Somehow, I missed this piece on the Bee editorial page on the 7th. Didn't see it posted. If it was, mods, please delete.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14290021p-15120551c.html
Other view: Vote is about regional potential, not 'arena deal'
By Warren Smith -- Special to The Bee
Published 12:01 am PDT Monday, August 7, 2006
Sacramento and the surrounding region are evolving from a place to live into an exciting place to live -- and an exciting place to want to live. There are many reasons for this transformation, but undeniably one of them is a heightened national profile.
Do the Kings and Monarchs as professional sports franchises contribute to Sacramento's recently enhanced national status? You bet they do.
But to boil Sacramento's appeal down to just the Kings and the Monarchs is as simplistic and misleading as obsessively focusing on another couple of words -- "arena" and "deal."
The bigger picture behind the upcoming November election -- when voters will decide the fate of Measures Q and R, a quarter-cent sales tax increase and an advisory measure on how to spend the proceeds -- is in real danger of being erased by a bitter recital of what woulda-coulda-shoulda transpired during recent negotiations, i.e. the "arena deal."
And even that discussion ignores key factors:
• Sacramento's presence is growing on the national market, but it simply isn't a Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago or Philadelphia -- all homes of privately funded sports venues in top media markets that result in lucrative television contracts.
• There's absolutely no guarantee that Maloof Sports and Entertainment's management of a new sports and entertainment facility would turn a profit. In fact, MSE and the Kings have lost money at Arco Arena in past years. Other teams playing in newer arenas, such as Memphis, Indianapolis, Charlotte and San Antonio, also control revenues from events. It's a financial reality from team owners' perspective.
• The project cost of a proposed sports and entertainment facility in Sacramento (estimated at $470 million) is roughly double that of other projects in the same four cities. Consider the cost of living in cities such as Memphis, Indianapolis or Charlotte versus the cost of living in virtually any location in California. That, combined with the recent and dramatic rise in construction material costs, results in a higher percentage contribution from public funding, when viewed as a stand-alone measure.
So yes, if approved, Measure Q could result in mostly public monies being spent to build a new sports and entertainment complex at Sacramento's downtown railyards that would become the home of the Kings and Monarchs for the next 30 years. That's exciting for sports fans, but not nearly as exciting as what else happens.
This construction would jump-start a $4.5 billion urban redevelopment of the now barren downtown railyards. Imagine an extension of a dynamic downtown core with an 18,000-seat arena, host to national and international conventions; housing for more than 10,000 people; and new restaurants, museums and public plazas. This potential puts us in a better position to attract the attention of investors, employers and people everywhere in search of opportunity.
And also consider what happens off a field or court. Enjoy a Triple-A Baseball River Cats game at Raley Field and you'll often see an old friend, meet a business colleague or run across a neighbor. The Kings' NBA presence magnifies this effect, connecting residents from throughout our region regardless of ethnicity, income or class.
As the most diverse community in the country, do we really want to throw away something that brings us together despite where we live, what we do or who we are?
Again, the Kings and Monarchs are in the foreground of a bigger picture. Our region is on the verge of attaining an entirely new level of national prominence and potential. This should not only include a sports venue, but also the ability to attract nationally touring concerts, conventions and events, some of which now pass up Arco Arena because of its age and limitations.
The narrow debate on the "arena deal" obscures even more. Roughly half the revenue from the quarter-cent sales tax increase would also be shared with Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, Galt, Isleton and Rancho Cordova. This could bring each city millions of dollars to spend on local priorities, including parks, road improvements to relieve congestion, police officers and libraries.
Even with all that, there are many who believe, say and write that our community leaders should have held out for a better "arena deal." So how long will we have to wait for this perfect deal while the Kings and Monarchs pack up and leave, while Arco is redeveloped into offices, and while we drive by and watch the railyards remain idle another year?
Let's transform our potential into a prosperous reality rather than extinguishing the momentum carrying our region forward. Join me in supporting our Sacramento region by voting Yes on Measures Q and R.
About the writer:
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14290021p-15120551c.html
Other view: Vote is about regional potential, not 'arena deal'
By Warren Smith -- Special to The Bee
Published 12:01 am PDT Monday, August 7, 2006
Sacramento and the surrounding region are evolving from a place to live into an exciting place to live -- and an exciting place to want to live. There are many reasons for this transformation, but undeniably one of them is a heightened national profile.
Do the Kings and Monarchs as professional sports franchises contribute to Sacramento's recently enhanced national status? You bet they do.
But to boil Sacramento's appeal down to just the Kings and the Monarchs is as simplistic and misleading as obsessively focusing on another couple of words -- "arena" and "deal."
The bigger picture behind the upcoming November election -- when voters will decide the fate of Measures Q and R, a quarter-cent sales tax increase and an advisory measure on how to spend the proceeds -- is in real danger of being erased by a bitter recital of what woulda-coulda-shoulda transpired during recent negotiations, i.e. the "arena deal."
And even that discussion ignores key factors:
• Sacramento's presence is growing on the national market, but it simply isn't a Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago or Philadelphia -- all homes of privately funded sports venues in top media markets that result in lucrative television contracts.
• There's absolutely no guarantee that Maloof Sports and Entertainment's management of a new sports and entertainment facility would turn a profit. In fact, MSE and the Kings have lost money at Arco Arena in past years. Other teams playing in newer arenas, such as Memphis, Indianapolis, Charlotte and San Antonio, also control revenues from events. It's a financial reality from team owners' perspective.
• The project cost of a proposed sports and entertainment facility in Sacramento (estimated at $470 million) is roughly double that of other projects in the same four cities. Consider the cost of living in cities such as Memphis, Indianapolis or Charlotte versus the cost of living in virtually any location in California. That, combined with the recent and dramatic rise in construction material costs, results in a higher percentage contribution from public funding, when viewed as a stand-alone measure.
So yes, if approved, Measure Q could result in mostly public monies being spent to build a new sports and entertainment complex at Sacramento's downtown railyards that would become the home of the Kings and Monarchs for the next 30 years. That's exciting for sports fans, but not nearly as exciting as what else happens.
This construction would jump-start a $4.5 billion urban redevelopment of the now barren downtown railyards. Imagine an extension of a dynamic downtown core with an 18,000-seat arena, host to national and international conventions; housing for more than 10,000 people; and new restaurants, museums and public plazas. This potential puts us in a better position to attract the attention of investors, employers and people everywhere in search of opportunity.
And also consider what happens off a field or court. Enjoy a Triple-A Baseball River Cats game at Raley Field and you'll often see an old friend, meet a business colleague or run across a neighbor. The Kings' NBA presence magnifies this effect, connecting residents from throughout our region regardless of ethnicity, income or class.
As the most diverse community in the country, do we really want to throw away something that brings us together despite where we live, what we do or who we are?
Again, the Kings and Monarchs are in the foreground of a bigger picture. Our region is on the verge of attaining an entirely new level of national prominence and potential. This should not only include a sports venue, but also the ability to attract nationally touring concerts, conventions and events, some of which now pass up Arco Arena because of its age and limitations.
The narrow debate on the "arena deal" obscures even more. Roughly half the revenue from the quarter-cent sales tax increase would also be shared with Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, Galt, Isleton and Rancho Cordova. This could bring each city millions of dollars to spend on local priorities, including parks, road improvements to relieve congestion, police officers and libraries.
Even with all that, there are many who believe, say and write that our community leaders should have held out for a better "arena deal." So how long will we have to wait for this perfect deal while the Kings and Monarchs pack up and leave, while Arco is redeveloped into offices, and while we drive by and watch the railyards remain idle another year?
Let's transform our potential into a prosperous reality rather than extinguishing the momentum carrying our region forward. Join me in supporting our Sacramento region by voting Yes on Measures Q and R.
About the writer:
- Warren Smith is founder and publisher of Prosper Magazine and executive vice president of the River Cats Triple-A Baseball team.
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