(PhatzRadio / USA Today) – With Mayor Kevin Johnson driving the engine, the city of Sacramento appears to be going full-speed ahead toward keeping the NBA’s Kings.
The city has until March 2012 to present the NBA with financing and plans for a new entertainment/sports complex. But Thursday, at his self-imposed 100-day deadline, Johnson is expected to reveal as many as 10 public-private options.
“We’ve done our due diligence with experts looking at it,” says Johnson, who projects a cost of $350 million-$400 million and a completion date no later than 2015. “We hope to have the financial model and critical path laid out before the end of the year and not have to brush up against that deadline of March 2012.”
MORE: Q&A with Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson
MORE: Q&A with California Senator Darrell Steinberg
MORE: Q&A with Think Big Sacramento’s Chris Lehane
The city would own the entertainment complex with the Kings, owned by the Maloof brothers, as tenant.
“We have been communicating with representatives of Mayor Johnson’s Think Big Committee and have been providing all requested information. We’ve been advised of what will be covered in the committee’s Sept. 8 report and we look forward to seeing it,” the Kings said in a statement to USA TODAY.
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In 2006, a quarter-cent sales tax to raise $1.2 billion, part going for a facility to replace outdated Arco Arena, was overwhelmingly voted down by Sacramento County residents. In California, any tax increase can be brought to a ballot initiative by any citizen and requires a two-thirds vote to succeed.
“That’s served as a way to stop various sports facilities from being developed through use of taxpayer dollars,” says Chris Lehane, executive of Think Big Sacramento, a committee of more than 60 members established by Johnson. “You’re asking the public to pay taxes out of their money to support a private-sector entity usually owned by someone who is exceptionally wealthy. All the funding that we’ve identified would not require you to go to the ballot.”
The Kings in May were on the verge of moving to Anaheim until Johnson identified $10 million in corporate sponsorships and made a stirring presentation to the NBA’s Board of Governors that gave his city a one-year reprieve to show it could arrange the financing.
Johnson, elected in 2008, appears to be succeeding where previous administrations haven’t. Using a grassroots approach, he and his staff have held town hall talks with residents in the region’s six counties and 22 cities to explain their vision and rally support.
“Their buying in comes really quickly because they get it. They understand why it’s such an important asset to our community,” Johnson says.
Darrell Steinberg, leader of the California Senate, cites the urgency and Johnson’s leadership for the quick turnaround in his district’s fortunes: “A lot of us stepped up and said, ‘No, not happening.’ When you stare into the abyss it can have two effects: You can shrug your shoulders or you can re-double your efforts. We’ve done the latter.”
A three-time NBA All-Star with the Phoenix Suns, Johnson, 45, had a secret weapon — a direct line to NBA Commissioner David Stern.
“I’ve known him more than half my life. That relationship is something I was able to drawn on,” Johnson says.
“His trust and confidence in me as a mayor and certainly the respect I have for him created a very unique dynamic that if it’s going to happen, now is the time.”
Stern didn’t disagree. “The Mayor has accurately captured the high regard in which he is held by NBA ownership and the excellence of our relationship.”
Anaheim mayor Tom Tait also remains hopeful for an NBA franchise. “Anaheim is primed and ready to host a professional basketball team,” he said in a statement to USA TODAY. “We remain hopeful and optimistic that the NBA will have a franchise playing at Anaheim’s Honda Center in the near future.”
