Sacramento - New Arena Plan

[ltsmotorsport]

Anybody know what firm is working on the planning/mapping of the site? I would think they'd want to put the arena as close to the freeway as possible and maybe even the new track as well.

This has the potential to be one of the more exciting infill projects since I doubt it'll take 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 years to complete like the railyards. *crosses fingers*

[sugit]

Cal Expo extends NBA arena talks
Sacramento Business Journal - by Kelly Johnson Staff writer
Friday, October 31, 2008

Cal Expo will delay a decision on whether to build a new arena where the Sacramento Kings would play and other major development at the state fairgrounds, officials said Friday.

The California Exposition & State Fair Board of Directors voted Friday to extend the arena discussions by four months, to March 31, to allow more time to study the economics of the project.

The Cal Expo board vote extended the term of the current letter of understanding, which lays out what officials with the National Basketball Association and Cal Expo are each supposed to accomplish as they consider a redevelopment of the fairgrounds — one that could be built without new taxes. The agreement was scheduled to expire Nov. 21.

Preliminary research indicates that the project would substantially boost the economy of Greater Sacramento and the state, a Cal Expo news release said. The parties want more time, though, to complete their plans before revealing them to the Cal Expo board, other stakeholders and the community.

“The previous failed arena proposals have taught us that we must be thorough in our research, and transparent in our communication to the public, but we cannot and should not be hasty,” Norb Bartosik, Cal Expo chief executive officer and general manager, said in a news release. “We plan to do what is best for Cal Expo, the state of California and the community at large.”

The letter of understanding calls for both parties to review the potential project and analyze any benefits or potential risks to the NBA and Cal Expo. If they reach agreement, they will issue a request for proposals for development of an entertainment and exposition complex that would include an arena.

The extension of the letter of understanding does not imply that the parties will reach a definitive agreement, the news release said.

“We’re still conducting analysis to determine if this project is financially feasible for all parties involved. As soon as we have a complete and audited economic study, we’ll be able to determine if it makes sense to move forward with the development process,” Bartosik said.

[JeffZurn]

^ Well I would rather have them take a longer time to get everything panned out, before bring a half ass plan to the table and getting rejected. Lets hope this thing goes through when it does

[Pistola916]

I rather have a team that stinks...than no team at all. Hopefully, sometime next year leaders will have a concrete plan set.

[cozmoose]

living in Sacto, one would think that building a new arena is like building a new Pyramid of Giza or The Great Wall of China.

Its just an arena folks....every city with population of 250K essentially has one.
It can't be that difficult to build....Stockton has one.
Need I say more?

[Majin]

Building an arena in Sacramento costs 1 billion dollars.

How much did the Stockton arena cost?

[enigma99a]

They should have got the arena done in 2002. Now being the worst team in the NBA, it's hard to swallow 1 billion

[L8 4 Tahoe]

Now that we have an ex-NBA star as a mayor, this arena deal will get done quickly before the Kings decided to split.

[ozone]

Originally Posted by L8 4 Tahoe

Now that we have an ex-NBA star as a mayor, this arena deal will get done quickly before the Kings decided to split.

While I doubt that the Kings would have moved during this economic downtown considering that Las Vegas and the casinos are hurting like the rest of the country I think you are certainly right in believing that having a ex-NBA star is a big incentive for all parties to work get something going.

Do you think that instead of a new arena at Cal Expo is still viable or do you think a new arena might be built next to ARCO?

[Pistola916]

Whether it be Cal Expo, downtown or natomas, as long as the arena gets built, I will be happy.

[austinjfox]

they aren't the worst team in the nba. i'm pretty sure oak city, charlottle, and memphis are worse than the kings.

[BrianSac]

Originally Posted by Pistola916

Whether it be Cal Expo, downtown or natomas, as long as the arena gets built, I will be happy.

I agree, just build the damn thing. Downtown: for obvious reasons; walkability, synergistic reasons in an urban environment, perferably along the riverfront. Natomas: It will be along the light rail line and you can have "tailgate" parties in the parking lot. Cal Expo: Capitalize on an underused, underperforming chuck of land that sits in the middle of the Sacto Metro Area.

[otnemarcaS]

Forget all the thoughts about downtown or Natomas. Ideal or not, it ain't gonna happen in those locations because of the huge public subsidy that will be needed. Cal Expo is the only viable site that can be mostly privately funded and they are pretty far along in the process now to change course.

As a season ticket holder, I was at both home games. Wow. First home opener game that wasn't sold out in as long as I can remember. They only pulled about 13,600 on Wed in 17,307 seat Arco. But yesterday, Friday, I honestly don't think there was more than 6,000 to 7,000 fans out there even though the box score said 10,592. Wow, gonna be a long season.

[Pistola916]

Even during those Richmond days, which were less talented than today's team drew more fans. I mean I can stand the losing, that's nothing new--the Kings had 15 straight losing seasons from '84-99--but as long as they play hard, I'm content with that.

Its sad to see the Warriors and the Lakers having more fans at Arco. On the bright side, that Jason Thompson is playing great. Kinda reminds me of a young Karl Malone.

[austinjfox]

its sad whats become of kings fans.

[innov8]

It's sad what the team has become, they look confused and green out
there ... this is the first year I'm regretting my season tickets.

[sugit]

I'm actually very encouraged by what I see so far. The young players are looking good so far. Green yes, but definitely heading in the right direction. Every team, esp smaller market teams need to rebuild. I like the direction they are going.

Thompson is looking so far like a steal in the draft at #12, Hawes looks good and keeps getting better and better (and he's only 20 or 21)..and they both rebound pretty well. So far Brown looks like he will be bale to play a nice role with this team. Martin and Salmons are starting to play to their abilities and Garcia will provide that energy and passion we all love to see.

That doesn't even get into Green, who people around the league are very high on, two first round picks next year, and the large amount of money they will have to spend in the Free Agent market after next season.

If just a couple of the many young guys the Kings have keep developing, and they are able to attract a good FA..this team is going to be damn good season after next.

[Fusey]

In a couple of years when the salaries for Miller and Thomas come off the books the Kings will be in great shape to pick up a player or two who can help put the team on the map again. In the meantime, the next couple of years will be a little tough while they rebuild.

[ozone]

Originally Posted by otnemarcaS

Forget all the thoughts about downtown or Natomas. Ideal or not, it ain't gonna happen in those locations because of the huge public subsidy that will be needed. Cal Expo is the only viable site that can be mostly privately funded and they are pretty far along in the process now to change course.

I support the Cal Expo arena but your assumptions that it is the only viable location is IMO wrong. They ain't that far along and until there are signatures anything can happen. I'm also not sure where you get your belief that huge public subsidies will be necessary in Natomas and Downtown and not at Cal Expo. Does anyone believe that developers are lining up outside of the gates of Cal Expo?

[econgrad]

^ I don't.