Should the Kings Stay In Sacramento?
For many years, there has been an ongoing debate about moving the Sacramento Kings to Seattle and becoming the Supersonics. Although it may sound like a great idea, there are good and bad consequences that come with them moving or staying at either city. The reason for such a controversial debate revolves around money and fans. A group led by the investor Chris Hansen had a deal with the Kings owners with the idea of moving the team to Seattle. Once the idea became known by everyone, the debate grew. The cities of Seattle and Sacramento both want the NBA franchise for many reasons. Having an NBA franchise in Sacramento will help the economy and fans, and will keep the only professional sports team in Sacramento.
The reason Seattle wants the Kings franchise is because it will benefit Seattle’s economy. The franchise will be playing the next couple of seasons in Key Arena, and, in the meantime, a new $490 million arena will be built in downtown Seattle. According to a column in the Bleacher Report, “The public will pay $200 million and that money will be paid back using ticket sales and rent money. If not, Hansen himself will be responsible” (Lingberg). Hansen is getting the public on his side by using them to get the Kings to come to Seattle. With the Kings becoming the Supersonics it will help boost Seattle’s economy by opening jobs at the new arena, the expenses that will be made at the arena, and all the Supersonic merchandise that will be sold throughout Washington.
Seattle is a slightly bigger market than Sacramento. Not only is the population bigger but the environment is more welcoming to athletes. The new location in Seattle has more to offer than the location in Sacramento. The capital of California, Sacramento is known because of the high pollution. Sacramento has thick air because of all of the smog. The thick layer of smog that lays above Sacramento and the brown rivers makes Seattle look a better city. Hansen feels that his location in Seattle has more to offer than the dirty city of Sacramento. He believes that Sacramento is not a “sports city”. Michael Lingberg agrees with Hansen, saying, “Seattle, on the other hand, boasts famous landmarks such as the Space Needle, with Mt. Rainier rising up impressively in the background” (Lingberg). Hansen, and the community of Seattle feel like they have a more welcoming and aesthetically pleasing environment.
Even with all those considerations in mind, the team should remain in Sacramento. One reason is because of the sports competition. “The fact that in Sacramento the Kings are the only major sport, whereas the Sonics would be competing for attention with the Seahawks, Mariners, Sounders, Huskies and a potential hockey team” (Ziller 6). The NBA committee, Kings head coach, and players would rather stay in a city where they are the only team than move to a city where there are plenty of other sports teams. If Sacramento lost the Kings, it would be hard for them to ever have a professional team again. The reason why the Kings should choose to stay is because of their fans. Since they are the only team from Sacramento, they are very fan based. That means that mostly everything they do is because of their fans. Relocation creates a black spot on the league. Many fans will rally in anger if the team is forced to move. It could infuriate NBA fans from northern California, turning many of them away from the sport for good. The decision of staying was also made by the fans because the Sacramento Kings have been supported by their fans for many years now.
Let’s not forget that Seattle has already had a professional team in their city. That franchise is now located in Oklahoma, the move was do to the bad team management that seattle had with their professional team. What was back then the Seattle Supersonics is now the Oklahoma Thunder. To many this move has benefiated the league simply because the team is more competitive. While the franchise was located in Seatlle i was never seen as a strong tittle contender. This is one of the reasons the NBA should not move the franchise away from Sacramento because it will only make the league weak by replacing a competitive team with a weak one. As the supersonics were while they existed “the team stats of the last year of existance their record was 20-60” (Young). which means the lost 62 games and won only 20. In their twenty eight years of existance the sacramento kings have never had a low record like. We could say due to the facts that Sacramento is a better place for a competitive and ambisious team.
Another main reason why the Sacramento Kings should consider to stay is because they have all of the support from the city officials. Since the Kings have been in Sacramento from 1985 to present, they especially have high support from the city’s mayor. “Sacramento finally has a mayor who understands how important the Kings and the NBA are to the city” (Ziller 4). Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former All-NBA point guard who grew up in Sacramento, is in the process of developing the first proposal for a new arena plan he's been allowed to since taking office. When Johnson came into office, the NBA was pursuing a lofty and, many felt, completely crazy plan that needed the approval of a state board. It didn't work, and the NBA abandoned the efforts. Johnson took over, and for the first time in the last decade, Sacramento has a leader with the connections and foresight to get something done. Why would the Sacramento Kings go from a city that fully supports them to a city that is not going to guarantee the full support. It just wouldn’t make sense to do such of thing when the team is one of the most supported teams by his fans and city mayor in the NBA. The mayor of Sacramento supports them with money and all of the necessities needed to keep their winning streak. The mayor is also helping the Sacramento Kings get a new and more advanced arena. The mayor’s support is one of the main reasons they should choose to stay. I don’t think any team in the NBA would like to go to a city where they would have to start over and have to compete for the support from the officials and public, and specially the so loved Sacramento Kings.
With a move away from Sacramento, the kings would not only break the fans hearts but they will badly hurt the city’s economy. On this bad economic crisis in the central California area the Sacramento kings are what keep the city going as they create a lot of jobs. It is know that, “Hotels in in the area draw revenue just south of $300,000 per year from visiting teams alone. Also, off-duty sheriff officers are hired on game night, providing jobs and extra income for the people of Sacramento. Without the team, these jobs would not exist” (Smith). How can a city that depends so much on their NBA team not be harmed with their move. Smith also mentioned that, “Game nights are huge. When games are selling out, restaurants and bars are very crowded” (Smith). I have witness the after game impact in the city myself as I have attended to some of their games before, and i have to say that I even though i’m not a Kings fan I had lots of fun. It is a great atmosphere all around the city regardless if they win or lose.
The cities of Sacramento and Seattle are in debate over whether the Sacramento Kings should be sold to Seattle and become the Supersonics. The main reasons why Seattle wants the Kings is because it well help boost their economy greatly by opening many job opportunities involved with the basketball team. Also, Seattle offers a better “sports city” for the basketball team with their clean air in a clean city. The reasons why the Kings have chosen to stay is because of the sports competition. Since they are the only team in Sacramento there are no reasons for them to move to a city with plenty of professional teams. Mainly because of the heavy support they are given from the public and city officials the Kings will continue to be successful in Sacramento.
Works Cited
Lingberg, Michael. “Sacramento Kings will Move to Seattle: 5 Reasons Why it’s a Good Move”. Bleacher Report. Bleacher Report, 21 Jan. 2013. Web. 29 Oct. 2013.
Ziller, Tom. “Why the NBA is Choosing Sacramento over Seattle”. Sbnation. Sbnation, 1 May 2013. Web. Oct 28 2013.
Smith, Seana. “Sale of Kings Could Hurt Sacramento Economy”.FoxBusiness. FoxBusiness,8 Feb. 2013. Web. 30 Oct. 2013.
Young, Steve. “Why Seattle is not good for the NBA”. Bleacher Report. Bleacher report, 5 Apr. 2013. Web. 2 Dec 2013.