Clippers Consider Offer to Play Some Games in Orange County

The Clippers are considering an offer by developers of Anaheim’s $100-million sports arena to play some of their games in Orange County.

Andy Roeser, Clipper executive vice president, said Wednesday that owner Donald T. Sterling was considering a proposal to play 12 regular-season games in Anaheim during the 1993-94 season.

Roeser said that while Sterling has ruled out moving the franchise to Anaheim, the idea of bringing some of its games there, as recently proposed by the arena partnership, was “interesting” and “worth consideration.”

Roeser said the offer was made only days ago by Richard Ablon, chief executive officer of arena partner Ogden Services Corp. Roeser said Ablon indicated in discussions with Sterling that similar efforts were being made to attract games involving the Lakers and Kings.

Laker and King officials, however, said they were unaware of any offer to move games from the Forum. Laker spokesman Bob Steiner said considering that team owner Jerry Buss owns the Forum, it would be a “very extraordinary thing for the Lakers to do something like that.”

King spokesman Scott Carmichael said: “We have a long-term contract to play our games at the Forum. We’re not interested in taking games out of there.”

Ogden spokesman John Nicoletti in Anaheim could only confirm discussions with the Clippers. He said the goal still remains to attract professional basketball and hockey franchises as permanent tenants for the 19,000-seat arena being built next to Anaheim Stadium and expected to be completed in 1993. However, he said the Clipper games could be used as a marketing tool in the event tenants are not found.