David Stern has gone on record saying the Kings need a new arena to stay in Sacramento when he toured Arco 2 years ago. That would put me on red alert to get something done much sooner than later.
And can someone refresh my memory as to how the current Arco is being funded?
It was totally paid for with private funds and is owned by MS & E. The loan everyone talks about was actually to bail out a team swimming in red ink. Part of the reason for the red ink?.....having to pay debt service on conventional financing for the arena.
The Kings have operated in the red for a lot of years after the Maloofs bought them. A new TV contract last year (Kings had the worst in the league for a long time) and making the playoffs has helped, but ownig a team is not a huge money maker. Hence, the inability to pay debt payments on large private loans.
Owners make their big money off a team when they sell it, even subtracting out years in the red and luxury tax payments. So basically the only way for the Maloofs to make any money out of the team is 1) sell the team, 2) move them to a place williing to help with a new arena or a city that already has built a new arena, or 3) have the city/county/region help the team build a new arena.
If the Maloofs have to pay too large a share of the arena financing. the team, as a business, won't be financially viable.