Bee: Mayor backs new Kings arena

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#1
http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1607998.html

Johnson throws support behind new Kings arena
By Ryan Lillis and Tony Bizjak
Published: Sunday, Feb. 08, 2009 | Page 2B


Mayor Kevin Johnson is jumping into the drawn-out game of getting Sacramento a new Kings arena.

Over the past week, Johnson met or spoke with the Kings' owners, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, NBA Commissioner David Stern and representatives of Cal Expo, the site of a proposed new arena.

The mayor told The Bee on Saturday the meetings were not sparked by concerns over whether the Kings would leave Sacramento but were instead designed to bring him up to speed on the process of building a new arena.

"The Kings are a lot more than a basketball team to Sacramento," Johnson said. "They're a business, they're an economic engine, they're something that gives our city pride. (A new arena) has to happen. At some point, there needs to be a clear path to an arena."

Today, however, there are significant roadblocks.

NBA officials said last month the league's effort to build an arena at Cal Expo has been hampered by a sluggish real estate economy. The delay led league and Kings officials to acknowledge that the Maloofs – the family who owns the Kings – have grown frustrated.

John Moag, the NBA consultant who is working with Cal Expo officials on a plan for an arena, said the Maloofs have not spoken to him about filing a request with the league to move the Kings out of Sacramento. Still, he acknowledged the owners are discouraged by slow progress on the arena deal.

On Feb. 27, the Cal Expo board will see a master plan for a mixed-use project that includes a revamped space for the California State Fair and an arena. An NBA financial feasibility study for the project is also scheduled to be discussed.

Cal Expo deputy general manager Brian May said he had not spoken with Kings officials lately but said, "We're continuing to work with the NBA."

Donna Lucas, a Kings consultant, said the team "very much appreciates the mayor's leadership and the NBA's involvement in trying to find a solution" to the arena debate. She said the Maloofs have not been briefed on the Cal Expo proposal, but that the team is "committed to finding a solution in Sacramento."

The mayor said he is "a huge proponent of (an arena) happening at Cal Expo if it makes sense." He said several factors, including the economy and impact an arena would have on traffic around Cal Expo, need to be considered.

Johnson said that for now, Cal Expo should be considered above other arena options, including building at the downtown railyard or in Natomas. "The Cal Expo plan is the one we're looking at right now because the railyards and Natomas are not on the table," he said.

Johnson met with the Maloofs before the Kings game Friday night. He said with the bad economy and attendance sagging, he "wouldn't be surprised if it's tough for them right now."

"I want them to know my commitment, both personally and as the mayor of the city," said Johnson, a former NBA star with the Phoenix Suns. "I'm going to do everything I can to make sure we're going to get an arena built."

The mayor spoke with Stern on the phone and asked him "to continue his commitment" to keeping the Kings in town and helping get a new arena built.

The meeting with Schwarzenegger took place Thursday.

"I said, 'I'm going to do everything I can to provide the leadership, but what I need from you at the appropriate time is just a commitment that you're willing to make and be involved in (the process),' " Johnson said. "He said he believes in how important the Kings are to our economy and our region, and I was excited about that."

Barbara O'Connor, a communications professor at California State University, Sacramento, said Saturday that the mayor's involvement could signal a resurgence of an issue "that has been lying fallow for a while."

"He's certainly an informed participant, having been a player in the NBA," she said. "Who better to jump-start the talks?"

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I bolded just a couple of parts to prevent this from becoming the usual "The Maloofs want to move the team" discussion. If you note, it's pretty obvious it was the reporters who brought up the team moving scenario at least twice. After what I saw Friday night, it's pretty clear the Maloofs don't need to move the team. They just need to make sure we've got a product on the court that will bring the fans back.

I'm personally very happy that Kevin Johnson is being so upfront about his interest. He was warmly received Friday night. I'm cautiously optimistic.

:)
 
#2
Sac loves KJ and I think he likes the Kings enough to make sure we get an arena whether or not Cal expo pans out. I hope so anyway. He knows how important basketball is to Sacramento.