Sponsors Walking Away From Kings

[rainmaker]

Carmichael Dave ‏@CarmichaelDave
Source: Carl's Jr NOT renewing with the Kings, another MAJOR sponsor in jeopardy.

Carmichael Dave ‏@CarmichaelDave
Some concerns as well amongst liquor partners as to saturation of Maloof Zing vodka brand, and potential favoritism over bev partners.

Akis Yerocostas ‏@Aykis16
Looking at the Kings official list of sponsors, Carl's Jr. is not there. Also don't see Round Table Pizza anymore http://www.nba.com/kings/partners-index.html

Carmichael Dave ‏@CarmichaelDave
Finally (I think), it appears that other big sponsor that is leaning towards not sponsoring the Kings is Thunder Valley Casino. Not set tho.


This could get interesting. Wonder how much this squeezes the Maloofs. Carls Jr and Roundtable have been pretty significant sponsors for years. I'd wager this has little to do with the team and has everything to do with who's owning it, and if sponsors start walking because of the Maloofs and their continued antics, it's more evidence they themselves have polluted the market, especially with the sponsorship money KJ went out and raised last year. Money is there, but not even the sponsors appear to be wanted to be connected to the Maloofs anymore. Just another thing which makes the Maloofs look terrible, league wide. Can't imagine the other owners like this and the harm it's causing the league's reputation as a whole.

P.S. Not really sure where this goes at it's Maloofs related and not about the new arena. Maybe we can have a Maloof section?

Edit: Apparently Sleep Train has pulled out too.

Carmichael Dave ‏@CarmichaelDave
Aaaaand, Sleep Train has reportedly pulled out of naming rights talks for the former ARCO arena

 

[VF21]

Well, isn't this just peachy keen? There's a little voice in the back of my head trying to get me to ask if this could be a concerted effort to pull the rug out from under the Maloofs. Don't know if I want to listen to that little voice or not...

 

[Bricklayer]

This can always bite both ways though. Maloofs go before relocation committee and once again say see? Can't make it in this market, you HAVE to let us move. Other owners, thinking if something similar ever happened to them they want to keep the ability to move, go hmm...

 

[Rug King]

Maloofs have burned their bridges. Nobody wants to be associated with them is right. I'm not sure if La-Z-Boy is still with them either. The Ford dealership will likely be replaced by a skateboard retailer.

Anybody know where I can get a maloof voodoo doll??

 

[CruzDude]

Makes one wonder if the Malgoofs are trying to milk the sponsors a bit too much considering. The league knows that sponsors are mandatory for a healthy franchise and when they start bailing it is time to make a change. But that 52% is still majority and if George is working some angle, it appears he doesn't care about Sacramento while just working their selfish end. Gonna come bite them in the butt.................

 

[VF21]

This can always bite both ways though. Maloofs go before relocation committee and once again say see? Can't make it in this market, you HAVE to let us move. Other owners, thinking if something similar ever happened to them they want to keep the ability to move, go hmm...

While I don't disagree with this, I will point out the obvious - the relocation committee will also still be aware of the $10 million in sponsorships Kevin Johnson was able to obtain from the market. At some point, it will have to become apparent to everyone that if every apple the Maloofs touch turns rotten, maybe it's not the fault of the apples.

 

[Section 101]

Round table was replaced with Pizza Guys around the first of last year.

 

[Dime Dropper]

As an outside observer, everything seems to be falling apart piece by piece. It's one thing after another now. It just doesn't seem to be getting better. Outlook is not looking good. I hope beyond hope that I'm wrong.


EDIT: By outside, I mean non-Sacramentan. I'm right there with everyone in wanting to keep the Kings here.

 

[HereWeBoogie]

can't say i blame them for walking away.

not sure if this is gonna be good or not. im not happy about not getting anymore carls jr. coupons in the gameday things

 

[bajaden]

I kind of agree with Bricky. I'm not sure how this will play out with the league. I can see it going both ways. Its easily justified, but the fans not showing up would be just as justified, and I don't think thats a good idea. It almost appears to be a conspiracy of some sort. Now if the league wanted to really put pressure on the Maloofs, they could say they didn't think the Maloofs did enough to improve the team or the facility the team plays in, and therefore, they're cutting off the Kings share of revenue sharing. At some point, it would force the Maloofs to sell.

 

[PurpleHaze]

I've been thinking for a long time about what kind of "telling" impact Kings fans in Sacramento area can have on this issue. The pain of having to deal with idiotic Maloof disfunctional, destitute clan. Certainly, it can't be, it shouldn't be biz as usual - or we just look foolish, IMO. But we have to be smart in coming up with appropriate strategy to force Maloofs to sell Kings to someone who will keep the franchise here.

The idea of still going to games but not buying anything, concessions, parking outside MS&E paid lot, etc. makes sense. But here's one that would surely get NBA and national media attention. Why not boycott certain home games scheduled but then turn right around and sellout or near sellout the next game. It could be picking a certain "blackout" day - like no fans Tuesday, no fans Friday, or some other day. Imagine an all time low attendance at Kings game of say couple hundred or maybe couple thousand vs. next game of 15,000+ screaming "Maloofs Must GO!! among just as loud cheers of GO KINGS! It would prove we have very motivated and determined Kings fan base with ability to take charge of our destiny regardless of our bozo owners.

This is war and the drunken Georgie Maloof declared it on all Kings fans. We must fight back united as one or just lie down and take more Maloof insults and abuse.

 

[Kingster]

Interesting developments. Those making calculated business decisions on the Kings are running for the hills. It's probably the best indicator of all for where the Maloofs are headed. The ticket paying fans may still come to the game because of emotional ties to the Kings. The businesses dealing with the Kings do not have that issue, however. For them, it's cold hard cash. And they don't want to put their cash needlessly down the drain. This reminds me of a run on the bank. It might accelerate a lot faster than you think. As others have said, it doesn't indicate how it will turn out. But I do think it indicates that the boulder is rolling much faster down the hill.

 

[Bricklayer]

This is war and the drunken Georgie Maloof declared it on all Kings fans. We must fight back united as one or just lie down and take more Maloof insults and abuse.

People are all mad at the Maloofs, so anytime anything hurts them everybody jumps up and goes "yeah! get those pigs!" But this is a bit like havng somebody open fire on the guy you don't like with an assault rifle while he's standing in a crowd of your friends and family. Maybe you get the Maloofs, maybe you do. But there is absolutely no guarantee that it plays out in your favor overall. Sacramento's entire shield against Maloof machinations has been "look what a great market we are, you don't want to lose us NBA!" The more antics that erode that image, the greater the risk you lose the only allies that matter. They could let the Maloofs move to escape the obviously poisoned well. Or, the Maloofs could indeed decide to sell. And who are the most aggressive buyers currently on the market? The Seattle group. Larry Ellison. People who would buy the team and take it from you. On top of all that the new CBA makes it easier for small market owners to survive, and if you squeeze the Maloofs money they can, to a certain point, just take it back out of the team to balance the books. Meanwhile the mood and environment turns so toxic the young cornerstones of the team on the court are increasingly encouraged to bolt the toxic pit that Sacto has become, and leave the team in even more shambles. There are all kinds of ways this kind of stuff can backfire badly, and only one where it does not: the fantasy scenario of Maloofs sell, to a rich guardian angel who will keep the team in Sacto. But your best chance of that happening are precisely if you appear in all ways to be a great market that somebody would want to buy into and that the NBA will fight to keep. Not a ruined one where nobody will sponsor the team or go to games.

 

[ForlornKing]

I've been thinking for a long time about what kind of "telling" impact Kings fans in Sacramento area can have on this issue. The pain of having to deal with idiotic Maloof disfunctional, destitute clan. Certainly, it can't be, it shouldn't be biz as usual - or we just look foolish, IMO. But we have to be smart in coming up with appropriate strategy to force Maloofs to sell Kings to someone who will keep the franchise here.

The idea of still going to games but not buying anything, concessions, parking outside MS&E paid lot, etc. makes sense. But here's one that would surely get NBA and national media attention. Why not boycott certain home games scheduled but then turn right around and sellout or near sellout the next game. It could be picking a certain "blackout" day - like no fans Tuesday, no fans Friday, or some other day. Imagine an all time low attendance at Kings game of say couple hundred or maybe couple thousand vs. next game of 15,000+ screaming "Maloofs Must GO!! among just as loud cheers of GO KINGS! It would prove we have very motivated and determined Kings fan base with ability to take charge of our destiny regardless of our bozo owners.

This is war and the drunken Georgie Maloof declared it on all Kings fans. We must fight back united as one or just lie down and take more Maloof insults and abuse.

This is a GREAT idea!!!

 

[NoBonus]

People are all mad at the Maloofs, so anytime anything hurts them everybody jumps up and goes "yeah! get those pigs!" But this is a bit like havng somebody open fire on the guy you don't like with an assault rifle while he's standing in a crowd of your friends and family. Maybe you get the Maloofs, maybe you do. But there is absolutely no guarantee that it plays out in your favor overall. Sacramento's entire shield against Maloof machinations has been "look what a great market we are, you don't want to lose us NBA!" The more antics that erode that image, the greater the risk you lose the only allies that matter. They could let the Maloofs move to escape the obviously poisoned well. Or, the Maloofs could indeed decide to sell. And who are the most aggressive buyers currently on the market? The Seattle group. Larry Ellison. People who would buy the team and take it from you. On top of all that the new CBA makes it easier for small market owners to survive, and if you squeeze the Maloofs money they can, to a certain point, just take it back out of the team to balance the books. Meanwhile the mood and environment turns so toxic the young cornerstones of the team on the court are increasingly encouraged to bolt the toxic pit that Sacto has become, and leave the team in even more shambles. There are all kinds of ways this kind of stuff can backfire badly, and only one where it does not: the fantasy scenario of Maloofs sell, to a rich guardian angel who will keep the team in Sacto. But your best chance of that happening are precisely if you appear in all ways to be a great market that somebody would want to buy into and that the NBA will fight to keep. Not a ruined one where nobody will sponsor the team or go to games.

I think the dialogue between you and PurpleHaze represents a crossroads Kings fans find themselves at:

Do I:

a. go for revenge: I hate the mafools so much for what they have done/are doing to my favorite team, my community, and NBA basketball as a whole that I would be okay with the Kings leaving Sac or being absorbed in a league downsizing if it meant the mafools were out of the ownership of the NBA!

b. go for keeping the Kings in Sac: I love the Kings and Sacramento so much, that I am willing to financially support the mafools regardless of how much they hate me, the loyal Sacramento area local Kings fan. I am willing to do this because I love the Kings that much and I think the team is that important to Sacramento.

This is where I am at. Which is better? I have never felt this alienated by a local business before... the mafools do appear to hate me, a local Kings fan, for being a local Kings fan and wanting to stay a local Kings fan... how else can you describe what they have done? I support the Kings through heartbreak after heartbreak on the court only to have the owners give me more heartbreak??? I am not sure what to do... but I know it will be either acceptance or revenge...

 

[CruzDude]

A classic Catch-22, damn if you do and damn if you don't. Sponsors pull out of arenas every year for a wide variety of reasons. We disgruntled fans prefer to take the worst reasons. Who knows that may be right. But there are other situations dealing with the sponsors themselves that have no bearing on the tightwad Maloofs. Their corporate entities may be pulling back from certain markets they deem not a good fit or they could be decreasing NBA exposure for some other desired exposure. We are talking Pizzas here folks not a top 100 corporate sponsor. I took the low road yesterday but now reading some more views, not so much. Knee jerk reactions are much more exciting than reasonable approaches anyway. Sooo.... lets see what sponsors show up for training camp and the first couple of pre-season games. Then jerk our knees skyward.

 

[rainmaker]

A classic Catch-22, damn if you do and damn if you don't. Sponsors pull out of arenas every year for a wide variety of reasons. We disgruntled fans prefer to take the worst reasons. Who knows that may be right. But there are other situations dealing with the sponsors themselves that have no bearing on the tightwad Maloofs. Their corporate entities may be pulling back from certain markets they deem not a good fit or they could be decreasing NBA exposure for some other desired exposure. We are talking Pizzas here folks not a top 100 corporate sponsor. I took the low road yesterday but now reading some more views, not so much. Knee jerk reactions are much more exciting than reasonable approaches anyway. Sooo.... lets see what sponsors show up for training camp and the first couple of pre-season games. Then jerk our knees skyward.

Why overstate the knee jerk reactions, while understating the sponsors dropping out by saying "we're talking pizza here folks"? It's not random. It's been reported by both CD and Bruski it's because the Kings won't commit to their sponsors to being here for more than this season. You appearing to think it's just routine business and doesn't have anything to do with the Maloofs seems like a much larger assumption than thinking it is connected to the Maloofs who won't guarantee to the sponsors they're in business with they won't be here more than 8-9 months.

While it's not top 100 corporate sponsorships, it's not just pizza either. Why undermine reactions while twisting facts?

Carls Jr.
Sutter Health
Sleep Train
VSP-on the rocks
Thunder Valley-on the rocks

have dropped out or on on the rocks, and the liquor sponsors are considering dropping out as well due to the Maloofs vodka venture.

Sources have told ProBasketballTalk that about half of the team’s sponsors have decided not to renew their packages, and Dave reports that several of the team’s larger sponsors are “on the rocks,” including Thunder Valley Casino and VSP Vision Care.

So about half the sponsors have already walked, and others are on the rocks, including VSP, Thunder Valley and liquor sponsors.

You're comment about it not being top 100 sponsor might mean more if their were top 100 companies in Sac, which there really aren't as it doesn't have much of a corporate base. So it's not like the Kings can just sit back and wait for the corporate base of Sac to just suddenly step in and replace half of the sponsorships and it's looking most likely it'll be more.

I don't think talking about this is a knee jerk reaction. I do however think playing it down to "just talking pizza here" is intentionally undermining the situation, which is just as bad if not worse than a knee jerk reaction.

 

[Kingster]

People are all mad at the Maloofs, so anytime anything hurts them everybody jumps up and goes "yeah! get those pigs!" But this is a bit like havng somebody open fire on the guy you don't like with an assault rifle while he's standing in a crowd of your friends and family. Maybe you get the Maloofs, maybe you do. But there is absolutely no guarantee that it plays out in your favor overall. Sacramento's entire shield against Maloof machinations has been "look what a great market we are, you don't want to lose us NBA!" The more antics that erode that image, the greater the risk you lose the only allies that matter. They could let the Maloofs move to escape the obviously poisoned well. Or, the Maloofs could indeed decide to sell. And who are the most aggressive buyers currently on the market? The Seattle group. Larry Ellison. People who would buy the team and take it from you. On top of all that the new CBA makes it easier for small market owners to survive, and if you squeeze the Maloofs money they can, to a certain point, just take it back out of the team to balance the books. Meanwhile the mood and environment turns so toxic the young cornerstones of the team on the court are increasingly encouraged to bolt the toxic pit that Sacto has become, and leave the team in even more shambles. There are all kinds of ways this kind of stuff can backfire badly, and only one where it does not: the fantasy scenario of Maloofs sell, to a rich guardian angel who will keep the team in Sacto. But your best chance of that happening are precisely if you appear in all ways to be a great market that somebody would want to buy into and that the NBA will fight to keep. Not a ruined one where nobody will sponsor the team or go to games.

Anybody who doesn't think Sacto doesn't have great basketball fans has to be born yesterday or an absolute idiot. And I do mean idiot. How dense do you have to be to realize that the Maloofs have caused the boycott and lousy attendance and not some death spiral in basketball interest in this community? I mean, seriously, that's just brain dead. Anybody who has paid a scintillia of attention to the NBA knows the passion of Kings fans. It's not like they have to prove anything to anybody. If we had fans like most NBA teams that barn would be EMPTY. There would be two teams playing a scrimmage, with the coach, assistants, and a bag boy watching them. If the Kings do end up moving, any attempt at using waning fan interest as an excuse would be seen as a cynical and empty response to rationalize Kings' fans losing their team.

 

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

As long as KJ is around, I'm fairly confident in his ability to articulate the situation in Sacramento to David Stern and the BOG.

The Maloofs can and will go to the BOG and plead their case. They will use the lack of sponsorship and ticket sales / team support as a reason why they should be allowed to move. However, as long as KJ is in the picture, I'd LIKE to believe that he will be able to present the reasons WHY this is happening. The Maloofs have a terrible track record recently, and if their 'presentations' are anything like the crazy George Maloof press conference that happened a while back, KJ should be able to destroy those guys in the presentation / argument department. As long as he is given the opportunity to speak on the subject. And unless Stern starts to turn on Sacramento like he did Seattle, KJ should get another shot if the Maloofs actually file.

 

[Rug King]

Anybody who doesn't think Sacto doesn't have great basketball fans has to be born yesterday or an absolute idiot. And I do mean idiot. How dense do you have to be to realize that the Maloofs have caused the boycott and lousy attendance and not some death spiral in basketball interest in this community? I mean, seriously, that's just brain dead. Anybody who has paid a scintillia of attention to the NBA knows the passion of Kings fans. It's not like they have to prove anything to anybody. If we had fans like most NBA teams that barn would be EMPTY. There would be two teams playing a scrimmage, with the coach, assistants, and a bag boy watching them. If the Kings do end up moving, any attempt at using waning fan interest as an excuse would be seen as a cynical and empty response to rationalize Kings' fans losing their team.

I agree with you Kingster.

 

[Bricklayer]

Anybody who doesn't think Sacto doesn't have great basketball fans has to be born yesterday or an absolute idiot. And I do mean idiot. How dense do you have to be to realize that the Maloofs have caused the boycott and lousy attendance and not some death spiral in basketball interest in this community? I mean, seriously, that's just brain dead. Anybody who has paid a scintillia of attention to the NBA knows the passion of Kings fans. It's not like they have to prove anything to anybody. If we had fans like most NBA teams that barn would be EMPTY. There would be two teams playing a scrimmage, with the coach, assistants, and a bag boy watching them. If the Kings do end up moving, any attempt at using waning fan interest as an excuse would be seen as a cynical and empty response to rationalize Kings' fans losing their team.

Meanwhile while Sacramento fans threaten to dislocate their shoulders trying to reach around and pat themselves on the back for the previous generation's fandom, the Maloofs walk in with these numbers:

Kings NBA Attendance Rank:
2011-12: 28th
2010-11: 29th
2009-10: 29th
2008-09: 29th
2007-08: 27th

The barn has been empty. For a long time, long before the arena issue went hot. And yes, memories are short. There are already young basketball fans growing up that think Sacto fans are complete **** and that you deserve to lose your team. The owners have been around longer, but they have a constant tug on their affections -- self interest. If they stop the Maloofs from moving maybe they won't be able to move if they ever get in trouble. And hey, a nice relocation fee deposit in the ole bank account doesn't hurt either. A new generation of owners is taking over now. Stern, who does remember sold out Arco, is out in a year or two. If all the recent memories you leave the next generation of movers and shakers are empty buildings, protests, dropped sponsors and venom, then you really are toast.

People are getting confused about the ends and the means here. The goal is NOT to get rid of the Maloofs. The goal is to keep the team. And if the team is still in Sacramento 30 years form now and the Maloofs still own it, that is huge victory for Sacramento and Kings fans. The only value in getting rid of the Maloofs is if their removal increases the odds of keeping the team.

 

[bajaden]

I'm curious, have any of the sponsers that are dropping out given a reason as to why? Being of suspicious nature, I have to wonder if the Maloofs themselves are behind the dropout rate. As I understand it, sponsers pay the Maloofs for the right to advertize their products, at the arena, and I assume on television during the games. What if the Maloofs asking price went up as a way to discourage sponsers from re-upping. I know that would be shooting yourself in the foot, but as Bricky said, the Maloofs are going to get a big chunk of change from the league, when last estimated, around 16 million dollars, so they might think they can survive just fine on that without the sponsers. Thereby giving them more ammunition at the BOG'ers meeting.

Sounds crazy, but I wouldn't put anything past them. What truely amazes me, is that the Maloofs seem so intent on moving out of sacramento, a city that has supported the team through thick and thin. We, as fans, nor the city put the Maloofs in the situation they're in, but they want us to pay the price. Their last legitimate argument when bye bye when they blew up the arena deal. I realize they don't want to be just tennants in an arena, but thats what they would have been in Anahiem. It doesn't make any sense to me. But after seeing George at that famous press conference, I guess it does make sense.

 

[rainmaker]

I'm curious, have any of the sponsers that are dropping out given a reason as to why? Being of suspicious nature, I have to wonder if the Maloofs themselves are behind the dropout rate. As I understand it, sponsers pay the Maloofs for the right to advertize their products, at the arena, and I assume on television during the games. What if the Maloofs asking price went up as a way to discourage sponsers from re-upping. I know that would be shooting yourself in the foot, but as Bricky said, the Maloofs are going to get a big chunk of change from the league, when last estimated, around 16 million dollars, so they might think they can survive just fine on that without the sponsers. Thereby giving them more ammunition at the BOG'ers meeting.

Sounds crazy, but I wouldn't put anything past them. What truely amazes me, is that the Maloofs seem so intent on moving out of sacramento, a city that has supported the team through thick and thin. We, as fans, nor the city put the Maloofs in the situation they're in, but they want us to pay the price. Their last legitimate argument when bye bye when they blew up the arena deal. I realize they don't want to be just tennants in an arena, but thats what they would have been in Anahiem. It doesn't make any sense to me. But after seeing George at that famous press conference, I guess it does make sense.

From the Bruski article today:

How much would you pay for the right to advertise with a basketball team that refuses to guarantee where it will be a year from now?

If you’re mattress maker Sleep Train and hamburger purveyor Carl’s Jr., the answer is nothing.

Then from CD:
Carmichael Dave ‏@CarmichaelDave
Parties from both sides telling me Sleep Train talks collapsed in part due to the Kings not offering a guarantee to stay beyond this season.

Carmichael Dave ‏@CarmichaelDave
Also, dollar figures for Sleep Train would've been millions less than PowerBalance paid for arena naming rights.


Seems to me the Maloofs aren't committing to staying past this year, which if you're a sponsor why would you sign a deal with the Kings with no assurance they'll be here past June? But the Sleep Train deal for millions less than what Power Balance was, which Sleep Train has since walked away from, is evidence the Maloofs aren't asking for more money, and at least in this case would have settled for millions less than the Power Balance deal, which wasn't that much to begin with.

Maybe the Maloofs are demanding more from other sponsors, but that doesn't seem to fit with reports of the Sleep Train deal. Trying to figure these guys out is a damn headache, that's for sure. Not committing past this year seems to be part of it. Maybe there's more behind the scenes.

 

[bajaden]

From the Bruski article today:


Then from CD:
Carmichael Dave ‏@CarmichaelDave
Parties from both sides telling me Sleep Train talks collapsed in part due to the Kings not offering a guarantee to stay beyond this season.

Carmichael Dave ‏@CarmichaelDave
Also, dollar figures for Sleep Train would've been millions less than PowerBalance paid for arena naming rights.


Seems to me the Maloofs aren't committing to staying past this year, which if you're a sponsor why would you sign a deal with the Kings with no assurance they'll be here past June? But the Sleep Train deal for millions less than what Power Balance was, which Sleep Train has since walked away from, is evidence the Maloofs aren't asking for more money, and at least in this case would have settled for millions less than the Power Balance deal, which wasn't that much to begin with.

Maybe the Maloofs are demanding more from other sponsors, but that doesn't seem to fit with reports of the Sleep Train deal. Trying to figure these guys out is a damn headache, that's for sure. Not committing past this year seems to be part of it. Maybe there's more behind the scenes.

Yep I just read that quote on twitter. I guess it speaks volumes about the Maloofs intentions.

 

[HndsmCelt]

The bottom line is indeed the bottom line here. Loss of sponsorship=decreased team value. Makes it harder for the cash strapped Maloofs to sell.

 

[SacTownKid]

If the Maloofs are going to purposely tank this whole thing just so they can prove a point that was already refuted by KJ, and it's the straw that breaks this camels back then there was nothing that could be done anyway. If the Maloofs **** in the pool enough people will stop swimming in it, sponsers aren't going to sink money into a pointless losing effort. If the BOG and Stern choose not to connect the dots, and they already know each and every detail of this picture, then there is nothing that could be done period.

 

[hrdboild]

If the Maloofs negotiate with potential sponsors the same way they negotiate with the Sacramento City Council (ie by demanding substantial upfront contributions with no long-term guarantee from the team) then it's no surprise those sponsors are pulling out. It's pretty obvious they would have filed for relocation this year if they hadn't gotten such a negative reaction from the Board of Governors and the commish. What's changed in a year perception-wise I don't know, but with no new Sacramento deal on the table they're going to file for relocation in 2013.

Hopefully their continued incompetence will prevent them from putting together a coherent plan before the filing date for whatever city they hope to exploit. Any future the Kings have in Sacramento is going to be in spite of the Maloofs, not because of them, so I feel no guilt at all in rooting for them to fail (the Maloofs that is, not the Kings).

 

[Livinthedream]

I'm not sure why we are worried about the leagues perception of Sacramento and it's corporate base. The NBA was just here last season working on behalf of the Maloofs to shore up ticketing and marketing. They now have first hand knowledge of the level of commitment the sponsors have to the NBA and Kings, provided the team is here. The NBA doesn't have to perceive or guess or wonder about anything related to Sacramento.

The sponsors leaving is not a moral decision they made to get back at the Maloofs either. This is a business decision that exposes the Maloofs playbook. The Maloofs will be filing for relocation or trying to sell the team to an outside group within the year. Whether the sponsors stay on board or if we start to sell out the arena will have no affect on this decision. It will also have no affect on what the NBA already knows to be true about the Sacramento situation. NBA got an arena deal done here with private investment from AEG on board and the Maloofs killed it. Will the NBA suddenly forget what happened? I fault no one for the decision they make to either go to the games, or to stay away. It's a personal decision. I choose not to give the Maloofs any of my money and will not feel as though I had personal responsibility for the Kings leaving if they do. The Maloofs are making this decision and the league knows what's up.

 

[IfAt1st]

I simply do not see ANY good resolution to all of this.

1) Maloofs are intransigent - they will not sell, to spite the team.

2) The fanbase is eroded past the point of recovery.
The average Sacramentan is just sick of all this crap. Sick of the drama, sick of the moneys being asked for, and sick of the LOSING. Without a winning team, I simply don't see Sacramento supporting the Kings anymore.

3) With the franchise the way it is, it is pretty much guaranteed not to be a winning team. This ensures the lackluster fan support, with allows the Maloofs to always be one foot out the door to relocate, which prevents the sponsors putting up good money when the team may leave the area any year.

Guys, does anyone see a way out of this vicious cycle?
It looks to me to be locked up - eventually, the Maloofs are going to get their relocation vote if it stays like this.

The only thing I can think of is some extreme fan initiative to get chants going at every game of "Maloofs must sell" or something to that effect. Unless it is a topic of conversation at EVERY home game, the NBA will forget who caused all this situation.

 

[Sac.1989]

I agree we're travelling down a road that doesnt look all too favourable. The stubborness of the maloofs to hold onto the one play thing they still have and cripple the franchise will only be broken when they are granted relocation. Even then its not a good business move on their part however thats where it ends for us.

They want to move, all this is a ploy to get them there. Who knows what the nba does, if not anti trust here we come