The Maloof family, owners of the NBA Kings, are
"against the idea" of bringing an MLS franchise to a piece
of land near Arco Arena, according to Marcos Breton of the
SACRAMENTO BEE, who reported that an agreement with the city
stipulates that any pro team ventures near the arena "must
have the blessing" of the Maloofs. Kings co-Owner Joe
Maloof: "I don't know if people want to hear this, but I
don't think Sacramento is ready for another professional
franchise. Eventually, it will be but the corporate dollars
aren't where they should be. Our market is still relatively
small. Eventually we will be but we're not ready."
Attorney Dick Hyde, who is negotiating for the rights to the
land near the arena, is trying to "sell the city and the
Maloofs" on the MLS. Hyde: "The corporate sponsorships are
less important in the MLS. Revenues come from general
ticket sales, there is a much higher degree of revenue
sharing and the MLS doesn't have free agency so the average
salary is only $75,000." Hyde said that he "hopes to have a
firmer plan in place in the next 60 days" (SAC. BEE, 3/12).
MARKET STUDY: Breton wrote that Sacramento "lacks the
lifeblood of sports today -- a large corporate presence,"
as there are "just a handful" of regionally headquartered
companies generating more than $1B in revenues that are "in
a position to pump significant money into sports." When
Raley's recently decided to "redirect" much of its $1.4M
sponsorship of the Senior PGA Tour Gold Rush Classic to the
Triple A River Cats "it caused a huge problem" in the area.
Gold Rush Classic Chair & CEO Bob Bell, on the Sacramento
market, "It's true there aren't a lot of large players
locally and that makes things difficult" (SAC. BEE, 3/11).
