http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/406770.html
Ailene Voisin: Hope is not lost for new arena
By Ailene Voisin - Bee Columnist
Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, September 30, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
This has been a particularly trying 12 months for David Stern. In no particular order, the NBA commissioner has confronted a gambling scandal involving one of his referees, lousy reviews of the All-Star Game in Las Vegas, suspensions that crippled the Phoenix Suns in the playoffs, poor ratings for the NBA Finals, a steamy soap opera starring the New York Knicks and, as usual these days, enough arena issues to keep the moving vans on notice.
The latter issue is the kicker, the potentially crushing blow to the knees, the one that ultimately defines Stern's legacy.
Can the commissioner keep his league intact? Can he anchor his franchises and prevent the NBA from morphing into a loosely connected coalition dominated by major-market clubs in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, while the majority of small- and midsize-market clubs in places such as Sacramento, Charlotte, Portland, Salt Lake City, Memphis and Milwaukee are afforded all the long-term protection of temp workers?
No, the last thing the league needs is for MapQuest to develop into a bigger hit than Tim Duncan.
Which is why John Moag makes perfect sense.
Maybe Stern's emissary cuts a deal with the Cal Expo folks. Maybe he eventually walks away in frustration. Maybe a new arena in Sacramento just isn't meant to be. But the deal is, the deal is back on, which at the very least strongly suggests that -- for various and probably diverse reasons -- Stern and the Maloofs are committed to a long-term partnership with Sacramento.
Frankly, they need each other. They all need each other. The city and county officials need a modern sports and entertainment venue to replace the obsolete Arco Arena, the Maloofs need a playground in which to house their Kings, and the NBA needs to serve and secure a community that embraces its pro franchise like few others.
"I've gotten to know Sacramento pretty well," said Moag, the expert hired by Stern to create a viable proposal. "A lot of people were opposed to the referendums (Q & R). A lot of people came out of that process angry. But I have never, ever, anywhere in America seen a team with this (degree of support), all across the spectrum. There is no question the people in this town love their Kings. They understand the need for a new arena. The only question they have is explaining how we're going to do this. I hope we get there."
Like so many of us, Moag initially was fixated on a downtown site. He never warmed to Natomas -- the current site sure to be part of any financing package -- and was intrigued by Cal Expo because of the location, because of the all-inclusive (city, county and state officials) nature of the discussions and, most important, because of the potential for financing a structure without public finds.
No new taxes. Yeah, he heard.
But if a deal ultimately materializes, the seminal moment will have occurred last November, when the Maloofs asked for and received Stern's involvement, on several conditions: (1) that Stern hire the negotiators, which meant that John Thomas, Richie Ross and everyone else involved in previous arena discussions be assigned elsewhere; (2) that his hand-picked emissary would have the authority to negotiate the deal; and (3) that he wouldn't hear an arena-related peep out of the boys. And, interestingly, as of Friday, the Maloofs had never even been introduced to Moag.
"This is a long journey," Stern said, "but we're pleased that the first step was well-received. And, you know, one of the Maloofs' greatest strengths in all this has been their enormous resolve about getting something done for the Kings in Sacramento."
That's starting to make more sense, too. The vacant arena market isn't exactly bustling these days. The NHL is hinting strongly about placing an expansion team in Las Vegas, assuming the Anschutz Entertainment Group constructs its privately financed facility near the Strip. In Kansas City, Mo., Sprint Center -- also financed by AEG -- opens in two weeks with an Elton John concert. Officials there are intent on luring an NHL club, as well. Oklahoma City leaders are pursuing Ford Center upgrades, ostensibly for the Seattle SuperSonics at some point in the near future.
Stern, who seems particularly vexed about the Sonics' situation, has enjoyed one offseason respite from increasingly problematic arena matters: After years of wrangling, rejection and familiar relocation threats, the Orlando Magic and county officials recently reached agreement on a downtown sports arena and performing arts center.
"Sacramento is like Orlando," Stern added. "You get the sense they really want to get something done."
About the writer: Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@sacbee.com.
Ailene Voisin: Hope is not lost for new arena
By Ailene Voisin - Bee Columnist
Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, September 30, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
This has been a particularly trying 12 months for David Stern. In no particular order, the NBA commissioner has confronted a gambling scandal involving one of his referees, lousy reviews of the All-Star Game in Las Vegas, suspensions that crippled the Phoenix Suns in the playoffs, poor ratings for the NBA Finals, a steamy soap opera starring the New York Knicks and, as usual these days, enough arena issues to keep the moving vans on notice.
The latter issue is the kicker, the potentially crushing blow to the knees, the one that ultimately defines Stern's legacy.
Can the commissioner keep his league intact? Can he anchor his franchises and prevent the NBA from morphing into a loosely connected coalition dominated by major-market clubs in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, while the majority of small- and midsize-market clubs in places such as Sacramento, Charlotte, Portland, Salt Lake City, Memphis and Milwaukee are afforded all the long-term protection of temp workers?
No, the last thing the league needs is for MapQuest to develop into a bigger hit than Tim Duncan.
Which is why John Moag makes perfect sense.
Maybe Stern's emissary cuts a deal with the Cal Expo folks. Maybe he eventually walks away in frustration. Maybe a new arena in Sacramento just isn't meant to be. But the deal is, the deal is back on, which at the very least strongly suggests that -- for various and probably diverse reasons -- Stern and the Maloofs are committed to a long-term partnership with Sacramento.
Frankly, they need each other. They all need each other. The city and county officials need a modern sports and entertainment venue to replace the obsolete Arco Arena, the Maloofs need a playground in which to house their Kings, and the NBA needs to serve and secure a community that embraces its pro franchise like few others.
"I've gotten to know Sacramento pretty well," said Moag, the expert hired by Stern to create a viable proposal. "A lot of people were opposed to the referendums (Q & R). A lot of people came out of that process angry. But I have never, ever, anywhere in America seen a team with this (degree of support), all across the spectrum. There is no question the people in this town love their Kings. They understand the need for a new arena. The only question they have is explaining how we're going to do this. I hope we get there."
Like so many of us, Moag initially was fixated on a downtown site. He never warmed to Natomas -- the current site sure to be part of any financing package -- and was intrigued by Cal Expo because of the location, because of the all-inclusive (city, county and state officials) nature of the discussions and, most important, because of the potential for financing a structure without public finds.
No new taxes. Yeah, he heard.
But if a deal ultimately materializes, the seminal moment will have occurred last November, when the Maloofs asked for and received Stern's involvement, on several conditions: (1) that Stern hire the negotiators, which meant that John Thomas, Richie Ross and everyone else involved in previous arena discussions be assigned elsewhere; (2) that his hand-picked emissary would have the authority to negotiate the deal; and (3) that he wouldn't hear an arena-related peep out of the boys. And, interestingly, as of Friday, the Maloofs had never even been introduced to Moag.
"This is a long journey," Stern said, "but we're pleased that the first step was well-received. And, you know, one of the Maloofs' greatest strengths in all this has been their enormous resolve about getting something done for the Kings in Sacramento."
That's starting to make more sense, too. The vacant arena market isn't exactly bustling these days. The NHL is hinting strongly about placing an expansion team in Las Vegas, assuming the Anschutz Entertainment Group constructs its privately financed facility near the Strip. In Kansas City, Mo., Sprint Center -- also financed by AEG -- opens in two weeks with an Elton John concert. Officials there are intent on luring an NHL club, as well. Oklahoma City leaders are pursuing Ford Center upgrades, ostensibly for the Seattle SuperSonics at some point in the near future.
Stern, who seems particularly vexed about the Sonics' situation, has enjoyed one offseason respite from increasingly problematic arena matters: After years of wrangling, rejection and familiar relocation threats, the Orlando Magic and county officials recently reached agreement on a downtown sports arena and performing arts center.
"Sacramento is like Orlando," Stern added. "You get the sense they really want to get something done."
About the writer: Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@sacbee.com.
