Efforts to preserve "Kings" in Sacramento start again – NBA Update
NBA deadlock news has overshadowed every other news related to NBA since the past 3months or so.
However, today a major progress in the forgotten issue, relating to relocation of Sacramento Kings, is expected as representatives of the city of Sacramento, the NBA and arena operator Anschutz Entertainment Group gather in Dallas
to discuss the details of how to build a new arena in downtown.
According to city manager John Shirey, the parties will have an introductory discussion concerning the details.
“Following this discussion, we will lay out the process and timeline that formal discussions and negotiations will take place, our collective goal is to reach a definitive financing plan by the end of the year” Shirey wrote.
Surprisingly, one party that won’t take part in today’s meeting are the owners of the Sacramento Kings, who would be dwellers in the new facility.
"We've decided to let the NBA take the lead on this, but we are in very close contact with the league and are briefed regularly when new updates are available," said team spokesman Chris Clarkhttp://topics.sacbee.com/Chris+Clark/
NBA will be represented by the Clay Bennett of Oklahoma City Thunder, who has past experience of relocation procedures. He was the one, who saw over the transformation of Seattle Super Sonics into Oklahoma City Thunder. Earlier this year, Bennett was part of
the committee that suggested to David Stern, the NBA Commissioner, to deny King’s movement to Orange county.
Sacramento Kings are owned by one of America’s wealthiest families - the Maloof’s. Poor arena facilities have been a constant hurdle in revenue generation in Sacramento and the Maloofs have made it very clear that they will no
longer take it anymore. For this reason, Maloofs have been trying hard to relocate Kings from Sacramento.
On February 19, 2011, a substantial meeting was held between Kings owners and officials of Anaheim in which they even suggested the new name of franchise as "Anaheim Royals".
Sacramento’s Mayor Kevin Johnson, who is an ex NBAer, however jumped in to make sure Kings stays in Sacramento. Over the course of last year, Johnson has ensured a vocal support for the Kings and have been working hard to find
sponsors in a bid to build a new arena and address the concerns of the Maloof’s.
The NBA has given the city officials a deadline and the first meeting in that regard was what transpired today.
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