In a turn of events that could potentially save pro basketball in Sacramento, an ownership group including the new owner of Downtown Plaza mall is proposing to buy the Sacramento Kings and build a $400 million arena for the franchise where the shopping mall currently sits, according to Dale Kasler, Ryan Lillis and Tony Bizjak of the Sacramento Bee.
Kings sale: Group emerges to keep team in Sacramento, build new arena
The end of professional basketball in Sacramento may not be as close as we thought. Could an emerging ownership group buy the team and build a stadium where Downtown Plaza mall currently sits?
Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE
Continuing a saga that’s seen nearly every turn imaginable, including a flood of reports earlier this week detailing the Kings’ imminent sale to owners intending to move the team to Seattle, this proposed deal could potentially be the end of a lengthy effort by the franchise to stay in a city that’s grown to love its only major professional sports team.
According to sources that spoke with the Sac Bee trio, the ownership group’s goal right now is to prove to the NBA that it has the necessary funding. When reports about the Seattle sale broke, commissioner David Stern told reporters earlier this week that he would give Sacramento-based groups every possible shot to keep the team in the city.
The ownership group also reportedly has sketched plans for an arena already in place, made by the same firm that designed Barclays Center, the new home of the Brooklyn Nets.
Getting the necessary funding and location for a new arena has been a constant issue over the years in Sacramento, but this could be a major development in that vein.
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