Sacto Arena Talks Begin
Officials from the city of Sacramento, Calif., the NBA, development group ICON/Taylor and AEG were to meet in Dallas Oct. 5 for a “preliminary technical discussion” about how to get a new basketball arena built in the city’s railyard.
“Following this discussion, we will lay out the process and timeline that formal discussions and negotiations will take place,” Sacramento City Manager John Shirley wrote in a memo reported by the Sacramento Bee.
Shirley said the group’s collective goal is to have a financing plan in place by year-end.
The Sacramento Kings NBA team that would be the likely anchor tenant of any new facility is leaving its talking to the league for now.
“We’ve decided to let the NBA take the lead on this, because we are in very close contact with the league and are briefed regularly when new updates are available,” Kings spokesman Chris Clark told the paper.
The statement was in contrast to that from Kings co-owner George Maloof, who told the Bee “we weren’t invited” when asked about the meeting. “They’re going to meet and they’re going to get back to us,” Maloof said. “That’s been the process. It’s a little strange, but were anxiously awaiting what they have.”
The group decided to meet in Dallas as a central location, particularly for Clay Bennett, the owner of the Oklahoma City Thunder and a member of the NBA’s negotiating team.
AEG comes into play after showing interest in a Sacramento facility, being in talks for several weeks with city officials and for its reported role as a partner with ICON/Taylor.
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, himself an ex-NBA star, told the Bee “The fundamental approach being taken by Sacramento’s team will be to put the taxpayers first when it comes to reaching an agreement that will represent a real return on the public investment, defined as jobs and economic development.”
The Kings have played at
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