There is a "growing grassroots neighborhood campaign" in Sacramento that "hopes to rally enough support to bring the Sacramento Zoo" to the site of Sleep Train Arena, the Kings' former home, according to Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks of the SACRAMENTO BEE. The Kings "still own the arena and the roughly 183 acres it sits on," but redevelopment plans for the venue "remain murky." Recently, a group in Sacramento's Natomas neighborhood called We Want A Zoo has been "hosting community events to drum up interest in repurposing Sleep Train Arena and land for the zoo." With the City Council "set to hear the zoo make its case for relocation next month," Sacramento Zoo BOT President Elizabeth Stallard said officials have "very preliminarily" looked at Sleep Train Arena. However, the Kings are "eyeing the property as the site of up to 2,017 housing units." A rezoning application the team submitted to the city in November "suggests the redevelopment site could be used for 'employment users, various market sector housing types, commercial, shopping, destination amenities, as well as a range of personal and professional services,' but does not go into specifics." The proposal "does not mention a zoo." Stallard said that zoo representatives "have not connected with Kings officials about its relocation plans" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 4/16).
