www.sacbee.com/351/story/30144.html
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He has drive to keep Kings
Local firms would lose business if the team leaves town.
By Jon Ortiz - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:22 am PDT Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A1
Top Notch illustrates how Sacramento's NBA franchise stokes the region's hospitality industry -- the hotels, restaurants, bars and transportation services that profit from having about 50 basketball games each year that draw 18,000 people to one spot.
There is no way to know exactly much money flows to other businesses or how many jobs are created through events at Arco Arena. Many economists, such as finance professor Stephen Pruitt at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, argue that arenas add nothing to a local economy because they merely take dollars from other local entertainment sources.
However, a University of Washington study of Seattle's Key Arena and its "new money" effect -- economic impacts that would not happen in King County if the arena were located elsewhere -- last year tied an estimated $165 million in business activity, 1,572 jobs, $47 million in labor income and $6.5 million in tax revenues to the facility.
But the more subtle and potentially more powerful effect of having major-league sports in town is in the back of the limo. NBA games can draw executives from around the country, and that gives local businesses and corporate recruiters chances to develop personal relationships that can pay off later.
"It's the hidden story behind pro sports," said Larry DeGaris, president of Sponsorship Research & Strategy in Colorado Springs. "You don't read it in the newspapers or in the trade publications, but big league sports foster the kind of off-the-cuff conversations that can develop into something bigger later."
Barbara Hayes, executive director of the Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization, said the business recruiting group uses Kings games to lure out-of-town executives, introduce them to local business leaders and showcase the city.
"It's a great informal opportunity," Hayes said, adding that SACTO often taps Arco Arena luxury suites that belong to its board members or affiliates. "We get the length of a ballgame to do a sales job."
Dean's company shuttles out-of-towners from the airport to Arco and back "all the time on game days," he said. "People fly in from everywhere."
Dean started Top Notch in 1997. He was the only employee -- doing maintenance, booking appointments and driving the car from a small office in the same Glendale Lane complex where 30 employees and a fleet of vehicles now squeeze into a cramped 8,000 square feet.
Things really took off, he says, when Joe and Gavin Maloof took majority ownership of the Kings and the team started to win. The on-court success made Arco the place to be, and soon he was so busy he had to subcontract during game days. Dean says that since 1999 he has handled ground transportation for the Maloofs and also provides limousine services for the team.
Dean's fleet of luxury vehicles includes a stretch Hummer, two 50-passenger buses and two "land yachts" -- 24-passenger limousine buses with leather couches, wet bars and state-of-the-art flat panel TVs. Prices run from $45 an hour for a town car to $225 an hour for a land yacht.
The company also owns part of an eight-passenger Citation jet that regularly flies Kings fans to away games on the West Coast. Round trip to Seattle: $5,000, including tickets.
None of this would be possible without the Kings, Dean says, and Top Notch pays homage to the home team from the moment a guest sets foot in the company's reception area.
A pair of purple velour throw pillows sit on a black leather couch across from a shiny silver desk. The ceiling is black. The company's name hangs nearby in elegant purple script against a silver background that matches the desktop.
Dean, wearing a black suit, purple tie and a light purple shirt, sits in his office surrounded by Kings memorabilia -- signed balls, programs, framed newspaper pages, game photos and team knickknacks of every kind.
"People say I'm a purple freak," Dean said. "What can I say? I spend a lot (of money) with the Kings, but I get a lot back in return."
Which is why he's nervous about whether the Kings will stay in Sacramento.
The Maloofs earlier this month walked away from talks about a new arena at the Union Pacific railyard. They said local officials and the developer wanted to shrink the building's size and parking in violation of an informal agreement reached in August.
That tussle has fueled speculation the Maloofs might pull the Kings out of town if they can't get a new arena. It also has hampered efforts to promote two measures on the November ballot aimed at raising $1.2 billion in new sales tax revenues, with the money potentially split among an arena, Sacramento County and local municipalities.
Dean said he recently extended his firm's 26-seat luxury suite rental at Arco. He often resells the seats to clients or uses them to reward employees. With food and parking, the box will cost the company $500,000. "I viewed it as a vote of confidence in the team's future here," he said.
Still, Dean admits, he's nervous about the November vote.
So he has dedicated some of his staff to making calls to promote the measures. "Our goal is 500 calls per week" through Election Day on Nov. 7, Dean said.
If the measures pass and the Kings commit to staying in Sacramento, Dean plans to move into a bigger building and add seven vehicles to his fleet. "And I'll get a Kings tatoo right here," he said, pointing to his right shoulder.
And if Measures Q and R fail? Dean figures the Kings could move after this season. If they do, he'll downsize and scout for a new headquarters wherever the team goes.
"The Arco would probably be torn down and the property sold for its land value," Dean said. "We'd lose about 150 events a year. I wouldn't need all these cars here anymore."
About the writer:
The Bee's Jon Ortiz can be reached at (916) 321-1043 or jortiz@sacbee.com.
===================
He has drive to keep Kings
Local firms would lose business if the team leaves town.
By Jon Ortiz - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:22 am PDT Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A1
Top Notch illustrates how Sacramento's NBA franchise stokes the region's hospitality industry -- the hotels, restaurants, bars and transportation services that profit from having about 50 basketball games each year that draw 18,000 people to one spot.
There is no way to know exactly much money flows to other businesses or how many jobs are created through events at Arco Arena. Many economists, such as finance professor Stephen Pruitt at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, argue that arenas add nothing to a local economy because they merely take dollars from other local entertainment sources.
However, a University of Washington study of Seattle's Key Arena and its "new money" effect -- economic impacts that would not happen in King County if the arena were located elsewhere -- last year tied an estimated $165 million in business activity, 1,572 jobs, $47 million in labor income and $6.5 million in tax revenues to the facility.
But the more subtle and potentially more powerful effect of having major-league sports in town is in the back of the limo. NBA games can draw executives from around the country, and that gives local businesses and corporate recruiters chances to develop personal relationships that can pay off later.
"It's the hidden story behind pro sports," said Larry DeGaris, president of Sponsorship Research & Strategy in Colorado Springs. "You don't read it in the newspapers or in the trade publications, but big league sports foster the kind of off-the-cuff conversations that can develop into something bigger later."
Barbara Hayes, executive director of the Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization, said the business recruiting group uses Kings games to lure out-of-town executives, introduce them to local business leaders and showcase the city.
"It's a great informal opportunity," Hayes said, adding that SACTO often taps Arco Arena luxury suites that belong to its board members or affiliates. "We get the length of a ballgame to do a sales job."
Dean's company shuttles out-of-towners from the airport to Arco and back "all the time on game days," he said. "People fly in from everywhere."
Dean started Top Notch in 1997. He was the only employee -- doing maintenance, booking appointments and driving the car from a small office in the same Glendale Lane complex where 30 employees and a fleet of vehicles now squeeze into a cramped 8,000 square feet.
Things really took off, he says, when Joe and Gavin Maloof took majority ownership of the Kings and the team started to win. The on-court success made Arco the place to be, and soon he was so busy he had to subcontract during game days. Dean says that since 1999 he has handled ground transportation for the Maloofs and also provides limousine services for the team.
Dean's fleet of luxury vehicles includes a stretch Hummer, two 50-passenger buses and two "land yachts" -- 24-passenger limousine buses with leather couches, wet bars and state-of-the-art flat panel TVs. Prices run from $45 an hour for a town car to $225 an hour for a land yacht.
The company also owns part of an eight-passenger Citation jet that regularly flies Kings fans to away games on the West Coast. Round trip to Seattle: $5,000, including tickets.
None of this would be possible without the Kings, Dean says, and Top Notch pays homage to the home team from the moment a guest sets foot in the company's reception area.
A pair of purple velour throw pillows sit on a black leather couch across from a shiny silver desk. The ceiling is black. The company's name hangs nearby in elegant purple script against a silver background that matches the desktop.
Dean, wearing a black suit, purple tie and a light purple shirt, sits in his office surrounded by Kings memorabilia -- signed balls, programs, framed newspaper pages, game photos and team knickknacks of every kind.
"People say I'm a purple freak," Dean said. "What can I say? I spend a lot (of money) with the Kings, but I get a lot back in return."
Which is why he's nervous about whether the Kings will stay in Sacramento.
The Maloofs earlier this month walked away from talks about a new arena at the Union Pacific railyard. They said local officials and the developer wanted to shrink the building's size and parking in violation of an informal agreement reached in August.
That tussle has fueled speculation the Maloofs might pull the Kings out of town if they can't get a new arena. It also has hampered efforts to promote two measures on the November ballot aimed at raising $1.2 billion in new sales tax revenues, with the money potentially split among an arena, Sacramento County and local municipalities.
Dean said he recently extended his firm's 26-seat luxury suite rental at Arco. He often resells the seats to clients or uses them to reward employees. With food and parking, the box will cost the company $500,000. "I viewed it as a vote of confidence in the team's future here," he said.
Still, Dean admits, he's nervous about the November vote.
So he has dedicated some of his staff to making calls to promote the measures. "Our goal is 500 calls per week" through Election Day on Nov. 7, Dean said.
If the measures pass and the Kings commit to staying in Sacramento, Dean plans to move into a bigger building and add seven vehicles to his fleet. "And I'll get a Kings tatoo right here," he said, pointing to his right shoulder.
And if Measures Q and R fail? Dean figures the Kings could move after this season. If they do, he'll downsize and scout for a new headquarters wherever the team goes.
"The Arco would probably be torn down and the property sold for its land value," Dean said. "We'd lose about 150 events a year. I wouldn't need all these cars here anymore."
About the writer:
The Bee's Jon Ortiz can be reached at (916) 321-1043 or jortiz@sacbee.com.