Chris Hansen Speaks

((HT: KING-TV))

Chris Daniels has been chasing the Sacramento Kings saga all over the country for KING-TV in Seattle and was front and center as the city got turned down again for the return of the NBA to the city.

He is the first to sit down with the would-have-been owner of the Seattle Supersonics v2.0

The HQ is fairly confident that the team will get a franchise when the new television deal comes up for negotiation in a few years time. All Hansen/Ballmer has to do is play nice and bide their time.

The new arena will have a tenant- just on the NBA's timetable...
Not Chris Hansen's...

Kings Stay In SacTown, Now What...???

((HT: KING-TV))

Well, if you're Kevin Calabro, the former voice of the Seattle SuperSonics, you think that the town will get a team back by the time the new television contract comes around...

“The Sonics will be coming back, I believe, as an expansion team and I think it will be coming back when the new TV contract is in full swing, which will be the ’15-’16 season,” he said. “It would fall in line with the framework of the MOU, so I’m optimistic.”

Chris Hansen's memorandum of understanding runs for five years... and the vote for moving was 22-8, which included Portland owner Paul Allen in the affirmative...

And, oh... the whole selling to SacTown thing...???

"There is no pressure on us... zero,” George Maloof said.

Here's KING-TV's early returns...



Chris Hansen said on his SonicsArena.com website, obviously, was disappointed, but he's not done:

While we are obviously extremely disappointed with today's relocation vote and truly believe we put forth both a significantly better offer and Arena plan, we do thank the league and the owners for their time and consideration and look forward to hearing back on our agreement to join the Maloofs as Limited Partners in the Kings.

But most of all I would like to thank everyone in Seattle who has been a part of our effort and supported our cause. Words simply can't express how much your support has meant to me personally and to our City. I truly believe we did everything possible to put our best foot forward in this process and you all should be proud and hold your heads high today.

Our day will come...and when it does it will just be that much sweeter for the struggle.

I love you Seattle!

And the SacTown version...
((HT: News10.net))
Mayor KJ says that negotiations will start in earnest around the clock. He thinks a deal could be done in the next two or three days- despite what George Maloof maintains above... Remember, the fans aren't big on the "backdoor" plan that the family had with the Hansen-Ballmer group...
So, we'll see just what direction this goes...
The HQ knows we're far from done...

And Now Chris Hansen Increases His Seattle Bid...

Chris Hansen, half of the wanna-be owners of the SacKings moving to Seattle to re-become the SuperSonics, has increased his total bid of the Sacramento Kings from $550 million to $625 million. Hansen also announced on his website, sonicsarena.com, that he has guaranteed other NBA owners that the new Seattle franchise would pay into revenue-sharing instead of taking moneys out.

Hansen hooked up with the Maloof brothers to buy the Sacramento Kings back in January. 65-percent of the team was offered up for US$525-million and the an additional 25 million dollars came across the table.

Now, it's an additional 75-million on top of that...

Hansen said on the website:

While we appreciate that this is a very difficult decision for the league and owners, we hope it is understood that we really believe the time is now to bring the NBA back to Seattle, and that it is paramount that we do everything we can to put Seattle’s best foot forward in this process.

All this ahead of the Wednesday vote to decide relocation... or not...

Here's KING-TV's coverage of the upping of the bid...

The HQ rubs its chin as to why Hansen did all this now...
//somethingtothinkabout

It's Official: Sac-Town Makes Local Bid

((HT: News10.net))

So, it is the Mastrov-Burkle angle...

Mayor KJ has brought out some 24-Hour Fitness and the Pittsburgh Penguins owners to try and make the bid of keeping the Sacramento Kings in town as serious as possible.

While it is regarded widely that Mark Mastrov doesn't have the financing to do the team and the arena by himself, Ron Burkle has been tapped to be the guy in charge of the arena in its new incarnation when it's built.

Mastrov and the other 19 individuals who are part of the "Play To Win" campaign sent their counter-offer to the NBA's relocation committee and the Maloof brothers.

"My understanding is it will be a full and competitive bid," Johnson said.

April 18 and 19 are the dates that the NBA owners will vote on Sacramento's and Seattle's offers.

Here's the local angle on the group trying to keep the team in town...

Mayor KJ Tries To Keep His Kings

((HT: CBS Sacramento/News 10))

Pick whatever sports cliche you want, but Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson is trying to make his last case for keeping his team and not having the group out of Seattle take them over and move them out of town...

It was the major topic of Commissioner David Stern's last press conference as commissioner at the All-Star Game in Houston...

The full press conference of Stern talking about everything in the NBA is hyah...

Here's the local spin...the first take...


And here's the one-on-one in Houston...

Stern Says Seattle Group Files For Kings Relocation

((HT: KING-TV))

The date for filing NBA relocations is March 1...

The group interested in moving the Sacramento Kings to Seattle (aka the Ballmer/Hansen group) once they buy the franchise has gotten one of those conditional okay-dokeys from Commissioner David Stern.

Stern was speaking before the Minnesota-San Antonio game and let the assembled media in on something we all knew- just didn't officially know...

Hansen/Ballmer has agreed to pick up 65-percent of the Kings from the Maloof brothers for US$340-million. It would take two separate committees for the sale and relocation- the sale is a simple majority of the Board of Governors while the relocation is a three-fourths approval.

Here's a good reason as to why the NBA owners could approve the move...
A lot of zeroes...

KJ Is Trying In Sac-Town, Lawd He's Trying...

((HT: News10.net))

While the HQ applauds Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson for his efforts to try and keep the NBA Kings in town, the efforts seem to be coming up a little short in the funds department...

Okay, a "lot short..."

The Maloof brothers have a deal in principle with Seattle hedge fund guy Chris Hansen to pick up the Kings and move them to Hansen's town for a mid-nine figure total.

KJ held a press conference today outlining his attempt to keep the hoops team around... and he introduced civic leaders who are bringing US$19-million to the table.

Please stifle your laughter... he's trying...

Here's some of his presser...
A lot of people, the HQ is sure, were looking forward to hearing about the financial backing the town has from the locals, but KJ admitted that he hopes to make the info public by the end of the week.

But the lack of an arena deal- an idea turned down by the Maloofs last year...
The main sponsorship of Arco now by a mattress company...
And the general disinterest of the current owners to stay...

All are making Mayor Johnson's future audience with NBA Commish David Stern a hard sell- even as Stern himself has washed his hands of the whole thing...

It ain't looking good for a one horse town that can't support their lone horse in the race...

More when we know more...

DEVELOPING: Sac Kings Reportedly Sold To Seattle Group. Supersonics Reborn?

For the good folks of Seattle, Washington it looks like your long NBA drought might be over.

Numerous outlets are reporting that the Sacramento Kings have been sold to a group that intends to move the team to Seattle appears to be done.

According to reports 65 percent of the Kings will be sold to a group led by Chris Hansen and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. If approved by the NBA Board of Governors the team would begin playing in Seattle’s KeyArena next season.  That approval might come in mid-April.

The price tag for 65 percent of the Kings comes to roughly $340 million.

Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson though is not giving up the fight to keep the Kings.  Johnson released a statement Sunday night.

“When it comes to keeping the team in our community, Sacramento is playing to win, In particular, we have been focused like a laser on identifying an ownership group that will both have the financial resources desired by the NBA and the vision to make the Kings the NBA equivalent of what the Green Bay Packers have been in the NFL.”

According to the Sacramento Bee the city is willing to put up money to build and downtown arena but the current owners, the Maloof brothers passed on that.

That arena deal would be in play for any potential buyer who wants to keep the team in Sacramento.

This might be a tough sell to keep the Kings in Sacramento.  A source has told The Sacramento Bee the team is $200 million in debt and on track to lose $7 million this year.

Quoting an anonymous source Yahoo Sports reported Sunday night that the NBA's influential relocation committee would recommend that the larger board of governors approve the Seattle deal.   

So it appears Seattle is going to get the Supersonics back. 

 


Here's the early morning buzz out of Seattle... ((HT: KING-TV)) The NBA has issued the following statement on the matter, for now: "The NBA received an executed Purchase and Sale Agreement for the transfer of a controlling interest in the Sacramento Kings from the Maloof family to an investor group led by Christopher Hansen. The proposed transaction is subject to the approval of the NBA Board of Governors and has been referred to the Board's committee process for review."

Seattle Gets The Sac Kings...???

((HT: KING-TV Seattle))

It all started with a Tweet from David Falk's daughter saying a deal was done...

Then, Yahoo!Sports Adrian Wojnarowski came from behind with some of the dynamics- $500-million to the Maloof brothers to hedge-fund guy Chris Hansen and Microsoft chairman Steve Ballmer...

The team plays in Key Arena for two years before they get their new South Downtown arena built by Hansen's money...

Here's the early run from Seattle...
An environmental impact study must still be completed on the new Hansen arena. The current Seattle Arena operators still face a lawsuit by the longshoreman's union over how game traffic will affect the area around the Port of Seattle. All of this would start next season... and the HQ looks forward to seeing how this will all play out... Here's the Sacramento angle in its early stages of panic... ((HT: News10.net))
More when we know more...

So, Do The Kings Go To Seattle Now...???

((HT: KING5 TV, Seattle))

David Stern admits that he is going to retire on the 30th anniversary of his initial hiring by the NBA, and there is talk that one of his final acts may be restoring pro basketball to Seattle.

And the team to do it might just be the Sacramento Kings...

An arena deal falls through...
The current barn has a mattress company as its main sponsor...
The owners are a thorn in the side of the league office...
The owners wanted to relocate to Anaheim and were forced to keep their deal to stay in Sacramento...

"Seattle is very much in the mix," Stern said at the first of (now) one of his exit pressers. "My guess is that all of that gets decided when Commissioner Silver [takes over. He] will have a really interesting issue on his plate."

Stern admitted that Seattle and Vancouver were two of his regrets in a 2001 interview with the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
. So whaddya wanna bet that Clay Bennett, the head of the Relocation Committee, gets the "satisfaction" of returning basketball to the town he took it from...???

Here's the double-speak from the meetings...

Seattle City Council Approves New Arena Deal... Kings And Coyotes Next...???

((HT: KING-TV))

A deal has been reached between the Seattle City Council and Chris Hansen's investor group (no, not THAT Chris Hansen) on the financial terms that would put a new sports arena near Safeco Field in the South Downtown section of town.

There were a few issues that the city needed assurances on from Hansen's alleged ownership group before the city council members on the fence could be swayed to vote in favor of the Hansen deal...

$40-million will go toward a transportation fund to improve traffic, transit and protecting Port of Seattle operations. Initially, Hansen pledged almost $300-million toward building the arena, but the city would bring in somewhere between $120-200 million on their end- depending if one team is brought in or two. $7 million more goes toward KeyArena involving capital improvements and a plan for its future.

Hansen's group will take more responsibility for cost overruns or if the arena fails to be constructed, and after the first 30 years of use, Hansen's group can be ordered to buy the new arena for $200-million. If the arena doesn't make it that far, Hansen has to pay for the destruction costs.

And if the arena isn't even built, Hansen will agree to buy back the land.

But no construction begins on the new SoDo arena until an environmental review is conducted.

Here's the early positive thoughts...
Hansen even went as far as to offer to buy everyone their first beer Thursday afternoon at a local restaurant to celebrate... "I welcome the news that the City Council has decided to support bringing basketball back to Seattle," said Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn in a statement. "We haven't gotten a team yet, but Sonics fans have a reason to smile today."
Hansen's move can now give the Maloof brothers cause to look out of Sacramento (just not quickly enough for their probable liking) and Phoenix and the NHL (just not quickly enough for their probable liking, either)...

Just don't talk to the Maloofs or Greg Jamison about it any time soon...

New Seattle Arena Calls For No Government Funds

((HT: KING5 Seattle))

But this has a major hook to it by Chris Hansen...

Hansen will front US$300-million to get the project started if the city kicks in taxes for the remainder of the bonds and there have to be BOTH NBA and NHL franchises lined up...

Here's Hansen's paperwork...

It's really easy to say that the Sacramento Kings and the Phoenix Coyotes would be the two teams on Hansen's and the city of Seattle's radar for this. But where will the parent leagues of these troubled franchises go first...???

Marcel Aubut is already announcing that he'll build an arena in Quebec City for an NHL franchise and one is already in place until then- Le Colisee.

The HQ apologizes for the lack of accent marks from our American computer.

And if the city can't support the Thunderbirds, how can they support big-boy hockey...??? The Kings are a different issue, but the deal with Harry Samueli may be revisited after this season if there isn't an arena deal in place for the second year in a row with Sacaramento mayor Kevin Johnson.

Samueli, surely, would want a do-over to bring another NBA franchise to Southern California.

Here's team coverage from SoDo...