Sources: Kings moving to Virgina a possibility

http://insidebiz.com/news/sources-sa...ena-deal-works

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The owners of the Sacramento Kings, an NBA franchise, and officials from Philadelphia-based Comcast-Spectacor are expected to be in Virginia Beach Tuesday to propose moving the team to the resort city and for Comcast to help build and lease a new pro sports arena.

A deal between the Maloof family, which owns the Sacramento Kings, and the city of Sacramento for a $391 million entertainment complex fell apart three months ago and it has been reported that the owners are looking for a city for their franchise.

Media giant Comcast will guarantee a 25-year lease on a new arena, supposedly for naming rights and for broadcasting the games, sources said. Comcast owns NBC and Global Spectrum, which operates arenas and stadiums across the country including the Ted Constant Convocation Center at Old Dominion University.


City officials and the Maloof family are expected to announce Wednesday that the Kings will land in Virginia Beach, sources said.

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I'm so glad we're beyond this kinda stuff now.

If that happened, I don't think we would be the smallest market anymore.

Ya really, Virginia(?!?!?!)

If they move, its nice to see a "small market" team move another "small market".

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Originally Posted by The JNR

If that happened, I don't think we would be the smallest market anymore.

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Albert Breer ‏@AlbertBreer
Looked it up, saw Virginia Beach is in 43rd-ranked TV market. OKC is 44th. But still can't imagine it has biz community to support this.

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bigger than OKC

And this is coming from a Hampton Roads, Va website citing city officials and the Maloofs are expected to announce that the Kings will land in VA Beach. Don't the BOG have to approve such?

Would the Kings steal Bobcats fans (yes, they do have fans)? They would be awfully close to each other.

I have a few cousins in VA Beach, I wanna hear what they think about this.

Virginia? Really?

Gotta love the Maloofs. The complex deal fell apart because the city was offering to fund the building of the complex, but the Maloofs wanted exclusive rights to run it and get a cut of any event taking place in the complex.

Even Shinn was a better owner than those goofs.

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If this does happen it means a shift in conferences. Does this mean adding two teams to get the 32 team design like the NFL? Seattle and Kansas city?

Would they have to move a team like Milwaukee, Chicago, or Indiana to the west?

I just got back from Virginia Beach the other week and I really didn't think much about it. I highly doubt they would support an NBA team

More then likely they would gerrymander Atlanta with its lack of serious rivalry to the west and keep the strong Bulls-Bucks-Pacers intact.

I graduated HS from Va Beach. If this goes through, they should do fine. Hampton Roads has a population between 1.5-2 million. (OKC pop is like 500k). They have a AAA baseball team and a minor league (AAA equivalent) hockey team that just won the chamionship. Both teams have great fan support.

The only thing that would worry me is the proposed stadium location, which would be literally where the interstate ends (going one way). Not really ideal.

this sounds like wishful thinking for Virginia Beach, there is a better shot at them moving back to Kansas City when they already have a NBA ready stadium in the Sprint Center

Kings deny Virginia report

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Owners of the Sacramento Kings denied a report that the team is in talks to move to Virginia Beach, Va.

The Hampton Roads Business Journal in Norfolk, Va., cited unnamed sources as saying that Kings ownership and officials from Comcast and concert promoter Live Nation are supposed to descend on Virginia Beach Tuesday to discuss a new stadium and relocation of the NBA franchise.

"We haven't talked to Virginia Beach," Joe Maloof told CBS13 in Sacramento.

Kings owners Joe, Gavin and George Maloof pulled out of a plan to help finance an arena in Sacramento earlier this year, saying it didn't make financial sense for the franchise.

The team has been tied to discussion in Anaheim, Calif., as well as other cities.

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http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/82...-move-virginia

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Originally Posted by HunnyB

Kings deny Virginia report



http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/82...-move-virginia

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hmmm, I will adjust my title to say rumor. Any reason the owners would deny this just until the deal is done?

Virginia Beach may be small but there's a lot of money flowing through it. Moreover, their television market would be larger than the confines of the city limits much like the Hornets will market to the entire Gulf South.

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Originally Posted by CheapSeats

If this does happen it means a shift in conferences. Does this mean adding two teams to get the 32 team design like the NFL? Seattle and Kansas city?

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I don't really see this happening as you don't have the same divisional playoff system in the NBA. It's just top eight teams in each conference so an even balance across divisions is sort of meaningless.

Funny thing is that Shinn was very interested in moving the Hornets to Norfolk, VA (not far from Va Beach) if things did not work out in NOLA after Katrina.

I personally would like the team to stay in Sacramento, I'll try I help them if I can.

I'm definitely sympathetic to fans in Sacramento. Those are some good fans, and they didn't do anything wrong, and they might lose their team because of this. Just really unfortunate.

Virginia Squires?? Maybe, who knows.

Kansas City couldn't support a NBA team with already the Royals and Chiefs and a strong MLS franchise. Too much competition. Virginia Beach would offer no competition whatsoever to the Kings. I could see a team getting better support there compared to KC.

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Originally Posted by The JNR

I'm definitely sympathetic to fans in Sacramento. Those are some good fans, and they didn't do anything wrong, and they might lose their team because of this. Just really unfortunate.

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This. Sacramento doesn't deserve what the Maloof's are putting them through.

I don't think Virginia Beach would even get approved if this was even a possibility. NBA would probably rather have a team in K.C. or Seattle

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Originally Posted by rebelman

I don't think Virginia Beach would even get approved if this was even a possibility. NBA would probably rather have a team in K.C. or Seattle

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I think the NBA would do better in Virginia compared to KC since that is the only game in town while KC has a MLS team, Royals, and Chiefs. Its a small market that would struggle in the NBA.

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Originally Posted by Hornets78

I think the NBA would do better in Virginia compared to KC since that is the only game in town while KC has a MLS team, Royals, and Chiefs. Its a small market that would struggle in the NBA.

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I don't know about that. There are a lot of Jayhawk fans that would love to have an NBA team in the state

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Originally Posted by rebelman

I don't know about that. There are a lot of Jayhawk fans that would love to have an NBA team in the state

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Not really. They just care about the Jayhawks. At least most do.

Put its up to KC to support the team and it likely won't happen since the Royals, Chiefs, and Sporting KC are there. Not enough of a market to support the 3 big sports. The NBA model isn't suited for them. Hockey would be better.

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Originally Posted by Hornets78

Not really. They just care about the Jayhawks. At least most do.

Put its up to KC to support the team and it likely won't happen since the Royals, Chiefs, and Sporting KC are there. Not enough of a market to support the 3 big sports. The NBA model isn't suited for them. Hockey would be better.

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if not KC then probably Seattle

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Originally Posted by rebelman

if not KC then probably Seattle

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Only one problem... Seattle is light years away from building arena. That arena plan they have is a joke.

I disagree. The northern VA came awefully close to getting a MLB team in Norfolk 7 years ago and most Major Leagues have been eager to tap an untapped market. There is a rich ABA history there. If the Kings don't land there some major league franchise will test that market.

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Originally Posted by rebelman

I just got back from Virginia Beach the other week and I really didn't think much about it. I highly doubt they would support an NBA team

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?? The Virginia Beach area is a very, very large market.

That said, this is not gonna happen, just typical threatening/leveraging from an NBA owner trying to hold his city hostage.

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Originally Posted by geauxbama

I graduated HS from Va Beach. If this goes through, they should do fine. Hampton Roads has a population between 1.5-2 million. (OKC pop is like 500k). They have a AAA baseball team and a minor league (AAA equivalent) hockey team that just won the chamionship. Both teams have great fan support.

The only thing that would worry me is the proposed stadium location, which would be literally where the interstate ends (going one way). Not really ideal.

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Not to mention Virginia is in the middle of ACC country. There are UNC and Duke B-ball fans all over VA. There would be plenty of people willing to support an NBA team, as well as tourists to buy tix for the visiting teams.

All that being said, I'll only believe this when I hear something official. Rumors spawn like bunnies when it comes to NBA relocation.

You will see a MAJOR League franchise in Northern Virginia within the next 5-10 years. It prolly won't be the Kings who in my opinion won't leave the west coast. But the market itself is perfect for somebody. High Income and No competition, very similar to San Antonio and OKC. A very shrewd move by the maloofs.

Why Virginia? Bring a NBA back to Baltimore. At least they won a title here. We have a HUGE basketball following here and TONS of talent coming from the city also. A lot of people here love basketball but are not willing to take the drive to DC to watch the Capital Bullets I meant Washington Wizards.

Ugh, teaming up with Comcast and Live Nation to build an arena, I don't know know if I despise any two companies more. Little did I know they were in on the rip-off together. That being said, I still think it makes more sense than Anaheim. In the end though, I hope they remain in Sacramento, some small market camaraderie.

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Originally Posted by smittywerb

Why Virginia? Bring a NBA back to Baltimore. At least they won a title here. We have a HUGE basketball following here and TONS of talent coming from the city also. A lot of people here love basketball but are not willing to take the drive to DC to watch the Capital Bullets I meant Washington Wizards.

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Don't see any way the Wizards would allow that.

1. Let it be known that I want the Kings to stay in Sacramento. They can be successful there under the right ownership, and no fan base should have to see its team move unless there's no alternative.

2. The KC sports situation is unique. Both the Chiefs and Royals play in Independence, which is quite a long way from downtown, especially in game traffic. Sporting KC (MLS soccer) plays WAY far from downtown. The Sprint Center (new arena) is right in the middle of downtown next to a successful new night life district. The NBA could be very successful in that location, despite the perceived market saturation.

KU and MU basketball are VERY popular in KC. If a KC NBA team kept a couple of players from those teams in stock, I think it could be huge.

I was stationed in Va beach for 5 years, and after putting in thought I can say that I think they would succeed there. Its not just Va beach though, It's all the Seven cities there ( Va beach, Norfolk, Newport News, Portsmouth, etc .) Let alone Richmond and Northern North Carolina by extension. The Admirals and the Tide, both at 5,000 a game, ( Minor league hockey and Baseball ) is ok attendance by minor league standards, so I expect They can fill a Arena easily for a NBA team. Its also a VERY LARGE military community ( Tickets will be discounted for Military Members) , so expect sell outs for the big name teams. Expect a Pro team in the near future if not the Kings.

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Originally Posted by greewe

1. Let it be known that I want the Kings to stay in Sacramento. They can be successful there under the right ownership, and no fan base should have to see its team move unless there's no alternative.

2. The KC sports situation is unique. Both the Chiefs and Royals play in Independence, which is quite a long way from downtown, especially in game traffic. Sporting KC (MLS soccer) plays WAY far from downtown. The Sprint Center (new arena) is right in the middle of downtown next to a successful new night life district. The NBA could be very successful in that location, despite the perceived market saturation.

KU and MU basketball are VERY popular in KC. If a KC NBA team kept a couple of players from those teams in stock, I think it could be huge.

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I still think the market is too saturated for KC. The Royals have been struggling for 20+ years in baseball and the NBA isn't exactly fair to the smaller market. With the Chiefs and Royals in town, I don't see enough fan support long-term for a basketball team in KC and enough financial backing whether its fan support, ownership, or TV money. Unless a superstar landed on the team, the NBA would be almost as bad as struggle as the MLB has become and I'm a diehard Royals fan. This situation is different from OKC and would be different for Virginia since there is no competition outside of college sports. KC is a small market with other major league teams.

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Originally Posted by rebelman

I don't know about that. There are a lot of Jayhawk fans that would love to have an NBA team in the state

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That's basically like saying Baton Rouge should get an NFL team since a lot of people go to Tiger football games.. College support doesn't translate to pro support. See Memphis.

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Originally Posted by Hornets78

I still think the market is too saturated for KC. The Royals have been struggling for 20+ years in baseball and the NBA isn't exactly fair to the smaller market. With the Chiefs and Royals in town, I don't see enough fan support long-term for a basketball team in KC and enough financial backing whether its fan support, ownership, or TV money. Unless a superstar landed on the team, the NBA would be almost as bad as struggle as the MLB has become and I'm a diehard Royals fan. This situation is different from OKC and would be different for Virginia since there is no competition outside of college sports. KC is a small market with other major league teams.

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I get what you're saying. I'm not suggesting that KC would be an ideal market, or that there aren't other markets better suited to an NBA team. Just saying that the NBA in KC could potentially work with the right ownership, location, marketing plan, players, etc. Not saying those things are easy, but if the stars aligned, perhaps it could be big.

I'll add that I think the Royals struggle for support so much because MLB is particularly hard on small markets because of its financials. It's just difficult for the Royals to put a winning product on the field. KC was able to support both the Chiefs and Royals back in the '80s when the Royals were winning.

I guess I look at a city like Cleveland, which also has a metro area population of ~2 million and is somehow able to have the Cavs, Browns, and Indians, and think "maybe KC could do that too!"

^ Have nothing but soul crushing pro teams that do nothing but drive the local populace into depression?

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The Royals are a prime example of why baseball needs a salary cap. What make salary cap sport more viable is the ability for small teams to thrive for periods of time.

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Originally Posted by Hornet Hysteria

Not to mention Virginia is in the middle of ACC country. There are UNC and Duke B-ball fans all over VA.

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ouch.

If this goes through, some team from the east is going to have to move into the west. I can't imagine having a team in VA play in the Western Conference.

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Originally Posted by killah

If this goes through, some team from the east is going to have to move into the west. I can't imagine having a team in VA play in the Western Conference.

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Good point. Milwaukee maybe? :confused:

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Originally Posted by Mr. West

Good point. Milwaukee maybe? :confused:

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Yeah, Virginia would move to the Southeast, Washington to the Atlantic, Toronto to the Central, Milwaukee to the Northwest, and Portland to the Pacific.

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Originally Posted by Kibner

^ Have nothing but soul crushing pro teams that do nothing but drive the local populace into depression?

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:hihi:

I think this maybe a good time for...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN0WqSeCKW8

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Originally Posted by neworleanshoo

ouch.

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Sorry, but you know it's true. More often than not, I see as much Duke and Carolina stuff in the sports/department stores as the Cavs.