NYDaily: Kings to Anaheim?

[Amory]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/394720p-334666c.html

[SIZE=+1]Kings of California?[/SIZE]

Having their bid for a new arena rejected more than once by Sacramento voters, Kings owners Gavin and Joe Maloof have quietly let it be known that they'd like to relocate to Anaheim.

In Orange County, the Maloofs would be closer to their operations in Las Vegas. They already have plans to use an Anaheim location to drive their marketing for their hotel and casino, The Palms. That includes giving high-rollers use of luxury suites for Kings games and also having plenty of signage in the arena for their Vegas enterprises.

The Maloofs can easily afford the franchise transfer fee, which experts say will be at least double the $30 million the Hornets paid the league to flee Charlotte for New Orleans. But the Maloofs will face strong opposition from the Lakers and Clippers, who will fight a third team entering what they consider their backyard.

But there's an even greater roadblock. The owner of the Pond and the NHL's Ducks, Henry Samueli, has told David Stern that he wants to own a team and put it in his arena. A huge pro basketball fan, Samueli's net worth is $1.1 billion. But he'll have to wait. Stern has no plans to expand beyond 30 teams, which he said he thinks is a "fine" number.

 

[Jose]

...have quietly let it be known that they'd like to relocate to Anaheim.

Quietly... as in "haven't even said a word"??

Not a single quote or official statement to support this article. I usually don't mind speculative articles, but this goes beyond that!

 

[Evilmav2]

That link is very, very wrong. It brings up a NY Daily News page that dates back to 2004, and highlights stories about Dikembe Mutumbo and Kurt Thomas having problems with the Knicks rotation, about Allan Houston's return from injury, and the Breaking News that Haitian strongman Jean Bertrande Aristide was just forced to flee his banana republic in the sun...

 

[coolhandluke]

Use this link: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/394720p-334666c.html Lame article nonetheless.

 

[ImAKing]

i dont read the news paper much so can someone give me a quick update of why cant we get a new arena in sac?

 

[Amory]

Link fixed.

Nothing to back it up. Kinda sounds like someone went to a forum, read a couple posts about how it would be a good idea to move to Anaheim, and wrote an article on it.

 

[Folsom Al]

i dont read the news paper much so can someone give me a quick update of why cant we get a new arena in sac?

Here are 2 places you can read-up on this whole NEW ARENA ISSUE:

http://www.saveourkings.com/

http://www.keepthekings.com/index.php

 

[DocHolliday]

This article starts out wrong even. It's never been put on a ballot as a measure. The voters here have NEVER turned it down. The city council is just a bunch old {EDIT} with no forethought.

 

[OHSacFan]

So would that make them the Anaheim Kings of Sacramento??

 

[BigWaxer]

Having their bid for a new arena rejected more than once by Sacramento voters

HUH? when did Sacramento have a vote for a new arena?


EDIT: Just read your post, you caught that first DOC.

 

[mrtcereal]

HUH? when did Sacramento have a vote for a new arena?


EDIT: Just read your post, you caught that first DOC.

Never, I've lived here for six years and voted in every election. I must have some how missed that ballot initiative.

Don't they have fact checkers in New York?

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

Um...its the NY Daily News....ummmmm.....enough said.

 

[AriesMar27]

if that happened i would go to so many kings games, since i live in los angeles.... i would go to every weekend home game and home clipper game.....

 

[captain bill]

"Sacramento voters" does not mean "ballot initiative", but could just refer to counsel members and the mayor blocking arena plans without seeing backlash from the voters. Either way, shouting down this article doesn't change the fact that the Kings will move if there is no new arena in Sac. Whether the article is factually correct or not, it is telling of this situation. And of course when they say "quietly" they can't substantiate the source- if it is true, it came from someone confidential (within the Kings, the NBA, or another party) who doesn't want to be known. Hence the use of the word "quiet". The city has mishandled the team and the arena to a great extent, and I don't think anyone could blame the Maloofs for looking into alternative cities. Hell, I'd encourage it, it might light a fire under the city goverment's collective butts.

 

[Merdiesel]

BS. The day the Kings move from sac is the day Im not a kings fan anymore. Sacramento is one of the best basketball towns in the League. There not going anywhere.

 

[mrtcereal]

"Sacramento voters" does not mean "ballot initiative", but could just refer to counsel members and the mayor blocking arena plans without seeing backlash from the voters. Either way, shouting down this article doesn't change the fact that the Kings will move if there is no new arena in Sac. Whether the article is factually correct or not, it is telling of this situation. And of course when they say "quietly" they can't substantiate the source- if it is true, it came from someone confidential (within the Kings, the NBA, or another party) who doesn't want to be known. Hence the use of the word "quiet". The city has mishandled the team and the arena to a great extent, and I don't think anyone could blame the Maloofs for looking into alternative cities. Hell, I'd encourage it, it might light a fire under the city goverment's collective butts.

No, "Sacramento voters" does not neccessarily mean "ballot initative", but it certainly implys the voting public. If he really meant to say that councel members were against it, I'm sure he would have said that the City of Sacramento has resisted a new arena. And while he's using the word quietly, he neglects to mention that the Maloofs consitiently (and "loudly") claim they want to do everything they can to remain in Sacramento.

It's terrible, poorly researched, and irresponsible reporting without any solid evidence to back up his claims.

 

[Fillmoe]

BS. The day the Kings move from sac is the day Im not a kings fan anymore. Sacramento is one of the best basketball towns in the League. There not going anywhere.

basically

 

[VF21]

Unfortunately, at some point we're going to have to look at the REAL possibility these articles AREN'T just made up for some reason known only to the people involved.

The Maloofs have been trying to get an arena deal done for a long time while the City Council sits around acting like they'd rather eat snails.

We can no longer smugly say "The Kings aren't going anywhere."

Well, we can but at some point we might be saying it as the moving trucks roll out of Arco on their way south to Anaheim ... or even east to Kansas City.

 

[BobbyJ_for3!]

Does anyone really buy into the idea that the Los Angelos area can carry and support three NBA teams? Even some miles away in Anaheim, it's still a general area that can't be behind three teams of one league. I don't believe that proximity of teams in a single league has ever happened before, and I don't think it ever will.

Plus, it's the NY Daily News. Enough said.

 

[VF21]

No, NOT enough said.

Believe me, you cannot simply dismiss these kinds of articles like Chicken Little.

How long has this issue been under review? Did you see what Paul Allen just did in Portland?

Don't underestimate the lure of Anaheim. And don't assume the NY Daily News is simply pulling this stuff out of thin air.

Where there's smoke, there will eventually be fire.

We continue to act like ostriches with our heads in the sand, and we'll be back to rooting for the NBA via long-distance.

 

[VF21]

"Sacramento voters" does not mean "ballot initiative", but could just refer to counsel members and the mayor blocking arena plans without seeing backlash from the voters. Either way, shouting down this article doesn't change the fact that the Kings will move if there is no new arena in Sac. Whether the article is factually correct or not, it is telling of this situation. And of course when they say "quietly" they can't substantiate the source- if it is true, it came from someone confidential (within the Kings, the NBA, or another party) who doesn't want to be known. Hence the use of the word "quiet". The city has mishandled the team and the arena to a great extent, and I don't think anyone could blame the Maloofs for looking into alternative cities. Hell, I'd encourage it, it might light a fire under the city goverment's collective butts.

Exactly.

I don't think the small error of "Sacramento voters" for "Sacramento City Council" should shoot down the whole article.

 

[quick dog]

I fear that Kings fans are going to remain largely moot on this issue until the day they realize that the team has moved to Anaheim.

Somebody here must know a City Council person. It has always bothered me that most Sacramento City Council members have been so far to the left as to clearly be in conflict with the general public. I would have to assume that regular, mainstream, people don't run for local offices. That said. Kings fans need to confront Council members. Lots of Kings fans.

This is a serious issue. Those of you who live in Sacramento need to get with it. Your council members obviously could care less about the Kings. They may ignore your pleas, but the reality is that those of us in the hinterlands have absolutely no influence on your Sacramento politicians. It is up to you to change the local dynamic. Wake up, the Kings are going to Orange County unless something happens fast!

 

[NewMonkey]

Regardless of whether this article is right or wrong, the reality is that if there is no arena built in Sacramento, the team is going to move. I'm still surprised at the level of denial about that simple fact.

It isn't that the city council doesn't want the arena, it's that the PEOPLE don't want an arena (or don't think one is necessary). Look at this thread. Most Kings fans who've posted here don't think it could possibly happen. Multiple polls indicate that Sacramento voters either don't think the team needs a new arena or don't want to build one. If the Kings move, we'll have no one to blame but ourselves.

 

[quick dog]

Where are the residents of Sacramento who really think the Kings are worth saving? Polls, my patootie. Political pollsters are consumate liars. Who did these pollsters poll, when, and where? How many Kings fans here who visit this website have responded to a formal poll on building a new arena for Sacramento?

I would be willing to be the answer is none. Zero!

 

[Sirius]

We may end up having to cheer for the Sonics...Word is they may move to San Jose.

 

[quick dog]

We may end up having to cheer for the Sonics...Word is they may move to San Jose.

That's not even funny.

 

[BigWaxer]

BS. The day the Kings move from sac is the day Im not a kings fan anymore.

I will go one further and say I will be done with the NBA all together if/when ( I think its more the later) Kings leave.

Sure I am just one person but the NBA keeps losing fans for some reason. If the NBA lets a team move from a city that has had one zillion sellouts in a row then I think that is a problem. We are the Cleveland and Baltimore of the NFL. Most owners would love to have their team supported like we support ours. I think we would get another team quickly but that is more wishfull thinking and then its not the Kings.

I agree with VF these articles at some point have to be heard and have some truth to them. I believe there are some motivations that are not talked about by the Maloofs and I think they are looking to go elsewhere. While our city stands on it's hands we don't hear anything from the other side either. That tells me a lot right there. If the Maloofs so wanted to stay here I think we would hear a lot more about it. I believe we won't have a team called Kings within the next few years.

Oh and YES Anaheim / LA can easily support 3 NBA teams. OC is a very large county and the people there usually don't want to be put in with the LA crowd and I see no problem with that getting approved.

I don't see the Kings going to KC, I think it's more about location then it is quality of the arena. KC is just another town like Sacramento. However Anaheim is the perfect spot for a team that has popular owners with a big casino.

 

[VF21]

I think you're reading it the wrong way, BigWaxer. I don't think the Maloofs want to leave. I think they want the City Council and everyone else to either **** or get off the pot, however.

The Maloofs, I'm quite sure, do NOT want to pick up and move a successful franchise. But at what point are they going to have to make it very clear to the City of Sacramento that it WILL happen unless the august body known as the City Council (yes, that is DRIPPING with sarcasm) faces reality and HELPS to get a realistic arena proposal out there?

I am NOT going to point the finger of blame at the Maloofs for this in any way, shape or form. That "honor" goes directly towards Heather Fargo - she who didn't even want to keep the Kings here in the first place and has changed her position more often than some people change their socks - and the elected officials of the city of Sacramento. Their lack of true vision for the town I have loved most of my life is appalling...and if they don't do something, it could be the beginning of the end for our Kings.

And don't kid yourself. If the Kings are forced to leave because they cannot come to terms with the (insert whatever deragatory term you like to use for the City Council here), we will NOT get another team. Bottom line? Where would they play?

It's about a venue. It's about a city growing by leaps and bounds and a City Council with about as much vision as the "three blind mice." Only there are more than three of them...

 

[captain bill]

Where are the residents of Sacramento who really think the Kings are worth saving? Polls, my patootie. Political pollsters are consumate liars. Who did these pollsters poll, when, and where? How many Kings fans here who visit this website have responded to a formal poll on building a new arena for Sacramento?

I would be willing to be the answer is none. Zero!

You also have to consider Kings fans come from all over NorCal, not just Sacramento proper, which does really put an unfair burden on the Sac taxpayers as opposed to the fanbase and those who use the arena. I honestly think if it came down to the Kings or public education, I'd side with education. The city can recognize the good of the Kings and try to keep them in town, but not at the cost of critical functions. Which means there is a more creative solution needed, maybe state funding, getting more sponsors on board, something. But arguing that the entire city of sac wants this is wrong.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

So the reason that the Kings can't get fan support for an arena in Sacramento is because not enough ticketholders actually live in Sacramento?

Well then, what can the ticketholders in surrounding cities/counties do to get their cities involved? Would it help to move the arena outside of the city, like a Detroit/Auburn Hill-type situation?