Standing in the way of rumors and reports (namely from the Hampton Roads Business Journal) that the Sacramento Kings would leave northern California for Virginia Beach? Facts, and you can bet SB Nation Kings blog Sactown Royalty has a bunch of 'em. First off, there's the issue of population, and the fact that Virginia Beach, a city without any pro sports franchises, has a smaller one than Sacramento:
Sacramento Kings Relocation To Virginia Beach: ‘None Of This Makes Any Sense’
Virginia Beach may be the biggest city in Virginia, but it’s smaller than Sacramento and a much smaller media market. The Hampton Roads area has approximately 1.6 million people, about half of the Sacramento metropolitan area. Sacramento is also the 19th-largest media market in the country, while the Norfolk area is 42nd.
Then there’s the fiscal health of the famous Maloof brothers, owners of the team:
The Maloofs don’t have any money to build a new hotel. They might say they do, but actions speak louder than words.
Sactown Royalty also notes that Commissioner David Stern said the league wouldn’t abide the Kings moving to Anaheim, a much larger market (with an existing arena to boot), so logic would dictate that the league wouldn’t let a move to a tiny market on the other side of the country go through, either.
Naturally, this leaves the educated Kings enthusiast with little to worry about:
I could go on, but I don’t think I’m going to get super upset over this likely false report. I sincerely doubt that Virginia Beach poses any threat to the future of the Sacramento Kings.
For more on the Kings, visit Sactown Royalty and SB Nation Bay Area.
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