Thursday, July 13, 2006
Maloofs, Politicians meet in Las Vegas
Whether a reasonable accommodation for George Maloof or a sad sign of the Valley's NBA future, talks about a new Sacramento arena proposal are ongoing in Las Vegas, Nevada. Las Vegas. The city the family that owns the Sacramento Kings have an expanding presence in. The Maloof family owns the Kings, and they also own the Palms casino in which they are currently hashing out a possible taxpayer funded scheme for a new Sacramento arena.
Southern Nevada? Odd.
Sure, so many have tried and failed to create a winning funding proposal for the arena while actually IN Sacramento. However, it is still odd that the future of Sacramento's arena be decided amongst business leaders (the Maloofs, other owners, and Sacramento sports leaders from the Rivercats) and elected officials from our area in a place unreachable by the public or press. Currently in Nevada, Sacramento city and county are being represented, as well as state legislator Darrell Steinberg, although he is being paid to represent the Maloof's interests.
Sadly, and almost expectedly, the Maloof's interest is to get as much as they can for as little as possible. This in the same month that two of America's richest (Gates and Buffett) have decided to devote the rest of their lives and much of their resources towards charitable undertakings. Alas, the Kings are no nonprofit organization. The Maloofs have no ties to Sacramento, other than those formed since purchasing the Valley's only major league sports organization a few years ago. While Sacramentans see the Kings as a spiritual, emotional experience that they often devote time and prayers to, the Maloofs root more for the Kings, rather than the city they represent. The city could always change.
Here's the plain truth of the matter. If there is an agreement between the Maloofs and officials, a ballot initiative will seek to increase the county's sales tax to at least partially fund a new arena in downtown Sacramento. If there is no agreement, or if the voters turn down the proposal in November, Las Vegas may indeed be the next stop of a franchise that has already existed in Rochester, Cincinnati, Kansas City, and Omaha. Left in Sacramento possibly could be the Monarchs, although the Maloofs have such a strong hold on the WNBA Champions that they may also be forced to move out. Arco Arena will still be able to hold the concerts and spectacles it already does, declining each year as the arena becomes increasingly outdated. However, the Maloofs also own Arco arena, so there is no telling what they might do with the Natomas property. It may actually be worth more as a land for housing development than as an arena without a team.
Sacramento could survive without the Kings. It could survive without an arena. However, the quality of life in Sacramento would sink without a civic-pride inducing organization like the Kings or a large space for the people to get together. Once again, sports fans would have to make the drive to the Bay Area they already do for NFL, NASCAR and MLB games. The Warriors would be our team (sort-of). After the 20 year successful run of the Kings in garnering community support and solid attendance, Sacramento would very possibly attract the attention of another major league sports franchise. However, the undeniable truth is that the Kings and Sacramento magically work together. The Maloofs must realize this, and they must realize that moving to Anaheim, San Diego, Albuquerque, or Las Vegas would truly be a gamble.
Southern Nevada? Odd.
Sure, so many have tried and failed to create a winning funding proposal for the arena while actually IN Sacramento. However, it is still odd that the future of Sacramento's arena be decided amongst business leaders (the Maloofs, other owners, and Sacramento sports leaders from the Rivercats) and elected officials from our area in a place unreachable by the public or press. Currently in Nevada, Sacramento city and county are being represented, as well as state legislator Darrell Steinberg, although he is being paid to represent the Maloof's interests.
Sadly, and almost expectedly, the Maloof's interest is to get as much as they can for as little as possible. This in the same month that two of America's richest (Gates and Buffett) have decided to devote the rest of their lives and much of their resources towards charitable undertakings. Alas, the Kings are no nonprofit organization. The Maloofs have no ties to Sacramento, other than those formed since purchasing the Valley's only major league sports organization a few years ago. While Sacramentans see the Kings as a spiritual, emotional experience that they often devote time and prayers to, the Maloofs root more for the Kings, rather than the city they represent. The city could always change.
Here's the plain truth of the matter. If there is an agreement between the Maloofs and officials, a ballot initiative will seek to increase the county's sales tax to at least partially fund a new arena in downtown Sacramento. If there is no agreement, or if the voters turn down the proposal in November, Las Vegas may indeed be the next stop of a franchise that has already existed in Rochester, Cincinnati, Kansas City, and Omaha. Left in Sacramento possibly could be the Monarchs, although the Maloofs have such a strong hold on the WNBA Champions that they may also be forced to move out. Arco Arena will still be able to hold the concerts and spectacles it already does, declining each year as the arena becomes increasingly outdated. However, the Maloofs also own Arco arena, so there is no telling what they might do with the Natomas property. It may actually be worth more as a land for housing development than as an arena without a team.
Sacramento could survive without the Kings. It could survive without an arena. However, the quality of life in Sacramento would sink without a civic-pride inducing organization like the Kings or a large space for the people to get together. Once again, sports fans would have to make the drive to the Bay Area they already do for NFL, NASCAR and MLB games. The Warriors would be our team (sort-of). After the 20 year successful run of the Kings in garnering community support and solid attendance, Sacramento would very possibly attract the attention of another major league sports franchise. However, the undeniable truth is that the Kings and Sacramento magically work together. The Maloofs must realize this, and they must realize that moving to Anaheim, San Diego, Albuquerque, or Las Vegas would truly be a gamble.
