Santa Cruz Pro Basketball — What You Need to Know

Immediately following the , the Warriors launched a website dedicated to the team. 

For now the site is sparse, but the most useful information it provides is an FAQ section with answers to all pertinent questions about the team and its relocation.

In case you haven't been over to their website yet, here is what you're missing in the FAQ section.

1) With the Santa Cruz City Council approval ... what are the next steps? 

• Secure use of project site through lease arrangement between the City and Seaside Company
• City and Warriors to reach financial agreement on the terms
• NBA approval for the relocation of the D-League from Bismarck, ND to Santa Cruz
• Arena structure approval through planning and hearing process and final approval of the plan
• Construction schedule showing that facility will be completed by early December

2) Are we 100% certain that the team will move to Santa Cruz?
While nothing is 100% certain, we are very confident that the team will move to Santa Cruz for the 12-13 season. ... Although there may be challenges along the way that could possibly slow down the progress, we believe we have anticipated such events and are prepared to overcome them.

3) When will the lease be finalized between the City of Santa Cruz and Seaside Company?
Within the next few weeks.

4)  When will the Santa Cruz community expect to see construction begin? 
Once all of the steps identified in #1 from above have been addressed.

5)  When do we anticipate receiving final approval from the NBA D-League? 
Within a couple of weeks of receiving the final architectural package.

6) What is the timeline on the building of the temporary facility?
The goal is to complete the facility in time for the 2012-13 season, assuming all public processes and permitting are completed in time.

7) Will this cost the local taxpayers anything?
The current proposed capital financing plan would be jointly funded between the City of Santa Cruz and the Warriors. The Warriors operating pro-forma indicates that both the City and the Warriors will generate enough revenues from operations to cover the capital investment and generate a profit from operations during the first five years. 

8) How much will this facility cost?
Capital costs are currently estimated at $3.5 million, plus the Warriors $500,000+ investment in basketball-related equipment.

9) How will the costs/debt be divided? Who is paying for what?
The City will provide the initial $3.5 million, from reserve funds, to build the facility. The Warriors will spend $500,000+ on basketball-related equipment and guarantee 50% of the City loan, over the life of the facility.

10) Why Santa Cruz?
The population of Santa Cruz county is more than sufficient to support an NBA D-League franchise. Basketball is widely attended throughout Santa Cruz County. There is virtually no competition for activities during the winter months, making it a perfect complement to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk operations. There is no medium-size public assembly facility located on the coast, creating a unique opportunity to attract other events and concerts which are currently not playing in the market. 

11) What kind of an economic impact could this have on the City of Santa Cruz?
We will have a more specific answer to this question once the economic impact report is completed.

12) Do you plan to build an arena at some point? If so, when?
Looking out five years, the answer is yes. UC Santa Cruz conducted a feasibility study regarding the construction of a 5,000 seat venue. The conclusion of the study was that this region could support a new building through a variety of events that could generate rental income. 

13) How many years will the team play in the temporary facility?
The initial lease term would be five to 7 years but the warranty on the facility is for 15 years.

14) What other events could this temporary facility potentially host?
This facility could ... host a variety of events — basketball, concerts, corporate presentations, flat floor shows and many others.

15) Is there a chance the Warriors could play a pre-season game in Santa Cruz at some point?
Yes, pending NBA approval, the Warriors would be willing to play a pre-season game in Santa Cruz every season.

16) How affordable are D-League games?
The average ticket price for NBA D-League games is $15. Most tickets will range from $5-$40 dollars, depending on seating location.

17) Is the D-League operation a money-making proposition for the Warriors?
Our primary goals are to help develop younger Warriors players and provide a place for veteran players to rehab from injuries sustained during a season, while supporting the Santa Cruz community and providing an affordable, fun, family-friendly and unique experience for Santa Cruz residents. We seek to at least break even from operations, but the first two goals are paramount.

18) What can Santa Cruz residents expect from this potential new NBA D-League team?
Many fans are familiar with attending a Minor League Baseball game such as the San Jose Giants. The NBA D-League is similar ... but different in the sense that the level of competition is only one level below the NBA. In the NBA D-League, fans will see first and second round draft picks, in addition to veterans. ... It is exciting, fast-paced basketball, offering the most advanced players in the world outside of the NBA.

19) Does the team have a mascot?
We will be conducting a Mascot Challenge for the team mascot. We want to give YOU, the fans, the first chance to submit names and designs for the team's new mascot! FULL DETAILS

20) How can I purchase tickets?
We are now taking deposits to secure season tickets for the 12-13 season. For details on how to secure yours, please click here.

21)  Where can I buy Santa Cruz D-League merchandise?
We are still in the process of finalizing our logo. Once the logo is finalized, merchandise will be available.

22)  How do I try out for the dance team?
Dance team auditions will be held later this summer. Visit our website for updates.

23)  How do I try out for the basketball team?
Open player tryouts will be held towards the end of September or early October. Visit our website for updates.

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