Investors Begin Talks on Building Sports Arena

A major hotel-restaurant developer and an actor-investor have begun discussions with Burbank about building a state-of-the-art, 20,000-seat sports arena that they hope will attract a professional sports franchise.

Lewis N. Woolf, co-owner of the Burbank Airport Hilton, and actor Wayne Rogers, best known as the star of the “MASH” and “House Calls” TV series, are seeking a three-year exclusive right to negotiate with the city about building the arena on a yet-to-be-determined site.

Although the Los Angeles Kings hockey team appeared less than enthusiastic and the basketball Lakers are considered unlikely to move, an executive with the Clippers basketball franchise said Thursday he would be interested in considering a new stadium site.