Seattle's Bid For The Kings Does Not Matter
by Tom Ziller on Feb 5, 2012 12:57 PM PST
in Arena
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PrintThe Seattle Times reports that the officials in the Emerald City have been working for eight months on a plan to build a new arena to lure an NBA and NHL team to Seattle. In the story, the Sacramento Kings are mentioned as a target.
There has been a good deal of attention on this topic over the weekend. But setting aside the Seattle issue, most of the coverage of the city's bid for a new arena is ignoring two things.
1. Sacramento is weeks away from an up-or-down vote on privatizing the operation of downtown parking facilities to aid in the funding of a new downtown entertainment and sports complex, and has been negotiating with arena megalords AEG and the NBA for months. The NBA has invested itself in this solution, and if it is approved in the next few months by Sacramento's elected officials, the league will not turn its back on the city and let the Maloofs take our team away.
2. Seattle is not the only city with a desire to take in an NBA team.
Look, if this current arena plan creeping towards the desks of the City Council fails, the Kings will almost certainly leave. Whether that be Seattle, Kansas City, Anaheim, Louisville, Vegas, Chicago, Saskatoon, London or Modesto -- it doesn't matter. The team will almost certainly be gone. It's not fair, but it's the reality right now. David Stern feels as if he has given Sacramento one last chance, and he made no secret of that last May. The Maloofs' damned press release announced they'd keep our team in Sacramento for 2011-12 even quoted one of the brothers saying that Stern had assured them that they'd receive a green light to move our team if a funding plan didn't come together by March.
That Seattle might be ready to receive a team in 2012 or 2013 is irrelevant to us. Anaheim's ready. K.C. is ready. Louisville's ready. Hell, Chicago is ready. Seattle's just another city on that list, the list of cities that wants a team and sees its best, most immediate opportunity in Sacramento. If KJ finishes the job and we get this funding plan done, our Kings are staying in Sacramento. We control our own destiny here.
When I say "we," I mean it. Let's fill up the arena on Thursday for TNT Night, stay loud and follow up at City Council on February 14.
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Perfectly said
We get an arena, and the team stays. We don’t, they leave. Simple as that.
Once again would like to remind people to try to make it out to the Feb. 14th City Council meeting. Bring your special someone for Valentine’s day!
Author of NBA Mashups. Follow me on Twitter here.
by Aykis16 on Feb 5, 2012 12:59 PM PST reply actions 6 recs
Well, if we do lose the Kings I wouldn't mind them moving to Seattle
Give them a team back, I don’t hate Seattle, and it wouldn’t be too difficult to fly up a weekend and watch a game.
that said, HERE WE STAY!!
I honestly don't care where they move.
If the team is gone, i am not longer a fan. I am a fan of the Sacramento Kings, not the Anaheim/Seattle/Vegas Royals.
by X_47 on Feb 5, 2012 1:12 PM PST up reply actions 4 recs
My feelings exactly
Can't wait for October
by KingsFanInPortland on Feb 5, 2012 1:40 PM PST via mobile up reply actions 2 recs
If the Kings move,
I’m done w/the NBA. W/the exception of my rooting interest in the Kings, the NHL is a better product than the NBA to me.
by richie88 on Feb 5, 2012 3:02 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
The NHL is pretty rough right now too, though
"Cousins is the Blaster to Evans’ Master, the Hammer to Evans’ Sickle"- HP
by tomroadrunner on Feb 6, 2012 9:56 AM PST up reply actions
And when Reke, DMC, and IT roll into the playoffs
will you feel the same way?
" 1 + 1 = 3 " - David Kahn
Yeah... If the Kings leave, I become a full on clips fan.
I can watch them get under the #Fakeshows skin.
"Crescit cum comercio civicas"
Throw it around the back so it look fly when I pass//
Just to avoid the block go high off the glass//
I'm killing them out there they gon' have to bring caskets//
This all I hear after the baskets *swoosh*//
by HarveySpecter on Feb 5, 2012 1:25 PM PST via Android app reply actions
BUT HERE WE STAY.
"Crescit cum comercio civicas"
Throw it around the back so it look fly when I pass//
Just to avoid the block go high off the glass//
I'm killing them out there they gon' have to bring caskets//
This all I hear after the baskets *swoosh*//
by HarveySpecter on Feb 5, 2012 1:25 PM PST via Android app up reply actions
Any city trying to take the Kings is enemy territory in my books
and I fully support any disaster that the city faces.
You my friend need to brush up on your sarcasm skills.
Because that my friend, was bluntly devoid of humor.
GREENE! You’ve been superfluously apostrophe’d! - andy sims
iashwash, you are the voice of reason - Holmdel
The guy tried to make a joke and most people didn't like it.
Humor is subjective and we all like different things.
I don’t think the guy actually means any harm to the City of Seattle. People are being kind of hard on him.
Let’s all keep in mind that dry delivery, sarcasm and tone all can be easily lost in text form. It was a dark joke meant to show love for keeping the Kings in Sac, not a death wish on the Emerald City.
"Put Kobe or Lebron in a wheelchair, and I can GUARANTEE Tyreke would demolish either. You might want to rethink what you just said." - MarcusC.
"I never read those trade threads. They seem to be mainly populated with the sports equivalent of people who think the Rapture is imminent." - andy sims.
by PhutureKings on Feb 6, 2012 10:19 AM PST up reply actions
I don't think irony is a prerequisite for humor but to each his own.
The humor was supposed to be the the extreme and unrealistic nature of the statement, which I believe is within the the guidelines defined as sarcasm. I was hoping that people would keep in mind that no person with an ounce of morality would wish such a thing upon fellow human beings or any cities infrastructure. I see the impending doom of Mount Rainier erupting in the next few thousand years touched a nerve with some people. I am glad Kings fans are showing so much concern for our brothers up north that they will condemn such unintentional and unrealistic overstatements.
in truth I just thought it was an unfunny joke
and noticed it wasn’t sarchasm, just a joke that went wrong. That’s it. I can’t pretend I haven’t done the same, especially here.
My bad then
I completely mistook what you were saying and got too defensive. Its perfectly fine, obviously that you don’t think what I said was funny, I was defending it because I wasn’t trying to say anything over the line.
...
No mikev, no peace
Know mikev, know peace
by Mike Garza on Feb 5, 2012 8:21 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Depends on whether you're using the seat to protect your boys or not
Sacramento Kings - helping feed NBA fans across the country since 2011
Yeah, I did a GIS for Unisex Unicycle and came up empty handed.
No mikev, no peace
Know mikev, know peace
Any news on our Sixth Man banner?
"Crescit cum comercio civicas"
Throw it around the back so it look fly when I pass//
Just to avoid the block go high off the glass//
I'm killing them out there they gon' have to bring caskets//
This all I hear after the baskets *swoosh*//
by HarveySpecter on Feb 5, 2012 1:26 PM PST via Android app reply actions
It's still not up. But they did send this to me
Kings In-House Video
@HeuristicLineup … They weren’t relocated. I’ve raised the issue; hopefully we can get them back up quickly.
Kings In-House Video
@HeuristicLineup Changes to the position of projection lighting fixtures caused the banners to be removed; it was an oversight that
by HeuristicLineup on Feb 5, 2012 1:51 PM PST up reply actions
Honestly I have not noticed...
if the 6th man banner was up or not as of late. But earlier this summer I know where it is.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/395400_2866994826620_68273937_n.jpg
Huh. Well I'm going to throw a shit-fit if it's not up by the OKC game. That would just be poor, and whoever is in charge of that
Should be busted down to floor-sweeper. There’s really no reason they shouldn’t be up.
"Crescit cum comercio civicas"
Throw it around the back so it look fly when I pass//
Just to avoid the block go high off the glass//
I'm killing them out there they gon' have to bring caskets//
This all I hear after the baskets *swoosh*//
by HarveySpecter on Feb 5, 2012 11:28 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
As a Sonics fan living in Seattle
I want to speak for the city as a whole when I say taking the kings is the last thing we want to do. We know the pain of losing a team, especially when that team has such a local history. We desperately want a team back though and we know there is no way we’ll get an expansion team but we’d prefer to take a team without any local support or history. The report mentions the kings because they seem to be an available team.
by baltergeist on Feb 5, 2012 1:50 PM PST reply actions 8 recs
That is an understood by most all here, baltergeist.
Most of us see Seattle as a brother-in-arms and we appreciate the support.
by betweentheeyes on Feb 5, 2012 1:56 PM PST up reply actions 4 recs
Too bad you cant buy the Thunder back
Can't wait for October
by KingsFanInPortland on Feb 5, 2012 7:02 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Fixed it
Too bad you cant buy theThunderSonics back
by SharkKings49 on Feb 5, 2012 9:50 PM PST up reply actions 7 recs
It's extremely fair
if the Kings leave as a by-product of not securing a new arena. It’s easy to forget, but the franchise is a privately owned business.
Yes
It is easy to forget that the team is a privately owned business. What also seems to be easy for us to forget is these are millionaires asking for subsidy for their salaries to play a game. It’s a terrible system that never should’ve been started. We allow them to use our emotions against us in business. Doing business with your heart is ALWAYS a bad idea. And my heart WILL break if they leave.
by rory_sayer on Feb 5, 2012 7:30 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I am in complete agreeement
with your response.
Perfectly said.
I am debating flying from the East Coast to go to the city council meeting. May not be possible, but I want everyone at that table to know what this team means to the identity of Sacramento, and what a new arena means for the community as a whole. GO KINGS and pack the City Council!!!!
Kevin...
If you can some how make it out here that would be awesome. I almost flew to NYC when KJ was going to meet with the NBA in April but I already flew out to Philadelphia for the Kings at 76ers game the month before.
Seriously, if you do make it out here please let me know.
I hate the idea, but..
If they move, I’ll be happy with anywhere but Anaheim
Besides, the New Orleans franchise can be had for for $15 mil less according to Forbes
Stay Thirsty My Friends
WONK
Etymology - origin unknown
Function - Noun
Definition - A person preoccuped with arcane details or procedures in a specialized field; broadly, NERD; especially someone young who focuses on one topic or subject to the near exclusion of all other topics.
In response to your signature:
You say wonk’s etymology is unknown. Having worked for a while in Washington where every legislative assistant is a policy wonk of some sort, I thought the word came from “know” spelled backwards— for those who know something forward and back. That may have just been urban legend, though.
its a travesty that the NBA can even consider moving any franchise before the mess of the league owned hornets gets resolved. either they need to find a local (N.O.) owner to take over like yesterday, or they need to move THAT team to …what ever city can put together a the best package. but they need to remove the conflict of interest that blew up so embarrassingly this off season.
What franchise has the NBA considered moving before the mess of the league owned Hornets?
Sure was under the impression it was the Maloofs who were the ones considering the move, not that they were being forced to by the league.
It may well be KNOW spelled backwards. That sounds entirely likely.
Stay Thirsty My Friends
WONK
Etymology - origin unknown
Function - Noun
Definition - A person preoccuped with arcane details or procedures in a specialized field; broadly, NERD; especially someone young who focuses on one topic or subject to the near exclusion of all other topics.
Why you think that
Can't wait for October
by KingsFanInPortland on Feb 5, 2012 7:03 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Would ALMOST be worth it to read Saucy's column after the Kings announce their move to Seattle.
"If you're going to lead the orchestra, you have to turn your back on the audience." -Geoff Petrie
Though, I suppose it'll be even more epic seeing what he'll say if we build an arena here.
Either way, I’ll miss that silly bastard when this is all over.
"If you're going to lead the orchestra, you have to turn your back on the audience." -Geoff Petrie
by AnotherStupidSN on Feb 5, 2012 7:40 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I'm going to personally drive to Anaheim to deliver him his pie in the sky
Author of NBA Mashups. Follow me on Twitter here.
by Aykis16 on Feb 5, 2012 10:29 PM PST up reply actions 4 recs
I have a better idea...
let’s fly there together and present him with a Sacramento Kings jersey with his last name on it along with a certificate of a brick with his name on it.
by SacTownMike on Feb 6, 2012 12:19 AM PST up reply actions 3 recs
Nice touch!!
I’m not sure what the character limit on the bricks will be – for Atlanta’s Olympic park I believe it was 2 lines up to 20 characters – but, I would love to buy some bricks with the names of the anti-arena folks names followed by some choice words.
I'm guessing it wouldn't be a column so much as a suicide note.
No mikev, no peace
Know mikev, know peace
I'll be so glad when this is finalized
Obviously because it means we keep the Kings, but also because it will shut these vultures from other cities trying to poach our team up once and for all.
by deadenddude on Feb 5, 2012 7:45 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Does anyone know to what degree the league and/or the Maloofs have committed to cover the remaining $200 million (roughly) left over if the city moves ahead on a contract to turn over operation of its parking to a private entity (and AEG pays roughly $50 million) ? I have not been able to find any statement by either the NBA or the Maloofs on this issue.
by ExPFCWintergreen on Feb 5, 2012 9:20 PM PST reply actions
Oops. Obviously mine was a pretty stupid question. I should have realized this.
I guess I was projecting my worries that the Maloofs will issue some friggin “We’re sorry, and really love Sacramento, but simply aren’t interested in paying the lion’s share of the cost of an arena. Like we have consistently indicated since last year, we are interested in being tenants, not owners, of the arena”
by ExPFCWintergreen on Feb 5, 2012 9:57 PM PST up reply actions
Think about it this way
It appears the NBA is the one negotiating on behalf of the organization. If they feel like the offer is a good one, the owners will have to take it. If they say ‘no’ to the league and Stern then I don’t see them sticking around for too long. But that’s just my personal take on the situation
"Children want what they want when they want it." ... Andy Sims
by edm7 on Feb 5, 2012 10:04 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
No worries
Just remember this at all times: the ball is completely in Sacramento’s court. If the city moves forward with the financing for this new ESC, the team WILL stay here. If they don’t, they will likely move. Simple as that
"Children want what they want when they want it." ... Andy Sims
by edm7 on Feb 5, 2012 10:09 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
My guess is that Sacramento
will want the Kings to take on as much responsibility as it would have cost them to move to Anaheim.
$100 million or so.
"Victory goes to the player who makes the next-to-last mistake."
- Chessmaster Savielly Grigorievitch Tartakower
by lietothegirls on Feb 6, 2012 8:58 AM PST up reply actions
Works in Our Favor
Actually, I think this news helps our cause. For one, it adds a sense of value to having an NBA franchise. When you have an entity that some other city publicly wants, then that adds credibility to the perceived value. Secondly, the fact that a major city that lost an NBA franchise because of a lack of a feasible arena, is now, after the fact, planning on building an arena, only adds to the notion that building is the right thing to do; especially when you still have a team to fill that venue.
by Darren King on Feb 5, 2012 9:32 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
I would love to share your optimism
But I get very nervouse when Iread stories like this:
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/nba-338460-sacramento-relocation.html
by ExPFCWintergreen on Feb 5, 2012 10:02 PM PST up reply actions
so nervous it seems that I can’t even spell out a small declarative sentence.
by ExPFCWintergreen on Feb 5, 2012 10:03 PM PST up reply actions
And yet not one person...
has replied to that column that is a resident of Anaheim/OC.
by SacTownMike on Feb 6, 2012 12:22 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Just remember
that it’s written by Saucy, who’s had to already backtrack once. I’d say the column is just him projecting his desire for an NBA team (a desire that won’t be fulfilled by the Kings).
Seattle would be far more preferable to Anaheim...
But both are pitifully bad compromises to getting a new Sac arena…
Sacramento is the only preferable destination.
by VenomySnicket on Feb 6, 2012 6:44 AM PST up reply actions
Agreed
If they leave, I could really care less where they go. I won’t be following the NBA with anything but a very casual interest.
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
Sacramento
would still make a great major league baseball destination, if the Delta Breeze cooperates…
Don’t forget about San Jose. Right now, the fate of the team is in the hands of Sacramento’s elected officials, which is really the best case scenario.
No chance for San Jose IMO. They are already in the process with the A’s move there, and no way they could give a sweetheart deal to them with Warriors already down there
Founder of team Omté Caspeen
Especially with brand new owners for the Dubs
Sacramento Kings - helping feed NBA fans across the country since 2011
The Writer Is Completely Wrong
Kansas City, Louisville, Anaheim were all rumored but the NBA has always said that wont happen without an NBA ready arena. None of those cities have an NBA arena in place including Anaheim. None of these cities is ready. The closest is Seattle and they’d still approval among other things to occupy Key Arena.
by kuhreem on Feb 6, 2012 10:55 AM PST via mobile reply actions
Louisville and Anaheim both would be NBA ready by next season.
Their arena situations aren’t much different from Oklahamo’s a few years ago.
by wallywagon11 on Feb 6, 2012 10:59 AM PST up reply actions
sorry
Kansas City too (just with Kansas City, AEG doesn’t really have any incentive to bring another tenant in)
by wallywagon11 on Feb 6, 2012 11:00 AM PST up reply actions
Beat me to it
3 of those cities have NBA ready arenas and Seattle is looking like they might have 2 soon (since Key Arena is still NBA ready as a temp venue). It really does come down to KJ making this arena happen in Sac. If he does, and soon, the team stays, if not, they’re gone. There are too many cities waiting in the wings that do have modern NBA capable arenas ready to go and the Maloof’s are too broke and too desperate to hang around otherwise.
Seattle does not have 2.
They have a long ways to go because as far as I could tell that hedge manager in Seattle didn’t say he was paying for it and if he ain’t good luck getting around that new law up in Seattle.
We Win, Seattle Wins, In the End, IMHO
One of the differences between these various city options however, is that Stern has made it clear that Seattle will get another shot, as soon as a viable arena plan is in place. That may be a relocated team, or perhaps an expansion opportunity like was offered Charlotte when the owner took his team to New Orleans. But, all that said, its because Stern really regrets the Seattle move that he will do everything within his power to support our team in Sac – which has a proven history of NBA fan support. And like others have said, if the council moves forward with the plan, then its all good. We keep our team. And there’s a very good chance that Seattle gets theirs too.
I don't see another expansion team in the near future...
With so many small market teams losing money (maybe fixed with new CBA), and the high turnover rate of NBA ownership (9 new owners in 2+ seasons), I just dont see the sustainability of being able to add more teams.
"First we get jobs, then we get the khakis, then we get the chicks."
One Way or the Other
Marks my words, if Seattle gets a new arena they WILL get a team. Either through moving one. Or through expansion. Stern has already pretty much guaranteed that.
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