Feb 8th arena meeting

[Trueblood]

Isn't there a deadline for the Maloofs to file for relocation?

Also, say an arena does get approved. How long would it take before it gets completely built?

On average, arenas take around 26 months to build. They break ground in the summer and are usually ready in October, 2 years later.

Best case scenario for the Kings is that ICON/Taylor doesn't hit any roadblocks and they break ground in July of 2012 and have it ready to roll in November of 2014 but that's a long shot. Taylor has to come back with a solid funding plan and since that's so tough to come by, my guess is that he'll use the full 90 days. That puts us in May of this year. Then you have to get it ok'd from the city and all the politicos plus line up contractors, bulldoze anything that's in the way and finish up the infrastructure. All that has to happen in the next 18 months for an arena to be ready by November of 2014. Long shot at best although November of 2015 should be pretty definite.

 

[JB_kings]

I have supplied several examples of how other communities have raised equity rather than incur debt. Back in the '70's the voters of LA said no way taxpayer funds would be used for the 1984 Olympics. Sound familiar? So Peter Ueberroth went out and lined up 29 corporate sponsors who paid a minimum of $4M plus $225M in broadcast rights equalling $500M. This is for a one month event. My plan calls for raising corporate equity money from 25 sponsors who would get marketing exposure for 20 years plus a host of other benefits at Cal Expo. It is not as simple as simply raising public funds but when the voters say no this model has worked elsewhere and needs to be fully explored. However, since it's not downtown it's been ignored, dismissed and not even given a proper hearing by the taskforce. There is no reason this direction can't be explored at the same time as the Taylor team is doing their thing.

So explore it. Nobody is saying you cannot go out and find those marketing partners and corporate money. Come with those and then they will listen to you. Maybe just possibly they doubt you can produce what you are preaching? Idea guys are a dime a dozen. Who was supposed to line all this up if you weren't actually going to do this? I don't think the problem is the location. The problem is they had to pick the best team to go to the Maloofs and the NBA and convince them that this can be done. You were never going to be the guy that got that call.

 

[kennadog]

Wish I'd been there.

It would be the miracle of the century if Sacramento, with the least corporate base among the NBA markets, could get 25 corporate sponsers. On top of that I don't want to risk another try at Cal Expo, at this point. I just don't think the state is going to agree to anyhthing other than what their consultant just told them is the best thing to do for Cal Expo. We can't afford to pursue something that involves the state legislature doing something for the good of Sacramento. Not only that, but Cal Expo has more seious access issues than downtown.

ICON has done arenas world-wide. I think this is the right website, where you can see their extensive work. http://iconvenue.com/portfolio

This is a world-class developer of arenas and stadia. I believe they will tell it straight to the council, on whether it can get done here. All four teams said two weeks ago, there would have to be public participation financially. Two weeks ago $200 million was an estimate. I liked that Taylor/ICON said it would cost less than the $500 million bandied about so much. (Actually, the current market helps in lowering costs. The construction projects I oversee for my agency have gotten amazingly low bids recently, coming in under budget.)

They said they would look at all possible sites and also said they'd be honest if they ultimately think it won't work. The work they are talking about doing in just 90 days is astounding to me, but the experience they have with so many venues means they have a lot of models.

Honestly, when the council asked at the lst meeting why they would do this for free, the ICON rep said they just didn't want to see another city lose their team, I wanted to hug the guy. (If things move forward, they will make good money, I'm not entirely naive.)

THANK YOU MIKE AND CAPT. FOR BEING THERE AND TAKING NOTES! I will really try to make it next time.

 

[Larry David]

How many meetings have you attended at Cal Expo or the City Council regarding this issue? How many hours of research, analysis and presentation have you done? Show me how my plan is the road to nowhere and won't pencil out and why the Maloofs won't go for it. Your someone who seems to have all the answers but rather than unsubstantiated opinions let's hear some facts and rational analysis. I'm listening.

Your PSL idea will lower what the team can charge for tickets. To that end, you are merely asking for the team to foot a much bigger part of bill. That's why your plan is both cheaper, and a road no where. Same for selling future "marketing." You are just selling the Kings ads. They don't want that.

And if you knee cap the profits of a team that often breaks even in good years, why are private investors putting their money down to wait 15-30 years for the return?

Look, as many here can tell you, I'm no Maloof homer. But they would be very very dumb to take your plan. Because they won't take you plan, its a non-starter.

You want a Natomas arena - fine. Your plan tried to shift more of the costs to the Kings ... not going to happen.