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#1 DJ MC

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Posted 17 May 2012 - 09:05 PM

http://probasketball... ... -industry/

Essentially, one of the members of a group supporting the new arena plan in Sacramento wrote the U.S. Attorney General to claim that the Maloof family is harassing business leaders and others in support of the arena. This could include hiring a former FBI agent to do the harassment.

First of all, if that is true...holy hell. What are they thinking?

Second of all, at what point does the league get involved and either force a sale or take the team away outright?

#2 DJ MC

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Posted 29 November 2012 - 02:44 PM

http://blogs.wavy.co... ... orked-out/

A plan to build a $350 million arena on the Virginia Beach oceanfront, with an NBA team as its anchor tenant, moved forward during Tuesday night’s Virginia Beach City Council meeting.

Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms announced that he has been advised by Peter Luukko, the President and CEO of Comcast-Spectacor that a proposal is ready for the city to build the arena in the Virginia Beach resort area.

Today, the city staff under the direction of the Mayor sent to state officials a request for $150 million dollars to help with construction costs and moving expenses for the unnamed team.

As I reported earlier this month, George Maloof Jr., one of the owners of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings met in Richmond with Gov. Bob McDonnell and other state officials to talk about moving his team to Virginia Beach if an arena was built there. No one involved in the negotiations, including the Kings have ever confirmed the Kings are the “major league sports team” being referred to.


So, yeah. Apparently there is a deal in place where Virginia Beach builds the arena, Comcast manages it (and covers the various payments to the city), and the state loans $150 million--about half of which go to the Kings to cover their moving costs (league relocation fee, their loan from Sacramento, etc.). They'll play two years at Old Dominion's arena while the new one is built.

What the hell?

#3 Oriole85

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Posted 29 November 2012 - 02:58 PM

This was discussed a bunch here (viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1662&p=51795&hilit=virginia+beach#p51795)

I don't think it's going to happen, but never say never. Playing two years in an arena that seats under 10k doesn't seem too plausible even for a temporary venue.

I think this might just be a leverage ploy to attract other cities. I'd be real interested to see how OKC does when the Thunder are no longer consistent winners.
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#4 DJ MC

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Posted 29 November 2012 - 04:14 PM

This was discussed a bunch here (http://www.baltimore... ... ach#p51795)

I know. I was in the discussion ;)

I don't think it's going to happen, but never say never. Playing two years in an arena that seats under 10k doesn't seem too plausible even for a temporary venue.

I think this might just be a leverage ploy to attract other cities. I'd be real interested to see how OKC does when the Thunder are no longer consistent winners.

Part of that money from the state that would go to the Kings apparently would be to off-set the losses from playing two years in a mid-sized college arena. Interesting that both Norfolk and Hampton have civic arenas, but neither is significantly larger. Unless they want to play in Richmond for two years, this seems like their best choice in that area.

The point that interests me is the word "deal". That suggests not just talk or a plan, but an actual commitment of some kind from the Kings to move if the plans follow through.

#5 BSLMikeLowe

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Posted 29 November 2012 - 04:34 PM

The Kings are shopping around, so hearing this is no surprise, even though it makes little sense. Even if they think the Tidewater region is a viable NBA market (and I'm not sure it is) putting the arena in VA Beach is the worst possible spot you could pick.

Seattle is certainly the best landing spot for an NBA franchise right now, with their arena getting the green light. The obvious problem with Seattle is that the guy behind getting the arena built, Chris Hansen, would want majority ownership of whatever team becomes the tenant....and the Maloofs have voiced no interest at all in selling. And while I read that the league is quietly hoping to convince them to sell, it's not like they can force them. So, we'll continue to hear about far-flung locales like VA Beach. Which only makes me wish Baltimore had its act together on the proposed new arena. Even if the odds were against a team moving there, they'd at least be in the discussion.

#6 DJ MC

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Posted 29 November 2012 - 04:53 PM

The Kings are shopping around, so hearing this is no surprise, even though it makes little sense. Even if they think the Tidewater region is a viable NBA market (and I'm not sure it is) putting the arena in VA Beach is the worst possible spot you could pick.

It's the Tampa Bay problem. The population is spread among several cities with natural and man-made barriers separating them, and the most-populous jurisdiction isn't the center of population. That region also has 2.5 times more people, too.

#7 BSLMikeLowe

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Posted 29 November 2012 - 06:09 PM

It's the Tampa Bay problem. The population is spread among several cities with natural and man-made barriers separating them, and the most-populous jurisdiction isn't the center of population. That region also has 2.5 times more people, too.


Good analogy....putting the venue in VA Beach in hopes of attracting fans throughout the region is akin to the Rays playing in St. Pete. And after the novelty wears off, I bet the Kings' attendance will reflect that....especially if the on-court results remain the same.

#8 DJ MC

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Posted 05 December 2012 - 10:54 AM

http://probasketball... ... or-league/

This is a long, really good analysis of the situation with the Kings. Here's the summery, though I recommend the entire article.

And that’s what this is really about. Is the NBA willing to make a really bad business decision for a family that will be on CBA welfare for the foreseeable future? Will they risk their own good standing with cities across North America just to avoid getting their hands dirty in court, or going against one of their own?

Regardless of the end game here, the NBA will ultimately going to make a decision about who they value more – Sacramento or the Maloofs.



#9 Oriole85

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Posted 05 December 2012 - 11:06 AM

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/05/nba-owners-forced-to-choose-between-maloofs-and-sacramento-in-remake-of-major-league/

This is a long, really good analysis of the situation with the Kings. Here's the summery, though I recommend the entire article.

Probably Sacramento, but not sure if either really has a lot of value.
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#10 DJ MC

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Posted 09 January 2013 - 02:48 PM

http://probasketball... ... syndicate/

The Sonics may be back!

#11 BSLMikeLowe

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Posted 09 January 2013 - 03:03 PM

Surprised the Maloofs are going through with it. Obviously I have mixed feelings about it. It's great to see Seattle get a team after the way they were wronged. But during the years the Kings were competitive, Sacramento really supported that team. It's a shame.

Oh, and I guess Virginia Beach will just have to wait. :lol:

EDIT: Saw that the expected sale price is $500 million. That is an absurd amount for that franchise! But it would explain why the Maloofs are suddenly willing to sell. Someone should ask Chris Hansen if he'd also be willing to overpay for a certain east coast-based MLB team + regional sports network. Since the stadium is already built, he won't have to worry about that part. ;)

#12 DJ MC

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Posted 09 January 2013 - 03:24 PM

Surprised the Maloofs are going through with it. Obviously I have mixed feelings about it. It's great to see Seattle get a team after the way they were wronged. But during the years the Kings were competitive, Sacramento really supported that team. It's a shame.

Oh, and I guess Virginia Beach will just have to wait. :lol:

Yeah, that was officially acknowledged as not happening this morning :P

http://probasketball... ... -just-yet/

There's a good point here that Sacramento buyers could beat the offer in pure cash. However, the league wants a team with this owner in a new arena in Seattle and will work hard to make that happen.

#13 SammyBirdland

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Posted 09 January 2013 - 03:58 PM

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¡Hasta la vista, pelota!

#14 BSLMikeLowe

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Posted 09 January 2013 - 04:11 PM

If this happens, wonder what name the franchise takes? I know that Bennett was going to allow Seattle to take the Sonics name and colors if they got a team (although not the history/records IIRC). But the Kings also fits perfectly for Seattle.

I also hope the NBA does some realignment to put the Sonics/Kings in the same division as the Blazers.

#15 DJ MC

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Posted 09 January 2013 - 04:36 PM

Today in Sports Irony: the head of the NBA Relocation Committee (according to Bill Simmons on Twitter) is...Clay Bennett!

#16 BSLMikeLowe

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Posted 09 January 2013 - 04:41 PM

Today in Sports Irony: the head of the NBA Relocation Committee (according to Bill Simmons on Twitter) is...Clay Bennett!


Makes sense....might as well have someone who is well-versed in the process in charge. And along with Stern, I'm sure he wouldn't mind having his name attached to bringing the NBA back to Seattle to try and make amends.

#17 mweb08

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Posted 09 January 2013 - 09:02 PM

Glad that Seattle will be getting a team back. They still have to be pissed, though considering how good the Thunder are and how bad the Kings are.

#18 Oriole85

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Posted 09 January 2013 - 09:53 PM

Glad that Seattle will be getting a team back. They still have to be pissed, though considering how good the Thunder are and how bad the Kings are.

Classic beggars can't be choosers... bad basketball beats no basketball.
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#19 JeremyStrain

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Posted 09 January 2013 - 10:03 PM

Love to see an nhl team join them. Panthers or TB make most sense.
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#20 DJ MC

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Posted 09 January 2013 - 10:37 PM

Love to see an nhl team join them. Panthers or TB make most sense.

Technically the Coyotes make the most sense, but the NHL seems to be intent on making that market work, damn the torpedoes.




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