Despite television news reports to the contrary, the city-sponsored development team looking at the financial feasibility of building a new arena in town has not stopped working amid the Kings' uncertain future here.
Adam Mendelsohn, a spokesman for developer David Taylor, told my Bee colleague Tony Bizjak this weekend that the study may take "a little longer" than the original 90-day timeframe because of the Kings' relocation negotiations. But Taylor and arena giant ICON Venue Group have not stopped their work and the Kings' cloudy future "doesn't dramatically affect our ability to get this done," Mendelsohn told Bizjak.
I asked Mayor Kevin Johnson's office whether they had heard the work was being put on hold, and the response was the same. "Absoluely not," said mayoral special assistant R.E. Graswich.
"We have talked with the city and made it clear we will present a plan on how to get a new arena built regardless of the decision the Kings make," Mendelsohn said. "If the Kings decide to relocate, we will present an arena without the Kings. If they decide to stay, we will present a plan that includes the Kings as tenants."
"We are committed to creating a plan that clearly lays out a plan to build an arena in Sacramento. That will happen regardless of what decision the Kings make. We believe like the mayor and the rest of the city that there should be a new arena no matter what."
It seems that the push to get a new arena built without the Kings has gained momentum in the last few days, with business interests joining that campaign last week.
Should the Kings leave town, how interested would you be in seeing a new sports and entertainment complex built in town?
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.