Sources: Deal for Grizzlies reached

[Čarolija]

Would the Maloofs even sell if an offer came in around 400-450 million? We can all speculate how much longer they will be able to afford the team, but this all still looks very pessimistic to me.

That's the $450 million question!

Oh how I wish for the day when Maloofs announce that they have agreed to sell the team to an owner who has committed to staying in Sacramento and is willing to contribute some $100 million to the new arena!

[xyrin]

I dont understand why they don't just sell a majority of the team and remain a minority owner. They can still have their courtside seats, they can still participate in all team functions, but they'd be in much better financial shape and can focus on running their actual ventures.

Give the Maloofs 2% ownership of the Kings and call it a day.

[pdxKingsFan]

When it comes to the US Open, every nation has its own form of domestic cup. It isn't a "brilliant marketing thing" as you describe it, its a part of every nation's soccer/football federation. That is like dismissing the winners of the euroleague because NBA fans don't care. Or why should teams celebrate winning the NIT championship, its obviously not the best competition. MLS has become a top 15 league in the world, which is EXTREMELY impressive for a league that is only 17 years old. Given another generation or two of young children in America beginning to idolize soccer players, and who knows how good the league could become? Apparently living in Seattle and being with all the "hipster" or "liberal" people (as you describe them) has given you the delusion that you are a knowledgeable soccer pundit.

It's a marketing thing because in Seattle they are a bit fair-weathered and they needed a trophy to sell to the fan base, they chose to go after the one that was easily purchased and sell it just like the FA Cup or the Pokal. But in truth MLS teams virtually ignored the Cup, the home field rights were auctioned to the highest bidder by the USSF and half the MLS wasn't even invited without playing multiple rounds of play-ins. They've finally made some adjustments this year to level the playing fields a bit and we've seen a lot of upsets of MLS clubs by lower division teams and that's great. Maybe one day the USOC will be as meaningful as those other cups and we will have the Sounders to thank, but for now it is what is is, the NIT of professional soccer in America.

[kennadog]

We have to remember the other problem the Maloofs have. Even if they sell the team, how the heck are they going to pay off the debt on Arco Arena? They are also the majority interest owners of that. It's greatest value is just in the land/site itself. But isn't really good to any potential buyer until the flood issue is mitigated.

[Čarolija]

We have to remember the other problem the Maloofs have. Even if they sell the team, how the heck are they going to pay off the debt on Arco Arena? They are also the majority interest owners of that. It's greatest value is just in the land/site itself. But isn't really good to any potential buyer until the flood issue is mitigated.

I would assume that the new owner would be buying that as a packaged deal with the team. I guess it makes no sense for the Maloofs to sell the team only (ie without the Arco Arena and the land) so the new owner picks up the debt on that deal. But it might be the sticking points with potential suitors (they want to buy the team but not the arena and the site itself as its dead value).

That is one thing I did not consider. Might explain the complexity of the situation even further. Am I right in thinking that if the Maloofs or the new owner paid off the loan from the city in one lumpsum, then the city would be up for penalty payments on bonds used to fund the loan?

[The Hammer]

I feel like that's kind of a huge stereotype, my friends in the TA are by and large normal sports fans. At my high school there wasn't anything remotely rebellious about the soccer team and our big matches drew the same crowds as the football team. Which isn't to say it doesn't exist, because I am sure I fit a few of those stereotypes myself, but I know plenty who don't.

C'mon man. All you have to do is admit that a high school soccer team that draws as many spectators/interest/newspaper coverage as the football team is a total anomaly, and this argument will be painlessly over. C'mon, you can do it... not that hard!

[The Hammer]

Exactly how old are you? Soccer has failed to be a popular sport in America for a long, long time now, but it is definitely on the up. At my high school, the soccer players were the "cool kids". They were the jocks. I'm in college now and it is still the same way. When the girls here talk about their "favorite type", its the soccer players, not the football or basketball players. So I have no clue what you're talking about when you describe the soccer players as rebels, outcasts or nerds. It just simply isn't true anymore.

With the growth of the MLS and the exposure Americans are now getting to EPL, World Cup, etc, there is a huge growth of soccer in this nation. The REAL reason why the youth in America chose the other sports over soccer is because "How will I make a living playing soccer? There is no future there." Well now there is, so the kids who love soccer are able to play that now with the hope of making it to MLS and european competitions too. And with American clubs beginning to form the infrastructure (facilities and regional youth academies) needed to develop real, actual soccer talent, you'll see the growth of the MLS and USMNT continue.

When it comes to the US Open, every nation has its own form of domestic cup. It isn't a "brilliant marketing thing" as you describe it, its a part of every nation's soccer/football federation. That is like dismissing the winners of the euroleague because NBA fans don't care. Or why should teams celebrate winning the NIT championship, its obviously not the best competition. MLS has become a top 15 league in the world, which is EXTREMELY impressive for a league that is only 17 years old. Given another generation or two of young children in America beginning to idolize soccer players, and who knows how good the league could become? Apparently living in Seattle and being with all the "hipster" or "liberal" people (as you describe them) has given you the delusion that you are a knowledgeable soccer pundit.

Well, that's kind of exactly what tends to happen. I was in high school 20 years ago, and it was just BARELY starting to be cool. But yeah, as always, the alt/punk/rebels then become the cool kids. The Beatles were a hard rock/punk band when they started. For real, look it up.

[pdxKingsFan]

C'mon man. All you have to do is admit that a high school soccer team that draws as many spectators/interest/newspaper coverage as the football team is a total anomaly, and this argument will be painlessly over. C'mon, you can do it... not that hard!

In general that's right, but I don't think its about athletes or nerds or rebels as much as its about the emphasis put on soccer vs. football culturally and especially in media. Obviously wins mean a ton and when you have a nationally ranked soccer program you'll get attendance just like nobody goes to watch the 0-10 football team.

[Mike0476]

"Robert Pera previously tried to buy Bobcats and Kings, I'm told." - Geoff CalkinsSports columnist at The Commercial Appeal

https://twitter.com/geoff_calkins/st...82425559478272

[kennadog]

"Robert Pera previously tried to buy Bobcats and Kings, I'm told." - Geoff CalkinsSports columnist at The Commercial Appeal

https://twitter.com/geoff_calkins/st...82425559478272

!@#** the Maloofs.

[kingjatt]

I dont understand why they don't just sell a majority of the team and remain a minority owner. They can still have their courtside seats, they can still participate in all team functions, but they'd be in much better financial shape and can focus on running their actual ventures.

Give the Maloofs 2% ownership of the Kings and call it a day.

these goofs have huge egos, no matter how much sense it makes to sell and move on their own egos wont allow it. there assets basically have to be ripped away from them in order for them to move on ie the palms.

[JB_kings]

these goofs have huge egos, no matter how much sense it makes to sell and move on their own egos wont allow it. there assets basically have to be ripped away from them in order for them to move on ie the palms.

This about sums it up.

How pissed off must Pera be that these losers wouldn't sell a team in his own back yard and he had to buy one in Memphis?

[pdxKingsFan]

Maybe Stern can broker a trade.

[Mike0476]

"I think we're working hard to eradicate the small-market designation," Stern said. "When Green Bay is in the Super Bowl with Pittsburgh or Indianapolis, nobody says, 'Oh my, a small-market team,' because the rules that they have allow everyone to compete. And that's what we now have under our new collective bargaining agreement. It's not about the market size. It's not about the money. It's about the management. ... Each of our teams has been put together in a different way under our rules."

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/ke...ls-for-the-nba

[Prophetess]

!@#** the Maloofs.

ditto

[Peter_Gibbons]

I dont understand why they don't just sell a majority of the team and remain a minority owner. They can still have their courtside seats, they can still participate in all team functions, but they'd be in much better financial shape and can focus on running their actual ventures.

Give the Maloofs 2% ownership of the Kings and call it a day.

Because no one cares about minority owners. When the media refers to the owners of a team, they only talk about the majority.