Interesting article in The Bee today, wondering if the pro-Arena campaign was supposed to lose:
The big question floating around town Wednesday was whether Joe and Gavin Maloof’s actions in the campaign simply reflected their volatility and lack of political savvy, or whether they systematically sabotaged the campaign because they prefer that a new arena be built next to Arco in North Natomas or want to move the team to another city.
“I know a professional campaign when I see it, and this is a professional campaign,” Townsend said. “This is not all by happenstance. … This was an orchestrated, well-thought-out campaign to tube Q&R.”
Whether Ross was behind it or the Maloofs were simply clients out of control, he doesn’t know. Ross has not returned Bee phone calls about the campaign.
That would be on interesting explanation for the idiocy of that burger commercial.
Joe Maloof was one of the only people in this entire mess who was honest with Sacramento.
Thomas DOES NOT have title or close to it to the land…and Joe Maloof said so
Railyards are a Toxic Dump and Joe Maloof said so
Kings are not a profitable year to year business enterprise, and Joe Maloof said so
what we got from the City was worn out BS from incompetents appointed by the Mayor including one guy, who was point man in tearing up the Mandela Community Gardens…and now one wonders why they screwed this up?
A good Urban Design Idea was basically destroyed by the City in much the same way the Liar Angelides destroyed New Urbanism by his Ecological and Design Nightmare at Laguna West
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Hm. I was making that very same point over a month ago.
Of course, at the beginning of October, no one would have dared whisper the possibility that maybe the Maloofs didn’t really care about Q&R.
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To quote myself, on September 25:
I can only come up with two possibilities: The Maloofs are stupid, or they’re purposefully trying to deep-six the talks because they’ve got a better deal somewhere else. And I don’t think they’re stupid.
http://arrangingmatches.typepad.com/am/2006/09/off_the_bandwag.html
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Matt Chicken
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it seems like if the Maloofs were planning this they would have wanted the details kept secret…after all, how do they expect to get a better deal in another city? is there a better deal than a free stadium and fixed rent for 30 years? do they want Anaheim taxpayers to build them two stadiums? maybe they want someone to build them a portable stadium so they can park it as far away from other restaurants as they want?
but Ross might be behind this? they have name brand clothing at discount prices, why would they throw out that great reputation just to sabotage a sports arena deal? JK
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DMZ,
In other cities like Kansas City, Anaheim and San Jose, the arena is already built. The advantage is that the Maloofs would increase revenues next season instead of waiting until a new arena is built in Sacramento. If the Maloofs move the team:
* They wouldn’t have to pony up the initial $20 million.
* They wouldn’t have to commit to 30 years.
* They probably won’t have to pay $3 million a year in rent.
* Places like San Jose and Anaheim will get them a MUCH bigger TV deal.
* Parking revenues will likely be higher in SJ or Anaheim.
* They can increase the cost of courtside seats because the corporate money exists to support higher prices.
* The other arenas have many more luxury boxes and better in-arena food/drink services, increasing revenues right away.
* If they move to Vegas, they can put stripper poles in the arena.
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but will there be cow bells.
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I don’t understand your humor, cooldmz…snark you call it?
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