Report: Seattle Making Play To Lure Kings

February 5, 2012 11:28 PM

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Seattle city officials have been working behind the scenes to lure the Sacramento Kings to Washington if a deal for a new NBA arena falls through, according to a newspaper report.

The Seattle Times reported Sunday that documents show Seattle’s efforts over the past eight months to bring an NBA team back to Seattle as soon as this fall. San Francisco hedge-fund manager Christopher Hansen, who is a Seattle native, has been working closely with the Seattle mayor’s office on plans to build a new arena and buy an NBA team.

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson’s office only issued this statement in response to the report:

“We are focused on one thing and one thing only, and that’s the best interest of the people of Sacramento. We feel like we have a plan that is viable for the team, the league and the city. We’re on track to be able to more forward by March 1.”

HereWeStay founder Blake Ellington said losing the Kings would be a huge loss for the region, adding that Sacramento has it’s destiny in its own hands.

“We definitely have to pull together as Sacramento and really get this arena done,” Ellington said.

swim

Let them have the Kings! Last thing we need are the freeloading Maloofs getting more money they never will pay back.
NO NEW ARENA!! NO NEW ARENA!! NO NEW ARENA!! NO NEW ARENA!! NO NEW ARENA!!

Why do we need a new arena? What is wrong with the arena we’ve got? Begging for a new arena when thousands of people are homeless and out of work. Plus, what kind of element would a new arena attract? I’ll tell ya: it will attract that thug, hoodlum element.

NO NEW ARENA WHATSOEVER!! And who cares about the Kings anyways? IThe 200 fans that live in a town with 1,000,000-plus people? Let them move to Europe or China for all I care.
carl steger

Seattle did not build a new arena for the Sonics, they sure as heck will not build a new palace for the Kings. Want to mortgage your future? Then sell your revenue stream (parking) and tie your wagon to the Maloof’s shuck and jive show. Once the Maloof’s had enough money to put a product on the floor that filled Arco, not anymore. They just don’t have enough money to play with the NBA’s Big Boys. Oh, by the way where is the 70million that they still owe Sacramento? Has Sacramento City’s budget been solved? No public money for sports bailout.
reality check

if the kings leave town you might as well change the name to stockton
reality check

because the arena is the oldest in all of the NBA. Its junk and falling apart. not to mention it will revitalize the downtown area. people like you are clueless to what a major leage team does for our economy. people from all over northern CA come here to watch the kings. Thats VERY good for business
Whitey

The “arena” isn’t for the Kings, you simple minded d-bags, it’s an entertainment venue and has nothing to do with the Maloofs and/or how much the team sucks. It’s about housing an NBA franchise, bringing in entertainment events and generating money for the community. Read the study, done by educated professionals, before you come on here and cry.

Please get educated or stop giving your ignorant opinions. I give you credit for actually putting a name down, Carl, but you’re uninformed too. Seattle didn’t get a deal done and look at them now… realized the mistake. Shouldn’t we learn from that? As for the Maloof’s cash flow, I’m guessing you’re not their accountant. They owe money and have been paying it on time. If the day comes when they can’t afford this team, they will sell by force. Why should Sacramento lose their team and continue missing out on revenue opportunities because our venue is outdated? And by the way, has anyone asked you for “public” money to fund this? Idiot.

Go crawl back into your 1985 shell.
Richard Vert

I just heard the guy from Think Big Sacramento on the radio trying to explain the letter he sent to Chris Hanson. If this is your point man on keeping the team they might as well start packing. What a dweeb. There is no master plan to “steal” the Kings . However if Sacramento does not step up and handle their business we would be happy the team here. Life in the big city boys. In reality though it’s Anaheim at the top of the list anyway. So knock off the story telling kids.