Judge Delays Ruling On Sacramento Kings Arena Petition, Leaning Toward City

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A judge has decided to wait until next week to rule on whether or a measure submitted by a group challenging the funding of a Sacramento Kings arena can go forward.

Judge Timothy Frawley said he's likely to side with the city over Sacramento Taxpayers Opposed to Pork, but he is delaying a decision until next week and allowing the group to submit a written argument by Tuesday.

STOP is challenging whether a $258 million subsidy from the city for the arena should go forward. The group filed enough signatures to qualify the measure for the ballot, but the Sacramento City Clerk ruled there were inconsistencies and errors in the measure that meant it could not go forward.

The group filed this lawsuit challenging that ruling. Meanwhile, the city has received help from a political-action committee, The 4,000, in its efforts to defend the challenge.

The only response STOP has left is the written argument, as the judge has ruled there will be no additional oral arguments.

The team hopes to break ground on the arena by September, with a projected opening by October of 2016.

This petition isn't the only matter that stands in the way of the arena. The owners of the old Macy's Men's Store building at 600 K Street have declined to sell to the city or the team. The city has begun an eminent domain process against CalPERS and the rest of the building's owners.