Sacramento Mayor Applying Full Press On Kings Arena Project

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under NBA News

Jerry West (left), Kevin Johnson (right)

Thursday found Sacramento mayor and former NBA basketball player Kevin Johnson busier than usual; by “busier than usual”, I am referring to a pressing item on the mayor’s docket: a resolution to the Sacramento Kings arena project. Apparently, there is a sense of urgency as according to Tony Bizjak of the Sacramento Bee, has put together a task force to review proposals for the proposed arena project.

There are 12 members to be exact; the members of the task force are:

Sacramento restaurateur Lina Fat.
Former Sacramento city treasurer Tom Friery.
Businessman Larry Kelley.
San-Francisco-based political strategist Christopher Lehane.
Dea Spanos Berberian, an executive with the Stockton-based A. G. Spanos development company, whose founder owns the San Diego Chargers football team.
Dorene Dominguez, Sacramento-based president of the Vanir Group, a real estate development company.
Mark Harris, president of the Pineapple Group, a public finance company.
Matt Kelly, executive secretary of the Sacramento-Sierra Building and Construction Trades Council.
Mike Kvarme, with the Weintraub Genshlea Chediak law firm.
Dan Meis, a Los Angeles-based architect who designed downtown L.A.’s Staples Center arena and numerous other major league sports facilities nationwide.
Adam Mendelsohn, a political consultant with Mercury Public Affairs.
Ron Tom of Governmental Advocates, a political consultant.

Even NBA legend Jerry West stopped by for a visit. The task force is step #2 in Johnson’s plan to revive serious plans for an arena. Last week, the mayor released what was described as a “request for offerings” (whatever that is) for the proposed arena, setting a deadline of 5:00 PM local time Christmas Eve for all submissions.

Johnson also requested that the task force bring a recommendation based on the “request for offerings” (proposals) to him by the end of March; he will shortly thereafter decide if the proposal merits being brought before the Sacramento City Council. The task force is expected to meet at least twice a month, beginning in December, to review successful sports facility projects elsewhere and begin the vetting process for local proposals.

Lots of things are out there for the task force to be mindful of in reference to the proposed arena project. Facts such as:

Sacramento voters already have shot down the idea of a sales tax proposal to finance an arena project.
The aforementioned have already said they are not willing to subsidize an arena project – even if it means that the Kings relocate.
Johnson has stated that the Cal Expo site may be a long shot and that alternative locations within the Sacramento metropolitan area should be considered.

By the way, Johnson says that he expects a “healthy” amount of the meetings to be open to the public; if you are a Kings fan and happen to live in Sacramento area, I highly suggest that you attend one or more of these meetings and let your voice be heard.

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