Devastating news on the sports front: For the first time in 15 years, the NCAA is refusing to bring its regional basketball March Madness to Sacramento, thanks to the shabby condition of Arco Arena. This one really hurts. The NCAA regionals established themselves as one of Sacramento's most popular events. The tournament landed at Arco Arena four times -- in 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2007 -- bringing teams, fans, money and a taste of big-time college hoops to Sacramento.
Now those days are over. The NCAA has rejected Sacramento's bid to host future regional tournaments. Frankly, the idea of the NCAA rejecting our NBA arena is embarrassing to Sacramento.
But don't get the idea that I'm upset at the NCAA. It's not the NCAA's fault. And I'm not surprised by the rejection. I knew this day would come. Any sports fan who has visited Arco Arena lately should have seen it coming.
We have been hearing for years that Arco Arena is not up to standards of world-class sports and entertainment. Those words were originally presumed by many people in Sacramento to be self-serving on the part of the Kings. Each time one of the Kings' competitors in the NBA announced a move to a new arena, it made Arco sink a little lower
Now we have an independent third party -- the NCAA -- joining the chorus. The NCAA is accustomed to college arenas, which are smaller and less flashy than pro hoop buildings. When you're suddenly not good enough for the NCAA and can't even compete with college arenas, it's a sad day.
I've been watching the developments at Cal Expo regarding a potential new arena for the Kings. I know lots of hard work has gone into those discussions. And I'm familiar with the many failed efforts to build a new arena in Sacramento.
Today I fear the Cal Expo discussions -- like so many that came before -- won't bring results fast enough, if at all. Clearly, the time for discussion at Cal Expo is running out.
I can tell you I won't be standing by watching other promoters reject Arco Arena. I won't wait for the question, "Who's next to go?"
The arena issue needs the Mayor's leadership. And that's what it's going to get.
I agree Mr. Mayor–Arco Arena is in sad shape compared to most other NBA arenas around the league. It’s a big part of the reason that the Sacramento Kings have seen dwindling attendance numbers in past years. This town needs a modern sports arena, and I hope you will do your best to bring that to Sacramento. Thank you for bringing leadership to the arena issue.
Robert Lewis
Comment by Robert — September 22, 2009 @ 11:54 am
What is it specifically about Arco Arena that is in shabby condition? I’ve been there, nothing is falling apart, bathrooms are in working order, food and concessionaires. What do people want, gold plated toilets?
Comment by Rob — September 22, 2009 @ 12:30 pm
Please this whole arena thing is ridiculous, and as a taxpayer I can not see the money coming out of our pockets to pay for it when we get nothing in return. A subpar product put on the basketball court by owners who are trying to run it into the ground so they can move the franchise to begin with and a city that has let the existing arena go pointing fingers at other parties saying its their fault that it has gotten to this point. Our state is in the worst financial crisis of its history and you want to build a new arena for a limited growth spurt in jobs. How about you and the other useless goverment official Arnie get together and figure out a way to get the companies that all fled California to outsource their jobs to Indonesia to come back put your time and resources and our money to better use than to continue to stroke the Maloofs who do not want to be here so leave already I say.
Comment by Stu Ludwig — September 22, 2009 @ 1:31 pm
Ok, it’s going to get your leadership. What exactly do you plan to do?
Comment by Majin — September 22, 2009 @ 1:41 pm
I’m not embarrassed of Arco Arena, I think it’s pathetic that the NCAA would make such a comment. It’s rude at best and stupid at worst. They were fine with it 2 years ago, but somehow in the ensuing years it has fallen into such disrepair as to not warrant consideration? That’s bs.
Comment by PJ — September 22, 2009 @ 6:00 pm
Dear Mayor,
I am very disturbed by your comments above. I also looked at the reader comments from the articles at local news websites, and I am clearly not alone.
1) If this is so darned profitable, let private enterprise have it. If it’s not profitable, it’s a taxpayer subsidy, and I want no part of it. Look at other cities, such as Glendale, AZ and Indianapolis to see how well other such public “involvement” has done.
2) Cal Expo is a terrible location.
3) Most importantly, show us the document the NCAA sent you that made you come to this conclusion, because right now, I question your sources. If the NCAA has written to the City and/or the Maloofs, show us the document.
4) I do not question that the Maloofs need a new arena. I honestly do not. Arco is a dive. But it got this way because the Maloofs let it happen. That does not involve the taxpaying public in even the tiniest way.
5) If you formulate a plan that doesn’t need a public vote, you MUST seek one anyway. I can stay up all night reading dirty magazines if I want; I can mow my lawn during an electrical storm — it’s legal to do so. But these are not good ideas, even if they are legal. Even if it’s legal to provide any kind of public involvement at all — if it’s TIFs, if it’s loan guarantees, if it’s a land-swap — it doesn’t mean you should not seek a public vote. You must have a public vote on any aspect of a plan, even if it doesn’t legally require one. Why? Because it’s the right thing to do. Multibillion dollar public involvement demands a public vote, period. The idea of a representative government falls apart at times like this.
I understand your desire to keep the Kings, but everything has its limits. You must appreciate and respect this point.
Thank you.
Comment by MikeM — September 22, 2009 @ 9:16 pm
THANK YOU!!!
Comment by jonathan e — September 22, 2009 @ 10:39 pm
Mayor Johnson,
I am not opposed to moving the arena. I’m also not opposed to using public money to help fund it. However I AM opposed to it being moved to Cal Expo.
This is a horrible location considering traffic, and anyone who says it will be fine is oblivious to the current conditions daily on the Business 80, much the surface streets that feed into the Cal Expo site. It will be a transportation nightmare. Instead, why not consider the rail yard? Build a new arena downtown, near the true heart of the city. The arena would bring the much needed life to downtown that you are often saying this city needs.
Please, no to the Cal Expo location. Yes to building a new arena in the rail yard! Ask the public - see what they say, Mayor. You will see overwhelming opposition to moving it to Cal Expo. I hope this reaches you. Thanks.
Comment by James — September 22, 2009 @ 11:06 pm
Keep pushing for a resolution to the ARCO Arena debacle, Mayor KJ! The Sacramento region can’t afford to lose the Kings and Monarchs, from an economic and emotional standpoint. Sure, I understand the pundits out there who say that not everyone is a Kings or Monarchs fan and won’t care if they leave town. But that mentality scoffs at and minimalizes the excitement that the Kings fans experience by having an NBA team here. That mentality also opens the door to a return to insignificance for the Sacramento region. How can a region the size of Sacramento NOT be able to support a pro sports team (Las Vegas, notwithstanding)? If the Maloofs decide to fold up the tents and leave town, then like you said…who’s next? But the real question will be “Is anyone here?” [insert cavernous echo in an empty, dark ARCO Arena] The Hollywood adage “If you build it, they will come” holds so true in Sac. Mayor KJ, please work tirelessly to get everyone in place to build that proverbial baseball field in the middle of the cornfield.
Comment by Marc — September 23, 2009 @ 8:57 am