Must see video for Kings fans!

[D13]

I don't know if this has been posted here before, but it not, please take the time to view this video, (yes it's free and legal)! It is very well made, and is relevant to our arena situation. It brings up many key points, and similarities to the battle we face:

http://www.sonicsgate.org/movie/

...and if anything, watch the first 5 minutes and you'll be hooked. You'll see some very familiar faces on there too.

I'm posting this in hopes Sac city may gain some warning as to what to watch for in our Arena journey....

 

[NikateeN]

Wow... I just spent the last 2 hours watching this, and i must say its quite depressing and a bit scary.

Even though i was paying attention to all this while it was going on, i didnt actually know a lot of the detail they went into. What a sad sad series of events for Seattle, i really hope we dont end up in the same boat, because right now it sure looks like we will.

 

[Lafayette]

This is a real good video and it's what's happening now in Sacramento.

 

[JB_kings]

I've lived this for 13 years. I don't need to see the movie...

 

[stevetaebo]

Why can't Steve Ballmer be in Sacramento.

 

[jon e]

great video, but our situation is different. we havent sold the team to a liar from another city, its our current owners that are having to make the decision. seattle got screwed more than we ever would. were lucky that the maloofs didnt didnt sell the team to clay bennett cos they would have been gone without a fight. the main difference that i see is that we have a mayor in kj that i cant see going down like the seattle mayor did.

 

[kennadog]

People forget that Seattle is very different. The poeple of Seattle had paid for a new stadium for the Marlins and a new stadium for the Seahawks. Then they were asked to help pay for a new arena for the Sonics and balked. The people of the city of Sacramento have never paid for an arena or stadium in Sacramento. So I guess we're more pathetic.

Also, the Maloofs aren't selling the team. They are just being forced to consider moving the team.

 

[ArcoKings]

Very good documentary. I feel bad for the Sonics fans. They got screwed. Clay Bennett from the start wanted to move the team to OKC. He's a swine like David Stern and the Seattle Mayor in the film. The Sacramento situation is completely different than Seattle's but the outsome will be the same if things don't change.

 

[D13]

Yea, maybe our situation is a little different... still, this vid is a lesson on the build up and effect of the loss.. We'd be so lucky to have a documentary this well done if the Kings leave.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

I just watched the whole thing. The thing I find most worrisome in all of it is Stern. It seems that once he turns on your city...you're screwed. Not very encouraging given his comments last year about how he'd given up on Sacramento.

I thought some of the comments were very insightful. Particularly the ones about how the NBA is basically pitting cities against one another. It definitely seems that way. Build an arena up to our standards...or lose your team.

That type of ultimatum business model doesn’t set well with people. It’s no wonder so many people have a **** the NBA attitude. I can fully understand where they’re coming from.

People see players making tens of millions, the NBA making billions, and then demanding cities pay for state of the art arenas so the owners and NBA can make even more money. It comes off like a shakedown game.

The truth is, all of this state of the art arena jazz is about nothing more than prestige, money, and keeping up with the Joneses. Arco may be a “dump” compared to the latest and greatest arenas but it’s perfectly functional and could be improved for much cheaper than the cost of a brand new arena.

But that’s not what the owners and NBA want. They’ve conned people into believing that Arco is beyond all hope and that a brand new super complex complete with restaurants, bars, and shops is the only way to go. Do we really need all that crap in an arena? Here’s a thought... watch the game while you’re at the arena... go to a restaurant or bar after the game. Ah but that’s not what the owners and NBA want. They don’t want you spending your money in local bars and restaurants, they want you spending your money in their bars and restaurants in their arena that the people helped pay for. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, huh? I can see why they’re pushing so hard for it!

As much as I love The Kings and dread the idea of them not being in Sacramento, I have to ask myself if being strong-armed by the NBA in order to keep them is worth the price.

If a region wants to build a state of the art arena of it’s own accord in the name of progress that will be wholly owned and leased out by the city, that’s one thing but to be forced into building one at a time when the economy and political climate aren’t conducive to do so is another.

 

[D13]

I just watched the whole thing. The thing I find most worrisome in all of it is Stern. It seems that once he turns on your city...you're screwed. Not very encouraging given his comments last year about how he'd given up on Sacramento.

I thought some of the comments were very insightful. Particularly the ones about how the NBA is basically pitting cities against one another. It definitely seems that way. Build an arena up to our standards...or lose your team.

That type of ultimatum business model doesn’t set well with people. It’s no wonder so many people have a **** the NBA attitude. I can fully understand where they’re coming from.

People see players making tens of millions, the NBA making billions, and then demanding cities pay for state of the art arenas so the owners and NBA can make even more money. It comes off like a shakedown game.

The truth is, all of this state of the art arena jazz is about nothing more than prestige, money, and keeping up with the Joneses. Arco may be a “dump” compared to the latest and greatest arenas but it’s perfectly functional and could be improved for much cheaper than the cost of a brand new arena.

But that’s not what the owners and NBA want. They’ve conned people into believing that Arco is beyond all hope and that a brand new super complex complete restaurants, bars, and shops is the only way to go. Do we really need all that crap in an arena? Here’s a thought... watch the game while you’re at the arena... go to a restaurant or bar after the game. Ah but that’s not what the owners and NBA want. They don’t want you spending your money in local bars and restaurants, they want you spending your money in their bars and restaurants in their arena that the people helped pay for. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, huh? I can see why they’re pushing so hard for it!

As much as I love The Kings and dread the idea of them not being in Sacramento, I have to ask myself if being strong-armed by the NBA in order to keep them is worth the price.

If a region wants to build a state of the art arena of it’s own accord in the name of progress that will be wholly owned and leased out by the city, that’s one thing but to be forced into building one at a time when the economy and political climate aren’t conducive to do so is another.

Very well stated... but its twisted a bit. This is bigger than the NBA. Here are 2 good stickies on KF that may answer a few questions (I'm sure you've seen them, just a refresher);

http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?31002-Repost-of-reasons-why-ARCO-needs-to-be-replaced...

http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?31012-Articles-Regarding-ARCO-s-Suitability-for-Upgrades-Retrofits

... and to answer another question you had... whats the old saying? Don't cut off your nose spite your face? Sac will ultimately pay an incredible loss for years to come, and the NBA (and David Stern) will ultimately not lose a thing.

This is about us, Sac as a major city and community. It's about our future. It's about jobs (1000+?), entertainment, tax revenue, tourism, media attention, and growth to our city. Yes it's worth the price, or should we be saying "investment"... it will come back many many times over for many many years.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

But that’s not what the owners and NBA want. They’ve conned people into believing that Arco is beyond all hope and that a brand new super complex complete restaurants, bars, and shops is the only way to go. Do we really need all that crap in an arena? Here’s a thought... watch the game while you’re at the arena... go to a restaurant or bar after the game. Ah but that’s not what the owners and NBA want. They don’t want you spending your money in local bars and restaurants, they want you spending your money in their bars and restaurants in their arena that the people helped pay for. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, huh? I can see why they’re pushing so hard for it!

Aren't you one of the guys so opposed to a downtown arena which would do exactly that? Set up local businesses to prosper by the inflow/outflow of people after the games?

And no, Arco is not perfectly functional and the repairs would not be simple. It's not just about profit center luxuries like suites and more dining options. It's about things that cost a ton and yield no revenue, boring safety issues like entrances and exits, restrooms and (possibly frivolous but still very real) ADA compliance.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

Aren't you one of the guys so opposed to a downtown arena which would do exactly that? Set up local businesses to prosper by the inflow/outflow of people after the games?

And no, Arco is not perfectly functional and the repairs would not be simple. It's not just about profit center luxuries like suites and more dining options. It's about things that cost a ton and yield no revenue, boring safety issues like entrances and exits, restrooms and (possibly frivolous but still very real) ADA compliance.

it's not that I oppose the idea, I just think it's a longshot. If the political climate, citizens, and economy were more conducive to getting something like that done I'd have a different attitude about it. I'm just weary about wasting time on a downtown proposal only to have it fall apart in the end and be the final straw that causes the Kings to say adiós to Sacramento. I never said repairs or rebuilding in Natomas would be simple but given that the Maloofs already own the building and land and the roads and infrastructure are already in place, it looks like the more practical option.