In an indication of "how seriously Sacramento City Hall is taking the prospect of an arena at Downtown Plaza, City Manager John Shirey's office is preparing to analyze the site if it becomes the city's chosen location for a new sports facility" for the NBA Kings, according to Lillis, Bizjak & Kasler of the SACRAMENTO BEE. The analysis "could examine the different locations within Downtown Plaza where an arena could fit, an arena's impact on the site's utilities and the nearby transportation infrastructure." Shirey also announced this week that he was "rehiring arena consultant Dan Barrett to assist the city in the likely event that an arena plan is developed in the coming weeks." JMA Ventures, which bought the Downtown Plaza mall site last year, has "conducted its own feasibility study of placing an arena at the mall." Penguins co-Owner Ron Burkle has "advocated to NBA Commissioner David Stern for building an arena at Downtown Plaza." While the plaza has "received increased attention in recent days, city officials, including Mayor Kevin Johnson, stress that they have not abandoned the railyard as a potential arena location" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 2/1).
