Sacramento: Kings Arena deal 'worse than we expected'

The "deal" to build an arena for the Sacramento Kings is even worse than expected for the people of Sacramento and is a "massive giveaway" of taxpayer monies, according to People United for a better Sacramento (PUBS), which announced its opposition to the arena plan earlier this week at a news conference at the Sacramento Board of Supervisors.

Dave Tamayo, a spokesperson for PUBS, whose partners include advocates for labor, seniors, homeless issues, affordable housing, transportation, the environment, and other community concerns, said that deal is just not a good one Sacramento.

"This deal is even worse than we expected. The County and City agree to spend a half billion dollars to build a stadium, accept all risk of cost overruns, and in return the Kings agree to pay rent and receive the rent from all other events there. If the Maloofs really just want a better
stadium for their team, why do they need all the revenue from the stadium?" he asked.

Tamayo, who noted that the "NBA seems to be in the business of public subsidies, not sports," also said PUBS has doubts the cost listed now will be the final sticker price.

"What happens when this thing is half built, and it becomes clear that cost overruns are going drive it up to $600 or $800 million? Look what happened with the City's public safety center. The plug won't be pulled, and a big chunk of promised community benefits go out the window," he said.

He also pointed out that while city leaders have maintained for years that raising money for just school, transit or other community needs is politically impossible, "now that there's a massive giveaway of public funds attached to the arena, and it is somehow no big deal."

Tamayo also said the community benefits part of the proposal and the arena funding should be
on separate ballots. "If the arena is such a good idea, then let it stand up to the 2/3 voter approval that Prop 218 requires," he said.