Seattle Suuuuuuuupersonics v2.0?

[Pelado]

I'd go along with that just because it amuses me.

Welcome. Don't be shy - go introduce yourself in Ellis Island.

[Maximus]

Looking more likely now that they stay in Sacramento.

Arash Markazi
"I'm sorry Seattle but I'm begining to think the Kings are staying in Sacramento. ... Vivek Ranadive is a key part of the Kings ownership group. NBA is making a big push in India and having him as an owner would be huge. ... The NBA has no problem leaving cities that offer nothing. The city of Sacramento plans to contribute $258 million to build a new arena. ... If anyone other than Kevin Johnson was the mayor of Sacramento, the Kings would be long gone. He's made miracles happen. ... Who knows how this will all play out, but KJ is making it very hard for Commissioner David Stern and the NBA to leave Sacramento."

[MarkGrace]

This thing has been pretty interesting. There seem to be realistic arguments for the BOG vote going either way.

[MarkGrace]

Looking more likely now that they stay in Sacramento.

Arash Markazi
"I'm sorry Seattle but I'm begining to think the Kings are staying in Sacramento. ... Vivek Ranadive is a key part of the Kings ownership group. NBA is making a big push in India and having him as an owner would be huge. ... The NBA has no problem leaving cities that offer nothing. The city of Sacramento plans to contribute $258 million to build a new arena. ... If anyone other than Kevin Johnson was the mayor of Sacramento, the Kings would be long gone. He's made miracles happen. ... Who knows how this will all play out, but KJ is making it very hard for Commissioner David Stern and the NBA to leave Sacramento."

He's already a co-owner of the Warriors and it's not like Indian fans will get to watch him play. Will they really care who the owner is? You need a Yao Ming to crash a market like that.

[SeattleUte]

Looking more likely now that they stay in Sacramento.

Arash Markazi
"I'm sorry Seattle but I'm begining to think the Kings are staying in Sacramento. ... Vivek Ranadive is a key part of the Kings ownership group. NBA is making a big push in India and having him as an owner would be huge. ... The NBA has no problem leaving cities that offer nothing. The city of Sacramento plans to contribute $258 million to build a new arena. ... If anyone other than Kevin Johnson was the mayor of Sacramento, the Kings would be long gone. He's made miracles happen. ... Who knows how this will all play out, but KJ is making it very hard for Commissioner David Stern and the NBA to leave Sacramento."

good

[Color Me Badd Fan]

He's already a co-owner of the Warriors and it's not like Indian fans will get to watch him play. Will they really care who the owner is? You need a Yao Ming to crash a market like that.

India watching a Kings basketball game would be a good way to make sure the NBA isn't popular in India.

[Commando]

Wow. I am on edge about this, only because I want Jimmer THE F*CK OUT OF SACRAMENTO. Seriously. That organization can die for all I care.

[Surfah]

Wow. I am on edge about this, only because I want Jimmer THE F*CK OUT OF SACRAMENTO. Seriously. That organization can die for all I care.

While I want that also, I am just looking forward to any change in ownership because that should mean the end to Petrie and Smart.

[Blueintheface]

He's already a co-owner of the Warriors and it's not like Indian fans will get to watch him play. Will they really care who the owner is? You need a Yao Ming to crash a market like that.

Akhilesh Chattopadhyay you mean.

[MarkGrace]

I hope Walter has another fuck you ready for Stern. Starting to feel like they're going to stick in Sac.

[MarkGrace]

So this breakdown is from a Seattle outlet, but it seems pretty realistic to me, simply because it makes a lot of sense. I think Stern has stars in his eyes for India. And as outgoing commish, I'm guessing he sees pulling in Ranadive and making a play for India as his last chance to have a major stamp on the league.

On the flip side, I've thought all along that turning down the Hansen-Ballmer deal down is bad precedent for the owners. It limits not only their autonomy within the league, but also the value of their investments. Additionally, owners would seem likely to support the wishes of fellow owners, and the Maloofs have very clearly stated their desire that the NBA approve the Hansen-Ballmer deal. The other factor is money. The relocation fee puts money in their pockets immediately, and the money to be made in Seattle long-term is clearly greater, again increasing the value of their investments. The play for the sure value now is probably better to them than Stern's vision for India.

Stern seems to get what he wants, but is he a political lame duck now that he's headed out of the league? Quite the drama going on here!

SEATTLE – NBA Commissioner David Stern, widely thought to be a strong supporter of moving the Sacramento Kings to Seattle, has been working to bolster efforts to keep the Kings in place.

Multiple sources suggested Wednesday that a split has emerged between Stern and team owners over the fate of the Kings. Those sources, spanning the league and governments in Sacramento and Seattle, said Stern has been quietly maneuvering behind the scenes to propel a Sacramento counter bid. They said he has been personally seeking investors to join a new Kings ownership group -- even after several NBA team owners last week indicated their willingness to move the franchise to Seattle.

Seattle investors Chris Hansen, Steve Ballmer, and Pete and Erik Nordstrom have a signed purchase agreement for 65 percent of the Kings franchise, which would be revalued at $525 million dollars.

Sacramento has scrambled since the Seattle deal was announced in January to put together a term sheet for an arena deal and investor group to counter the Hansen-led bid. Billionaire Ron Burkle was expected to join the Sacramento effort but dropped out of the investment group this week, citing a business conflict. Burkle has an ownership stake in Relativity Media, which has a division representing NBA players.

A league source told KING 5 that the conflict was just one factor in Burkle's decision. Burkle “wasn’t all that fired up about this deal," the source said.

On Tuesday, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson introduced developer Mark Friedman as Burkle's replacement, and said the league was OK with the recent developments in Sacramento's evolving counter-proposal.

Both sides made formal presentations to a select group of NBA owners last week in New York City. Sources with knowledge of both presentations said the second half of the Sacramento presentation was “poor" -- based more on “vision than fact.” Burkle was in the room for the Sacramento presentation, and Johnson said questions were asked about Burkle’s potential conflict.

A key source indicates Hansen told owners he has an agreement, as of last month, with the City of Seattle to operate Key Arena. That deal would have to be approved by the city council if league owners sign off on Hansen’s purchase of the Kings.

Sources also said Hansen has now put a price tag on potential Regional Television Network revenues in Seattle – more than $40 million dollars a year, or more than 80 percent more than what was estimated for Sacramento in a like deal. The number was used to illustrate the support for an NBA franchise and potential to pay down debt associated with construction of a new arena.

Hansen’s team told NBA owners that is believes construction of a new arena in Seattle is further along than Sacramento's, and that there are still many unanswered questions with the Sacramento plan, according to sources. They include questions about land acquisition, financing, and the impact of California Assembly Bill 900.

An Alameda County Judge struck down the bill last week, and declared it unconstitutional. Sacramento Arena supporters suggested the law, which deals with streamlining environmental reviews of major projects, would give Sacramento an edge over Seattle.

King County Executive Dow Constantine said last week this was a key point in the presentation. Hansen told owners he believed a new Seattle arena could open in September 2015, according to those people with knowledge of the presentation. That would be earlier than previously expected. A source said a Master Use Permit could be filed as early as next week.

Several people with knowledge of the process said Wednesday that owners were impressed by the scope of the presentation, and several appeared to be leaning Seattle’s way.

However, the Sacramento Bee reported Wednesday that the Maloofs had given the competing group until Friday to come up with a matching, binding, “back-up offer." A source with knowledge of the negotiations told KING 5 there is “no matching offer” and the numbers are still “way off."

A NBA spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on today’s developments.

Both Johnson and sources close to the Seattle group said earlier this week that a league vote could come as early as next week. However, multiple people with knowledge of the negotiations said Wednesday it is still unclear whether a vote will be taken. A simple majority is needed to approve relocation, but at least 23 owners need to vote to approve the deal.

http://www.king5.com/sports/Growing-...202429701.html

[Color Me Badd Fan]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/91...cramento-kings

I just don't think the Sacramento area has enough rich people to beat out what Seattle can offer. I'm surprised OKC pulled it off a few years ago, but I presume there's at least oil money in that state. As we saw with the Sonics v 1.0 going to OKC, once that outside group was in place it was difficult for the hometown to get people together to counter the offer. The same thing is happening in Sacramento right now. This franchise will eventually end up in Seattle which really should have a team anyway while Sacramento should not.

[MarkGrace]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/91...cramento-kings

I just don't think the Sacramento area has enough rich people to beat out what Seattle can offer. I'm surprised OKC pulled it off a few years ago, but I presume there's at least oil money in that state. As we saw with the Sonics v 1.0 going to OKC, once that outside group was in place it was difficult for the hometown to get people together to counter the offer. The same thing is happening in Sacramento right now. This franchise will eventually end up in Seattle which really should have a team anyway while Sacramento should not.

Right now Sacramento literally has nothing concrete in place. No real offer on the team (many have said they won't submit a real, binding offer until the Maloofs cancel their agreement with Hansen -- like that's happening), no land to build an arena (the land they need is owned by 5 separate owners right now), a non-binding agreement to build an arena that wasn't properly vetted because they were in such a rush to approve it, etc. Their ownership group isn't even settled, as there's been a number of in and outs over the last couple of weeks and it has always seemed in flux. Hansen-Ballmer have a binding agreement for the Maloofs 65% share, just got cleared on the purchase of the 7% tied up in bankruptcy court (again subject to league approval) a $30m deposit down, an agreement with the city to build an arena that took them almost two years to go through, and just within the last week he closed on the last parcel of land he needed for the arena.

One group is basically giving you action at every turn, while the other is subsisting on promises that they will be able to do something. I think if I'm an owner and looking at the hard facts, this is a no-brainer. But I'm a small market fan, and I hate the idea that an owner can just sell to someone richer out of town without any opportunity for the home city to keep them. It's just hard to rip a team away from Sac when they've shown the kind of fan and political support they have for keeping the team and building a new arena (even if nothing has actually happened yet). The league is going have egg on its face no matter the outcome, but Stern started this thing years ago in Seattle.

The other thing that kind of kills me is that the Warriors are 90 miles away. Seriously, 90 miles. I hate to say they don't deserve a team because of that, but basically anywhere else in the country where there's a team 90 miles away you're a fan of that team. Ranadive is a current minority owner of the GSW and friends with the owner. The owner keeps indicating that he'll vote for them to stay in Sac, but you were him would you vote that way? If this thing is really a business, I'd want that market share.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Right now Sacramento literally has nothing concrete in place. No real offer on the team (many have said they won't submit a real, binding offer until the Maloofs cancel their agreement with Hansen -- like that's happening), no land to build an arena (the land they need is owned by 5 separate owners right now), a non-binding agreement to build an arena that wasn't properly vetted because they were in such a rush to approve it, etc. Their ownership group isn't even settled, as there's been a number of in and outs over the last couple of weeks and it has always seemed in flux. Hansen-Ballmer have a binding agreement for the Maloofs 65% share, just got cleared on the purchase of the 7% tied up in bankruptcy court (again subject to league approval) a $30m deposit down, an agreement with the city to build an arena that took them almost two years to go through, and just within the last week he closed on the last parcel of land he needed for the arena.

One group is basically giving you action at every turn, while the other is subsisting on promises that they will be able to do something. I think if I'm an owner and looking at the hard facts, this is a no-brainer. But I'm a small market fan, and I hate the idea that an owner can just sell to someone richer out of town without any opportunity for the home city to keep them. It's just hard to rip a team away from Sac when they've shown the kind of fan and political support they have for keeping the team and building a new arena (even if nothing has actually happened yet). The league is going have egg on its face no matter the outcome, but Stern started this thing years ago in Seattle.

The other thing that kind of kills me is that the Warriors are 90 miles away. Seriously, 90 miles. I hate to say they don't deserve a team because of that, but basically anywhere else in the country where there's a team 90 miles away you're a fan of that team. Ranadive is a current minority owner of the GSW and friends with the owner. The owner keeps indicating that he'll vote for them to stay in Sac, but you were him would you vote that way? If this thing is really a business, I'd want that market share.

The distance doesn't bother me, it's the fact that Sacramento has a team in the first place that bugs me. San Diego, Seattle, KC, St. Louis (couldn't Missouri support one team?), Pittsburgh and Baltimore don't have teams, but Sacramento does. If it had its own distinct long term identity like Philly, it would be okay that it was only 90 miles away and had a team. Philly is only 90 miles away from NYC. Baltimore is only 40 miles from DC. Milwaukee is also only 90 miles away from Chicago.

Sacramento has a metropolitan area of around 2.5 million people. Of the people that live there that pay attention to basketball, a sizeable portion of them are Lakers fans (soCal transplants of which there will be plenty in Sacramento) and a smaller portion may be Warriors fans (okay, I jest, maybe there are a couple hundred in Sacramento).

Oklahoma has close to 4 million people. There may have been a handful of Mavericks fans in the state when Sonics v. 1.0 moved there, but there weren't many. A good friend of mine from Oklahoma didn't care much about the NBA while he was in college, he's now a huge fan of the Thunder. Oklahoma also had the added bonus that it, kind of like Utah, didn't have a professional team. It was untouched territory. Not only is Sacramento small, but it also has the Bay Area teams in other sports and three of them -- the Raiders, 49ers and Giants -- get a lot of attention in Sacramento. Utah consists of a bunch of people that don't give a shit about baseball and has some mostly casual fans of the NFL split between the Broncos, Cowboys and 49ers (with Broncos fans being the predominant group).

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Denied...or just recommended? I'm not sure what this means.

@daldridgetnt now
Breaking: source: Relocation/Finance committees have unanimously recommended the NBA's BOG vote to deny Kings relocation to Seattle.