Mayor Kevin Johnson was interviewed by Grant Napear on KHTK.
Below are some notes I took (not necessarily direct quotes but some paraphrasing).
Please feel free to correct any information below as I typed as quickly as I could and didn't have my editor with me (thanks for the help last night Capt!).
Also, GN wanted to shoot down any rumors that naysayers believe and spread as their truth. GN said ARCO Arena cannot be renovated and if the Kings move then ARCO Arena will not exist as there will be no one who will want to buy the arena as well as run and maintain it, especially with no anchor tenant. The arena is obsolete and the land will be worth more with no arena. Finally, GN said this is headed to only a vote by the city council and will not go to the public to vote on.
KJ said...
It's a new day at City Hall. This is about a united front...about how much this franchise means to our community.
Maloofs told KJ they want to stay in Sacramento.
We had a HUGE win last night. We don't vote 9-0 too often.
This is our best shot to get it done today (on Taylor-ICON). It's a dream team that has been assembled and the best team to make this happen.
KJ wants public to call in talk radio, go to Kings games, write letters and KJ would like to hold a community forum on what are the most pressing issues on the arena issue.
9-0 vote on a controversial topic. The council is speaking as one voice.
Loss of Kings/arena would be devastating (used Seattle as example). Kings employ 1,000, pay property and sales taxes.
Marketing and public it is hard to rebound from losing a team. We are one of 29 cities to have an NBA team (30 teams total).
We want to respect tax payers.
If MSE files on March 1: At what degree does MSE want to participate? KJ needs MSE to not file to show to public they do want to stay like they have said all along. How do we finance it? What are the roles we all play in a down economy (MSE, Taylor, public)?
Arena is number 1 topic from public and public tells KJ to keep the Kings and build a new arena.
KJ wants to hold community forums in the next 90 days. He wants to hear what matters to the public. It's about economy development, create jobs, etc.
It's about civic pride and wanting the best for our community.
Taylor-ICON believes downtown is best place but will use 90 days to look other areas but KJ believes it will be in downtown.
How we pay for it is biggest obstacle.
We have found a location and a development team that is best for this.
They want to find out how much each group will pay and what the gap will be and how to pay for that.
Here We Stay was brought up.
NO Hornets were brought up with their attendance target. Mayor, Gov and elected officials all got together to make this happen.
There will be constant communication between city council and Taylor-ICON group. KJ will contact MSE to help get the ball rolling.
KJ's vision for Sacramento: It's about culture and quality of life for future of Sacramento. Believes Sacramento can support two sports teams in the future.
We can't control the NBA deadline or MSE, but we can control what we do to get the work done.
Below are some notes I took (not necessarily direct quotes but some paraphrasing).
Please feel free to correct any information below as I typed as quickly as I could and didn't have my editor with me (thanks for the help last night Capt!).
Also, GN wanted to shoot down any rumors that naysayers believe and spread as their truth. GN said ARCO Arena cannot be renovated and if the Kings move then ARCO Arena will not exist as there will be no one who will want to buy the arena as well as run and maintain it, especially with no anchor tenant. The arena is obsolete and the land will be worth more with no arena. Finally, GN said this is headed to only a vote by the city council and will not go to the public to vote on.
KJ said...
It's a new day at City Hall. This is about a united front...about how much this franchise means to our community.
Maloofs told KJ they want to stay in Sacramento.
We had a HUGE win last night. We don't vote 9-0 too often.
This is our best shot to get it done today (on Taylor-ICON). It's a dream team that has been assembled and the best team to make this happen.
KJ wants public to call in talk radio, go to Kings games, write letters and KJ would like to hold a community forum on what are the most pressing issues on the arena issue.
9-0 vote on a controversial topic. The council is speaking as one voice.
Loss of Kings/arena would be devastating (used Seattle as example). Kings employ 1,000, pay property and sales taxes.
Marketing and public it is hard to rebound from losing a team. We are one of 29 cities to have an NBA team (30 teams total).
We want to respect tax payers.
If MSE files on March 1: At what degree does MSE want to participate? KJ needs MSE to not file to show to public they do want to stay like they have said all along. How do we finance it? What are the roles we all play in a down economy (MSE, Taylor, public)?
Arena is number 1 topic from public and public tells KJ to keep the Kings and build a new arena.
KJ wants to hold community forums in the next 90 days. He wants to hear what matters to the public. It's about economy development, create jobs, etc.
It's about civic pride and wanting the best for our community.
Taylor-ICON believes downtown is best place but will use 90 days to look other areas but KJ believes it will be in downtown.
How we pay for it is biggest obstacle.
We have found a location and a development team that is best for this.
They want to find out how much each group will pay and what the gap will be and how to pay for that.
Here We Stay was brought up.
NO Hornets were brought up with their attendance target. Mayor, Gov and elected officials all got together to make this happen.
There will be constant communication between city council and Taylor-ICON group. KJ will contact MSE to help get the ball rolling.
KJ's vision for Sacramento: It's about culture and quality of life for future of Sacramento. Believes Sacramento can support two sports teams in the future.
We can't control the NBA deadline or MSE, but we can control what we do to get the work done.
