QUOTE(stevethedad @ Oct 4 2006, 08:45 AM) 
Yes, and they need a new place to play, whether it is here in Sacramento, or in a city that wants them.
No, it's much better than that! While the football team draws 68,000 a game for 10 games (680,000 total), the Kings draw 18,000 a game for 41 games. That 738,000. Yes, they sell out now. That's 738,000 fewer money-spenders if the Kings leave.
I don't have any stats on it, but have observed many supporters of visiting teams at Kings games. You're right, fans won't fly in. They won't drive in either, because there won't be a game to go to.
Is that why they party before the game, to avoid the crowds? I've never heard that one before. I always thought it was a fun tradition that people look forward to.
Very few fans stop by the Natomas businesses before or after games now, because the location of ARCO and proximity to the freeway makes it a get-in get-out destination. In fact In and Out Burger and the other fast food joints seem to be the only establishments that do well after a game.
I've never heard the Maloof's say they don't want any other businesses located near the proposed arena, but that's too bad. There are some already and will be more.
A better comparison than football might be hockey. They play about 60 games at home, and while there isn't much tailgaiting, the San Jose businesses that thrive near HP Pavillion can tell you that they do land-office business when the Sharks play.
Steve,
I thought everbody knew that tailgating in the NFL originated from people getting to the games early to avoid traffic and then evolved to picnicking and drinking to pass the time until the game started. Of course the tradition has grown into part of festivities for going to a NFL game, so that now the motive isn't to avoid traffic as much as party before the games. See you learn something new everyday!
You probably should check the reasons on why the Maloofs have backed out on the deal. They want to have control over what is allowed to be built near the arena and they want 8000 parking spaces. With 8000 parking spaces that will pretty much handle all vehicles who want to park into the garage, right off the freeway, so the fans will simply drive off the freeway and walk into the Arena without ever having set foot downtown. There is a large amount of railyards to develop and the Maloofs want to eliminate any other competition from nearby the Arena.
When you say find a way to build it.... which way are you talking about? Sac City's version or the Maloofs version? If Sac city builds their version the Maloofs probably won't move downtown or move elsewhere and then you won't have what you are claiming...the benefits of a prosports team. If you want to build the Maloofs version then everything you claim about the benefits won't be realized as people will simply park in the garage, spend all their money at the Arena and never see downtown.
In both cases the region will have 1.2 billion dollars taken out of its economy, so everybody will have less money to go there anyway.
Throwing good money at a bad plan is never a good idea!
