Same trend with almost every fanchise!

[Amanjoy]

Personally I don't think that the Kings will ever leave Sacramento. With everything the Maloofs are doing to hype the Musselman and introduce him to the fans, etc. I think they're making a truly honest effort to keep the Kings right where they are. Plus, according to the conference call today, the Maloofs are supposedly more optimistic now than they ever where that a new arena deal could be on the horizon.

However, I do notice that almost every major move of a pro franchise has to do with the fact that the owner(s) can't get a new stadium built. Granted, other factors play into it...but the lack of a new stadium and the city's reluctance to give in are always major players in the decision to skip town.

Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans (Oilers), Charlotte Hornets, Minnesota Northstars, Hartford Whalers, and that's just what I've seen in my short lifetime. Not to mention the NY Baseball Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers of the 1950's. The Giants wanted to get out of he Polo Grounds, and, then, Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley wanted a new stadium built to replace Ebbets Field. All the city could offer him was the dumpy land out by the airport in Queens where Shea Stadium now stands, and wouldn't approve a sweet deal to build a (then) state of the art facility in downtown Brooklyn!

Hopefully city officials here aren't so dumb! All we can pray for I guess is that the city finally comes to its senses and just gets this thing done!

 

[love_them_kings]

Personally I don't think that the Kings will ever leave Sacramento. With everything the Maloofs are doing to hype the Musselman and introduce him to the fans, etc. I think they're making a truly honest effort to keep the Kings right where they are. Plus, according to the conference call today, the Maloofs are supposedly more optimistic now than they ever where that a new arena deal could be on the horizon.

However, I do notice that almost every major move of a pro franchise has to do with the fact that the owner(s) can't get a new stadium built. Granted, other factors play into it...but the lack of a new stadium and the city's reluctance to give in are always major players in the decision to skip town.

Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans (Oilers), Charlotte Hornets, Minnesota Northstars, Hartford Whalers, and that's just what I've seen in my short lifetime. Not to mention the NY Baseball Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers of the 1950's. The Giants wanted to get out of he Polo Grounds, and, then, Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley wanted a new stadium built to replace Ebbets Field. All the city could offer him was the dumpy land out by the airport in Queens where Shea Stadium now stands, and wouldn't approve a sweet deal to build a (then) state of the art facility in downtown Brooklyn!

Hopefully city officials here aren't so dumb! All we can pray for I guess is that the city finally comes to its senses and just gets this thing done!

I agree with you on all counts. I think the Maloofs love the fans here, and I think they are very motivated to keep the team here. Even Musselman said several times during the call today that he is excited about the fan support he will receive here.

However, like the other teams you mentioned, if they can't get a new arena here, they will move the team. End of story.

Some people believe that the Maloofs are just looking for an excuse to move the team. Others think they are greedy for not paying for the arena themselves. I disagree. I think the Maloofs know exactly how lucky they are to have such a great fan base, and I think they don't want to lose that. However, it'd be a bad business decision (not to mention just plain old silly) for them to pay for an arena when there are cities that would hand them one for free and be happy to do it. It's as simple as that.

I agree, let's get this arena deal done & keep our team where it belongs!

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

Does Joe Serna have a son or nephew in politics that wants to run for mayor?? Bottom line is, the CITY can get this done, they just dont want to steamroll through the crap to get it done, that would mean they would actually have to do some WORK...and we all know how they LOVE doing that, as a Council. I think it ISNT the Maloofs burden to build a new arena for us, and I'm tired of people saying...'oh, the Maloofs are loaded, they should build it themselves instead of taking money from our little city, its the billionaire boys club'...wow, what a broken record. The City is lazy, and does everything it can to discourage growth, and the only way to actually get something done around here is to steamroll the Council with a private proposal(i.e:John Saca w/Capitol Towers, and Craig Nassi w/Aura) Well...I just dont know what its going to take...I honestly(and I AM voting for the tax increase, and ANY tax increase to help fund an arena/entertainment district)but I honestly dont think anything will pass on the first, second, or third try without some sort of juggernaut to help out. Someone else care to elaborate on my 'observations'?

 

[BigWaxer]

I agree with most of your thoughts Circa, I think it will take a couple times to pass but eventually it will. We haven't heard the final plan yet so maybe a sales tax increase is not the only thing. I think the sales tax is going to be a tough sale though and its not people having a small town mentality. It's just the fact its a tax.

The problem now won't be the city, its going to be the attacks from two sides - one side against any taxes and the other side like Breton's article saying Why spend money on this when we need levees, schools ... Which I think is the worst arguement ever since the arena should generate revenue for the city to do additional things.

I don't feel the Maloofs should shoulder all or even half the burden but they should lay down a nice chunk and I believe they have said they will. I wonder if they have hit up some of the bigger companies in the area for help on private funds. The thing I noticed about Dallas's arena was all the advertising by some big name companies. Granted that area has a lot more large corporations especially in the Plano area.

 

[kennadog]

Dallas is a much bigger market than Sacramento and has far bigger corporate base. The Kings just don't have anything like that going for them in this market. The Texas NBA city similar to Sacramento is San Antonio.

San Antonio's arena is 100% financed by the city (sales tax) and its owned by the city. Cost = $186 million and completed in 2002. So that price is 4 years ago at completion. Compare housing prices there, even in 2006, with Sacramento and you'll see why it was that inexpensive.

 

[BigWaxer]

Ya thats the other thing that sucks KD and you touched on it. The cost here is almost double were it would be anywhere else. That awesome AWESOME Arizona Cards stadium is projected to cost $350 mil. We are already looking at more then that for a lot less in a new arena.

Prices are starting to drop so who knows. We have lost about 50k over the last 6 months in equity here in YC. If enough time passes maybe the cost will go down.

If they are still going for a downtown arena they will have to build the infrustructure around it and thats gonna be the big cost. However I could the see the Natomas site going down in cost. I don't think we will get a measure/plan approved for a year or two anyway.

Oh and a topic change? Have you seen the discovery type shows on the Cardinals new stadium, that thing is just WOW may have to plan a trip.

 

[BigWaxer]

Oh I agree KD also didn't reply to that, Dallas is way bigger, has a lot... WAY more big corporate dollars.

The sucky company I used to work for is based in plano and it has over 180K employee's. Big money in texas. (NO AND IT WASN"T McDonalds) HAHAH

 

[JB_kings]

LOL - I work for a company that has it's headquarters in Plano. There's only one or two that could have that many employees.

 

[BigWaxer]

Does it start with an E JB?

 

[ShatteredVision]

Frito Lay.