http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/71537.html
Arena plan appears doomed
New Bee poll finds opposition growing to Measures Q and R.
By Mary Lynne Vellinga and Terri Hardy - Bee Staff Writers
Published 12:00 am PST Saturday, November 4, 2006
Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A1
The plan to raise Sacramento County's sales tax to build a new arena for the Kings is headed for defeat by a "phenomenally high" margin, according to a new poll commissioned by The Bee.
Opposition to Measures Q and R has swelled since a Bee poll in September, while support has remained static. In the most recent poll, 67 percent of those surveyed said they planned to vote "no" on Measure R, up from 58 percent in the earlier survey. Measure R would raise the county sales tax by a quarter cent. It does not specify how the money would be used.
Only 21 percent said they would vote "yes" on R, a figure statistically no different from the 23 percent in favor in September.
Cheryl Katz, vice president of the polling firm Baldassare and Associates, described voters' dislike of the arena funding plan as "phenomenally high."
The momentum is "all negative," she said, pointing out that previously undecided voters have joined the "no" column on Measures Q and R since the last poll.
"It's unusual to see a measure this lopsided," said Katz. "You have a virtual supermajority, two-thirds, in opposition to Measure R."
Proponents had hoped that even if Measure R went down to defeat, Measure Q might still pass. Q is an advisory measure that asks voters whether they like the idea of spending half the money raised by Measure R on an arena and the other half on community projects in Sacramento County and its cities.
Without the $1.2 billion raised by Measure R, Q's provisions would be meaningless. But proponents thought a "yes" vote would signal voter support for building an arena in the railyard.
But Measure Q also failed to gain traction. Thirty-nine percent said they planned to vote "yes," compared with 49 percent voting "no" -- an 11-point increase in "no" votes since September.
The most recent Bee poll of 600 registered voters was conducted Oct. 26-30. Those interviewed by phone were picked at random from a list of likely voters based on their voting history. The margin of error is plus or minus four percentage points.
Katz said the main reason for voters' antipathy is the lack of a detailed plan on how the money raised by Measure R would be spent. In the absence of a signed deal with the Kings, the city and county are asking voters to give them the check for an arena before they say exactly how the money will be spent.
"What people really didn't like was having to vote in the dark," Katz said.
Proponents of the arena plan have touted the potential of a sports and entertainment center to help spark redevelopment of the old downtown railyard. But Katz said ads featuring the railyard failed to move anyone but younger voters, who tend to stay home on Election Day.
Only the most avid Kings fans plan to support Measure Q. Of those who said it was "very important" that the Kings remain in town, 75 percent said they would vote "yes" on Measure Q. Only 49 percent of that group supports Measure R, however.
Katz said the media coverage of Q and R and the advertising campaign for the plan have only hardened voters' dislike.
"It's really hard to find anyone in Sacramento County who hasn't been inundated with information about this plan," she said. "Familiarity seems to have bred contempt."
Carol Navarro, a retired state worker interviewed for the poll, said she likes the idea of a new arena for shows and concerts. But she doesn't like Q and R.
"The whole thing just seems thrown together; nothing has been done right," Navarro said.
The public outbursts by the Maloofs, owners of the Sacramento Kings, haven't helped. The Maloofs pulled out of the campaign in September, charging that the city and county had failed to uphold various deal points, including a promise that they would receive the money from 8,000 parking spaces in the railyard.
Brothers Joe and Gavin Maloof then appeared in an ad for Carl's Jr. that depicted them as billionaires washing down their burgers with a $6,000 bottle of wine.
"The Maloofs are like spoiled brats," Navarro said. "They want everything and they don't want to put forth anything. They just want to suck us dry."
The Kings' owners offered a different interpretation of events Friday. John Thomas, president of Maloof Sports and Entertainment, said the team "did everything in our ability to get a final signed (agreement) completed and out to voters."
Thomas said he agreed with NBA Commissioner David Stern, who said he didn't believe people should be expected to vote for something they don't understand. "Voters don't know what they're being asked to vote on," Thomas said.
The politicians and business leaders spearheading the Yes on Q&R campaign are well aware that the measures are likely going down to defeat. In recent days, they've focused on the railyard, saying that no matter what happens, they'll try to keep the spotlight on the 240-acre industrial site as a prime location for a new arena.
Campaign spokesman Doug Elmets noted that sports funding proposals often take "a couple of election cycles" to pass.
He and others involved in the campaign say it's no surprise voters would soundly reject Measures Q and R, given the lack of a deal with the Maloofs and their actions during the campaign.
"We still think the vision is right for Sacramento, and we remain committed to seeing it through," said Sacramento City Councilman Rob Fong.
State Assemblyman Dave Jones, D-Sacramento, leader of opposition to the arena, agreed that the focus should be on the railyard. But he argues that a sports arena is not the best way to get the land redeveloped. Instead, he said, the public should concentrate on finding a way to fund the $600 million needed for the infrastructure -- roads, city utilities and basic facilities -- in the railyard. And the Kings should just keep playing at Arco.
"The way to revitalize downtowns is to spend money on basic infrastructure," he said.
As much as proponents and opponents of the measures try to focus on the railyard, voters are still focused on the Kings, The Bee survey found. Most of those polled said ads featuring the railyard made no difference, and some said they were more inclined to vote "no" after seeing the ads.
Six out of 10 voters surveyed said they were Kings fans, a number unchanged since September. A similar proportion said it's important that the team remain in Sacramento, with 26 percent saying it's "very important."
"This town really likes their basketball team," Katz said. "That's a really relevant issue for voters."
Voting NO on Measure R - 67% - To raise sales tax one-quarter cent
Voting NO on Measure Q - 49% - To spend half on new arena, half on other projects
Source: Sacramento Bee poll conducted Oct. 26-30. Margin of error is plus/minus 4 percentage points.
About the writer: The Bee's Mary Lynne Vellinga can be reached at (916) 321-1094 or mlvellinga@sacbee.com.
Arena plan appears doomed
New Bee poll finds opposition growing to Measures Q and R.
By Mary Lynne Vellinga and Terri Hardy - Bee Staff Writers
Published 12:00 am PST Saturday, November 4, 2006
Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A1
The plan to raise Sacramento County's sales tax to build a new arena for the Kings is headed for defeat by a "phenomenally high" margin, according to a new poll commissioned by The Bee.
Opposition to Measures Q and R has swelled since a Bee poll in September, while support has remained static. In the most recent poll, 67 percent of those surveyed said they planned to vote "no" on Measure R, up from 58 percent in the earlier survey. Measure R would raise the county sales tax by a quarter cent. It does not specify how the money would be used.
Only 21 percent said they would vote "yes" on R, a figure statistically no different from the 23 percent in favor in September.
Cheryl Katz, vice president of the polling firm Baldassare and Associates, described voters' dislike of the arena funding plan as "phenomenally high."
The momentum is "all negative," she said, pointing out that previously undecided voters have joined the "no" column on Measures Q and R since the last poll.
"It's unusual to see a measure this lopsided," said Katz. "You have a virtual supermajority, two-thirds, in opposition to Measure R."
Proponents had hoped that even if Measure R went down to defeat, Measure Q might still pass. Q is an advisory measure that asks voters whether they like the idea of spending half the money raised by Measure R on an arena and the other half on community projects in Sacramento County and its cities.
Without the $1.2 billion raised by Measure R, Q's provisions would be meaningless. But proponents thought a "yes" vote would signal voter support for building an arena in the railyard.
But Measure Q also failed to gain traction. Thirty-nine percent said they planned to vote "yes," compared with 49 percent voting "no" -- an 11-point increase in "no" votes since September.
The most recent Bee poll of 600 registered voters was conducted Oct. 26-30. Those interviewed by phone were picked at random from a list of likely voters based on their voting history. The margin of error is plus or minus four percentage points.
Katz said the main reason for voters' antipathy is the lack of a detailed plan on how the money raised by Measure R would be spent. In the absence of a signed deal with the Kings, the city and county are asking voters to give them the check for an arena before they say exactly how the money will be spent.
"What people really didn't like was having to vote in the dark," Katz said.
Proponents of the arena plan have touted the potential of a sports and entertainment center to help spark redevelopment of the old downtown railyard. But Katz said ads featuring the railyard failed to move anyone but younger voters, who tend to stay home on Election Day.
Only the most avid Kings fans plan to support Measure Q. Of those who said it was "very important" that the Kings remain in town, 75 percent said they would vote "yes" on Measure Q. Only 49 percent of that group supports Measure R, however.
Katz said the media coverage of Q and R and the advertising campaign for the plan have only hardened voters' dislike.
"It's really hard to find anyone in Sacramento County who hasn't been inundated with information about this plan," she said. "Familiarity seems to have bred contempt."
Carol Navarro, a retired state worker interviewed for the poll, said she likes the idea of a new arena for shows and concerts. But she doesn't like Q and R.
"The whole thing just seems thrown together; nothing has been done right," Navarro said.
The public outbursts by the Maloofs, owners of the Sacramento Kings, haven't helped. The Maloofs pulled out of the campaign in September, charging that the city and county had failed to uphold various deal points, including a promise that they would receive the money from 8,000 parking spaces in the railyard.
Brothers Joe and Gavin Maloof then appeared in an ad for Carl's Jr. that depicted them as billionaires washing down their burgers with a $6,000 bottle of wine.
"The Maloofs are like spoiled brats," Navarro said. "They want everything and they don't want to put forth anything. They just want to suck us dry."
The Kings' owners offered a different interpretation of events Friday. John Thomas, president of Maloof Sports and Entertainment, said the team "did everything in our ability to get a final signed (agreement) completed and out to voters."
Thomas said he agreed with NBA Commissioner David Stern, who said he didn't believe people should be expected to vote for something they don't understand. "Voters don't know what they're being asked to vote on," Thomas said.
The politicians and business leaders spearheading the Yes on Q&R campaign are well aware that the measures are likely going down to defeat. In recent days, they've focused on the railyard, saying that no matter what happens, they'll try to keep the spotlight on the 240-acre industrial site as a prime location for a new arena.
Campaign spokesman Doug Elmets noted that sports funding proposals often take "a couple of election cycles" to pass.
He and others involved in the campaign say it's no surprise voters would soundly reject Measures Q and R, given the lack of a deal with the Maloofs and their actions during the campaign.
"We still think the vision is right for Sacramento, and we remain committed to seeing it through," said Sacramento City Councilman Rob Fong.
State Assemblyman Dave Jones, D-Sacramento, leader of opposition to the arena, agreed that the focus should be on the railyard. But he argues that a sports arena is not the best way to get the land redeveloped. Instead, he said, the public should concentrate on finding a way to fund the $600 million needed for the infrastructure -- roads, city utilities and basic facilities -- in the railyard. And the Kings should just keep playing at Arco.
"The way to revitalize downtowns is to spend money on basic infrastructure," he said.
As much as proponents and opponents of the measures try to focus on the railyard, voters are still focused on the Kings, The Bee survey found. Most of those polled said ads featuring the railyard made no difference, and some said they were more inclined to vote "no" after seeing the ads.
Six out of 10 voters surveyed said they were Kings fans, a number unchanged since September. A similar proportion said it's important that the team remain in Sacramento, with 26 percent saying it's "very important."
"This town really likes their basketball team," Katz said. "That's a really relevant issue for voters."
Voting NO on Measure R - 67% - To raise sales tax one-quarter cent
Voting NO on Measure Q - 49% - To spend half on new arena, half on other projects
Source: Sacramento Bee poll conducted Oct. 26-30. Margin of error is plus/minus 4 percentage points.
About the writer: The Bee's Mary Lynne Vellinga can be reached at (916) 321-1094 or mlvellinga@sacbee.com.