Santa Cruz releases details on plans for Dakota Wizards

An artist sketch, available on the City of Santa Cruz website Thursday morning, shows what the building for the Dakota Wizards would look like if they were to relocate to Santa Cruz. The building would be located at 140 Front St.

The Santa Cruz City Council made public Thursday morning more information regarding its upcoming Tuesday discussion about the Dakota Wizards, the NBA Development League franchise of the Golden State Warriors, possibly relocating to the downtown area.

The city’s website has the agenda report, which details the plan for a building that would be home to Wizards, as well as sketches of what the building could look like.

A vacant parking lot at 140 Front St., owned by the Seaside Co., was considered the best location to put a pre-fabricated building that would host the Wizards games come this fall.

Seating would range from 3,200 for basketball games to 5,000 for concerts and other events, according to the City Council agenda.

Santa Cruz Economic Development Director Bonnie Lipscomb and City Manager Martin Bernal listed six benefits and five potential risks in the plan.

The biggest risk is that the $2.5 million spent to build the facility isn’t made back, according to the agenda report.

Benefits include increase revenue into the city and national exposure to the city because the Wizards’ games would be broadcast on television.

The fiscal impact is unknown right now, according to the agenda report.



For the complete article see the 04-07-2012 issue.

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