Report: Kings Gearing Up For New Season In Sacramento
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) -- As city and local business leaders prepare for the arrival of NBA officials Thursday, a new report suggests that momentum may be slipping away from the Sacramento Kings' possible move to Anaheim.
The NBA has called the Kings' business team and advised them to move forward with season ticket packages in Sacramento for next year, according to Sports Illustrated's Sam Amick.
The report also says the potential television contract for the Kings in Anaheim is far lower in value than the NBA expected, and also cites heavy opposition within the league against moving the franchise.
It's no secret that the owners of the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers were both lobbying against it.
NBA commissioner David Stern skated around the topic last week but indicated that there may be problems with the proposed move.
"I would say that the terms of the relocation to Anaheim were not fully understood by the committee," Stern said.
NBA relocation officials will be meeting with arena developers and business leaders on the 19th floor of the U.S. Bank building Thursday. The Kings co-owners, the Maloof brothers, were reportedly scheduled to meet with the Kings local minority ownership group Wednesday but canceled the meeting.
Local community leaders traveled to Sacramento on Wednesday to meet with Mayor Kevin Johnson about supporting the effort to keep the team, but most politicians CBS13 spoke with shied away from promising taxpayer dollars to finance a new arena.
KHTK 1140 radio host Carmichael Dave, who has spearheaded a fan-driven effort through social networks to raise money for a new arena, has called for Kings fans to wear purple Thursday as a sign of support.
A number of downtown restaurants are offering Kings-themed options or discounts for purple-clad patrons Thursday.
