Arena talks stalled

[Rockmeister]

http://www.kcra.com/news/9843698/detail.html

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Talks between Sacramento and city and county officials and the owners of the Sacramento Kings have stalled on the issue of building a new sports arena at the downtown railyard site.

A city official said the campaign to build a new arena at the railyard site will move forward, with or without the Maloofs, who own the Kings, on board.

There has been disagreement with the Maloofs over parking, the amount of land to be set aside for the arena, and how the land immediately surrounding the arena will be used.

 

[Arena Skeptic]

More...

But the major sticking point is parking at the venue, according to supporters of Measures Q and R, which would raise the Sacramento County sales tax to pay for the project, who said the Kings want more parking spaces than the city wants. More parking spaces would mean more revenue for the team.


KCRA 3 spoke with Sacramento Vice Mayor Rob Fong, who said it is possible that taxpayers could be voting the ballot measure without all of the details having been hammered out.


Fong said the talks have been challenging and could be going better.


I think we need to read between the lines here. The last sentence in this says a lot more than the first two paragraphs...

 

[JB_kings]

It's like a marriage - in order to stay together, both parties have to want to be with each other. It certainly looks like somebody wants to leave town.

 

[Kingzrool]

This is probably why [was it Joe or Gavin] made that comment at the press conference. It is in the agreement to look at other sites, but it is really interesting that Fong would say that they will build the Arena there without the Maloofs.

I would have to venture that this is just to give them more power on the bargaining table, because they are in the midst of a huge process. With a developement this size, there are an unimaginable amount of things to work out. In each and every point, each side pulls out the stops in attempting to get the better end of the deal - it is called negotiations. Parking is obviously really important to the Maloofs and I would imagine that they have decided this is one that they want to win. The City, could use the space for additional revenue and are rallying the public opinion to give them the edge. Really - build an Arena without the Maloofs - that has to be a bluff.

 

[VF21]

Basically, I just wish they'd quit doing all of this in public. Kingzrool is right, IMHO... it's all negotiating and posturing to wring out the last drop of blood from the turnip.

If I could tell them one thing, it would be to shut up, suck it up and get this stupid thing done before you alienate the very voters you're depending upon to give their approval. If you (meaning the city, the county and the Maloofs) want to whine and throw temper tantrums DO IT IN PRIVATE!!!!

 

[SacTownKid]

Basically, I just wish they'd quit doing all of this in public. Kingzrool is right, IMHO... it's all negotiating and posturing to wring out the last drop of blood from the turnip.

If I could tell them one thing, it would be to shut up, suck it up and get this stupid thing done before you alienate the very voters you're depending upon to give their approval. If you (meaning the city, the county and the Maloofs) want to whine and throw temper tantrums DO IT IN PRIVATE!!!!

This is Sacramento you are talking about. Not only that but you are talking about the Kings in Sacramento. There is no such "privacy". Even if it was done in private the headlines would read, "No Noise on New Arena: Maloofs vs. the Residents of Sacramento!" Or something utterly rediculous.

 

[kennadog]

Unfortunately, because its the Maloofs and the Kings, it gets done in the open. Never a good tactic for amicable negotiating. Governments provide public incentives and subsidies all the time to private businesses and the public rarely hears or seems to care to find out about it. Thus the mistaken impression among many voters right now, that public money to private businesses is unheard of!! *Shock*

Having said that, this cannot do any good for garnering votes and may well be losing votes. Altho, people could look at it as get it passed, designed and then work out a deal with the Maloofs.

Honestly, tho, I am beginning to wonder if the Maloofs are just tired of Sacramento and all the negativity against them here and would rather just get out of Dodge. My guess is they already have some idea that they can get a more lucrative arena deal elsewhere, but are giving Sacramento this one shot.

Lil' ol' pessimist me.

 

[JB_kings]

I'm really trying not to be pessimistic here, but somebody needs to give me some hope. I went from thinking we had 50-50 chance before last week and now I'm down to slim and none. And it's not any part of the measures or agreement that's causing this - it's the people who are supposed to be trying to win our votes.

 

[kupman]

Honestly, tho, I am beginning to wonder if the Maloofs are just tired of Sacramento and all the negativity against them here and would rather just get out of Dodge. My guess is they already have some idea that they can get a more lucrative arena deal elsewhere, but are giving Sacramento this one shot.

Lil' ol' pessimist me.

I have had similar thoughts. However, I do not think that it is the case. I have defended the Maloofs many, many times here before, but I think that they are out of line here and do not have much of a leg to stand on.

I think this way because this is "our" arena, not theirs, so "we" will build it as "we" see fit. Also, if the measures are passed, do you really think they will leave because of nit picky details on how the thing is built. I doubt it. Plus, it would be political suicide for them if the city decided to build a 500 million dollar arena and then they left anyway. What would Stern and the NBA have to say about such actions from an owner? I doubt that the NBA would let any owner screw a city that bad without a fight.

So in the end, I think the Maloofs are just posturing without any real power in this situation, which IMHO is just politically stupid.

 

[VF21]

I've thought about this, and - quite frankly - I'm sick and tired of the Maloofs acting like the spoiled little rich kids. Joe Maloof dropping that bombshell when he did was clearly an attempt to put pressure on someone.

I am getting to the point where, much like kennadog, I have to doubt the sincerity of the Maloofs. Either they are really without a clue OR they're doing this on purpose. Either way, they need to QUIT!

If they don't want to be here, they need to quit lying to us and to everyone else and just come out and say they want to move.

If they DO want to be here, they need to quit acting like the spoiled kids with the football who insist the game has to be played their way or not at all.

These are feelings coming from a true homer Kings fan. And if I can have these doubts and these resentments, what about the average guy who isn't really a Kings fan and wasn't at all sure about the arena deal? How is he going to feel about some of the things being said?

I think we're seeing the city/county stand up to the neighborhood bullies...and I'm glad. It will be SACRAMENTO's arena.

 

[JB_kings]

Fox 40 just had a report on the situation. It looks like the city & county team is 100% behind the railyard. That is the designated site and they pretty much told the Maloofs that they will go forward without their support. It's a good posture to take to eliminate confusion and sort out who's on what side. The sad part is that it looks like the Maloofs have joined the vote no crowd. I'm going to stay consistent and support the arena downtown. It's what I've always said was the best site and benefited the region more than any other site. It's too bad that this whole mess is just going to turn off the voters and this whole thing will play itself out as a worse case scenario for the city. Nobody is a winner here.
If there was any doubt where the Maloofs are, Dave Jones held another press conference today - in front of Arco Arena.

 

[BMiller52]

Fox 40 just had a report on the situation. It looks like the city & county team is 100% behind the railyard. That is the designated site and they pretty much told the Maloofs that they will go forward without their support. It's a good posture to take to eliminate confusion and sort out who's on what side. The sad part is that it looks like the Maloofs have joined the vote no crowd. I'm going to stay consistent and support the arena downtown. It's what I've always said was the best site and benefited the region more than any other site. It's too bad that this whole mess is just going to turn off the voters and this whole thing will play itself out as a worse case scenario for the city. Nobody is a winner here.
If there was any doubt where the Maloofs are, Dave Jones held another press conference today - in front of Arco Arena.

What did Dave Jones say and why is he allowed to hold his stuff in front of Arco?

 

[VF21]

Fox 40 just had a report on the situation. It looks like the city & county team is 100% behind the railyard. That is the designated site and they pretty much told the Maloofs that they will go forward without their support. It's a good posture to take to eliminate confusion and sort out who's on what side. The sad part is that it looks like the Maloofs have joined the vote no crowd. I'm going to stay consistent and support the arena downtown. It's what I've always said was the best site and benefited the region more than any other site. It's too bad that this whole mess is just going to turn off the voters and this whole thing will play itself out as a worse case scenario for the city. Nobody is a winner here.
If there was any doubt where the Maloofs are, Dave Jones held another press conference today - in front of Arco Arena.

There is one other possibility. This could be the biggest example of "reverse psychology" ever utilized. And if it were, it wouldn't surprise me in the least.

What both Ch. 3 and News10 said was that the Maloofs may not be contributing to the Q & R campaign, which is fine with me. Their "contributions" so far have done nothing, since all they've done is make cloying comments. The Maloofs still have a commitment to the city and county for the actual arena itself.

I think I'm just fed up with the whole thing. Being a Kings fan has been a roller coaster ride for over 4 years now. I'd rather go back to the days of less than 20 wins a year. It was actually more fun...and tickets were sure a lot cheaper.

 

[VF21]

What did Dave Jones say and why is he allowed to hold his stuff in front of Arco?

Anyone can get onto the arena grounds if they pick a time when the team store is open. I wouldn't read too much into that particular event.

 

[JB_kings]

Anyone can get onto the arena grounds if they pick a time when the team store is open. I wouldn't read too much into that particular event.

It's private property, they would need permission to hold their press conference.

 

[TheJoker]

This whole thing is turning into a Soap Oprea i'm really glad i did not follow this Arena thingy as i planned it was gonna suck the life out of me as a fan anyway...

 

[kennadog]

These are feelings coming from a true homer Kings fan. And if I can have these doubts and these resentments, what about the average guy who isn't really a Kings fan and wasn't at all sure about the arena deal? How is he going to feel about some of the things being said?

I think we're seeing the city/county stand up to the neighborhood bullies...and I'm glad. It will be SACRAMENTO's arena.

This is what I thought when I read about it. If I'm getting turned off, what about people on the fence up until now?

I am SO underwhelmed by the pro Q & R campaign, so far. And I am getting annoyed with the Maloofs, big time. I've been a big defender of them, but I am really reaching at this point.

However, as I've said all along, I am in favor of a new arena/entertainment complex in Sacramento, regardless of what the Maloofs/Kings do, or even if they leave town. I still think its a great and important investment for the region.

I also believe the Railyards is where it should be. Altho, there are still many non-Maloof issues that could preclude that location, I hope it works out to be the site.

 

[LPKingsFan]

Could this be a blessing is disguise? Will the arena campaign do better if voters saw the "billionaire Maloofs" on the sidelines and not behind the measure?

 

[BMiller52]

It's private property, they would need permission to hold their press conference.

Yeah, why would the Maloofs give Dave Jones the permission to hold a press conference that's anti arena? Sounds like they're sabotaging the deal, which I REALLY don't appreciate. It's one thing to let it fail and run, or just run like a wuss anyway if we do get a new arena. It's a complete other thing to destroy a shot at OUR ARENA.

 

[nebs]

Could this be a blessing is disguise? Will the arena campaign do better if voters saw the "billionaire Maloofs" on the sidelines and not behind the measure?

That's what I was thinking as well.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

There is one other possibility. This could be the biggest example of "reverse psychology" ever utilized. And if it were, it wouldn't surprise me in the least.

What both Ch. 3 and News10 said was that the Maloofs may not be contributing to the Q & R campaign, which is fine with me. Their "contributions" so far have done nothing, since all they've done is make cloying comments. The Maloofs still have a commitment to the city and county for the actual arena itself.

I think I'm just fed up with the whole thing. Being a Kings fan has been a roller coaster ride for over 4 years now. I'd rather go back to the days of less than 20 wins a year. It was actually more fun...and tickets were sure a lot cheaper.

Sweet! Can we bring back Jerry Reynolds to coach, if this happens? I feel ya on this VF...I'm not having very much fun WONDERING right now.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

Yeah, why would the Maloofs give Dave Jones the permission to hold a press conference that's anti arena? Sounds like they're sabotaging the deal, which I REALLY don't appreciate. It's one thing to let it fail and run, or just run like a wuss anyway if we do get a new arena. It's a complete other thing to destroy a shot at OUR ARENA.

This is turning out to be a big crock on the part of the Maloofs, but who knows. Maybe this is the way it was supposed to be all along...too bad there wasn't an indemnity clause in this deal.

 

[love_them_kings]

I'm really trying not to be pessimistic here, but somebody needs to give me some hope. I went from thinking we had 50-50 chance before last week and now I'm down to slim and none. And it's not any part of the measures or agreement that's causing this - it's the people who are supposed to be trying to win our votes.

Well, as the Rise Guys put it on the radio this morning, let's put it in baseball terms. It was 3-0 (favoring no arena) in the 3rd before this developed. Now figure it's 7-0 and the bottom of the 7th. The fight is not over, but this is a major blow & the Maloofs are idiots if they don't realize they are jeopardizing any chance this thing has at passing.

 

[love_them_kings]

Could this be a blessing is disguise? Will the arena campaign do better if voters saw the "billionaire Maloofs" on the sidelines and not behind the measure?

That is possible. It's hard to imagine (for me), but you never know. If you go forth on the basis of "do it for the city" despite, or maybe in spite, of the lack of Maloofs support, it will make it more palatable for some. My question is... if it passes, don't the Maloofs have to pony up some cash to get it built? How would it work without their contribution?

 

[6th]

It might make it more palatable for some, but it would put me (a proponent) squarely on the fence. I'm not sure I want the tax increase if there is not a permanent resident for the arena. That is a lot of money to spend not knowing if the city/county would lose money having a mostly empty arena sitting around.

 

[VF21]

As I just posted in the other thread, I think we're going to hear "the rest of the story" VERY shortly. And I believe, when it comes out, people will realize there are things going on that up until now have not been made public. And I'll just add that I'm still a little upset with how the Maloofs handled this, but I can better understand WHY they said and did what they said and did.