Kings are Staying in Sac-Town

[Nicky Nix Nook]

http://www.sacbee.com/kings/story/2222164.html

Owners of the Sacramento Kings said Wednesday they have "no deadline" for finding a new arena and the team has no intention of leaving town next year.

Also Petrie's job is safe

http://www.sacbee.com/kings/story/2222134.html

Not long after the Kings co-owner voiced his family's commitment to keeping the team in Sacramento, he vowed to keep basketball president Geoff Petrie around beyond this season if he wants to be here.

[darkadun]

I sure hope so. But who knows what the future will bring.

[KF10]

It's very encouraging to hear that by the Maloofs. This would weed out a lot of the critics saying that "Sacramento is 100% leaving after this year !!1!" blah blah blah. Well, at least for a while.

[RoyalCourtJestr]

We need that arena done, pure and simple. The Maloofs know Sacramento will pony up to see a good team play, so they need to start ponying up for that arena.

Although it's very good to hear them say that. I don't see the team moving, at least in this recesson, anyways.

[cdt3]

The cost of moving would be tremendous. Not to mention it is tough to build anything anywhere in Cali not just Sac. They will work out a deal with the city where everyone benefis. Give it a little time. They will work something out. I agree a competitive team will silence a lot of critics also and give the Maloofs. I think Petrie has built the foundation for that team and they will be much improved this year.

[pillwenney]

That's definitely pretty relieving to hear. I'm still pretty anxious about the arena thing, but with that tone, I'm pretty confident. It'd be one thing to say like "No, I don't think we'll be moving", but to say it with that tone is definitely a bit of a relief.

[Smills91]

That's definitely pretty relieving to hear. I'm still pretty anxious about the arena thing, but with that tone, I'm pretty confident. It'd be one thing to say like "No, I don't think we'll be moving", but to say it with that tone is definitely a bit of a relief.

Honestly, at this time, where else would the Maloofs realistically go? I mean I know Anaheim is there, but I really think both the Clippers and the Lakers would pitch a fit.

San Jose? Ditto from the Warriors.

Vegas? That's $tern's tantrum right there.

Kansas City? Can't see them going back there or the Maloofs wanting to leave those cheap Southwest fares from Vegas to Sacto.

Seattle? Has more issues than Sacto at building an 'acceptable' arena.

Louisville? Ditto that from KC.

I mean those are the top 6 cities or so, just aren't really viable options, at least not any better than Sacto(staying in Sacto is cheaper which trumps any move).

So it's really a sound business decision to stay in Sacto right now. That may all very well change in the not-too-distant future though. Only time will tell.

Bottom-line is that a new arena does need to be built in the next 3-5 years though or eventually they'll be forced to leave for financial reasons. Obamanomics can only hamper the economy for so long(it's called term limits) before it bounces back.

[pillwenney]

I don't really buy the reasoning against KC or Louisville. And I don't know about Louisville, but from what I've heard, KC has a really nice arena (at least in comparison to Arco). I don't think the Maloofs are really going to stress that much about the cost of air fare. They've got bigger fish to fry.

[Smills91]

I don't really buy the reasoning against KC or Louisville. And I don't know about Louisville, but from what I've heard, KC has a really nice arena (at least in comparison to Arco). I don't think the Maloofs are really going to stress that much about the cost of air fare. They've got bigger fish to fry.

Louisville is building a brand new, state-of-the-art arena as I type this. It's scheduled to be completed by next basketball season for the UofL Cardinals. However, I have a hard time seeing a pro team move there as the college team will have first rights to the building for scheduling purposes and the Pacers are only 90-100 minutes away, who may pitch a fit.

However, Kentucky doesn't have a pro team, but it's more of a college sports state anyways, IMO. So I think their are more things against a pro team moving there than for it.

[pillwenney]

Well, even Sac is only 90-100 minutes from Oakland. But regardless, I'm more generally concerned about KC..

[Smills91]

Well, even Sac is only 90-100 minutes from Oakland. But regardless, I'm more generally concerned about KC..

yeah, well the Bay Area is #4 media market and Sacramento is #16th.

Indianaopolis is #25 and Louisville #48

I think that's a big reason why the status quo works just fine in NorCal.

[bulls4ever]

well looks like San Jose started negotiations

http://www.mercurynews.com/search/ci_13 ... ck_check=1

[KF10]

well looks like San Jose started negotiations

http://www.mercurynews.com/search/ci_13 ... ck_check=1

Read this:

http://www.sactownroyalty.com/2009/10/1 ... alked-with

That should clarify things up.

[EJS99]

Here is another perspective:

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/kawakami/2 ... tat-stuff/

My thought: I’ve written in the past that David Stern and the board of governors (every owner is a voting board member) would be sensitive to the concerns of Chris Cohan’s market rights to the Bay Area.

But the NBA isn’t going to be pleased if there’s no Sacramento arena deal in sight. Not pleased at all.

And the NBA definitely isn’t thrilled with the current ownership of the Warriors–Stern probably knows the Bay Area is a thundering hoops market that the Warriors are in the process of screwing up.

I’d say that as the Warriors’ mess gets worse and worse, the NBA pooh-bahs might be less and less likely to protect Cohan from another team moving to San Jose.

All this is predicated on a team making the decision to come, of course…

Bottomline, money talks. The Kings want to make money. If San Jose makes an attractive pitch, the Kings will listen.

[SacKingZZZ]

I still think if the Kings move, it's to San Jose. San Jose will not stop short of getting a team if there's one ready to move. They also know the Kings would have a semi-built regional fan base being that close and all. If two teams can survive in LA, they can survive in the bay area.

[a-rod]

Mark Purdy
Columnist for San Jose Mercury News Mark Purdy joins Koz to discuss San Jose hunting for an NBA franchise & how organizers in San Jose reached out to thoe ownership of the Sacramento Kings.

http://www.sports1140.com/Jim-Kozimor/5251453

[Smills91]

I still think if the Kings move, it's to San Jose. San Jose will not stop short of getting a team if there's one ready to move. They also know the Kings would have a semi-built regional fan base being that close and all. If two teams can survive in LA, they can survive in the bay area.

Couldn't disagree more. There's no way the Warriors let the Kings move into their backyard. NONE.

[SacKingZZZ]

Couldn't disagree more. There's no way the Warriors let the Kings move into their backyard. NONE.

I figure if LA has two teams playing in the same building, two teams can stick in the bay area. Especially with how big the cities are. San Jose is a really nice town to boot.

[ICMTM]

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wireta ... _to_move/#

Well the NBA/Kings are as good as gone if this article is true!

[pillwenney]

Yeah, I'm going to take the words that people have actually said over what this guy says he heard somewhere.