Louisville Metro Council spending money to attract NBA team

[Mike0476]

This article was printed on Dec. 8th.

http://www.courier-journal.com/arti...ro+Council+spending+money+to+attract+NBA+team

"In an interview Wednesday Miller said he has a majority investor interested in buying a franchise and moving the team here. He said 15 to 25 potential minority investors are also interested, but he wouldn’t name any of them...

The NBA has assumed ownership of the financially struggling Hornets in New Orleans; and the Kings in Sacramento are looking for a new arena.
Louisville attorney Ed Glasscock, who also worked on previous NBA bids, called the Hornets and Kings “two prospects.”

 

[Smills91]

This article was printed on Dec. 8th.

http://www.courier-journal.com/arti...ro+Council+spending+money+to+attract+NBA+team

"In an interview Wednesday Miller said he has a majority investor interested in buying a franchise and moving the team here. He said 15 to 25 potential minority investors are also interested, but he wouldn’t name any of them...

The NBA has assumed ownership of the financially struggling Hornets in New Orleans; and the Kings in Sacramento are looking for a new arena.
Louisville attorney Ed Glasscock, who also worked on previous NBA bids, called the Hornets and Kings “two prospects.”

I currently live in Louisville. I think this is a real threat, and my guess is the 'billionaire' owner would Mr. Papa John himself.

Louisville would be the perfect home for an NBA franchise. They love sports, particularly basketball, have a brand new state-of-the are arena "Yum" center and the state has no pro franchise. I could easily see Louisville being a prime target to land an NBA franchise. Luckily I see that franchise being the New Orleans Hornets before the Sacramento Kings. Although the Kings would like be plan B.

 

[Arco Thunder]

I currently live in Louisville. I think this is a real threat, and my guess is the 'billionaire' owner would Mr. Papa John himself.

Louisville would be the perfect home for an NBA franchise. They love sports, particularly basketball, have a brand new state-of-the are arena "Yum" center and the state has no pro franchise. I could easily see Louisville being a prime target to land an NBA franchise. Luckily I see that franchise being the New Orleans Hornets before the Sacramento Kings. Although the Kings would like be plan B.

The thought of this makes my stomach turn. It definitely looks like a real threat, and I hope you're right about the New Orleans Hornets.

 

[nbaFan]

thats interesting from you, i would have figured that you would prefer new orleans move to seattle, eliminating the kings prospects of moving there

 

[Tetsujin]

thats interesting from you, i would have figured that you would prefer new orleans move to seattle, eliminating the kings prospects of moving there

Seattle doesn't have a new arena so there a less likely chance o that happening.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

I'm not too worried about this because I don't think the Maloofs will sell the team. They may move the team, but if they did, I doubt it would be to the east coast.

 

[JB_kings]

Really no need to worry about other cities. Without a new arena in Sacramento, there will be a list of cities they can choose from and they will certainly go to the best fit. It's sad that wishing other cities would not look so good is about the only grasp of hope. This city has been in the drivers seat for a very long time now and continues to steer it into the ditch every single time. They are running out of road and the ditch is about to turn into a hole.

 

[fnordius]

They may move the team, but if they did, I doubt it would be to the east coast.

On the other hand, it currently takes an >.500 record to get into the 8th playoff slot in the Western Conference, but only .382 in the Leastern Conference. I'd lose all interest in the team if they went there, but changing conferences might be the franchise's quickest route out of lottoville.

 

[kupman]

Really no need to worry about other cities. Without a new arena in Sacramento, there will be a list of cities they can choose from and they will certainly go to the best fit. It's sad that wishing other cities would not look so good is about the only grasp of hope. This city has been in the drivers seat for a very long time now and continues to steer it into the ditch every single time. They are running out of road and the ditch is about to turn into a hole.

It's almost like someone has been drinking and driving.

 

[Arena Skeptic]

I'm amazed at how little press the arena plans for Vegas are getting. Folks, it's a done deal. Vegas is getting an arena. They're at least two steps ahead of us. Their legislature has two choices: Approve the plan, or put it to the voters. They cannot reject the plan.

And I don't think they will reject the plan.

Yeah, the NBA still needs to approve a team in Vegas, but Stern appears to no longer be opposed. He was once; he isn't now.

When the league comes back from the lockout, it's going to look different. Oh, the Lakers, Celtics, Bulls, Heat, Warriors, Jazz... Those teams aren't moving. But there are a number of teams that will be relocated or contracted. I don't think the Kings are guaranteed to be one of those teams, but I think they're on the short list. That should be enough to scare people. I know I don't like it.

The biggest problem in Sac is something that's out of our control: Lack of corporate presence. Watch one of their games on TV, and look at who's advertising. Hardly anyone.

 

[kennadog]

I'm amazed at how little press the arena plans for Vegas are getting. Folks, it's a done deal. Vegas is getting an arena. They're at least two steps ahead of us. Their legislature has two choices: Approve the plan, or put it to the voters. They cannot reject the plan.

And I don't think they will reject the plan.

Yeah, the NBA still needs to approve a team in Vegas, but Stern appears to no longer be opposed. He was once; he isn't now.

When the league comes back from the lockout, it's going to look different. Oh, the Lakers, Celtics, Bulls, Heat, Warriors, Jazz... Those teams aren't moving. But there are a number of teams that will be relocated or contracted. I don't think the Kings are guaranteed to be one of those teams, but I think they're on the short list. That should be enough to scare people. I know I don't like it.

The biggest problem in Sac is something that's out of our control: Lack of corporate presence. Watch one of their games on TV, and look at who's advertising. Hardly anyone.

Why can't the legislature reject the plan? Are they being held at gunpoint? What leads you to believe that Stern no longer objects to LV?

Contraction will cost the league money. They will have to buy out the owners of any teams they want to eliminate. I think that's more of a bargaining table threat.

 

[Trueblood]

I'm amazed at how little press the arena plans for Vegas are getting. Folks, it's a done deal. Vegas is getting an arena. They're at least two steps ahead of us. Their legislature has two choices: Approve the plan, or put it to the voters. They cannot reject the plan.

And I don't think they will reject the plan.

Yeah, the NBA still needs to approve a team in Vegas, but Stern appears to no longer be opposed. He was once; he isn't now.

When the league comes back from the lockout, it's going to look different. Oh, the Lakers, Celtics, Bulls, Heat, Warriors, Jazz... Those teams aren't moving. But there are a number of teams that will be relocated or contracted. I don't think the Kings are guaranteed to be one of those teams, but I think they're on the short list. That should be enough to scare people. I know I don't like it.

The biggest problem in Sac is something that's out of our control: Lack of corporate presence. Watch one of their games on TV, and look at who's advertising. Hardly anyone.

Well, I agree with the Vegas angle. While I don't think they're a great relocation destination due to how hard they got hit by the economy, I've always said that if shovels hit the dirt, the Maloofs will take a long look at the possibilities.

It works for the league as well. Due to Vegas being in the pacific time zone, the league wouldn't have to realign in the unfortunate event that the Kings were to move there. And like you said, Stern is leaving this one up to the BOG. He's not as opposed as he once was.

Don't get me wrong. He'd prefer not to go there but if they have a big time arena on the horizon and Sac is still dragging it's feet, he won't have much choice.

Like everyone else is saying, you can forget about contraction. Not gonna happen. The Hornets and Kings may relocate but I doubt you see much more, especially if the owners really take care of business with the new cba. While Charlotte, Indy and Memphis may be struggling now, they all have first class buildings and a owner friendly cba will give them less reason to bail out of their market. Plus, if the Kings and Hornets were to leave, Stern would try extra hard to keep the remaining teams where they are.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

On the other hand, it currently takes an >.500 record to get into the 8th playoff slot in the Western Conference, but only .382 in the Leastern Conference. I'd lose all interest in the team if they went there, but changing conferences might be the franchise's quickest route out of lottoville.

Good point. I hadn't considered that.