Va. Beach Gets Luukko, Not Kings

Virginia Beach, Va., stands ready to build a $350 million area, whether or not it lands an NBA team to anchor it – a condition still very much up in the air after the city’s hopes of landing the Sacramento Kings apparently were dashed.

Economic development officials revealed an ambitious plan Aug. 27 to build an 18,500-seat arena on the Virginia Beach waterfront, on city-owned land across from the convention center and in the middle of the resort district.

It’s not clear who will pay for the venue’s construction and Virginia Beach Director of Economic Development Director Warren Harris suggested it would include state and local funding. Hopes are to have the arena built and a pro basketball or hockey team playing in it as early as 2015.

Harris said he met with NBA and NHL officials earlier this year and received assurances that the leagues at least find the market attractive and would find it even more so with a sparkling new arena. However, finding a team willing to move will present its own challenges.

Comcast-Spectacor President/CEO Peter Luukko, joined by Live Nation Arenas prexy Michael Evans, was in town to make the case for a new venue, speaking to the Virginia Beach city council and reporters who put him on the spot about rumors the Sacramento Kings were in talks with Comcast-Spectacor about a possible purchase and move east.

Luukko quashed those rumors, telling the gathered media that “We’re in no discussions with any teams.”

Apparently a marketing firm retained by Virginia Beach had purchased Internet domains “VBKings” and “VirginiaBeachKings,” fueling the rumor mill.

“PR people,” Luukko said, “they’re always thinking. Sometimes they think too much.” He added that Comcast-Spectacor has also not committed to becoming a name sponsor should the Virginia Beach arena come to fruition.

Comcast-Spectacor has, however, agree to lease the building for 25 years and use its clout to pursue an anchor sports team tenant. The company owns the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and arena they play in. Luukko brings his own juice to the table, sitting on the NHL’s Board of Governors and formerly serving on the NBA’s board, according to the local Daily Press.

Despite the substantial hurdles – the lack of available pro teams and the almost certain political fallout from seeking public funding to build it – Luukko was there to extol the benefits of a new arena and express confidence in the Virginia Beach market to support it.

“We’re not perfect,” Luukko was quoted by the paper, “but we’d like to feel we have a pretty good idea of the potential of this marketplace.”