Dear Anaheim city council members,
I am writing to express my deep felt concern and anger at this proposed financing for the Honda Center renovation. I cannot fathom to understand why at this state of affairs that the country, region, and city is in, we are proposing to help finance a renovation with tax payer dollars. My beloved Anaheim Ducks call Honda Center home. We will be having the NCAA tournament next week. The greatest music artists visit the Honda Center for live performances. Big name boxing events. UFC and various other MMA organizations have held events at the Honda Center. Yet, we are trying to satisfy a bunch of bankrupt owners from Northern California? Small business has been hit tremendously hard during this recession and we are possibly looking at a double dip recession that can hit at any time. We should be using funding for the expansion of markets, Anaheim school district, and simply fixing the glaring financial problems that Anaheim possesses.
The Honda Center was recently renovated in 2005. Whenever I go to Ducks games, I have an enjoyable experience, not just because of the game, but because of the great atmosphere that the arena possesses. Everything inside is modern for the 21st century that we live in.
What many do not understand is that the Maloof Brothers (owners of the Sacramento Kings) squandered nearly all of their fortune on ridiculous investments. From trying to be playboys and initiating ridiculous projects in Las Vegas for their Palms casino to running their beer distributorship (Coors, MIller, Corona, Heineken, Tecate, Boston Beer, Red Bull, Guiness) into the ground, which was what their family fortune was built on. They have lost nearly all of their father's fortune and now are bailing when the going gets tough. They are leaving Sacramento because they want a new arena. What makes you think that they won't bail on Anaheim when they demand a new arena as well? The Honda Center started to be built in 1990 and finished in 1993. What will happen when they demand a new arena in Anaheim? They are ATTEMPTING to come to Anaheim because of the money, not because of the dedicated fans that Anaheim possesses or the city of ANAHEIM itself. I read that the Sacramento Kings fans were one of the most loyal NBA fans in the league, so that aspect apparently means nothing to the Maloof brothers.
The fact also still remains that the Lakers still dominate this region. They dominate nearly all of Southern California. You will be adding a THIRD team within a 30 mile radius. A VAGABOND team.
With all due respect city council members, I am not simply some high on emotion uninformed citizen that would like no change. I do my research before speaking, but I am not going to sit here and pretend that we do not want an NBA franchise. What city wouldn't? Though, I vehemently oppose using any public money to help an unnecessary cause.
If the Maloof brothers want to come to Anaheim. Sure, let them do so. But, it remains to be seen if they can sustain themselves financially. They are already asking for loans left and right. Not only from the Anaheim Arena Management, but are now looking to suck out more blood from the city itself.
This makes me sick and if the city council does end up approving this issue, then you can expect myself and my fellow colleagues at the Anaheim school district to vote you out of office during the next election.
Thank you for your attention,
Alex