"Cal Expo is a go?" - I hope not

[red]

This may irritate some of you. I'm a sports fan, and I also want to see the Kings get a suitable new home. But, the NBA proposal has picked the wrong place, for the wrong reasons and with the wrong vision.

I have also submitted a proposal to the Board of Governors of Cal Expo - "Cal Expo - An Alternate Vision". If you wish to know why I think the NBA proposal is flawed and inappropriate, and why there are much better alternatives, request a copy by email to redslider at-sign comcast.net and I will gladly send you one.

Perhaps, some of you will agree, as much as the Kings need and ought to have a home, we need to think beyond our narrow interests and love of sports on this one. In the long run, it will be better for the Kings, and certainly better, as I hope you will agree, for Sacramento.

thanx,

Red

 

[hrdboild]

Do you think you could summarize your key points why you think the proposed Cal Expo plan is a bad idea and what your alternative is?

 

[VF21]

Good point. I suspect this guy was just flooding Kings websites. I doubt if he'll be back...

 

[kennadog]

Good point. I suspect this guy was just flooding Kings websites. I doubt if he'll be back...

It's why I didn't bother to reply and I'm certainly not going to e-mail him/her or anything. Obviously he/she didn't want to waste their time reading the kingsfans.com threads on the subject to find out what we think. So

 

[Kings Faithful]

Without this arena deal, the chances of the Kings staying are slim. Its not a personal thing, its business. As much as the Maloofs probably care about the fans in Sacramento, they can always find fans in another city, so if the money is their they probably wouldn't hesitate to move if this deal isn't done. I don't want to risk not getting the deal done at Cal Expo. If their was a way better alternative it probably would have been done.

 

[kennadog]

It's already been pretty much publicly stated that if this deal fails, that's it. This is Sacramento's last chance to not only keep the Kings, but to have an arena going forward. Arco will be gone, too.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

It's already been pretty much publicly stated that if this deal fails, that's it. This is Sacramento's last chance to not only keep the Kings, but to have an arena going forward. Arco will be gone, too.

We'll see...I don't think this would be the last straw...maybe the NEXT to last, but I don't think this is D-Day for the Kings in Sacramento if it doesn't work...I think there will be revisions with this proposal before it's all said and done, by the developer, to make it work.

edit: I give this an 80% chance of succeeding, and that's not too bad...and hopefully good enough.

 

[Section 101]

We'll see...I don't think this would be the last straw...maybe the NEXT to last, but I don't think this is D-Day for the Kings in Sacramento if it doesn't work...I think there will be revisions with this proposal before it's all said and done, by the developer, to make it work.

edit: I give this an 80% chance of succeeding, and that's not too bad...and hopefully good enough.

Joe Maloof said in Aileens article today that the cal expo deal isnt the last attempt. If it doesn't work out they will look at other spots around town.

 

[VF21]

I posted Voisin's article in the News Links section. It's a really good article and I think says a lot about the Maloofs and their attitude towards the team, the fans, Sacramento, etc. And, for what it's worth, I think it's one of the more credible pieces I've seen about the Maloofs in a long time.

 

[kennadog]

I think Voison's article is good, too. This is the first time, since bringing in the NBA that the Maloof's have actually said they might still condsider another site. It had pretty much been said that if Cal Expo didn't go, that was it. I have to think that the election of Kevin Johnson has maybe changed their mind. KJ is actively supporting keeping the Kings here and getting a new arena one way or another.

 

[Section 101]

I think Voison's article is good, too. This is the first time, since brining in the NBA that the Maloof's have actually said they might still condsider another site. It had pretty much been said that if Al Expo didn't go, that was it. I have to think that the election of Kevin Johnson has maybe changed their mind. KJ is actively supporting keeping the Kings here and getting a new arena one way or another.

heres some speculation. maybe it had to do with the A's chatter. Seeing how the maloofs own a hole in the ground next to arco.

 

[kennadog]

Except, I can't imagine the A's coming to Sacramento, unless the River Cats owner can buy them and I'm not sure he can.

 

[KingsFan54]

Why aren't the kings looking at where the old arena is now, Natomas? the everything is there, the freeway access, parking, everything. I don't knwo why it has not been considered.

 

[folsomfella]

Why aren't the kings looking at where the old arena is now, Natomas? the everything is there, the freeway access, parking, everything. I don't knwo why it has not been considered.

seriously? You still don't get why that isn't feasible?

 

[Warhawk]

Why aren't the kings looking at where the old arena is now, Natomas? the everything is there, the freeway access, parking, everything. I don't knwo why it has not been considered.

$$$


It is the ideal location, but financially it is much harder to pencil out.

 

[kennadog]

Why aren't the kings looking at where the old arena is now, Natomas? the everything is there, the freeway access, parking, everything. I don't knwo why it has not been considered.

Because it would take City and/or County money and that possibility seemed dead. They chose Cal Expo, because its State land and the Cal Expo Board can sell bonds to raise funds. It is the only place where there's any hope of getting it done financially as long as the City/County can't/won't come up with any funding.

 

[CruzDude]

So I wonder what the "other sites" are in the Sacramento area that would not depend on the city/county helping financially? Maybe a sports complex over next to the River Cats stadium, in Yolo County? Raley's Arena??? Or up near Hwy163 north of 80? Isn't that Placer County? I still think the rail yards would be the ideal place for us fans. Who knows? Anybody?

 

[kennadog]

Anywhere in the region but Cal Expo would take some help from a county and/or city with the finding. I don't hear anyone stepping up to offer that.

Right now the city's not even sure how they will come up with the $1 billion in pure subsidy they promised Thomas for the railyard infrastructure. I know they have come up with some money (federal, I think), but there's a long way to go.

It could be years before they can build anything there, especially with the economy down. I don't think it can happen fast enough at the railyards.

The Maloofs have said they may still try other options if the Cal Expo deal fails, but other options from scratch mean time. Time we are running out of.

 

[kennadog]

Funny, I just read Sam Amick's blog today about a STH event just held.

http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sports/kings/archives/021710.html

A season-ticket holder asked about the arena situation and whether building a new facility near Arco Arena or at the downtown railyards was off the table at this point, and was answered by Kings co-owner Gavin Maloof...

"They (the NBA, which is controlling the effort to get a new arena built) have really focused on Cal Expo," Maloof said. "It's ultimately going to come down to the developer, and he's going to be writing the checks and it's going to be between himself and the NBA. Our focus has been Cal Expo. We've spent close to $2 million in lawyers' fees, consultants, accountants...Will (the arena) go somewhere else (in Sacramento)? Who knows, but right now it's Cal Expo."

 

[CruzDude]

Today's Bee article about the Sacramento railyard makeover

http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1802531.html

adds in a tidbit about federal "infrastructure" funding possibilities and state and local bonds. The article also states:

And, although a basketball arena is not currently part of the plan, some officials hope the centrally located redevelopment site may yet be a future home for the Kings.

A small glimmer of hope flickers on a couple of candles for a downtown arena.