24 Hour Fitness founder and prospective Sacramento Kings buyer Mark Mastrov met with local business leaders who have pledged $1 million apiece towards purchasing the franchise Monday morning in Sacramento, Ryan Lillis of the Sacramento Bee reports.
Kings sale: Mark Mastrov meets with Sacramento investors
The founder of 24 Hour Fitness reportedly met with local investors on Monday.
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
According to Lillis, the meeting between local investors and Mastrov can be seen as, “an indication of how seriously he is considering buying the Kings,” though the current ownership group, the Maloof family, has already reached an agreement to sell the franchise to a group intending to relocate the team to Seattle.
Despite that agreement between the Maloofs and a group headed by Chris Hansen and Steve Ballmer, reportedly worth $525 million, Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson and local investors have hoped to convince the league to have the franchise sold to an ownership group that will keep the team in its current spot.
Mastrov, who reportedly made a failed bid to buy the Golden State Warriors three years ago, is also in serious discussions with billionaire Ron Burkle on teaming up to bid for the franchise. The pair has reportedly discussed a new downtown arena, most likely at the Downtown Plaza location.
Billionaire Larry Ellison is also considered a possibility as a major investor for Sacramento’s attempt to keep the Kings -- but as Sactown Royalty notes, there hasn’t been any news on that front of late.
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