Honda Center Breaks Ground On $20M Expansion With Eye On NBA Team

Honda Center officials yesterday broke ground on a $20M dining project "expected to help attract an NBA team to the Anaheim venue," according to Nancy Luna of the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. Grand Terrace "will be a private members-only dining facility on the club level." A separate "sports-themed restaurant, yet to be named, will be built at the ground level for the public." The entire project, which "will triple the size of the Ducks merchandise store, is expected to be complete" by February '13. It is the "largest Honda Center improvement since the venue was built 19 years ago." Ducks Owner Henry Samueli said that the 15,000-square-foot project is a "step in the right direction for attracting" an NBA team. Grand Terrace members will "pay $400 a year for access to the restaurant during Ducks games." Season-ticket holders "get first crack at being members," and "many have already snapped up memberships for the private restaurant, which will feature an 80-foot-long bar" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 2/9). In California, Randy Youngman notes Samueli made it clear yesterday that he "remains committed to bringing an NBA franchise to Anaheim, even if it's not the Kings." He said, "The arena was built in 1993 to be able to accommodate two sports teams, so that vision hasn't changed. Whatever opportunity comes to us, we'll be happy to engage and discuss" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 2/9). Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait at the groundbreaking yesterday said, "We can envision a day fans will attend NHL hockey, concerts and NBA basketball games here. It will be fan-tastic" (L.A. TIMES, 2/9).

KINGS' COURT: In Sacramento, Bizjak & Kasler report the Sacramento City Council "came within one vote Tuesday night of derailing" the city's arena project "before knowing what the plan would look like." By a 5-4 margin, the council "rejected a request by Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy to ask voters in June if they approve of a nascent plan to lease the city's parking to a private operator." Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and other arena supporters are "counting on such a parking lease to raise about half the money needed" for the $387M arena. The "unexpectedly close vote left many of those involved wondering whether there would be support on the council for a parking lease, or whether it would become a politically radioactive issue for a council entering an election season." A June vote on Sheedy's ballot measure "would have come after a March 1 deadline imposed by the NBA for Sacramento to devise a plan for a new arena, or risk losing the Kings." Arena supporters said that it also "would have shown the league there is limited support for the project at City Hall." Bizjak & Kasler note it is "unclear what message -- if any -- Tuesday's vote sent to the NBA" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 2/9). In L.A., Lance Pugmire notes a Sacramento task force is prepared to unveil its plan for a downtown railyard arena project "to the city council Tuesday, hoping the council will ultimately approve the plan at its Feb. 28 meeting" (L.A. TIMES, 2/9).