CLIPPERS WILL SAIL TO STAPLES CENTER; MURDOCH TO BUY PART OF DOWNTOWN ARENA.

Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer

The downtown home of the Lakers and Kings will also have another tenant.

The Clippers are expected to announce today they will move from the aging Sports Arena to the Staples Center, sources said.

Also to be announced at the news conference this afternoon: Rupert Murdoch will buy a 40 percent stake in Staples Center as well as be its partner in developing an adjacent entertainment center.

Clippers officials did not return telephone calls. However, three sources indicated an agreement has been reached for the team to move to the 20,000-seat, $300 million facility when it opens for the 1999 season.

Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, who represents the area around the Sports Arena, said he was pleased the team was staying in Los Angeles and the move from the Sports Arena gave officials more options as it seeks a professional football team.

``This sends the message that new competitive venues are the grounds on which professional sports will be played,'' Ridley-Thomas said. ``And it underscores the point that in order to attract football, we have to have a state-of-the-art stadium.''

Ridley-Thomas and Kings co-owners Edward Roski Jr. and Philip Anschutz have been pushing the National Football League to select a rebuilt Coliseum as the site for a new football franchise.

``We could end being in a win-win situation,'' Ridley-Thomas said. ``We attract the Lakers back to Los Angeles from Inglewood, we keep the Clippers and we have new options for the Sports Arena.''

Coliseum Commission President Mike Roos said the panel would have to look at the options available if the Clippers do move.

``We would want to see what the experts say,'' Roos said. ``But it gives us possibilities of perhaps doing something with USC, with parking or with the NFL.''

Sports economist David Carter said the one message the decision sends is about the Staples Center. ``It says this is the place,'' Carter said. ``It is where people want to be.''

However, he wondered how it would affect scheduling.

``Basically, it is the Kings that have priority,'' he said. ``The Lakers get second choice and then the Clippers. It will be a huge struggle to fit in 40 dates in the same time frame of October through June.''

Carter said he has heard some rumors the Clippers might go to matinee starts, trying to draw downtown sports fans to afternoon games.

``But that could play havoc with their season-ticket holders,'' Carter said.

As for the Sports Arena, Carter said the Clippers' move shouldn't have much impact.

``The general feeling is they were going to leave anyway,'' Carter said.

The Murdoch involvement with Staples Center has long been discussed, as well as his plans to purchase a portion of the Kings and Lakers.

Murdoch's involvement in the entertainment end of the arena development is also expected to serve as a spur for the construction of a hotel on adjacent property. City officials are counting on a hotel to help them attract more conventions.