Sacramento Kings moving franchise to the OC, CA.

I just hope the taxpayers of Seattle find it in their hearts to build an arena for a hedge-fund manager from San Francisco, the owners of Nordstroms and the CEO of Microsoft.

 

Problem down here in Hampton Roads is nobody wants to build an arena (particularly one where taxpayers are doing almost all of the lifting) without a guarantee of a major league anchor. No major league team is going to move to a city where they haven't even approved the arena yet unless there's a legitimate facility that can stand in until its completion. And the only arena that can seat more than 10K for basketball is the Richmond Coliseum, some two hours northwest. That chicken and egg cycle pretty much assures the area of not getting a major sports franchise. The only way it'll happen is if city leaders in Norfolk or Va. Beach can be convinced that a larger arena can make its money back even if there isn't an NBA or NHL team there from Jump Street. Given how quickly Va. Beach is already punting on the arena plan, I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

The taxpayers of Virginia Beach should look at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, which opened in 2007 (and which voters approved in 2004) to lure an NBA or NHL franchise.

 

Isn't Seattle in King County? At least the name will make sense in the new location for a change.


As opposed, of course, to the Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz and New Orleans Hornets.

 

From CSN Bay Area: Nothing too new, except the text of Woj's tweet:

http://www.csnbayarea.com/kings/report-maloofs-finalizing-deal-sending-kings-seattle?awid=6098083380781870191-765

 

As much as I hate seeing the Kings leave Sacramento, at least Seattle makes sense.

 

It would make sense, though I read somewhere that any team that relocates to Seattle will take the SuperSonics name.

 

I think I remember seeing that as well.

 

Maybe they could merge the two names -- "Ladies and gentlemen, your Seattle SuperKronics!"

 

Happy for Seattle, sad for Sacramento and sadder still to see the end of the line for the Kings/Royals name that has been around since before the NBA.

 

Yep. Started out in Rochester in the old BAA days before the NBA. Then to Cincy, then to KC, then Sacramento, now to Seattle? East Coast, Rust Belt, Midwest, Cali, Pacific Northwest. Has any other franchise covered as much geographic territory?

 

You forgot the Omaha timeshare.