The Sacramento Kings, a team with a history of team relocation, are again considering a move, this time from their home of 35 years in Sacramento.
The owners of the NBA franchise have recently been granted a six-week extension to the deadline for relocation application.
Highest on the list of possible relocation targets is the southern Californian city of Anaheim.
According to reports, the owners have recently received a relocation loan offer of $100 million from the owner of the Anaheim Ducks (NHL) and the Honda Center, Henry Samueli.
Aside from the obvious financial incentives, a move to the area would provide almost no benefits to the owners.
The Kings (currently at a depressing 15-46 record) would have to compete with the perennial powerhouse Lakers and the up and coming Clippers, who are both located at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, less than 45 miles from the Honda Center.
There aren’t many in the area, the country or the world that would rather watch a Kings game than a Clippers or Lakers game. This dilemma begs an obvious question.
Why would the Kings management move to what would essentially be a small market?
The unfortunate answer for Kings fans in Sacramento and NBA fans from Seattle to Las Vegas and Kansas City is that the owners are in deep financial problems.
Unfortunately for diehard fans in Seattle, they will once again be robbed of a team (or at least a shot at one) because the city can’t find a reason to fund a stadium development.
For the league in general, it must be disappointing that they won’t be able to break into NBA-ready markets such as Kansas City, St. Louis, Vancouver and Pittsburgh or into a potential market such as Las Vegas.
A move to Anahiem next year would mean that the team would share the Honda Center with current tenant, the Anaheim Ducks of the NHL.
An interesting dilemma created by a possible move is that the closest and greatest rival of the Ducks, is the Los Angeles Kings.
Even more interesting is that fact that the Kings of the NBA and the Kings of the NHL both share the logo colours of purple and black.
This means that if the Kings were to move to Anaheim they would have to change names (Anahiem Royals being a likely option) and quite possibly colours, which would only further remove them from their proud history as a storied NBA franchise.
Any relocation application must be submitted to the league by mid-April, giving owners enough time to consult with the team’s board of governors in early April.
If the Kings do, in fact, move to Anaheim for season 2011-12, then it will be a disappointing result for nearly everyone involved.
All we can do is hope that the owners put off a move until after labour negotiations this summer and that, perhaps next year, the Sacramento area, or indeed areas like Pittsburgh and Kansas City, will be more economically viable.
gfunk
Guest
unfortunately that is the way the nba works. gotta feel sorry for all the sonics fans who have no chance of getting them back especially while they have no arena of nba standard, though the thunder are thriving in OKC too. good job on the article all the same, but if you know a little bit more history and understand the way americans support their teams with full knowledge of the franchise model adopted then its all part and parcel of american sports. the list is endless of franchises that have moved or changed names or colours. the lakers were from minneapolis (thus the nickname) but now they have the timberwolves there. sacramento fans are famous for being loud and loving their team, but would the people of anaheim / orange county be so enthusiastic, its hard to say. in relation to the clips having a lot of upside, yes i would agree, but at some point they always seem to shoot themselves in the foot. they had a good run in the playoffs a few years back with the help of tim thomas, elton brand and sam cassell amongst others, but couldnt put it together the following year or since.
Connor Kret
Roar Rookie
The difference with the Clippers this season is they actually have a shot at a future with this team. Eric Gordon is within the top 6 or 7 SG's in the league and Blake Griffin sells tickets like no one else in the league. I understand that the Kings were once the Royals in Rochester and Cincinnati i was simply referring to the fact the by changing again they would have to acquire a whole new fan base in a new city and remove themselves at least partially from their history in Kansas City and Sacramento. Appreciate the feedback and be sure to read some of my other work.
Samir
Guest
I see that your 16 and from Australia. I thought the article was done by a professional sports writer when I made my previous comment. You did a great job on that article. Except for the little slips on history this was very good and you nailed the cureent events. Keep it up and keep working on it!
Samir
Guest
How is changing their name to the Royals and changing their colors removing them from their storied franchise? They were originally the Royals and they were originally blue and red. They only changed to the Kings in Kansas City and the colors were only became purple and black lately. Do some homework.. And the Clippers have been up and coming since before I was born..
mushi
Guest
That is a pretty casual disregard of the financial incentive given the well documented financial trouble of the Maloofs. Also that 45 miles is a pretty sizeable drive to go to an evening basketball game in LA, battling traffic I’m thinking you’re looking at a 2 hour drive to get to the Staples Centre in LA.
mushi
Guest
The big proglem with seattle is the lack fo a venue. It is what gave the OKC consortium the ability to wiggle out
Rob McLean
Guest
I don't know much about American sports but a thing I often wonder is do the fans transfer with the team? Do they build n entirely new audience? What happens to the fans who don't go with them?
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Hi Connor. Thanks for the B'ball articles. Enjoy them - looking forward to more. Cheers, Tristan Roar Ed.
gfunk
Guest
i agree, las vegas is crying out for a team even hosting the all star game and is a real alternative so hopefully someone pipes up and puts something forward
Timothy Foley
Guest
I agree with pittsburgh or kansas city, las veags would be best, anaheim not there that's too much for LA having 3 NBA teams let alone 2 I hope they can think straight about this one.
Connor Kret
Roar Rookie
Thanks for reading. The Kings used to be in Rochester, Cincinnati and Kansas City. I personally hope they can hold off a move till Las Vegas becomes an option. Really think the Kings would do well there. Gonna be writing NBA and NBL articles alot so check out my writers page every few days.
Connor (writer)
Guest
Yeah they used to be in Rochester, Cincinnati, and Kansas City. Really hoping they can hold off until an arena plan in Las Vegas is passed. Las Vegas Kings just sounds right too. I'm gonna be writing NBA and NBL Pieces all the time so make sure you keep checking in.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Where were they before Sacramento ?. With the coin on offer they have to take it. The Clippers have proven that you can be lousy and still make a profit in a large market. I'm amazed the NBA isn't pushing for a team back in the Pacific Nth West. They lost the Supersonics and the Grizzlies left Vancouver for Memphis. They have abandoned a region with two major cities. Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson (former NBA All star ) knew the writing was on the wall re the Kings leaving town.
Fivehole
Guest
Move em back to cincinnati or Kansas City i say. Also, with names like the royals or kings, they should be playing in the Indian Premier League
High&inside
Guest
The Arco, now called the Power Balance Pavilion, has but 30 luxury boxes, the Honda Center has over 80. The Maloof kids win again. Let 'em. I prefer to watch the River Cats anyway.
gfunk
Guest
they used to be the royals before they moved to sacramento, right? the main problem is the small and old arena they play in. gives great home court advantage but is a dinosaur when compared to other nba arenas. sacramento city are not able to build a new arena it seems and that is the reason. not that long ago the kings were pale blue, red and white.