Anaheim, San Jose Kings?

[Rod4soonrs]

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-38-177/The-NBA-Story-No-One-s-Talking-About.html

The NBA Story No One's Talking About

February 14, 2009 3:28 PM

There is a real possibility that within the next few weeks, an NBA team could be filing for relocation.

Feels a little like last year, doesn't it?

This time it's not the Sonics, but the Kings.

Sam Amick of the Sacramento Bee has been trickling out bits and pieces of the story, and writes today:

The arena issues and uncertain future of this organization are a hot topic now because of the Feb. 27 Cal Expo presentation and the looming March 1 deadline for relocation. Like I said before, there's more to come, and it's safe to say there have been two-way discussions between the Kings and San Jose and Anaheim. Plan A just isn't going all that well at this point, so no one should be surprised they are inquiring about Plans B and C.

In an earlier column, the Bee's Tony Bizjak, Ryan Lillis and Sam Amick outlined the essential issues:

For nearly a decade, the Kings have struggled to replace aging Arco Arena. Deals have fallen through. A public vote went against them.

Now, the club is losing money, its frustrated owners say. The team's play is, well, awful. Fans are staying away.

And at least two not-so-distant cities, Anaheim and San Jose, say they'd love to welcome the Kings or any NBA team into their waiting arenas.

Amid those pressures, Cal Expo and NBA officials say they are pushing to have a detailed development plan ready to present to the Cal Expo board, the Kings and the community on Feb. 27.

"We are still feeding consultants information as we speak," Cal Expo's Brian May said Thursday. "But I anticipate a presentation of some sort."

Under a signed agreement, Cal Expo and the NBA will present to the board a package that includes a feasibility analysis, land-use plan, artists' renderings and financial estimates.

Those officials are working this week with two pressing deadlines.

The written agreement between the NBA and Cal Expo expires March 31. And another potentially ominous date looms sooner.

Should an NBA team decide it wants to move to a new city, the league deadline to submit a relocation application is March 1.

March 1.

That's the date to worry about, and it's not far away at all. For Kings fans, hopefully that day comes and goes without fanfare. But if the Kings don't want to be locked into a bad situation next season, and they have a better offer on the table, there could be some earth-shattering news in the next few weeks.

[Betts]

I guess with all the economic problems in Las Vegas, it's not really an option anymore. Sacramento is crazy not to finance an arena. Using something like our MAPs penny sales tax is so painless. Without an NBA team, Sacramento is a sports nonentity.

[Trueblood]

I guess with all the economic problems in Las Vegas, it's not really an option anymore. Sacramento is crazy not to finance an arena. Using something like our MAPs penny sales tax is so painless. Without an NBA team, Sacramento is a sports nonentity.

Agreed. I always figured that the Maloofs would go to Vegas but now I'm hearing that the AEG arena that was supposed to begin construction last year never got off the ground so they are out.

As for Sacramento, that's west coast politics for you. They think they are making a statement only to be sorry when they actually lose the team.

I'm not wild about the possibility of oversaturating the bay area and LA markets though. The Warriors don't need NBA competition in their own metropolitan area and as far as I'm concerned, 6 teams is too much as it is. They already have 2 MLB teams, 2 NFL teams and 1 each in the NBA and NHL.

There are other questions as well. What type of lease will the Sharks allow them to have in their building? Will the Warriors put up a fight and will Stern help them?

Also, there's a good chance that the Niners will move to Santa Clara and the A's to Fremont, just up the road from San Jose. I think that's just too many teams for that region.

LA as well. Something is wrong when you have 3 NBA teams in one metro area but no NFL team. If Anaheim is going to get a team then I would prefer it be the Clippers or just contract them altogether.

If Vegas is out then I think now is the time for Kansas City to be in the mix. Jump on the wagon while the Royals and Chiefs are awful.

[Betts]

I agree that that is a lot of teams for the area. It would be interesting to see the Kings move back to Kansas City. This would also be a good time for Seattle to come up with an arena remodel plan and perhaps make a play for them as well. I'm not sure the Maloofs would be interested in dealing with West Coast politics and only an arena remodel, but maybe they would sell to Ballmer. Who knows? I would think that all the mess in Sacramento lately would take some of the fun out of owning a team.

[Betts]

Interesting. I just went to Sonicscentral and read what Brian had to say about the Kings. Maybe the Maloofs are tired of this whole thing and would consider selling. I just cannot imagine they would want to mess with Seattle politics after going through virtually the same thing in Sacramento. The good news for us would be that it would save our ownership group $30 million. The other interesting thing is that I am sure there are some very devoted Kings fans in Sacramento, regardless of what has happened with the arena deal and the poor attendance, and it would be fascinating to be a fly on the wall in the internet wars between those two cities, were the Kings to be the team moving. Situational ethics, indeed.

[Rod4soonrs]

can you imagine, kings in Seattle and hornets in K.C

[El Gato Pollo Loco!!!]

I just wish the Rochester/Cincinnati/Kansas City-Omaha/ just Kansas City/Sacramento Royals/Kings could just stop moving every 15-20 or so....geesh...

Maybe they're just long overdue with a move...http://l.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/29.gif

[Trueblood]

I just wish the Rochester/Cincinnati/Kansas City-Omaha/ just Kansas City/Sacramento Royals/Kings could just stop moving every 15-20 or so....geesh...

Maybe they're just long overdue with a move...http://l.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/29.gif

They moved to Sacramento in 1985 so they are pretty much overdue. Next year will mark their 25th anniversary should they actually be in Sacramento.

Seattle would be interesting although to answer Betts' question, I don't think the Maloofs would own the team in that scenario. I've always thought of the Maloofs as being Sacramento, Las Vegas or bust. With the AEG Las Vegas thing a no go for now and maybe for good, I have to think it's Sacramento or they'll sell but I don't know. That's just a guess on my part.

[Trueblood]

can you imagine, kings in Seattle and hornets in K.C

From purely a market size standpoint, the league would like that as Sacramento is smaller than Seattle and New Orleans is smaller than Kansas City but there is also the issue of oversaturation. Even though the Chiefs and Royals are bad, they are well established and would create lots of competition for the Hornets.

[Thunderstruck83]

KC has a gem of an arena, but is too small of a market to support 3 major league teams. Given, the Chiefs (in a bad stretch) and Royals (always bad) are down right now so the Hornets or Kings could thrive there because of the novelty of the NBA in KC since it's been awhile since the Kings were there. However, in this economic climate, one of the other teams in KC, most likely the Royals, would lose most or all fan support.

[Trueblood]

Interesting, Kevin Johnson is now saying that if the Kings move, the city will pursue the A's. Fremont is now out as an option for the A's as far as a new stadium is concerned so it's looking like it will come down to San Jose, Portland, Vegas or Sacramento under the assumption that Oakland continues to drag it's feet.

From what I hear, Sacramento's AAA baseball stadium can be converted to a major league stadium quite easily.

San Jose has land ready and passing a bill for a new stadium would be easy as the city has tons of dough.

According to the poster on this site named "Rip City", Portland has the money all ready to go and just need a team to say that they are coming.

[Paulone]

not sure how the Hornets could be going to KC, or anywhere else...I read that they have met their contractual attendance requirements, and lost their right to move after this season (i.e., they are stuck until the lease expires, 2014 or thereabouts)..they've won 5 straight since getting Tyson back...lucky for them...(West's play of late has helped too)

[KDisNotNice]

not sure how the Hornets could be going to KC, or anywhere else...I read that they have met their contractual attendance requirements, and lost their right to move after this season (i.e., they are stuck until the lease expires, 2014 or thereabouts)..they've won 5 straight since getting Tyson back...lucky for them...(West's play of late has helped too)

Based on the information posted at the Times Picayune website shortly after the 'attendance' lease was signed, if they met the attendance clause by the end of the 2008/09 season (which they will), then Shinn couldn't break the lease for 2 more seasons at which time it would only require a $10 million payment (and also buy out his minority partner).

This is all assuming that Shinn doesn't renegotiate the lease again.

[Paulone]

actually, the Hornets are stuck in NO until after 2014. As per ESPN, when they got NO to agree to the attendance benchmarks, they agreed to extend the lease by 2 years (the original lease was through 2012). The Hornets are now stuck until 2015. Here's the original ESPN article:

NEW ORLEANS -- The Hornets and the state of Louisiana agreed to changes in the team's arena lease that could allow the NBA team to leave New Orleans early but would also keep the team in the city longer if fan support improves.

The new lease runs through 2014, an extension of two seasons.

"The extension essentially makes up for the time the team spent when it relocated to Oklahoma City following Hurricane Katrina in 2005," a joint news release from Gov. Kathleen Blanco's office, the arena's managers and the team said Wednesday.

It also allows the Hornets to opt out after next season, albeit with penalties ranging from $50 million to $100 million. The precise cost would depend on inducement reimbursements by the team to the state and a relocation fee imposed by the NBA.

The lease says the Hornets may leave only if average attendance is worse than 14,735 for the final five months of this season and next season. The benchmark is close to the team's average attendance for the three seasons before Hurricane Katrina"

and as per NewsOK:



Hornets new lease could keep team in New Orleans through 2014
Published: January 9, 2008Buzz up!

NEW ORLEANS - The Hornets and the state of Louisiana agreed to changes in the team's arena lease that could allow the NBA team to leave New Orleans early, but also would keep the team in the city longer if fan support improves.

Advertisement

The new lease runs through 2014, an extension of two seasons.

"The extension essentially makes up for the time the team spent when it relocated to Oklahoma City following Hurricane Katrina in 2005," a joint news release from Gov. Kathleen Blanco's office, the arena's managers and the team said Wednesday.


I think if we are talking about franchise movement, we should discuss within the actual possibilities. Earliest Hornets could be anywhere is 2015

[KDisNotNice]

http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-3/120003250068520.xml&coll=1&thispage=2


MORE OUTS: The Hornets have three more exit clauses in the amended lease agreement signed by team and state officials Wednesday.

In addition to the exit clause after the 2008-09 season, the Hornets also have the option to leave on June 30, 2011 and similar options in 2012 and 2013, according to the 16-page arena use amendment, a copy of which The Times-Picayune obtained. The penalty to leave in each instance is $10 million.

The exit clauses in 2011, 2012 and 2013 were not disclosed in the press briefing conducted by state and team officials Wednesday nor included in the official press release issued by state officials.

The only exit clause discussed in the new deal was the option the team had to renegotiate or terminate the lease after the 2008-09 season if specific attendance benchmarks are not met. The Hornets can opt out of the agreement if the team fails to draw an average paid attendance of 14,735 for the final five months of this season and next season, a time period starting Dec. 1, 2007 and ending with the final game of the 2008-09 season.

In announcing the new agreement, which extends the team's lease for two years but also gives it an option to leave after the 2008-09 season if the market fails to support the club at the ticket office, Hornets owner George Shinn stressed that he has no intentions of selling or relocating the team.