Published: 2 years 66 days ago
Sacramento Bee: It's ironic that on the same day Sacramento leaders showed unprecedented unity in supporting a concept for a new Kings arena, news broke that Sacramento's unemployment rate had soared past 13 percent.
Today, an arena deal is possible because of the terrible economy. The empty seats at Arco have transformed the landscape for the Kings owners and NBA Commissioner David Stern. They seem to care very much what Mayor Kevin Johnson thinks.
Johnson introduced developer Gerry Kamilos to the NBA. Kamilos devised the plan for a three-way land swap in which Cal Expo is sold to developers and the proceeds help build a new arena in the railyard. A new state fairgrounds would rise on the current Arco Arena site in Natomas.
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/03/14/2605552/marcos-breton-hard-times-give.html
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