NBA's Kings could get lost in shadows

[YC42Balla]

Anaheim/LA/So Cal fans don't diverse this franchise (Sac-Kings). Reading this article made me very upset to image such ungrateful fans - who would be rooting for this team once they become "winners," while we've had to suffer through many long seasons of losing and have are team that we love very much - taken away from us without ever getting the chance to see them win a single Championship, what a shame. SMH

Thousands of fans put away their Lakers foam fingers and their front-window flags, and their kids sleep underneath pictures of Jason Thompson and Donte Greene?

Southern California has a venomously low tolerance for losers, especially someone else's losers.

The Lakers, Raiders and Rams were dominant franchises when they moved here from Minneapolis, Oakland and Cleveland.

The Clippers weren't, but then they were born to provide fodder for the Lakers. That's why Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan calls them "Manchester City."

This basketball team will severely test our boredom threshold.

A researcher with time on his hands should go to downtown Anaheim and ask passersby to identify Tyreke Evans, DeMarcus Cousins, Omri Casspi, Jermaine Taylor, Marcus Thornton, Francisco Garcia and Beno Udrih. He could even bring all those young men with him and still stump the band.

If this is not the worst team in the NBA it is truly the least identifiable.

Click here: Article

[RoyalCourtJestr]

Fantastically written article. I understand the financial reasons for relocation, but the fan base and basically every other reason just points to this as a silly decision.

[gold_leader64]

Fantastically written article. I understand the financial reasons for relocation, but the fan base and basically every other reason just points to this as a silly decision.

What many people don't realize is that is has very little to do with a fanbase. The fanbase was the only, and I mean only, redeeming factor of pro sports in Sacramento. Once they realized the land swap deal wasn't going to happen, they then were in a position to go to a location with, not better fans, but a better situation to generate revenue. This move was about the financial advantages of relocation, not about starting another sell-out streak.

[stock01234]

being a kings fan (because of Sacramento connection) its heart breaking to see the kings leave.. however I don't think this move will be financial or fan base disaster :

- honda center is not much younger than arco, however it is much better and renovated compared to arco. If in future the team needs another arena, it will be both kings (or whatever they name the team in Anaheim) and ducks asking the city to fund it. Even if kings remain at bottom of the league, still the affluent/wealthy residents and world champs Ducks will get it done. So I don't think arena age is a issue for Maloofs
- ofcourse the fan base will deep. It will be average/below league average attendance for couple more seasons, however that will be offset by the TV deal. Also if Kings show promise, then fans will start turning to them. Lakers won't be world champs for ever. Once they go down (ofcourse they won't go down the way kings did since last 5-6 seasons) and if the kings rise during that period, then the bandwagon fans will definitely switch. Also if the both kings and lakers are at top, the Anaheim Kings - LA Lakers rivalry will be financially much better that Sacramento Kings - LA Lakers rivalry.
- It will take one or two stars to get most fans. Look what difference Blake Griffin is making to Clippers fan base.
- Looking at Clippers, even if Maloofs continue being broke and don't spend money, they know they will still be much more profitable than being in Sacramento.

I understand that its really sad to see them go. It will definitely break hearts of thousands of fans including me, but I guess that is how businesses are. They don't think emotionally as we fans. This situation could have been easily avoided had not economy tumbled in Sacto, had not maloofs gone broke, had maloofs spend money and kept a respectable coach and team, had NBA put hard cap to create a level playing field for all market teams, had NBA a better revenue sharing system. The timing of this move makes it feel much bad, because next season could very well be a new CBA with financial reliefs (hard cap, rollback salaries, revenue sharing) for team owners.

[ICMTM]

If we're paying attention most would consider the Kings a Clipper-esque franchise with a streak of competitiveness. I don't think it's a lock to say the Kings will go to Anaheim and then start winning again. Yeah it's Anaheim, but where's the research stating the Anaheim Kings will even have a fanbase?

I've been to LA a few times and I noticed a few things:

The Angles/Dodgers are a split fanbase between counties
I haven't noticed one Clipper Fan
ALL of the LA area and even San Diego is LA Laker territory. Basically most of the state is LA territory. If you're not a King or a Warrior fan you're most likely a Laker Fan. I don't see how going into Laker Land is going to work? Ultimately sponsors will only sponsor a supported team. Yes there is the potential for a lot of things in LA. Who's buying into The Anaheim Royals (I can see a name change back to their old name) though?

If the team went back to KC, San Jose, or anywhere else it would work out.

[ICMTM]

Also if the Kings were nationally relevant again I could see a .com willing to dump money into them for sponsorship.

[CKRT]

i would love love love the kings back in KC. only a 5 hour drive to see them play again