Both Marc Stein of ESPN and Sam Amick of Fanhouse are reporting that the Maloof brothers, majority owners of the Sacramento Kings, may file relocation papers to move the Kings to Anaheim California before the March 1st filing deadline. The Maloofs as well as the previous owners of the Kings have been trying for well over a decade to get a new building erected in Sacramento, but to no avail.
Earlier this month, the City of Sacramento enlisted David Taylor, a local developer, as well as the ICON group, a global firm that has built stadiums all over the world, to conduct a 90 day feasibility study for building a new sports and entertainment facility in Sacramento, but that might be too little too late. The development team is only weeks into their study that will look at all options for building a new sports and entertainment facility.
For years, the Sacramento political climate has been anti-arena, but that has seemingly changed of late. But when the NBA stepped aside, the responsibility for keeping the Kings here in Sacramento fell squarely on local government. For the city of Sacramento, led by ex-NBA star Kevin Johnson to lose the Kings now would be a devastating blow.
For the next ten days, Kings fans should be working hard to spread the word that once the Kings leave, NBA basketball will be dead in Sacramento, as will the regions number one entertainment venue. You can find out more information about the arena projects and the grass roots movement to keep the Kings in Sacramento at www.facebook.com/HereWeStay.
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