San Diego could be getting closer to having a downtown arena.

Numerous groups are looking into developing the Tailgate Park lot and some surrounding acreage in the East Village, according to multiple people familiar with the machinations.

Among those doing their due diligence are the Padres, the owners of the Gulls and Blue Pool Capital, the asset management company owned by Joe Tsai.

Tsai is the world’s 133rd-richest man, according to Bloomberg, and owner of the National Lacrosse League expansion team that will begin play next fall at Valley View Casino Center. Ever since it was announced Tsai was bringing the lacrosse team (the Seals) to town, there has been consistent chatter he has plans for San Diego that extend beyond his beloved sport of lacrosse.


At this point, Blue Pool is in the phase of gathering facts about whether it is viable to privately finance an arena and surrounding development in San Diego.

“It has gotten interesting,” said one person familiar with the interest shown by Tsai’s group.

Tsai recently purchased 49 percent of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets with an option to buy controlling interest in the franchise in four years. Several people insisted in recent weeks the Nets will remain in Brooklyn long-term and there are no plans to ever move the team to San Diego.

However, the arena in the East Village would be large enough for the NBA or NHL. An NHL team appears to be the most likely eventual target, according to sources.


A representative of Blue Pool declined comment, as did representatives from the city, the Padres and the Gulls.

It is far from guaranteed that Tsai will end up building an arena here. At any one time, those familiar with the company said, Blue Pool is investigating several possible ventures. The company has a group that focuses on sports, and this is potential project currently being assessed, sources said.

Additionally, numerous plots of land would have to be acquired, including the MTS bus terminal.

However, Tsai’s interest in his family’s adopted hometown (his wife and children reside in La Jolla) is sincere — and promising.


Even before Tsai entered the picture, the Samueli family, which owns the Gulls and the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, along with the operators of Valley View Casino Center and the city of San Diego, were interested in possibly building a new arena. The current building opened in 1966, and while massive renovations have created a more pleasant atmosphere in recent years, a new venue is needed to continue to attract top musical acts and to enhance the Gulls game experience.

The city owns the land on which the current arena sits. Height restrictions and traffic concerns at that site make it an unlikely place for a future (bigger) arena.

The Padres’ interest in the potential development centers around protecting parking for their games. They are down some 1,000 spots due to construction near Petco Park.

According to one highly placed source, both the Padres and Gulls are willing to work with Tsai if he is interested in building an arena downtown, most likely with surrounding development that would include office and housing space along with parking above and below ground.


Multiple people said there have been conversations between all parties, which is seen as an extremely positive sign.

Tsai is known as highly ethical, fair and inclusive, and there is a belief by those involved that he would be a good partner, unlike what the city and Padres experienced trying to work with Chargers ownership on that team’s proposed downtown stadium and convention center in 2016.

Multiple people also offered positive impression of Henry Samueli’s amicable approach and vision for the process. Additionally, Padres ownership was praised for its willingness to work alongside interested parties for the betterment of San Diego.

Honestly, there were more positives said by more people about the limited steps taken in this embryonic project than were said in the entire 15 years the Chargers sought/waited for a solution to their stadium issue.


While those familiar with the goings-on cautioned this process is extremely preliminary and that Tsai’s group is meticulous and patient, there is a belief Blue Pool might complete its due diligence in early 2018.

Land acquisition could begin within 18 months to two years, and an arena could be built in 5-7 years.

The Valley View Casino Center lease runs out in 2020. Talks are ongoing on an extension that would keep the current arena open until a new one was built.

Given the stagnation that generally clouds large-scale progress in San Diego, the involvement of Tsai and the Samuelis is encouraging.


Said one civic leader: “It’s new blood.”

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kevin.acee@sduniontribune.com