Sacramento Works On Arena

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson has said he will try to do whatever he can to get the NBA’s Kings a new arena, and the wheels of progress are already in motion.

The Maloof family, which owns the Kings, have said they’ve been patient with the city but want a new arena or an exodus to Anaheim.

Johnson, a former Kings All-Star player, has pacified the Maloofs temporarily with a last-minute effort to get the team a replacement to the aging Arco Arena, now known as PowerBalance Pavilion.

City officials released a 40-page arena project analysis report May 26 that included some details: the arena would cost $387 million, fit on city-owned land near Fifth and H streets and open by 2015, according to the Sacramento Bee. ICON Venue Group of Denver is managing the project and has recruited architects Populous to design the building.

However, even though Populous has released initial artist renderings of the project, the analysis does not say how the arena will be funded.

“No way in hell this project is going to get done in any of our lifetimes without public help,” developer David Taylor told the paper in January.

Johnson reportedly said he will form a regional coalition of elected officials to spend 100 days working with Taylor and ICON to fashion a plan. He told the Bee he has met with AEG President Tim Leiweke who has provided guidance on the feasibility study.

“[AEG] can’t commit at this point [to helping to run or finance an arena],” Johnson told the paper, “but they’re at least willing to listen.”