Allstate Arena out of the
running.
An aide to Gov. George Ryan said the governor's office has not
had any formal contact with the team. Dixmoor Mayor Erick Nickerson
said he is trying to set up a meeting between state officials and
the team.
Nickerson also said several key state lawmakers have signed on
to help bring the team to Dixmoor.
"I'm fired up now," he said. "We're close to making this
happen."
Heisley lives in St. Charles, a suburb west of Chicago, and has
said the metro area is large enough to support a second NBA team.
Louisville, Ky., Memphis, Tenn., Anaheim, Calif., and New
Orleans are also in the Grizzlies sweepstakes.
Heisley has said he will not keep the team in Vancouver, where
the team is projected to lose $40 million to $50 million this
season.
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