The NBA's combined advisory Finance & Relocation Committee today in N.Y. will hear presentations from reps of both the Seattle group and the Sacramento group bidding to buy the NBA Kings. The Seattle group is led by hedge fund manager Chris Hansen and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. The Sacramento group is led by Warriors investor Vivek Ranadive, 24 Hour Fitness co-Founder Mark Mastrov and Penguins co-Owner Ron Burkle. Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn will attend the meeting. Kings co-Owners George, Gavin and Joe Maloof are also expected to attend. No vote is expected today, with the committee to make a recommendation by the upcoming NBA BOG meetings set for April 18-19 (John Lombardo, Staff Writer).
Ahead of today's meeting, Hansen said that 44,000 "Sonics fans put their names on a season ticket priority waitlist established three weeks ago" at sonicsarena.com. There were 268 requests for suites and 983 businesses "interested in sponsorship opportunities" (SEATTLETIMES.com, 4/2). Meanwhile, Sacramento attorneys representing a group called the Coalition for Responsible Arena Development filed a "notice of intent" to sue the city to "block its deal for a new downtown arena" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 4/3).
