clarinews@clarinet.com (02/01/90)
MINNEAPOLIS (UPI) -- The Minnesota Timberwolves Wednesday offered the Minnesota North Stars use of the NBA team's new arena now under construction rent-free for three years as an enticement to keep the NHL club in the Twin Cities. ``We consider the North Stars a significant community resource and we'd like to see them stay here and play in our arena,'' said Bob Stein, president of the Timberwolves. The North Stars had no immediate reaction. After three years, the North Stars would have to negotiate a new lease. Stein said the first-year NBA club had not yet made an official proposal to the North Stars, owned by George and Gordon Gund. The Gunds have threatened to take the North Stars out of state, possibly to Oakland, if the Metropolitian Sports Facilities Commission doesn't cough up $15 million in improvements to the Met Center where the North Stars now play their home games. ``We wanted people to know that an offer was being made,'' Stein said. ``It is an offer too good not to consider if they are really interested in staying in the market. If their problem is getting more people to attend games, I don't see how the $15 million is going to solve that.'' The 18,500-seat arena is designed to accommodate both basketball and hockey. Its designers say it will have more toilets and concession space than any arena in the country and can be converted from use for basketball to hockey in 20 minutes. It will have press boxes for both sports. ``It has good sight lines and we think it addresses their needs,'' Stein said. ``We're willing to talk about anything to make it attractive to them to stay here (in the Twin Cities). The selfish benefit (for the Timberwolves) is that it takes the Met Center out of the market for shows and concerts. There would be one less building competing.'' Stein said the two clubs have only nine game-date conflicts this season and that could be worked out in the future. ``Since this just came up yesterday, we haven't had time to analyze it completely,'' he said. Stein said the Wolves owners have no problems dealing with the Gunds, who also own the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA. ``We don't have any personality conflicts with the Gunds,'' Stein said. ``We are always friendly and cordial at NBA meetings.''