NBA Update: Sacramento kings get the relocation extension from the league
The date is set. The location, not determined as yet.
As the search for new home for the Sacramento Kings is still in progress, the NBA has acceded to an application by the Kings front office to extend the deadline until April 18, 2011. This decision came after the NBA’s Board of
Governors meeting on Tuesday.
The Kings’ relocation debate came on the media and soon picked the hype when Maloof family, which owns the Kings’ franchise, started discussing its new location for the next season with NBA Commissioner David Stern dating back
to February 19th. David Stern later disclosed that the Kings’ owners had a brief session with him and desired to move their franchise to Anaheim, California.
The relocation negotiations between the Sacramento Kings and Anaheim officials are going on, but the ultimate fate of Kings has yet not decided.
The Sacramento fans headed by their mayor Kevin Johnson are not very pleased by the development and want the franchise to in their city. One testament of their dedication emerged in the form of a record turnout of 17,317 on Monday
night against Los Angeles Clippers. They were all roaring in synch and aloud, “Here we stay” “Here we stay”.
Kevin Johnson spoke in a news conference on Tuesday, “I think it's clear they are looking to try to strike or create a deal in Anaheim, It leads me to believe that if they don't get a deal, they'll stay in Sacramento. It's not
the ideal situation that they're choosing Sacramento.
Johnson also stated as he has spoken with Anaheim’s Mayor Tom Tait regarding relocation of Kings, “I'm wishing them ill will, let me be clear, we’re wishing them ill will. I told that to the Anaheim mayor in a delicate way last
week. I am rooting against him”.
The Kings’ owners are in very difficult position as they have failed to build a new arena in Sacramento for years now. The current Arco arena in Kings’ possession has been outdated and they are in search of a new court with the
best facilities for their players and team officials.
The Anaheim arena, known as the Honda Center, was the best option as its boasts of 83 luxury suites with state of the art and well maintained facilities, compared to an aging Arco arena with just 30 suits. The disparity of facilities
of the two venues forced the owners to move ahead. The Honda center is currently a home venue of National Hockey League’s Anaheim Ducks.
The final decision of moving kings to Anaheim will be made when the other 29 owners will also vote in favor of relocation. However, the new deadline will not be a hurdle in finishing the regular season for the Sacramento kings
which will sum up on April 13th.
The Sacramento Kings currently holds the 14th position in Western Conference with 15 wins and 43 losses.
Tags: