“We have been here before. Our backs have been against the wall. They have told us it wasn’t going to happen. But each and every step along the way, as long as there is time on the clock, our community always finds a way to stand up for itself.” – Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson on January 22, 2013
Through those words of Mayor Johnson and his leadership, our community continues to stand up for itself. Within the last month of learning about the Maloofs agreeing to sell the Kings to the Chris Hansen group from Seattle, let us count the ways by the numbers.
25 local businessmen have pledged $1 million each for a total of $25 million to keep the Kings in Sacramento. If our community had given up we would not see this kind of commitment.
5,241 loyal fans have pledged $21,328,000 for full season tickets in a new downtown entertainment and sports complex through the Here We Buy web site. If our community had given up we would not see this kind of commitment.
$6,310.64 has been donated to purchase 400 tickets in just two days so local children and their families can attend this Saturday’s Here We Buy Night for the Kings vs Jazz. If our community had given up we would not see this kind of commitment.
13,214 is the season average for Kings games. If our community had given up we would be seeing much less than 10,000 per game on average.
This is despite how Sacramento has been repeatedly punched in the gut by ownership who has gutted the team by reducing team payroll salary since the 2009-2010 season and being toward the bottom for the last three years.
Our community has found other ways to show its support. Crown Downtown recently hosted a Kings viewing party at the Republic Bar & Grill in Downtown Sacramento. Mayor Johnson showed up too.
Our community also shows it support by still attending city council meetings. Last night over 30 members of our community with Crown Downtown showed our support as six spoke before the council in favor of saving our Kings, building a downtown entertainment and sports complex, keeping and creating new jobs, revitalizing our downtown and so much more for reasons that are #BiggerThanBasketball.
There was virtually no opposition at last night’s meeting.
In case you missed the meeting you can check it out here.
Here are some highlights:
City Manager John Shirey gave an update and mentioned how the city has helped with JMA’s fesability study by providing information on utilities and infrastructure, etc. (0:15-4:15)
Councilmember Allen Warren said Sacramento has to make a strong push to keep the Kings and we recognize that the Kings are very important to our city. Also mentioned coming back with weekly updates as things occur. (4:15-5:55)
James Battles of Crown Downtown spoke about how the Sacramento region got different entertainment venues and spoke about the value of a downtown entertainment sports complex will be for the city of Sacramento. (5:55-8:10)
Mike Barnbaum of Crown Downtown spoke about the importance of entertainment options and a message to Seattle with a lyric from an MC Hammer song. (8:10-11:02)
Scott Brewer of Crown Downtown spoke about the Downtown Plaza site. (11:02-12:25)
Ron Loutzenhiser of Crown Downtown thanked Mayor Johnson for his efforts and would love to have the entertainment and sports complex in downtown as well as a second economic engine in Natomas. (12:25-13:17)
Mac Worthy talked about how Sacramento needs jobs. He also brought up “pots to leak in” and “pimps.” (13:17-15:28)
Lynne MacIntosh of Crown Downtown spoke about why the Kings and the arena are important to her, her family and friends. Easily the best speech of the night. (15:28-17:10)
Mike Tavares of Crown Downtown spoke about Sacramento’s golden opportunity to save our Kings and everything else that is #BiggerThanBasketball. Shirts were presented to new Councilmembers Allen and Hansen along with a special “shirt” for Vice Mayor Ashby. The idea was by Crown Downtown’s Adriana Ortiz and Mayor Johnson had some comments on the gift for Vice Mayor Ashby. (17:10-19:31)
This Saturday, February 9th is the Here We Buy Night game for the Kings vs Jazz. Please meet us in Lot K at 5:00pm and join us for the game. Sacramento is doing something no other city has done. We have three grassroots organizations (Here We Stay, Here We Buy and Crown Downtown) coming together as one much like the Avengers. We have a leader to be our voice in Nick Fury aka Mayor Kevin Johnson.
Tickets are still available to purchase in so many ways for you and/or others to attend.
You can donate by going to
www.herewebuy.org.
You can sit in sections 117 and 118 with Crown Downtown for $49 per ticket by calling the Kings at 916-928-3634 and mention Crown Downtown. The Kings will take good care of you. We will create a mini-college like atmosphere as we already have 50 in our group, we will wear our white Crown Downtown shirts, we have three banners to hold up and we will get loud and crazy with chants throughout the night.
After the game we will continue to attend city council meetings as we need to keep showing our united support to our elected city officials and all of the hard work they have put into saving the Kings and so much more. Please join us as we continue to show that our community is the #BestInTheWorld.
