http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/13923959p-14760945c.html
Marty Mac's World: No matter how you spell it, it means money
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, December 1, 2005
I wish I knew how to settle this controversy between the Maloofs and Sacramento-region leaders on how to pay for a new arena.
Heck, I wish I knew how to spell Tsakopoulos (Angelo K., I've got) without looking it up. In fact, I have a much better chance of solving the latter dilemma than the first.
But I'll give it a shot:
Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof, no matter how many positive moves they've made in this community, are viewed as Las Vegas casino owners, Coors beer distributorship owners and mega-millionaires who hardly need financial help to build an arena.
So without public financial backing for a new arena, the city, county and/or region need to look at possible car rental and/or hotel taxes as a way of raising funds on their side and see if that concept is feasible with the Maloofs, who in return need to make it clear how much cheddar they're willing to spend and how long they'll wait.
This tax-for-arena deal is nothing new. It's how other regions/cities have raised capital to fund new arenas. And if it means putting a measure on a ballot with two-thirds needed to pass, let the people have their say.
Those who travel know they pay car rental tax almost everywhere they go. The Maloofs say there has been no discussion of this concept, and that's not good.
It seems as if revenue procurement should have been the first item on the docket. But if not before, certainly now.
The Maloofs swear they are not looking to move. As they have said since coming to Sacramento, they believe this is a fertile market, and as businessfolk, that's what always is sought. They might not be ready to move out of Sacramento, but that does not mean they will not.
The Maloofs are in a position of strength. They know the Kings would be welcomed by Anaheim, which probably would do anything to bring the team there, and that includes building an arena in the foreseeable future. The reality is there are many, many more dollars down south than there are here.
So, while life will go on in Sacramento if the Kings leave - and trust me, it will - is that the route the region's masses want to take? That's what politicians need to ascertain, at least from an idealistic viewpoint. They are here to serve.
Marty Mac's World: No matter how you spell it, it means money
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, December 1, 2005
I wish I knew how to settle this controversy between the Maloofs and Sacramento-region leaders on how to pay for a new arena.
Heck, I wish I knew how to spell Tsakopoulos (Angelo K., I've got) without looking it up. In fact, I have a much better chance of solving the latter dilemma than the first.
But I'll give it a shot:
Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof, no matter how many positive moves they've made in this community, are viewed as Las Vegas casino owners, Coors beer distributorship owners and mega-millionaires who hardly need financial help to build an arena.
So without public financial backing for a new arena, the city, county and/or region need to look at possible car rental and/or hotel taxes as a way of raising funds on their side and see if that concept is feasible with the Maloofs, who in return need to make it clear how much cheddar they're willing to spend and how long they'll wait.
This tax-for-arena deal is nothing new. It's how other regions/cities have raised capital to fund new arenas. And if it means putting a measure on a ballot with two-thirds needed to pass, let the people have their say.
Those who travel know they pay car rental tax almost everywhere they go. The Maloofs say there has been no discussion of this concept, and that's not good.
It seems as if revenue procurement should have been the first item on the docket. But if not before, certainly now.
The Maloofs swear they are not looking to move. As they have said since coming to Sacramento, they believe this is a fertile market, and as businessfolk, that's what always is sought. They might not be ready to move out of Sacramento, but that does not mean they will not.
The Maloofs are in a position of strength. They know the Kings would be welcomed by Anaheim, which probably would do anything to bring the team there, and that includes building an arena in the foreseeable future. The reality is there are many, many more dollars down south than there are here.
So, while life will go on in Sacramento if the Kings leave - and trust me, it will - is that the route the region's masses want to take? That's what politicians need to ascertain, at least from an idealistic viewpoint. They are here to serve.