NBA to Help Kings Get Arena, Stay in Sacramento

by Deleran on Nov 15, 2006 9:32 PM PST Comment 6 comments

[editor's note, by louismg]Breaking News tonight: The NBA is going to step in and help find a new approach to keep the Kings in Sacramento.

During the Kings' game on ESPN, some more details were given around the NBA's proposal, namely:

1. The Maloofs asked for David Stern's help.
2. The Maloofs never intended to leave Sacramento.
3. The NBA has never stepped in like this, except for an expansion team.
4. David Stern said he called Gov. Schwarzenegger to let him know of his intentions, but that he comes in without any preconceived notions or a timetable on when the Kings would need to leave Arco Arena.
5. It was said that given all of the anger around the ballot initiatives, that the situation needed to be "diffused" rather than "heated up" further.

At the very least, this reduces the concerns of many on this site, including those from myself and TZ, that the Kings were on their way out of Sacramento. Not too long ago, when I had pegged the Kings chances of staying in Sacramento long-term as 20%, TZ had said my guess was too optimistic. And now, we have the most-successful commissioner in professional sports saying we can relax.

"We're going to get it done somehow," Stern said in response to fans' fears that the Kings might leave for Las Vegas, Anaheim or other destinations.
Coverage of the story can be found from The Associated Press.

Original comments from Deleran...

Stern is now involved. Its a short story, but I think this is a good thing. Based on what I've been hearing, the Maloofs and the league seem to have a "if it ain't broke don't fix it" mentality in regards to the fact that Sacramento continues to sell out in a league where many teams have plenty of empty seats.

(This is a FanPost from a member of the Sactown Royalty community. The views expressed come from the member, and not Sactown Royalty staff.)

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Re: NBA to Help Kings Get Arena, Stay in Sacrament

This could the Sacramento's last chance to step up for a new arena or fear moving the team elsewhere.

by kingme18 on Nov 15, 2006 4:26 PM PST reply actions

I thought I heard...

...Jim Gray also say something about Stern agreeing that the vote results were expected because there wasn't a clear issue on the ballet and Sacramento voters couldn't be blamed for the failure - or something to that degree. Did anyone else hear that? I only watched the ESPN coverage.

by pyro on Nov 16, 2006 1:07 AM PST reply actions

Re: I thought I heard...

I heard that comment as well. David Stern basically said that given how little clear information was out there on the ballot initiatives, that he himself would have voted No.

Kings-obsessed. A's obsessed. More ramblings: louisgray.com

by louismg on Nov 16, 2006 4:46 AM PST up reply actions

KXTV

http://www.news10.net/storyfull2.aspx?storyid=21581

by pyro on Nov 16, 2006 1:20 AM PST reply actions

Re: NBA to Help Kings Get Arena, Stay in Sacrament

if all goes wrong, I hope they move to San Jose.

by silverace99 on Nov 16, 2006 2:33 AM PST reply actions

Re: NBA to Help Kings Get Arena, Stay in Sacrament

Opinion pieces from Ailene Voisin and Adrian Wojnarowski. My thoughts on the subject earlier were a little muddled, but I think I was basically on target. The Kings put butts in seats in a league where alot of teams don't. There's no garuntee that the Kings would do as well anywhere else as they would almost certainly do here if a new arnea is built.

Some people are portraying this as a case of the Maloofs calling in "Stern the hatchetman," but that seems unlikely to me. At least for the moment I'm willing to take him at his word and hope he gets the job done.

by Deleran on Nov 16, 2006 3:34 PM PST reply actions