The Sacramento Kings won't be getting a new arena in Sac-Town. The deal is dead, and the latest relocation talk seems to point toward Anaheim, not Kansas City. This all comes after the NBA franchise's owners released a statement saying that they're ready to mingle with potential new homes.
"We are looking at all options to ensure the long-term viability of this franchise."
Orange County Register columnist Randy Youngman tried to connect the dots between Kings owners the Maloof brothers and Anaheim.
The relocation rumors revved up again Friday when Bloomberg News Service reported that two private investment firms are negotiating to acquire a controlling interest in the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, also owned by the Maloofs, after the family violated its loan covenants.If the Maloofs are having significant financial problems -- the Sacramento Bee reports that in 2009 the family sold its original beer distributorship in New Mexico for more than $100 million and that there also were staff layoffs in the Kings organization and at The Palms -- then perhaps there is a greater sense of urgency to move the franchise to a market with better demographics, more potential corporate sponsors and an NBA-ready arena.
That's where Anaheim comes in. If the Maloofs decide to move the Kings -- or are forced to sell a team struggling on the court (NBA-worst 8-25 record) and struggling at the gate (29th out of 30 in home attendance) -- Anaheim and San Jose are believed to be the most likely destinations because they both have NBA-quality arenas and waiting billionaires to help them overcome financial obstacles
Kansas City got a cursory mention, but, as I've written before, without potential owners, the Kings won't be moving to Kansas City. (There are no known billionaires waiting in the wings to ante up for a franchise.) As Pro Basketball Talk notes, Anaheim and even San Jose aren't short on billionaires wanting sports franchises, namely Henry Samueli, the owner of the NHL's Anaheim
Ducks and booker of the Honda Center, and Larry Ellison of Oracle.
On top of that, Kings owner George
Maloof told Sports Illustrated in July that it's not happening.
"SomeMaybe the recent statement opens the door, but most likely not.of it is the proximity. We live in Southern California and Las Vegas.
To fly to Kansas City is a little longer, a little further," Maloof
said.
ready-made arena (where the Ducks play) and a proven audience (the Clips
sell out every exhibition they play down there). I've heard KC mentioned, but never as a first option in
conjunction with the Kings. I believe it has been more in connection
with the Grizzlies or Hornets possibly being sold/relocated."
Showing 1-2 of 2
Anaheim would not work great. montreal is the best choice as the arena of 22,500 is already there followed by vancouver. don't bother moving to Anaheim there better off staying in sacramento. i do think that moving the clippers to anaheim is a good idea thought.
I think the kings should come to Anaheim we've have been waiting for a basketball team for years and hopefully they come to Anaheim because they would have a very large fan base and Disneyland is near by that can also drag in some fans to OC area my point is it's a good choice if they come to Anaheim
like
dislike
