It's appalling to see fans from outside the city of Sacramento or fans who have never lived in Sacramento voicing their opinions. This isn't a basketball issue any more. It's a political issue. So if you don't live in Sacramento, or you are not a Sacramento tax payer, your opinion is completely and utterly void unless you at the very least demonstrate some political savvy. The Maloofs are going broke, and they owe the city of Sacramento $77 million. That isn't pretend money. It's very real, and if they default (and all signs point to this as a possibility) it will be the citizens of Sacramento paying a very real consequence. The city MUST arm itself, otherwise the Maloofs will walk away, and give the city of Sacramento an old dilapidated building as repayment.
The Maloofs decided to leave a long time ago, which is a reality that a lot of Kings fans have a hard time accepting. But that is no excuse to hand over all of your power to the very owners who are actively trying to screw you over. Some of the posters on this forum act like battered wives unwilling to accept that they are married to abusive partners.
This is the chance to fight the good fight. The Maloofs aren't going to listen to emotional pleas (they never were). They are going to listen to their pocketbooks. And by the city suggesting that they will take legal action, a move that was once going to cost around $30 million (relocation fees) may very well have jumped up in price to $100 million. This might make the move financially impossible for the money-hemorrhaging, wanna-be playboys.
So now, if they move, they will likely have to borrow money from Henry Samueli to pay back the city of Sacramento in full (and thereby forfeit their majority ownership). Or they can sell the team now to an owner who could choose to stay in Sacramento and actually work with the city to work on a new arena. The Kings may no longer be in Sacramento, but at least the Maloofs will no longer be owners (which will at least be better for the franchise for those of you who will continue to follow them). This is the dilemma that the city of Sacramento wants the Maloofs to be in, because in all honesty, it is the best chance to keep the franchise here, possibly with new ownership. Kissing the Maloof's butts and singing their praises was never going to work, it's time to play hardball, and I'm glad to see the city of Sacramento up its game. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me that Kevin Johnson's meetings with elected officials in Seattle and Charlotte led him to the decision to push legal action before the moving papers were filed rather than afterward.
Good on you, Sacramento.
This is an excellent post. Thanks.
I think this thread is going to lead to some VERY interesting dialogue. Simply put, who didn't see this coming? All divorces/separations go this way. At first, the ideas of breaking up are there. We play nice, we get back together. Slowly, we drift, last minute pleas are made, everything looks ok, then reality sets in. The battle begins. Now we are fighting for who gets the dog and kids on weekends (sorry if that hits home for anyone, I seriously mean no offense.)
That being said, I see the following:
1. The Maloofs are businessmen (arguably). They are trying to protect their business. I understand and appreciate this view. I understand their frustration with Sacramento and the "dragging of the foot", if you will, on the whole arena issue.
2. Sacramento is attempting to protect its investment. I understand and agree with this view.
3. The fans are pissed. I understand and agree with this view. It's not our fault (for the most part) that the Kings are leaving. A lot of venues state that it is the fans "lack of support" that is spurring this move. It is not. The true fan is pissed off at the lack of due diligence by the city over the last decade.
4. If the Maloofs do end up staying, there is no way to mend ties and keep them here. I understand and
disagree with this. (See #1) The Maloofs wanted a damn arena. They want to make money. Both
can be done in Sacto. That being said, I think a lot of people are emotionally reactive. That's great, I am as well. However, one thing I have learned over the years is that the public has a VERY short memory. If we can hard-ball them into staying, and for some reason can build an arena, there will still be haters, but in the long run fans will rush back in.
5. I may be a bit misinformed and out of line on this comment, but how is it that Sacto has ten years to put an arena deal together and can't do it, yet can orchestrate a joint effort (involving attorneys) to ban a move when they get a wiff that they will lose money? Where was this drive when we needed an arena? It's not as if litigation will be cheap. Millions of dollars in litigation > millions of dollars for an arena? (they aren't the same scale, I understand, but I still think my point is valid.)
I have no doubt I will be ripped for #4 by those who say "I WILL NEVER FORGIVE THE MAGOOFS!" That's fine. Do what you must. I love my Kings and I want them to stay. If making this move financially impossible for Huey, Dewey, and Louie means we get one more year to keep the Kings in town, and ultimately another swing at building an arena, I say "Bravo" for sending the letter/threatening litigation.