Sacramento - New Arena Plan

[enigma99a]

Everyone is asleep on this issue..... WHY???

[urban_encounter]

Originally Posted by enigma99a

Everyone is asleep on this issue..... WHY???

So that when the team bolts for Anaheim, or Kansas City (or wherever) people can act as if they're outraged that nothing was done to save their beloved Kings.

That and an absence of leadership in the City and County.

[urban_encounter]

Ailene Voisin: An arena deal must be made
By Ailene Voisin -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Story appeared in Sports section, Page C1


Full-blown panic. That's what this was. Several of the folks intimately involved with the "New Arena" saga worked themselves into a frenzy late Monday, convinced Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof were within hours of filing relocation papers (think Anaheim) with the NBA.
They were wrong - for the moment.

They were right to fret, though.

"Any reports of anyone talking about an application (for relocation) are categorically untrue," an exasperated NBA Commissioner David Stern said from his office Tuesday. "There is nothing going on. But the question is still whether this deal is going to get done."

In other words, if there is no new arena, there will be no more Kings. The ancient beast known as Arco Arena will become virtually uninhabited.

Such is the reality of professional sports in America, where state-of-the-art facilities dot the national landscape, enabling cities to compete for everything from concerts and cultural offerings to rodeos and sporting events. For the league's smaller markets - most lacking a substantial corporate base - the revenue generated by in-arena sources (club suites, luxury boxes) that are available in new buildings are essential to paying the bills. The league's little guy survives only on grit and guile, on instinct and fan loyalty, on dynamic leadership on all sides of the bargaining table.

Yet four weeks after both Maloofs expressed optimism about a potential agreement, the mood has taken a dramatic turn for the worse. Common cause has been infected by the common cold. Everyone is maintaining a distance, with mistrust and miscommunication once again emerging as an impediment to any future partnership.

Compounding matters is this: the one player regarded with utmost respect - minority owner Bob Hernreich, who last year was appointed the Kings' point person by Stern - has been strong-armed aside for reasons that remain unclear. In his stead stands Kings president John Thomas, a slick operator who has a knack for cutting TV deals but completely lacks the personal skills to facilitate an agreement of this magnitude.

All of which leaves the area's only major professional sports franchise in peril, leading to rumors and innuendo about intent and integrity (is someone getting duped here?), about the might and muscle of those who are supposed to matter (is there a will to find the way?), and perhaps most troubling, about the ongoing void in leadership.

Mayor Heather Fargo? Where are you?

Joe Maloof? Where have you been? Your frequent absences from home games - not to mention the area's restaurants - have been repeatedly and perplexingly noted. You have spent enough time around Hollywood to realize that no one successfully directs a film from afar. And you certainly can't foster the necessary level of trust with combative developer Angelo Tsakopoulos if you aren't willing to meet a potential deal-maker in the middle of the ring.

"I haven't been around the community like I should have been," Joe Maloof acknowledged Tuesday. "Gavin and I will become more active in the negotiations. We have always been determined to get something done. No, no, we are not filing any papers. I don't know where that got started. We've had peaks and valleys, but we're trying to work something out. And we know Angelo is working hard, too."

Interestingly, it is Tsakopoulos, the oft-maligned developer who was approached 16 months ago by a group of local businessmen and politicians attempting to salvage negotiations following a disastrous City Council meeting chaired by retiring City Manager Bob Thomas, who has provided the most persistent presence. Pressed by family members (diehard Kings fans all) and alluding to his own mortality, the native of Greece repeatedly has spoken of solidifying the franchise here as a part of his legacy.

Meantime, the standoff continues, gaining a momentum that threatens to lead the Kings out the door. The Kings and the return of their ineffective negotiator (John Thomas). The city/county and its silent (and alleged) leadership. The developers and their complicated and controversial land-use issues.

So how long before speculation becomes reality? Until frustration overwhelms determination? And please, tell me again why other owners and all these other cities (Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Memphis, San Antonio, Charlotte, etc.) can overcome their own unique obstacles and construct facilities, while Sacramento can't even sniff a blueprint?

Maybe the incoming city manager has a plan.

Maybe, he has a solution.

It's time to break ground.

[innov8]

Ailene Voisin points out all of the no-shows in this process starting
with our Mayor all the way down to Joe Maloof.

I hope these rumors shake the tree so that all these players get
involved... the city can't keep staring into the headlights any more
with out getting run over. I think one more year of this stuff and
the KINGS will bolt our beloved city.

[SacTownAndy]

This is getting rediculous. I just wish Fargo would step up to the friggin plate already and take charge of this damn thing. Either we can do it, or we can't...just make a damn decision already. So her plans failed the first time, big deal. As a mayor of a "supposed" big league city, that's no excuse to run and hide. I'm slowly losing respect for her by the day.

And I'd also like to know why Sacramento region citizens feel they should not have to pay a dime in public money when just about every other city these days is ponying up a % of public financing for new arenas? You'll get back ten-fold in economic prosperity what will be put into it.

This whole thing frustrates me. I do know one thing though- even if it is all "talk" at this point, if the Kings do leave town, it'll be a sad, sad [and embarassing] day for Sacramento.

[Majin]

I dont even know what to say at this point.

[urban_encounter]

Originally Posted by SacTownAndy

And I'd also like to know why Sacramento region citizens feel they should not have to pay a dime in public money when just about every other city these days is ponying up a % of public financing for new arenas? You'll get back ten-fold in economic prosperity what will be put into it.

Because they're spoiled. They've had two arenas built (albeit both were a piece of crap) with private money. I honestly believe people in this town think that there's no way the Maloofs will relocate the Kings from Sacramento. Then there are those who don't care. The problem is it wont matter whether the Kings are here or not, Arco is not a serviceable arena any longer. Every independent study has shown the same thing. The dang thing is falling apart. The problem is with no arena there will no longer be any place in Sacramento to watch top concerts either. Especially considering that the amphitheater bolted town a few years ago for the rice fields up north.

Originally Posted by SacTownAndy

This whole thing frustrates me. I do know one thing though- even if it is all "talk" at this point, if the Kings do leave town, it'll be a sad, sad [and embarassing] day for Sacramento.

Yeah it will because this city wont be able to afford a new arena and a franchise expanison or relocation fee for another team. If they think $400 million is alot now, wait unitl the cost of replacing the arnea and a team come out to 1 billion dollars.


Like I've harped over and over again. I have never lived in, nor experienced a city that has such a small town parochial view. For the center of a region of over 2 million people, the Mayberry political landscape in this town is absolutely embarassing.


We haven't had a decent political leader around since Joe Serna passed away (and wisely pointed out by Marcos Breton.

I guess Majin and I are in agreement on this issue, because i think nothing will happen. There's no political leadership in Sacramento, and the people in this region are too blind to recognize all of the benefits that a first class arena and our NBA team will mean to this region.


The same lack of leadership squandered the highway beltway around the city years ago, despite having cobbled together the land to make it a reality. The results is enldess freeway congestion as traffic is forced into the city in a flawed spoke system.

The board of supervisiors squandered away the chance to build a sufficient number of American River Bridge crossings decades ago. Now we have nothing but congestion on the Watt and Howe crossings. I can go on and on, but everyone here is perfectly aware of the track record for our local elected officals. Or dare I say the lack of a record.

One more thing, if the Kings do leave there will be three guilty parties.

The lack of leadership on the City Council and Board of Supervisors.


The people of Sacramento who can't even support the idea of taxing rental cars (on out of town visitors). I can't figure that out. Perhaps somebody can explain it to me.


The Maloofs who have yet to be straight with the people here. How much money do they want or need to construct a first class arena and how much is their "fair share"????



It's unfortunate............

I believe that one of the big reasons there seems to be so little public support for using any taxpayer arena to build an arena is that there have been land developers involved in just about every proposal related to any arena. The original arena was allowed to be built in an area that was supposed to be off limits to development until 1999 according to the Williamson Act. Lukenbill and company convinced the City council at that time to open it up for development by using the Kings as and the prospect of a Major League sports team to entice the politicians at the time to throw the rules and all concepts of the then current master plan for growth out the window. A lot of people have seen the fortunes that real estate people have made in North Natomas as a result of this land rezoning game, and think that the area was sold out by the politicians being bought and sold by the developers. If I recall correctly, Greg Lukenbill once boasted publicly that he could buy anyone on the City Council that he wanted to. Most people that were here in the 80's that witnessed that game don't want to see a return to that era where the politicians are in the pockets of the big real estate developers, and are therefore very skeptical of any new proposal that is associated with any real estate developer or land use (rezoning) decision.

Now, If the leaders of the city (Oxymoron?) were to get out in front of this issue and say to the developers of the rail yards "You ARE going to put our arena right here on the south edge of the railyards, and the public and the Kings are going to jointly finance it, I think the mood would change. The K street mall would be another good site.

But, as has already been noted, this City has no leadership. Never has as long as I can remember. Serna included. Jimmie Yee was the closest thing to a leader, but he didn't really want to be mayor.

[urban_encounter]

Originally Posted by Construction Guy

Most people that were here in the 80's that witnessed that game don't want to see a return to that era where the politicians are in the pockets of the big real estate developers, and are therefore very skeptical of any new proposal that is associated with any real estate developer or land use (rezoning) decision.

True.

Also I doubt many of us would support opening up land for more sprawl. I would prefer (this is my personal opinion mind you) a 1/4 cent sales tax. But I also know that such a thing would never in a million years pass. In my opinion that's more palatable than more sprawl in exchange for an arena.

Originally Posted by Construction Guy

Now, If the leaders of the city (Oxymoron?) were to get out in front of this issue and say to the developers of the rail yards "You ARE going to put our arena right here on the south edge of the railyards, and the public and the Kings are going to jointly finance it, I think the mood would change. The K street mall would be another good site.

I agree wholeheartedly that either the rail yards or a smaller and revamped DT Plaza would be the best possible location.
However at this late stage of the arena game, we need to take what we can get. (If we can get it)??????

[cascraperdude]

The Maloofs would be happy to take the team to Vegas. They are not willing to concede much to remain in Sacramento. If they really want to do the deal, then the Kings will remain. But I think they prefer to consolidate into LV. Just my 2 cents. If they are really shrewd businessmen... they would have an arena deal going already.

[snfenoc]

I do not think the NBA would let the Kings to move to LV. I think David Stern would be hard pressed to allow the owners of a LV casino to move their team to LV.

[innov8]

^ Oh I do... follow the money. In 2007 the NBA Allstar game will
be in LV because of the Maloofs, they arranged the deal.

If the city and the Maloofs can't strike a deal in the next year to
18 months expect to hear NBA to start looking for another deal.

In 2006 the Maloofs will have owned the team for 7 years and
for 7 they have been tring to make something happen.
Why would they take this city seriously if after 9 years
nothing has happen.

[enigma99a]

fuck it.. let's open up the redevelopment bonds to fund this

[snfenoc]

I thought there was some sort of "conflict of interest" rule that would prevent the Maloofs from moving the team to the same city in which they own a casino. I was listening to Tim Montemayor on KHTK last night (granted, he can be full of hot air sometimes), and he stated unequivocally the NBA would not allow a move to LV.


I just love this section of the Sac Bee story posted last night:

Tsakopoulos has large land holdings outside Sacramento County's urban growth boundary and outside any area contemplated for growth in the new El Dorado County general plan. Public officials and planners in both counties said they didn't think the rezoning proposals would be an easy sell with the public, or could be accomplished in the rapid timeline needed to fund an arena. The area lacks drinking water and major roads. Environmental groups have been working for years to establish southeastern Sacramento County as a permanent ranching corridor. "That's an area that's been reserved for agricultural uses," said Peter Maurer, El Dorado County's director of planning services. "We've just completed a 12-year process of adopting a new general plan, and now we're going to change it to build a new Kings arena? It doesn't make sense." Sacramento County Supervisor Don Nottoli, who represents the area, noted that it isn't designated for growth in Sacramento County's general plan. He said he doesn't think there's been a big shift in board sentiment since 1999, when the supervisors rejected a plan by developer C.C. Myers to build a gated senior community in the same vicinity. Myers took his Deer Creek Hills proposal to the ballot, where it was rejected by 69 percent of voters despite his spending more than $2 million to promote it. The area has since been preserved as open space by the Sacramento Valley Conservancy. "The people were pretty clear," Nottoli said.

Unbelievable. Our leaders suck!!

You know what? They are right. The Kings are not worth it. Except for bringing money, attention, enjoyment, and a sense of community to the area, the Kings do not have much to offer.

[innov8]

The All-star game is just the first step in the door and after that it won't
be a crazy notion to move a team there. Rules can be
changed to make just about anything happen. When the All-Star
game in LV deal was struck, all casinos agreed there would be no betting
on the game... all the casinos agreed to this. If LV had a chance to get
any team, baseball or basketball I would think a lot of rules would
be changed and bent so it could happen.

Plus the Maloofs are now big players in LV.

[Majin]

I hate this city.

I hate life.

[Schmoe]

You could join the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement.

[cascraperdude]

There was a front page article in the USA Today yesterday about LV seeking pro sports. The Maloofs were featured *very* prominently.

I'm telling you, that is where they prefer to be, and if the region can't give them a sweet deal AND LV doesn't get MLB or something else first, that is where the Kings are gonna end up.

[urban_encounter]

Originally Posted by cascraperdude

There was a front page article in the USA Today yesterday about LV seeking pro sports. The Maloofs were featured *very* prominently.

I'm telling you, that is where they prefer to be, and if the region can't give them a sweet deal AND LV doesn't get MLB or something else first, that is where the Kings are gonna end up.

Viva pro sports? Vegas makes play for team
By Michael McCarthy, USA TODAY


LAS VEGAS — Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman says he'll wager on anything and everything: football games, the passage of city ordinances, even a cockroach race. Now, Goodman is making the biggest bet of his career — that he can successfully lure a pro sports team such as Major League Baseball's Florida Marlins to Sin City.

Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman, center, welcomes NBA commish David Stern and the league's 2007 All-Star Game.
By Joe Cavaretta, AP

If the Dallas Cowboys are "America's team," a Las Vegas franchise would be the "world's team," says Goodman, a former criminal defense attorney for mobsters such as Meyer Lansky. If Goodman were a betting man, and he is, he's betting he'll throw out the first pitch for a Las Vegas baseball team by 2008. The team should be called, what else, "The Oscars," suggests Goodman.

"To be a great American city, you have to have sports," says Goodman, who played himself as a mob lawyer in the movie Casino.

Can you say "Viva Las Vegas"? With a population approaching 2 million people, Las Vegas is one of America's fastest-growing metropolitan areas. The town already has boxing, pro wrestling, Ultimate Fighting, NASCAR, the Arena Football League's Las Vegas Gladiators and the 51s, the Class AAA affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Now it wants one of the Big Four pro sports: MLB, the NBA, the NFL or the NHL.

Pro leagues are running out of markets without a major league franchise. As the stigma surrounding various forms of gambling — from sports betting, poker and fantasy sports to Native-American casinos, state lotteries and church bingos — fades, a pro team in Las Vegas could be a matter of when, not if.

But betting is the ultimate taboo in pro sports. Just ask Pete Rose. Despite Time giddily proclaiming Las Vegas the "New All-American City," none of the major sports has embraced the city. Until now.

Before the Marlins received the OK from MLB officials last week to seek a new home, Goodman had talked with team vice chairman Joel Mael last December. The mating dance infuriated city of Miami mayor Manny Diaz, who said he was "shocked, disturbed, disappointed, disgusted."

Driven out of New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina, George Shinn, owner of the NBA's Hornets, also sounded out Goodman.

The NBA recently picked Las Vegas as the host city for its 2007 All-Star Game. MLB and men's tennis are also planning major events here in the next three years.

Besides Goodman, there's a powerful group of residents beating the drum for pro sports. Hall of Fame slugger Reggie Jackson is leading a deep-pocketed investment group looking to buy an MLB team and move it here.

If successful, he'd be the first African-American managing partner of an MLB franchise. Jackson says he'll invite fellow African-American Hall of Famers Henry Aaron, Willie Mays, Bob Gibson and Ernie Banks to participate as equity investors or as advisers.

"Certainly, I think about the impact that Jackie Robinson had. Jackie, I hope, will be smiling. I hope his wife will be smiling," says Jackson, a 14-time All-Star.

Gavin Maloof, owner of Maloof Sports & Entertainment, which owns the NBA's Kings and the WNBA's Monarchs 572 miles away in Sacramento, would "look closely" at joining an acquisition bid by Jackson. "This is all Reggie talks about. He's a man possessed."

[brandon12]

If the above is the entire article, I don't know if I would go so far as to say the Maloofs are featured *Very* prominently...but I get your point.

Yesterday, I had the idea to run for city council. I would do that for several reasons, but one big reason would be to force this issue to the forefront of the debate.

I have until March to decide if I will run...maybe the discussion will have turned to the page to concrete proposal by then, but with the current leadership in Sacramento, I'm not at all confident about that!