As I sit here waiting to watch what could be the last game ever in Sacramento, I just feel numb. It's happening so fast. I'll admit even though they haven't been relevant for a few years and I don't watch every game, they are still my team. When I lived in Oklahoma from 1981 to 1991, I didn't really have a favorite team. I watched a lot of basketball and Michael Jordan. When my dad was nearing his retirement from the Air Force and mentioning to my family that he was contemplating moving us to Sacramento, he used the Kings as a selling point. "We can go to Kings games!" Well Dad, what now? Sacramento has one professional franchise and makes us a small first class city.
The first time I heard of the Kings intention to move to Anaheim was during All-Star weekend in February. All-Star weekend was suppose to be fun; there was the Slam Dunk Contest, 3-Point Contest, All Star games, and other festivities. It was a weird feeling hearing about it. Say it isn't so!! It kind of felt like being in a comfortable relationship and thinking everything was great then hearing from a friend that your girlfriend was telling people she was bored and interested in someone else. That's how I felt. I wasn't mad, I just felt an unsteady stress. After that weekend, it's been steady news on TV and radio.
Arco Arena is one of the oldest arenas in the NBA and it is the reason why the Maloofs want to move the team. As owners, they can simply make more money with a newer arena in Orange County. A newer arena would have better and more luxury suites which would attract more corporate sponsors. More corporate sponsors would also sweeten TV revenue. On the main sports radio station in Sacramento, KHTK states that the population of the OC to be three million people compared to one and a half million in the Sacramento Metro area. That's double the pool of people to advertise to even though you can only get about 18,000 fans in the building at a time. How could you be mad at the owners for wanting to make more money? Since the Maloofs bought the team in 1998, they have wanted to build a new arena in Sacramento. Our city leaders have sat on their hands, shot down every proposal, and pretty much dared the Maloofs to leave. Their argument was the Maloofs have millions of dollars and should build a new arena with their own money and without public funds. Why would they, when all the other NBA teams don't have to and there is about a dozen cities begging to host the Kings. When these city leaders terms' are up and they go on to live out their lives, I hope they realize that they changed the city of Sacramento forever by letting them leave. The impact is going to be bigger than just being able to watch NBA games in Sacramento.
I have taken my toddler son to Arco Arena to watch The Ringling Barnum Bailey Circus and Disney on Ice just in the last 9 months. These shows aren't coming to a Sacramento and into an old crickety building. American Idol, U2, Rolling Stones, Usher, Janet Jackson, and all the other big musical acts that sell out won't be stopping here anymore. Just last year, the NCAA said that Arco wasn't up to par to host the NCAA basketball tournament anymore. The economic impact to the hospitality industry here will be huge. Restaurants and hotels are going to feel the blow and some will undoubtedly shut down. Before we go to a Kings game or show, we always try to get in an early dinner around the arena. Sometimes after, we stop for ice cream or food if we couldn't eat before. Closing businesses means less jobs and what about all the employees who work for the Kings and at Arco. In hard times like this, letting them leave will just add to the unemployment line. The community will be weaker. The Maloofs and Sacramento Kings donate so much to the community. Building a new arena would create jobs. Big corporate companies might see the Kings and new arena as potentially a place to lay down some roots.
It's not a done deal yet but I heard at tonight's game all the shops selling Kings merchandise are 50% off.
It wasn't that long ago that the Kings were the darlings of the NBA and more than half the games were on national TV. Forty five minutes till game time now and I hope when the Maloofs see the passionate and loyal Sacramento fans going nuts for their team, they decide to give us just a little more time.
Works Cited
Gonzalez, Antonio. "Mayor to plead Sacramento's case to keep Kings." Timesleader.com. 7 April, 2011. 13 April, 2011. <http://www.timesleader.com/news/ap?articleID=6596567>
Well, the Kings lost in OT after fighting back in the 4th down by 20. Watching it on TV; it was emotional in the building and very sad to watch thinking this could be it. I'm now mad at both the city leaders and the Maloofs. The Maloofs didn't even attend the game. How is that for thanking the fans for all the years of support and loyalty? No Class!!
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