Here's what I wrote. I wrote it quickly and it might not be great but I did something. I have already posted a list of all the City Council members email addresses.
Council member:
Pardon the somewhat impersonality of a group addressed email.
I have a bias. I moved here from Minneapolis 30 years ago after a stint in the Navy. There is an amazing difference between Minneapolis and Sacramento. Minneapolis has four major sports and three arenas to house them. In their history since they lost the Lakers, they have had an ABA basketball team, three hockey teams (at one time they had two at once), a baseball team, an NBA team, and a football team. Somehow they find the way to build facilities for all of them. They have marvelous museums, concert halls for their world class orchestra and theaters for plays. Somehow they get done what Sacramento cannot accomplish.
Minneapolis is a desirable place to live in. There is much to do. There is a feeling of civic pride. There is much to look forward to. Minneapolis is a big city with a big city attitude. They have big business which is non-existent is Sacramento.
If Sacramento wishes to remain "small" in its attitude, go no further, delete this email, and go about what you were doing. If Sacramento wants to be something different, if it wants to be a place where people want to be and businesses wish to set down roots, read on as you have at least one person who wants the same.
This issue is about an arena. I don't want to go to San Francisco to see a play or a concert or athletic event, etc., etc. I want it here. An arena will keep us on the national map and international map as the home of the Kings. It also will make money. This is the part that people miss. All people can think is that is will cost money. I think it is the opposite. Prince just had concerts in Oakland. Two concerts were scheduled and they sold out so fast, a third concert was scheduled. Prince wouldn't come to Sacramento. That's an example. How about Cirque de Soleil as an example? They can't use the present arena. This arena is now no longer good enough for the NCAA. It will never host an All Star game. These events make money for everyone in the area. Conventions will bypass this city. Heck, they already do.
These events draw people to the area ........ and money.
Without the Kings, the logical tenant for a new arena, businesses will leave or most certainly will scratch off Sacramento as a place to settle or expand. Lobbyists and others like to reward their clients with tickets. An arena means more jobs, it means more taxes, and it means that difficult to quantify concept of pride. PRIDE. I'm from Sacramento and I am proud of it. I don't want to returm to saying, "I'm from Sacramento and am close to San Francisco and Lake Tahoe."
Lack of an arena is a loss in the eyes of many. The nation and the rest of the world are watching. As an aside, people tell stories of Europeans lighting up when they hear you are from the home of the Kings.
Our city is ranked low by Forbes. It will now go lower.
There are people in this area who understand what I am saying but most see it as a con job. Sacramento residents are a suspicious lot. Right now they are suspicious of the 51% owners of the Kings, the Maloofs. 51%! Most people think they own the whole team. Not so. Cook, Benvenutti, etc. are part owners. People who have lived in the area and love the area.
Find a way to build an arena and don't kick the responsibility down the road. The time is now. Think hard. The arena in Orlando is owned by Orlando. It was funded by a bond issue. All income from the arena, signage, parking, etc. goes to the city. I believe it is the same in Anaheim with a billionaire managing the facility. Arenas are a source of income for a city. They are a source of entertainment (and money). They are a source of pride.
Sacramento will now maintain its reputation as a cow town with a basketball team or drop to simply a cow town.
I believe past efforts have failed because in part a lack of support by the city council. Please support an arena and let it be known. Praise the idea of an arena. Go public. Erase misconceptions. People have a strange idea of what is going on that a dose of truth would help. Be proud.
Glenn
