NBA Commissioner Adam Silver yesterday "gave the design for the new Kings arena a ringing endorsement," and said that he has "no doubt the venue will get built despite a possible public vote on the project," according to Dale Kasler of the SACRAMENTO BEE. Silver said, “No worries from the league office standpoint." Kings Managing Partner Vivek Ranadive said, "We're going to be on schedule with this arena." Silver, on his "first road trip since becoming commissioner" last weekend, said that he would "see the downtown location on his visit" to the city. Silver added that he and Ranadive "are planning a trip to Ranadive's native India in the spring" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 2/6). In Sacramento, Tony Bizjak examined the Kings' designs for their new arena under the header, "A Kings' Crown? A Crushed Can?" Bizjak: "Could this be the moment Sacramento shakes loose from its historically conservative approach to civic structures?" The "key to a successful arena in downtown Sacramento will be whether it is designed in a way that helps launch a renaissance in the core area" (SACBEE.com, 2/5).
THE SILVER LINING: Silver said that it has been a "memorable first week on the job." Silver: "My phone is ringing off the hook, although the outpouring of support has been tremendous." He added, "Roger Goodell has reached out to me -- he's been very generous with his time. I've met with Bud Selig, Gary Bettman, I've known for a long time. I mean there really is quite a community of the sports world, where people are all tremendously supportive of each other, even though we're competitors in certain ways." USA TODAY's Sam Amick notes Silver's "early list of priorities" includes the "forthcoming negotiations between the NBA and its digital and television media partners -- ESPN, ABC and TNT -- over their next rights deal." Silver: "It's probably the top business priority right now, only because it is so important for us in terms of it's how our games reach the vast majority of people, through our national partners" (USA TODAY, 2/6).
