It doesn't make any sense why the board of governors voted this way, when so many teams have moved in the past. Plus they would be moving to a better market with more fans who would attend games. WTG Stern!
This thing was purely political. The league still harbors ill will to Seattle for not building a new arena five years ago. Also, the Seattle deal contains little public money. The Sacramento deal includes mostly public money. Favoring a deal without public money for an arena sets a precedent the league does not want.
If that's the case the NBA will never return to Seattle. Seattle fans can thank the local politicians and a group called "Citizens for more important things", Nick Licata, Chris Van Dyke, and Frank Chopp (speaker of the house).
I really think this is why the Sonics were allowed to move in the first place. They wanted a 100% publicly funded arena with a cost of $500M. When Renton turned it down, Stern took it personally. When Silver takes over, this will pass. I think he has the forethought to know that the days of a completely publicly funded arena are drawing to a close. It would be interesting to see what happens if the Sacramento arena deal falls apart. Significant opposition is forming and a petition is circulating to require a referendum. There are tremendous budget shortfalls in California, and municipalities are feeling the pinch. Nearby Stockton is considering filing for bankruptcy. Yet Sacramento has pledged to float $258M in bonds for an arena.
Yes Stern did take it personally. He's flown out to Olympia, WA and was told by the state politicians (Frank Chopp specifically) to shove it. Not their words verbatim but it was the spirit of them. Only Seattle and WA state as far I knew stood up to the NBA's policy of forcing tax payers chipping in for new stadium. That whole pitch in Renton was bogus. Clay Bennett threw that proposal to appease the local fans or show good faith in trying to stay in Seattle, which I was thought was pathetic at best. All of this time he wanted out of there and to OKC. That's a ridiculous proposal. $500 mil buidling that is 100% paid for by tax payers? That's robbery! I don't know how Silver will run the league. Being pessimistic, I will assume he was chosen by Stern specifically so that he will continue to up hold Stern's ways. But who knows...I hope your post is right. I hope Silver does the NBA's ways.
You are absolutely right. The Renton "offer" was designed to be rejected. Everybody with more than two brain cells to rub together knows that, as a smaller community, Renton didn't have $500M even if they were inclined to do it. The problem is that everybody had a bad taste in their mouth being asked to pony up while they were still paying the bonds for the Key Arena renovations. Stern knew, or should have known, that the arena deal was not a feasible plan. He didn't get his way and he has been pouting and throwing a tantrum for five years.
Kings set 30 year high record in Season ticket sales. http://www.sacbee.com/2013/05/22/5441284/kings-ticket-sales-tie-record.html
Petrie out in Sacramento <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Kings GM Geoff Petrie met with new owner Vivek Ranadive Thursday, was informed a new group would be brought in - <a href="http://t.co/vCuhHxbNjE" title="http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2013/05/27/sacramento-kings-general-manager-search/2363935/">usatoday.com/story/sports/n…</a></p>— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) <a href="https://twitter.com/sam_amick/status/339128248023801857" data-datetime="2013-05-27T21:17:29+00:00">May 27, 2013</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>BREAKING: Seattle's Chris Hansen is secret source who funded Sac anti-arena campaign, source says. FPPC press conf expected this afternoon.</p>— Tony Bizjak (@TonyBizjak) <a href="https://twitter.com/TonyBizjak/statuses/368494292601303040">August 16, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Source: Documents to be filed today will show Chris Hansen, who tried to buy Kings, is source of the $80K for Sac anti-arena campaign</p>— Tony Bizjak (@TonyBizjak) <a href="https://twitter.com/TonyBizjak/statuses/368495032241618944">August 16, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Sacbee breaking story: Seattle investor Chris Hansen unveiled as financier of effort to force vote on Sac arena deal <a href="http://t.co/icP9rfP7yl">http://t.co/icP9rfP7yl</a></p>— Tony Bizjak (@TonyBizjak) <a href="https://twitter.com/TonyBizjak/statuses/368496945750220800">August 16, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The NBA will never return to Seattle. Instead, they'll use it aalmost like a nuclear weapon to get what they want and force cities' hands when they want new or ttaxpayer funded arenas.
I was about to post that. That HAS TO BE against some NBA rules right? I doubt they would let Hansen buy a team after that type of ****.
doubt it's against some rule, but i certainly see it putting some of the other owners (who need to approve a franchise) off side
I made a mistake I regret. When our binding agreement to purchase the Sacramento Kings became a competitive situation and we were faced with both the prospect of seeing our transaction fail and losing our $30 million deposit, I engaged Loeb & Loeb to canvas the various opposition groups to gain an understanding of their efforts and the prospects of their success. During this time I was approached through Loeb by the opposition about making a contribution to the opposition’s efforts as part of a broader group and agreed to make a donation. In this regard I would just like to highlight that I have never directly engaged with or even had any conversations or contact with STOP, Taxpayers For Safer Neighborhoods, or any the various consultants engaged in the Sacramento Arena opposition. It was also not my intent to be the primary financial sponsor of the opposition’s efforts. I merely agreed to make a donation to the opposition in what had become a competitive and heated process. I have not agreed to provide any further political contributions and do not intend to make any further contributions. I would also just point out that the contribution was made in my personal capacity and not on behalf of our ownership group or my partners. In fact, I have never discussed the contribution with them to date. While I'm sure everyone can appreciate how easy it is to get caught up the heat of battle, with the benefit of hindsight, this is clearly a decision I regret. I wish the city of Sacramento and Kings fans the best in their efforts and they have my commitment not to have any involvement in their arena efforts in the future. — Chris Hansen
How? He isn't an NBA owner. He has no contractual agreement with the NBA that would give them the power to fine him. The NBA made sure of that when they brokered the Sac deal and torpedoed the agreement he had to buy the Kings.
