Last month it was announced that the Sacramento Kings were
sold for $500 million to a Seattle group and that the team was moving to
Seattle. There had been rumors for years that the Kings could move to Las Vegas
and two years ago the franchise nearly left for Anaheim. The news was met with
shock, disgust, sadness, and anger from many Kings fans. But hold the phone.
What was reported as a done deal was not so as the deal was never officially
agreed to. Furthering that is the NBA has not approved the sale or the move of
the team. With their backs against the wall, the fans and its supporters have
rallied to save the team from moving and they might just do it.
The main driving force behind keeping the team in Sacramento
is Mayor Kevin Johnson. Having played in the NBA himself, Johnson knows how
much the team means to the city. Johnson has been working to organize local
investors to pool their money together to buy the team. He already has the
backing of several investors but is still trying to land the big “whales” as
they have been called to pledge their larger resources into buying the team.
Mayor Johnson and his group will get the opportunity to present its proposal to
the NBA Board of Governors to not only buy the Kings but also present their
ideas for a new arena. It also stands to note that only one other time has an
NBA team been prevented to move and that was the Minnesota Timberwolves to New
Orleans in 1994. An unprecedented move to allow the current city to state its
case to stay? You bet. A mere formality that the team will move to Seattle? Not
necessarily.
Another point at issue is the right of first refusal. The
Seattle group led by Chris Hansen and Steve Ballmer had agreed to purchase 65%
of the team. This leaves the other 35%
with minority owners who as it turns out may have the right to first refusal.
Also involved is a potential suit in a bankruptcy case with a minority owner of
the Kings who has a seven percent stake in the team.
What bothers me is that from the national media’s standpoint
that the deal is done and the team will move. Very little has been noted of
these other activities going on to keep the Kings in Sacramento (except for
mentioning Mayor Johnson’s push to keep the team). For an alternate and
somewhat more positive viewpoint I frequently have been going to the blog
Sactown Royalty. It’s a Kings fan blog and the outpouring of support and
rallying around the team is overwhelming. There is a lot of resentment toward
the current owners, the Maloof family, who have basically screwed the pooch in
this whole thing. These fans are
passionate and will do anything to prevent their team from leaving. Recently
the blog had put out a link to a petition to save the team. Being based in Sacramento and what is going
on allows the blog to get the sense from the local media and social media to
report on what is really going on.
On a personal note, this issue is near and dear to me as a
Kings fan. While I am not from Sacramento and do not share the pride that the
city’s inhabitants have, I relate to the name “Sacramento Kings” and know that
it will not be the same if the team moves to Seattle and changes its name and
colors completely. Ironically, it is much like what happened to Sonics fans
years ago when the team moved to Oklahoma City and changed its colors and name
to the Thunder. It retains the Sonics history but has really nothing to do with
the Sonics. That fate would be laid upon the Kings if they move and change
their name to the “Sonics” or whatever name they choose to be. My hope is that
the team stays in Sacramento and is sold to a local group who will not only
build a new arena but also pledge to improve the team and bring it back to its
winning ways again.
