I don’t blame the Arena supportes for distancing themselves from Joe Maloof’s apparently off-the-cuff prepared statement last week about the possibility of the railyard site not materializing. But in doing so they bury a key point of the agreement they made with the Maloofs: namely that the railyard site might not materialize and that “we may have to consider alternative locations in Sacramento.” They know it’s true because they signed the document, things Dignan’s not supposed to touch. Oops, sorry.

Campaign chairperson Sandy Smoley told News10 in a written statement. “The community has decided that the best place for its new arena is at the old Sacramento railyards, and we have no doubt that this is where it will be.

The community decided that? When was that, was I out of the country when we decided that?

If they indeed have no doubt, then why bother writing the following language into the August 2nd Preliminary Term Sheet: “If satisfactory arrangements cannot be made with the developer of the rail yards site, the Parties will consider alternative sites for the SEF, including land owned by the City or the Kings or their affiliates in North Natomas.”

MSE President John Thomas argues that “Joe [Maloof] wants to make sure the voters are fully informed… There could be circumstances out of everyone’s control that keep us from being able to (build an arena) where we all think it’s best done, at the railyards.” Sounds like something Sandy Smoley and the rest of the campaign would want to distance themselves from.

I guess skepticism is needed, and the truth behind this probably is that the Maloofs are working themselves into better bargaining position. Better than all profits, 11% of costs, no possessory interest tax, no special taxes, final say on the site, and all the firstborn sons of Citrus Heights (you didn’t read the document, did you!). But the only reason the campaign would want to ignore the possibility of Natomas Arena III is that they probably think we wouldn’t vote for that–after all, we already decided on the railyards site!