Posted Aug 4, 2006, 8:38 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: The Bridge District, West Sacramento, CA
Posts: 1,261
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And the battle begins... it's going to be an interesting few months to say the least...
Dickinson, Lawmakers Tip Off Fight Over Arena Plan
Written for the web by Jason Kobely, Internet News Producer
news10.net
Hours after agreeing to put a new Sacramento arena plan before voters, city and county lawmakers began their push for public support Thursday, laying out the framework for the deal to construct the half-billion dollar sports and entertainment facility in downtown Sacramento and blasting critics who charge taxpayers were fleeced in the deal.
Led by Sacramento County Supervisor Roger Dickinson, city and county representatives outlined major points in the ongoing negotiations between Sacramento and the Maloof family to built the arena on the current site of the downtown Union Pacific railyards.
For the first time since arena negotiations rekindled in May, verbal deal points were made in writing and presented to Sacramento County supervisors Wednesday, breaking down the financing, ownership, design, development, construction and use of the proposed facility.
The plan for a 17-to-18,000-seat facility is expected to be similar to other new NBA arena projects completed in cities like Memphis, Charlotte, Indianapolis and Houston. The Kings will pay $20 million to begin construction, while the majority of the design and development cost for the expected $470 to $542 million project will be paid by a Joint Powers Authority between the city, county and potentially other local governments.
In the event arrangements can't be worked out with railyard developers, the agreement also allows both sides to consider other possible sites, including one previously under consideration in North Natomas.
Dickinson also contested criticism by taxpayer groups and politicians who have argued the city faces too much risk for too little reward under the current deal.
"We want to take a moment, frankly, to debunk some of the nonsense that we have heard," Dickinson said.
Despite the city and county's responsibility for any cost overruns on the construction, Dickinson said the Maloof family bears all the responsibility -- and potential losses -- if the arena's schedule of events don't draw the expected crowds.
"They take all the risk of the facility," Dickinson said. "If they can't fill that arena, they bear that loss."
The city and county will soon solicit three nationally-recognized architects to draw up plans for the arena. Although the Maloofs will be allowed to choose their favorite, the JPA retains all decision-making authority over the construction process.
Sacramento voters will cast their votes on the arena measure Nov. 7.
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