OT: Kings seriously consider move to Anaheim

[dockingsched]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/allstar20 ... id=6140807

The Sacramento Kings are seriously exploring the possibility of applying to the NBA by the league's March 1 deadline for relocation to Anaheim for next season, according to sources with knowledge of the team's thinking.

The Kings haven't made a final decision, but sources said team officials have been in Orange County, Calif., this month to gather more first-hand data on the feasibility and potential obstacles involved in trying to move to Anaheim's Honda Center at season's end after a 26-season run in Sacramento and numerous failed attempts to secure the financing needed for the construction of a new modern arena.

NBA commissioner David Stern publicly confirmed for the first time Saturday night at his annual All-Star Weekend news conference that the Kings have had discussions with Anaheim officials about a possible move...

more local games can't hurt imo.

[Dolgopolov]

Who cares it's the kings, why are they even an nba team

[DubaLakers]

that would be cool, the clippers should have went there years ago.

[LA Forever]

The Lakers will have 4 more games in Southern California per season, with 2 of them being cheaper than STAPLES Center.

[Hunter103]

Would the Kings be able to find a fanbase in So Cal? When I lived in OC everyone was still a Laker fan.

[NoseBleedLakers]

Their fan base would probably consist of Laker haters.

[DEEP3CL]

The Lakers will have 4 more games in Southern California per season, with 2 of them being cheaper than STAPLES Center.

Heck yeah.........if it gets us over as far as road games and physical far travel I'm cool with it. So in reality we go from 39 to 37 but in essence still play the 41 "road" games. Yeah I can hear the bitch'in on the GB daily already.

[chefy]

Good for Socal yea but as a bball fan I want them to stay in Sactown

[Slava]

So do we have a California division after this?

[TruSkool]

id rather they stay in SAC...never really liked the hornets, grizzlies, and sonics moves either

[TyCobb]

The Lakers will have 4 more games in Southern California per season, with 2 of them being cheaper than STAPLES Center.

Heck yeah.........if it gets us over as far as road games and physical far travel I'm cool with it. So in reality we go from 39 to 37 but in essence still play the 41 "road" games. Yeah I can hear the bitch'in on the GB daily already.

Haha, for real.

[KingLakers]

This seems like bad news for the Clippers if their current team turns out to be another false alarm like the other 10 times for them I dont know if the Clippers can survive in SoCal much longer if the Kings come here.

[Leor_77]

I'm not as familiar with Orange County, as I go there rarely, but from my understanding, the area is dominated by Lakers fans. Financially, it seems like the correct option. The people from the Anaheim side are willing to pay all of the Sacramento Kings loans, and from what I've heard, the arena is very nice. I'm actually sure that even the players would prefer to live there. Newport Beach seems like one of the premier places to reside in Southern California.

On the other hand, it doesn't make sense to add another NBA team to this area, and I think that other cities need it more. I'd like to see Seattle and Kansas City get a shot at it. If not those, then San Diego seems like it would be a good fit. I also wouldn't mind if they actually figured out a way to stay in Sacramento - There are a lot of die-hard fans who love the Kings up there. You never want to take that away.

[dockingsched]

Nothing has changed in Seattle since the Sonics left to make then ready for an NBA team. San Diego doesn't have an arena either, and they have the Chargers stadium issues to deal with. Kansas City, as far as i know, doesn't have an NBA ready arena and is a tiny market anyway. Just for some perspective on the LA market, the Lakers average 270,000 households for their games on FSN. thats most in the league, with the Bulls in 2nd place averaging 141,000 households, almost half as much as the lakers.

[Rox_Nix_Nox]

Kansas city has the sprint center. Sprint center, honda center, hmm

[dockingsched]

thanks, looks nice too.

[Rox_Nix_Nox]

they won't last a decade here in southern california.
bold prediction

[Slava]

Sprint Center is freaking amazing, I was there for an exhibition game and some concerts a year ago. That could hold an NBA team and KC has some nice corporate sponsors that will buy a good deal of the boxes. Even the freaking Chiefs have a loyal fanbase there.

This could very well be an OKC kind of success story in the NBA.

[LApwnd]

2 more cheaper Laker home games