Board of Govs Meeting Updates-DAY 2

[PurpleHaze]

It's obvious Stern believes everything, and I mean everything hangs on can Sac city get a plan, a real plan in place for a new arena. Mayor Johnson apparently is putting the railyard chips on the table as his best card - if it's feasible - Kings likely stay - if not they go.

Interesting that Stern said that it's easy to move a franchise in a split second, citing New Orleans Hurricane Katrina event in Aug. '05 and playing in OKC by pre-season less than two months later - too nightly sellouts. Also, Deputy Commish Silver stating than 22 teams are losing money with only 8 making a profit. Apparently, it's not much of a profit since the NBA lost over $300 million over each of past two years.

 

[Hallama]

OK, this whole thing just jumped the shark when Stern appointed Clay Bennett...just, lol.

 

[JB_kings]

As much as they want to dig into Sacramento's claims at the presentation, they have some serious questions about the situation in Anaheim. That lease repayment penalty in bold letters probably slapped them upside the head as hard as it did for anyone else who read the thing. That thing triggers and it's instant bankruptcy for the team. While I'm sure they wouldn't mind Samueli as an owner, this would make for some not so nice headlines for the NBA. Plus the numbers for all the claimed windfall of revenue in the arena and media contracts isn't quite clear?

I'm sorry but this really looks bad for the Maloofs on so many levels. You have the board questioning the offered deal and you don't have all the facts in place? Maybe this is why they are in such bad financial shape. They jump before they understand what they are getting into.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

On 3 teams in SoCal: Its something that the committee will have to look at...My sense is that it is likely it can support it.

Even if it can support it in theory, there's still the Lakers and the huge resistance they're going to put up because of the TV revenue they'll lose. That alone could result in a relocation fee the Maloofs simply can't pay.

 

[Glenn]

Stern is obviously skeptical about Sacramento's ability to build an arena and I don't think he thinks it is the team's responsibility. He seems burned out on Sacramento local politics and quite frustrated with the City. I am too. The NBA game wants the city to be a big part of building an arena and if the people don't see it that way, the Kings will leave. So far, it seems like a lot of people are putting the blame on the Maloofs. Stern is blaming the City. At this point, what we think of the Maloofs is irrrelevant. We have to convince Stern and the Relocation Committee that the City can get something done.

Is it fair? It makes no difference. It is real and now the City has to deal with it.

BTW, this focus on the City of Sacramento as the only entity that is relevant repulses me both because of the way Stern now sees it and also because I don't think the City wants anyone else involved. 75% of the season ticket holders are NOT being represented either by the City or the NBA.

 

[Glenn]

Is there any chance at all that they approve relocation even if by May 2nd we have a fully funded plan for an Arena with Burkle partly behind the financing? Obviously we won't be moving dirt by May 2nd, but it may be possible to ICON to come back with a financing plan that includes Burkle.

My guess is that they would not allow relocation as that was stressed.

 

[ReinadelosReys]

Sacramento needs to come up with a concrete Arena plan, but the last time the ICON/Taylor Arena study was discussed at a city council meeting, it was said to be delayed even further and would not be ready until mid-to late May....:/

 

[ReinadelosReys]

WojYahooNBA Adrian Wojnarowski
Don't underestimate the power of Lakers owner Jerry Buss with Stern and ownership peers. Buss will do anything to keep Kings out of SoCal.

 

[Glenn]

Sacramento needs to come up with a concrete Arena plan, but the last time the ICON/Taylor Arena study was discussed at a city council meeting, it was said to be delayed even further and would not be ready until mid-to late May....:/

This is pre-Burkle.

 

[swisshh]

Clay Bennett? That is one way to screw over Sacramento.

 

[PurpleHaze]

WojYahooNBA Adrian Wojnarowski
Don't underestimate the power of Lakers owner Jerry Buss with Stern and ownership peers. Buss will do anything to keep Kings out of SoCal.

I agree but.... if NBA declares existing arena in Sacramento "substandard" as NCAA has already done the franchise will be forced by the league to move "somewhere." Even if only for a season in limbo. Louisville, Kansas City, Vancouver, etc.

 

[JB_kings]

I'd feel a lot better about this if Clay Bennett wasn't the guy put in charge of the relocation committee. We already know he ignored similar efforts by the people of Seattle to buy the team and keep it. So now we have to hope the Anaheim agreement is as shaky as it's been reported to be in terms of revenue restrictions. This also gives more time for the ICON group to finish their arena study in Sacramento. And there's maybe an outside chance that the petitioners are successful in getting the bonds delayed.

Not since Eisenhower picked Rommel to lead the allied invasion of Normandy... oh wait!

 

[=LarryLegend=]

Let's be realistic, Kings will have no choice to move due to the problem....Sacramento never wanted to build an arena. blame the Maloofs all you want. but in 10/11years they could not build an arena good luck with 17 days.

 

[Peter_Gibbons]

Nope. Burkle has a kind of coin that can make any deal happen. All these arenas and stadiums are made with actual public funds and private backing (PPP - public private partnership). Deep private pockets guarantee municipal bonds (by paying interest through sweet lease deals and protecting from default) and arenas get built. Burkle can front some of the money to make it even easier for politicians to pass the plans and budgets. Private parties (banks, funds) then buy those bonds and arena gets built without municipalities needing to dip into their _revenues_/revenue streams (directly dipping into tax dollars). Public money is still at risk, but it appears as if everything has been done without tax dollars (as in directly taxing through increase or special taxes).

This is also what Samueli did to facilitate the move (guarantee bond issue/back the loan so that city doesn't have to).

This is also at the heart of why Maloofs could never do a deal with Sacto - THEY DON"T have that kind of money or credit anymore. Their demands were unreasonable because they don't have coin to put up even just a guarantee, let alone "loan money to city" in a matter of speach. They wanted Sacto to build them arena AND give them a sweet lease deal as if they guaranteed notes/invested themselves.

It's not "too little - too late". Anyone saying that has an agenda other then what is best for NBA/Kings.

The point I made was that Burkle or not, no business man is going to pay for the entire arena. So if he fronts the money or facilitates a loan, a big chunk of the money ultimately comes from public money. No matter who loans or fronts the money, the city will not want to be on the hook for it. The state is in a huge deficit and even without increase taxes, they don't have extra money to pay for anything else. General voters do not want to see the city doing something like that.Heck they don't even have enough money to pay the state workers.

 

[funkykingston]

In brief, I will never absolve city hall for it's role in this fiasco. Especially Fargo and members of the Sacramento City Council. I hold them at least (if not more) accountable in all this as the Maloofs.

And I will also always appreciate the Maloofs buying the team and showing real passion and energy during the best years this club had in Sacramento as well as their work in the community.

That said, I am officially and thoroughly done with them. I could overlook bad decisions (the gold lame alternate jerseys, the "6" statue, the hiring of Theus and especially the firing of Adelman) because I thought they were just well meaning bumblers who couldn't get out of their own way and were relatively clueless about what appeals to fans and how to run a team.

But what I've seen this last year is (regardless of real or perceived money troubles) a bumbling that could potentially cost me a basketball team that was mine LONG before it was theirs. Who doesn't realize that pressure is always needed to get things like an arena done? If they wanted one in Sacramento the way to do it wasn't to throw up their hands in frustration and then secretly start talks with Anaheim. The way to do it was to very publicly state in early 2010 that if a firm plan for an arena wasn't in place by this year's deadline they'd file for relocation.

Give an ultimatum and a firm deadline. At best it gets all the wheels (which are just now shaking off rust) turning a year earlier and gets them a new facility in Sacramento. At worst (assuming they actually DID want to stay in Sacramento) it lets them do what they are doing now publicly with no blood on their hands since they gave the city a chance. That's just negotiaton 101.

And things only got worse. I think the tipping point was Joe (I think it was Joe and not Gavin) making a pair of comments when KJ started really fighting for the Kings and bringing up the $77 million loan repayment. First he says he said that Johnson should stay out of their business. Really? As if stripping a city of it's beloved team doesn't make it the mayor's business to try and stop them?

And even more frustrating was him going on to say that he and his brothers were trying to do the "classy thing" by not talking about it. Classy? CLASSY? Keeping fans in the dark and refusing to discuss the fact that they were putting all their efforts into taking away the team while Sacramentans continued to shell out money to see THEIR team was classy? No, it was slimy, pure and simple.

But today's comment was it for me. If the Kings leave Sacramento will never get another team? What on earth gives them the gall to say something like that.

I desperately want the Kings to stay in Sacramento. In a perfect world the Maloofs would be forced to sell and a new arena would be built that could revitalize downtown Sacramento. But in reality I think the options are that the Kings become the Anaheim Royals and Sacramento possibly gets another team in a few years or the Kings stay in Sacramento with the Maloofs as owners.

I'd rather have the latter because it means I get to keep rooting for the team I grew up with but I will feel a twinge every time I buy tickets that I am supporting the Maloofs.

 

[Glenn]

Let's be realistic, Kings will have no choice to move due to the problem....Sacramento never wanted to build an arena. blame the Maloofs all you want. but in 10/11years they could not build an arena good luck with 17 days.

They need a plan and money in place in 17 days. They've had a decade to work on it. It either can be done or can't. If it can't, bye bye Kings along with the other entitites that will bandon this area like the NCAA, businesses, etc. The City has cut it's throat and the blood is oozing out.

 

[Glenn]

The point I made was that Burkle or not, no business man is going to pay for the entire arena. So if he fronts the money or facilitates a loan, a big chunk of the money ultimately comes from public money. No matter who loans or fronts the money, the city will not want to be on the hook for it. The state is in a huge deficit and even without increase taxes, they don't have extra money to pay for anything else. General voters do not want to see the city doing something like that.Heck they don't even have enough money to pay the state workers.

Anaheim came up with a deal that risks no public money. Obviously, they deserve the Kings because they are better at this than Sacramento is.

 

[fansinceday1]

I listen to a lot of political talk radio and burkle was a big subject this morning. He is a major player in the democratic party. When he talks the democratic party listens. Burkles partner is a very well connected lobbyist and developer Darius Anderson who was suppose to be in NY with KJ. If anyone can cut through the red tape of the state capital of CA it will be Ron Burkle and his partner Darius Anderson. These are two heavy hitters.

 

[VF21]

In brief, I will never absolve city hall for it's role in this fiasco. Especially Fargo and members of the Sacramento City Council. I hold them at least (if not more) accountable in all this as the Maloofs.

And I will also always appreciate the Maloofs buying the team and showing real passion and energy during the best years this club had in Sacramento as well as their work in the community.

That said, I am officially and thoroughly done with them. I could overlook bad decisions (the gold lame alternate jerseys, the "6" statue, the hiring of Theus and especially the firing of Adelman) because I thought they were just well meaning bumblers who couldn't get out of their own way and were relatively clueless about what appeals to fans and how to run a team.

But what I've seen this last year is (regardless of real or perceived money troubles) a bumbling that could potentially cost me a basketball team that was mine LONG before it was theirs. Who doesn't realize that pressure is always needed to get things like an arena done? If they wanted one in Sacramento the way to do it wasn't to throw up their hands in frustration and then secretly start talks with Anaheim. The way to do it was to very publicly state in early 2010 that if a firm plan for an arena wasn't in place by this year's deadline they'd file for relocation.

Give an ultimatum and a firm deadline. At best it gets all the wheels (which are just now shaking off rust) turning a year earlier and gets them a new facility in Sacramento. At worst (assuming they actually DID want to stay in Sacramento) it lets them do what they are doing now publicly with no blood on their hands since they gave the city a chance. That's just negotiaton 101.

And things only got worse. I think the tipping point was Joe (I think it was Joe and not Gavin) making a pair of comments when KJ started really fighting for the Kings and bringing up the $77 million loan repayment. First he says he said that Johnson should stay out of their business. Really? As if stripping a city of it's beloved team doesn't make it the mayor's business to try and stop them?

And even more frustrating was him going on to say that he and his brothers were trying to do the "classy thing" by not talking about it. Classy? CLASSY? Keeping fans in the dark and refusing to discuss the fact that they were putting all their efforts into taking away the team while Sacramentans continued to shell out money to see THEIR team was classy? No, it was slimy, pure and simple.

But today's comment was it for me. If the Kings leave Sacramento will never get another team? What on earth gives them the gall to say something like that.

I desperately want the Kings to stay in Sacramento. In a perfect world the Maloofs would be forced to sell and a new arena would be built that could revitalize downtown Sacramento. But in reality I think the options are that the Kings become the Anaheim Royals and Sacramento possibly gets another team in a few years or the Kings stay in Sacramento with the Maloofs as owners.

I'd rather have the latter because it means I get to keep rooting for the team I grew up with but I will feel a twinge every time I buy tickets that I am supporting the Maloofs.

Very well said. I totally agree.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Well said funky, openess and transparency would have gone a long way.

 

[JB_kings]

Well KJ and company are back on the clock. When Bennett and company come asking about your presentation claims, you better have something in there with a commitment to build a new facility too. It sucks that the burden falls totally on the city, but you want it there in the railyards on your site. Then you have to bear the cost to build it there. The game went into OT... now time to win this!

 

[PurpleHaze]

Anaheim came up with a deal that risks no public money. Obviously, they deserve the Kings because they are better at this than Sacramento is.

No surprise since for decades and decades Orange County has been known as a very pro growth, pro biz area of the state. The exact opposite of what Sacramento is all about - low private sector growth, anti-biz mentality, and no vision for the future. Hopefully, all of this is a huge wake up call for the electorate in Sac city and Sac county to finally get their act together for a total over-turning of the existing worthless political structure.

 

[Glenn]

Well said funky, openess and transparency would have gone a long way.

With all due respect, STERN, DAVID ****ING STERN, does not see the problem as that of the Maloofs. He is pointing his finger at the City of Sacramento. When the NCAA said they wouldn't come back, that should have been a hint. It doesn't take a genius to understand that if one basketball organization finds the arena inadequate, another would reach the same conclusion. Rightfully so.

Deflect responsibity - the fighting words of the City of Sacramento. Great offense, huh? Offensive is more the word.

 

[The Hammer]

That right there tells you that KJ, Anderson and Burkle put a major cramp in their plans to file. It's working!

KJ hit a three at the end of regulation to send it to overtime...


Too soon?

 

[Peter_Gibbons]

Anaheim came up with a deal that risks no public money. Obviously, they deserve the Kings because they are better at this than Sacramento is.

Yes for $75 million, but even then, I don't think they can come up with new arena money or put that amount of public money at risk either.

 

[VF21]

With all due respect, STERN, DAVID ****ING STERN, does not see the problem as that of the Maloofs. He is pointing his finger at the City of Sacramento. When the NCAA said they wouldn't come back, that should have been a hint. It doesn't take a genius to understand that if one basketball organization finds the arena inadequate, another would reach the same conclusion. Rightfully so.

Deflect responsibity - the fighting words of the City of Sacramento. Great offense, huh? Offensive is more the word.

There's more than enough blame to go around. Personally, I think a lot of it lies at the feet of Heather Fargo...and please do not forget the years of Kings bashing at the hands of the Sacramento Bee and R.E. Graswich (who still can't seem to keep his freaking mouth shut).

All that, however, is old news. We (meaning KJ, Burkle, and anyone else with any feelings about keeping the Kings in Sacramento) have been given an opportunity to prove our case. I am pumped about this and hope they have the goods to back up the claims.

This wasn't a loss for Sacramento today. We are - as has been said above - now going into overtime and it's still anybody's game.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

KJ hit a three at the end of regulation to send it to overtime...


Too soon?

If you follow your analogy out, KJ wins, and it turns out to not even be close. I'll take it.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

With all due respect, STERN, DAVID ****ING STERN, does not see the problem as that of the Maloofs. He is pointing his finger at the City of Sacramento. When the NCAA said they wouldn't come back, that should have been a hint. It doesn't take a genius to understand that if one basketball organization finds the arena inadequate, another would reach the same conclusion. Rightfully so.

Deflect responsibity - the fighting words of the City of Sacramento. Great offense, huh? Offensive is more the word.

Like funky I hold both the city and the Maloofs responsible. I carried the Maloofs water on this for years, hell I even defended the BevCo sale based on personal family experience. The city has been a mess, but KJ has been doing everything possible and its very possible that if he had received an open ultimatum earlier they could have already gotten to the point where they are committing funds, etc. The city took a lot of extra time to select a group for this last proposal because they knew it was going to be the last chance but they thought they had a willing partner in the Maloofs and they did not want to waste their time. Turns out they were wasting ours by doing secret negotiations with Anaheim.

Both parties are to blame. Both parties deserve scorn and ridicule. But the Maloofs were trying to have their cake (move) and eat it too (keep selling Sac fans tickets to see a team lucky to win 1/4 of its games by keeping us in the dark). So they are getting the brunt of my wrath right now.

But this is a bigger issue, its about what's right for the team and for the NBA and ultimately if Sacramento can prove its case, which it is being given the opportunity to do, then we all win.

 

[Livinthedream]

With all due respect, STERN, DAVID ****ING STERN, does not see the problem as that of the Maloofs. He is pointing his finger at the City of Sacramento. When the NCAA said they wouldn't come back, that should have been a hint. It doesn't take a genius to understand that if one basketball organization finds the arena inadequate, another would reach the same conclusion. Rightfully so.

Deflect responsibity - the fighting words of the City of Sacramento. Great offense, huh? Offensive is more the word.

Stern is going to protect his NBA owners and wouldn't embarrass them in the media. But he has no problems trying to embarrass a city. Regardless of of what he thinks of the Maloofs part in all of this, you'll never hear Stern say anything negative them. I think you can take a lot out of the fact that he says the league does not fully understand the Anaheim plan.

 

[ArcoKings]

If that's the case then I guess we just hope the Maloofs weren't confident enough to file after yesterday? They did say they'd only file if things went well. i guess we'll know Monday. This is going to be a LONG weekend. I sure hope and pray they were convinced to not file because if they file, then the next 30 or 60 or 120 or whatever number of days are going to be brutal waiting for the vote.

Now I'm thinking that they will NOT file.