San Diego County is recruiting a professional sports team to fill its new arena.
Only, it’s not what you think.
The Los Angeles Clippers announced Monday that they are relocating their minor league affiliate to Oceanside. The G League’s San Diego Clippers will play next season in the new Frontwave Arena. The news comes amid speculation that the Midway Rising Project supported by Stan Kroenke could potentially attract a major sports franchise to San Diego.
The Oceanside Clippers – not to be confused with the NBA club – are relocating from Ontario, where they have played as the Ontario Clippers since 2017.
The relocated Clippers will have an old-school atmosphere. The team logo mirrors the one worn by Bill Walton, World B. Free and Tom Chambers in San Diego, with a wordmark that matches what the NBA club will wear starting next year. (Fans can purchase hats, hoodies and T-shirts at sdclippershq.com).
The Los Angeles Clippers’ primary minor league affiliate, the G League Clippers, will play at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside starting next season.
(Los Angeles Clippers/San Diego Clippers)
The Clippers are the first G League team in San Diego sports history, although the region has a rich – if mixed – history when it comes to professional basketball.
The former San Diego Clippers of the NBA played at the San Diego Sports Arena (now Pechanga Arena) from 1978 to 1984 before moving north to Los Angeles. The arena has also hosted the NBA’s Rockets (1967-71), the ABA’s Conquistadors (1972-75) and the Sails (1975-76).
The Rockets moved to Houston and the Conquistadors and Sails folded. So did the 1996 CBA Wildcards (and bonus points if you remember).
The Ontario Clippers are coached by Paul Hewitt, formerly of Georgia Tech; This year’s club was 13-13 on Monday, good for 11th place in the 15-team G League Western Conference. The G League regular season runs from late December to late March, with the playoffs in April.
From left: Gillian Zucker, CEO of Halo Sports and Entertainment, Josh Elias, Co-Founder and CEO of Frontwave Arena, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, President of the NBA G League, and Esther Sanchez, Mayor of Oceanside, unveil the new logo of the San Diego Clippers of the G League.
(Los Angeles Clippers/San Diego Clippers)
“We are proud to reintroduce the San Diego Clippers to this passionate sports market,” said Gillian Zucker, CEO of Halo Sports Entertainment, which includes the Los Angeles Clippers, San Diego Clippers, Kia Forum and Intuit Dome. “Our G League team is a vital part of our business and basketball operations, and we are excited to move into the new Frontwave Arena next season. »
The $85 million Frontwave Arena is expected to open this summer at Oceanside’s El Corazon Park. The 7,500-seat arena will also be home to the San Diego Sockers, who will move north from Pechanga Arena after this season.
“I am excited to welcome fans from San Diego and the Oceanside community to the G League, which has never had more of an impact on NBA teams than today,” said the president of the NBA G League, Shareef Abdur-Rahim. “Bringing the Clippers G League team to Frontwave Arena through this unique partnership is exciting not only for area basketball diehards, but also for the players and coaches who will be able to develop their basketball skills every day. NBA caliber.”
