Mega whale pods and latest news, rumors, etc.

[bajaden]

Expansion was ruled out by Stern yesterday.

At least in the near future.

In his latest comment, he said that it could change in 2014 after he retires. If the BOG rules in Sacramento's favor, I wouldn't be surprised if there's a wink/wink involved, and expansion is mentioned. I know there are those that don't think expansion is something the league will look at, but I disagree. I think it needs to be done carefully, but I do think at some point it will happen. This whole contraction thing was nothing more than a negotiation ploy to get what they wanted from the players association.

There are some very good markets out there that don't have NBA teams. What are they going to do? Just play musical chairs with the teams they have, and leave a trail of unhappy cities behind? Thats lousy marketing anyway you look at it. My old hometown of St. Louis was a great basketball town, and a town that has no problem getting city money to build new baseball and football stadiums. They would love to get another NBA team, since the team they supported left, not because of bad attendance, but because the owner saw bigger dollars in Atlanta. kansas city already has a new arena, and wants a team. There are other major cities that at some point might want a team. Cincinnati, one of the original homes for the Kings springs to mind.

At some point the league is going to have to address this, and the best way is through expansion. The players association would readily endorse it, because it means more jobs for NBA players. The league gets richer because of the expansion fee of a team, which I think is around 300 mil, or was. But before you go to expansion, you have to get all your ducks in a row. Sacramento is part of that. Just my opinion..

[Gilles]

No expansion until Stern's retirement still fits with "until you build new arena in 2 years as expected".

[UK_King]

It was not ruled out. He said it's up to the owners and there hasn't been any discussion on it.

“I haven’t heard anything about expansion from our owners. They have discussed contraction in conjunction with the last Collective Bargaining Agreement. I don’t think (expansion) is an option.

was the exact quote.

so yeah not ruled out, but didn't sound too optimistic. But hey, things change overnight.

[KingsFanSince85]

They think it is done because of the signed agreement. Most people go by the court system.

The signed agreement is an agreement, in principal, between two parties -- the seller and a potential buyer. However, for the sale to be finalized (and legal), a 3rd party -- the NBA -- must approve and sign off on it. Unless that happens, the signed agreement doesn't mean jack .. even in the courts.

[Kingsfan23]

Do our "whales" (annoying term ) definitively have to match or beat Seattle's offer? Basic question that I never really understood

[KingsFanSince85]

Intersting scenario Carmichael Dave tweeted last night, he seems to think this saga will be decided before it gets to a a BOG's vote.

To what scenario do you refer? I've browsed over CD's twitter page and didn't see anything specific outlined.

[D-Mass]

From Crown Downtown on Facebook:

HUGE UPDATE: According to @nickmonacelli, NBA execs impressed with @KJ_MayorJohnson and that Sac HAS APPROVED ARENA PLAN. #playingtowin

[Trueblood]

In his latest comment, he said that it could change in 2014 after he retires. If the BOG rules in Sacramento's favor, I wouldn't be surprised if there's a wink/wink involved, and expansion is mentioned. I know there are those that don't think expansion is something the league will look at, but I disagree. I think it needs to be done carefully, but I do think at some point it will happen. This whole contraction thing was nothing more than a negotiation ploy to get what they wanted from the players association.

There are some very good markets out there that don't have NBA teams. What are they going to do? Just play musical chairs with the teams they have, and leave a trail of unhappy cities behind? Thats lousy marketing anyway you look at it. My old hometown of St. Louis was a great basketball town, and a town that has no problem getting city money to build new baseball and football stadiums. They would love to get another NBA team, since the team they supported left, not because of bad attendance, but because the owner saw bigger dollars in Atlanta. kansas city already has a new arena, and wants a team. There are other major cities that at some point might want a team. Cincinnati, one of the original homes for the Kings springs to mind.

At some point the league is going to have to address this, and the best way is through expansion. The players association would readily endorse it, because it means more jobs for NBA players. The league gets richer because of the expansion fee of a team, which I think is around 300 mil, or was. But before you go to expansion, you have to get all your ducks in a row. Sacramento is part of that. Just my opinion..

I don't think St. Louis happens merely because it's a mid sized market that already has 3 teams. A 4th would be one too many. I'd love to see it but everything I hear is that they are off the table.

Same with KC. 3 teams in KC would over saturate the market. The arena is great but AEG seems to be happy without an anchor tenant.

The market that the league is eyeing is Vancouver. They already gave Charlotte an expansion team. By adding teams in Vancouver and Seattle, they would essentially be taking care of the last 3 markets that the league abandoned through relocation.

[Tetsujin]

From Crown Downtown on Facebook:

HUGE UPDATE: According to @nickmonacelli, NBA execs impressed with @KJ_MayorJohnson and that Sac HAS APPROVED ARENA PLAN. #playingtowin

This now also reported by Dale Kasler.

[Glenn]

................. and Seattle has no arena plan.





BTW, in my continuing attempt to enter the 21st Century, how could I follow this on Twitter?

[whozit]

................. and Seattle has no arena plan.





BTW, in my continuing attempt to enter the 21st Century, how could I follow this on Twitter?

Sign up on twitter.com and "follow" anyone you want what they tweet. If you have a name or two, start there and as you hear of more names just add them. You'll get some interesting bits of information.

But beware, it ain't all correct.

[whozit]

From Crown Downtown on Facebook:

HUGE UPDATE: According to @nickmonacelli, NBA execs impressed with @KJ_MayorJohnson and that Sac HAS APPROVED ARENA PLAN. #playingtowin

Does changing location impact the "approved" part? I ask because there have been reports that putting the arena at the downtown mall may limit what the City can do (since it is on private land).

Never mind, clarified by tweets:

Crown Downtown ‏@CrownDowntown
So it looks like we have clarification on "an approved arena plan." (see next tweet)

Crown Downtown ‏@CrownDowntown
According to @dakasler, "the financing package negotiated a year ago, blessed by the NBA and later approved by the City Council before...

also in this Bee article:

http://www.sacbee.com/2013/02/15/519...ston-with.html

[butteredbiscuit]

From Crown Downtown on Facebook:

HUGE UPDATE: According to @nickmonacelli, NBA execs impressed with @KJ_MayorJohnson and that Sac HAS APPROVED ARENA PLAN. #playingtowin

I am very excited about this! They must have the Burkle's Plaza approved. I mean it makes sense. You had the owner who actually offered it. Sounds like to me, how coud you turn them down?

[butteredbiscuit]

I don't think St. Louis happens merely because it's a mid sized market that already has 3 teams. A 4th would be one too many. I'd love to see it but everything I hear is that they are off the table.

Same with KC. 3 teams in KC would over saturate the market. The arena is great but AEG seems to be happy without an anchor tenant.

The market that the league is eyeing is Vancouver. They already gave Charlotte an expansion team. By adding teams in Vancouver and Seattle, they would essentially be taking care of the last 3 markets that the league abandoned through relocation.

I was thinking the same thing about Vancouver. I know the canucks owner was at one time wanting to own the team. You know if you add Seattle to the NBA through expansion and then add Vancouver, Does that mean you have to add 5 more teams to make it even all across the board thorough all divisions?

[xrzn]

Everybody hold your horses.

From Crown Downtown's facebook:

So it looks like we have clarification on "an approved arena plan."

According to Dale Kasler:

"The source, who declined to be identified, said the NBA officials seemed to appreciate that Sacramento has "an approved arena plan" - the financing package negotiated a year ago, blessed by the NBA and later approved by the City Council before it was renounced by the Maloofs."

More tidbits from Dale Kasler:

"Johnson may be operating under a bit of a handicap in Houston. Although it's known that ultrawealthy investors Ron Burkle and Mark Mastrov are assembling a counteroffer to keep the Kings in Sacramento, the mayor probably won't announce their partnership until around March 1. He also doesn't have a formal proposal yet for a new arena - a critical piece in his campaign to persuade the NBA - although he says that, too, will be in place by March 1."

[Section 101]

From Crown Downtown on Facebook:

HUGE UPDATE: According to @nickmonacelli, NBA execs impressed with @KJ_MayorJohnson and that Sac HAS APPROVED ARENA PLAN. #playingtowin

OHHHH, maybe the plan is for Stern to announce the whales and arena plan at tomorrows state of the NBA. Now that would be something if the owners already voted to stay.

[Čarolija]

If you could, can you donate to the Crown Downtown organization? We are making t-shirts, etc., for the City Council meetings and games to raise awareness of the arena issue. The cost adds up quickly!

Obviously donating tickets, etc., would also be great. I don't know if those details have been released yet.

Contributed!

[Warhawk]

contributed!

thanks!

[Čarolija]

thanks!

Its a pleasure! While I cannot attend games, I can be a tiny part of the effort from afar! Let's get it done!

[Uk kings fan]

do we have any indication on what the owners will vote???

i mean surley the Thunder owner will want a new team for seatlle because it will deflect some of the heat from him....and the Portland owner wil lvote with us because it increases there fan base not having a team so close... what about small market teams which is better for them?? and lakers, wariors and jazz are close to us so might want us gone?? does hanson have any close freinds in the owners and likewise KJ????