If an arena doesn't pan out, could you still blame the Maloofs for leaving?
- Thread starter Vlade4GM
- Start date
Depends on their participation/cooperation. Swap the Maloofs for Burkle or some other owner and I think the odds of getting an arena built go up quite a bit. If they play an active role in this; I think the arena efforts will fail and I will probably blame them. I'll also blame them if there's a buyer in the wings that's able to get an arena built, but they won't sell.
It'd be hard to blame them at that point because the league will probably be encouraging them to move by then. That wouldn't erase the blame the Maloofs share for their role in allowing things to get to critical mass, though. If you really want to put the blame in the right place, blame the NBA for allowing buildings to become more important than the team, city, or fans and setting the precedent that owners not pay for their own buildings...but that's a whole other issue that there's no reason to even get into.
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Don't think the Maloofs will be matter too much. After listening to Stern's press conference, they will have lots of "boots on the ground" assisting them in all aspects of marketing, tickets sales, PR, etc. And they will be intimately involved with the arena deal. I hope they bring plenty of duct tape so we don't hear any more quotes like the one earlier from George Maloof about not being sure if the public should contribute to the arena. They need to go back to being silent again.
There's still ways to see this as negative towards the Maloofs and their involvement is dicey to me. Whatever happens, it will hard for anyone to be blame free. This is a midnight hour arena deal because of their previous stalling.
I also think that most don't see the situation as involving the Maloofs in the long haul. The idea that the Maloofs mattering less is a factor in having a newfound plan and public energy for the arena says a lot about how blame-free the Maloofs will end up, no matter the result.
I also think that most don't see the situation as involving the Maloofs in the long haul. The idea that the Maloofs mattering less is a factor in having a newfound plan and public energy for the arena says a lot about how blame-free the Maloofs will end up, no matter the result.
The onus is not on the City, it is on the metropolitan area, that's multi-county. The onus is on the fans and customers and businesses and investors and also on the group of government agencies. Also, no matter what the success or failure of all those, the Maloofs need to play their cards well this time. Up to now they have not played it well with me. They need to do better next time. No free passes in or out.
I'd still feel a lot better though if they could move the Clippers to Anaheim so we could cross it off the list of potential cities for the Kings to try and relocate to for good. Plus it would be better for the league anyways because it's really, really stupid that the Clippers and Lakers share an arena.
I guess it depends what happens over the next year. If they go into this with the mindset of "we still want to stay in Sacramento if an arena deal can get done" and they cooperate with the negotiations and make necessary concessions (because I'm assuming they're not going to be able to contribute anything to the deal financially) than I'll have no problem with them if it falls through and they move to Anaheim next year. I'd still be really unhappy about it of course, but at least now the deadline is set and everyone knows what needs to get done; we're not going to get the rug pulled out from under us.
Agreed. The NBA should provide a helicopter taxi complimentary hop for Sterling for each Clips game at Honda Center so it's just as quick for him as his beloved short drive from Beverly Hills to Staples Center. Maybe the old man could also crash at Kobe Bryant's huge Orange County estate around the corner at Newport Shores if needed.
Not that Vlade needs my support, but I don't recall Vlade lobbying for the Kings move to Anaheim. He may have found it beneficial. But I think he always supported the team in sacramento. As have I, and I'm a hell of lot closer to Anahiem than I'am sacramento. So far, I'm happy with the outcome. Lets hope were all happy with the final ending as well.