Passionate fans won't keep the Kings in Sacramento but $300-400 million for a new arena/entertainment complex might do the job. ThenNBA is a business and businesses have to make a profit. Stern has the right question, "can Sacramento support an NBA team in the current and near future economic climate" in general and in hNor Cal I might add. I have been a passionate Sacramento Kings fan all along. As a 22-year business/corporate owner (in the Sacramento area in Auburn for 15 years) I know first hand how the economic climate of an area affected my business. When I could not get business loans or incentives
to expand my business I had to move to where I could, in my case Santa Cruz.
If the Kings franchise has suffered for a number of years in the reality of the poor business climate in Sacramento which directly affected the fans ability to pay for tickets which in turn were affected by the rebuilding process needed after the CWebb injury resulting in 5 losing seasons, we can begin to see the Catch-22 the Kings have been in for 6+ years compounded by lack of city support for the one thing that would do the most to keep the Kings in the same environment, a new downtown arena and entertainment complex. If the business commercial climate stays down in Sacramento, compounded by a nearly broke state government, a new arena may not be enough to keep the Kings there. The further from Sacramento one gets the greater is the memory loss of the budget problems in Sacramento. I hope they stay but am also a realist about business climate to support a pro sports team.