Sacramento Entertainment &
Sports Center
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The City of Sacramento is working to develop an entertainment and sports center (ESC) in downtown Sacramento. This venue will serve as a major economic development tool for the city of Sacramento and the Sacramento region.
Notice of Preparation
A Notice of Preparation Public Scoping meeting was held on the evening of April 24, 2013 at Sacramento City Hall. Approximately 70 people participated in the event. As part of the anticipated 12 to 14 month CEQA process, a Public Scoping Meeting is required under California State Law. The public and other interested parties on the evening of the 24th, had the opportunity to provide input for the content and scope of the draft EIR. Background information, maps and displays were on display at the open house. City staff, as well as JMA Ventures, LLC staff (the owner of the Downtown Plaza site) were on hand to answer any questions from the public.
The NOP is available for a 30-day public review period from April 12 to May 13, 2013.
The Notice of Preparation may be reviewed at:
http://www.cityofsacramento.org/dsd/planning/environmental-review/eirs/
or at the Community Development Department, 300 Richards Boulevard, Sacramento, California 95811 during public counter hours.
Background
In January 2013, reports surfaced that a Seattle-based group was pursuing the acquisition of the controlling interest in the Sacramento Kings, with the purpose of relocating the team to Seattle for the 2013-14 basketball season. The National Basketball Association (NBA) confirmed by statements that the team was being pursued by Seattle interests. NBA officials also recently confirmed that an application for relocation had been received by the NBA and that the NBA Board of Governors will be taking up the issue at its annual meeting scheduled for April 18-19, 2013.
Additionally, acquisition of a team must be approved by the NBA Board of governors. The City of Sacramento has been advised that the NBA will consider both the acquisition and relocation matters at the April meeting.
Also in January, Mayor Johnson attempted to identify potential qualified buyer(s) to prepare a competitive offer to purchase the team and commit to keeping the team in Sacramento long-term. This competitive local offer would be submitted to the NBA in an effort to keep the team in Sacramento with a viable new ownership group. A new Sacramento-based ownership will need to provide a plan to develop and finance a new venue since the NBA has indicated the current arena does not meet the long-term needs of the team or the league.
The aging arena also does not meet the needs of many entertainment events. The financing and development of a new arena will require a public-private partnerships mainly due to the limited size of the Sacramento regional media market and corporate base.
Although several teams in large markets have privately financed multi-purpose facilities, a privately financed facility in Sacramento would not be viable given the limitations of the Sacramento market.
On February 19, 2013 the City Council passed a Resolution in Support of Keeping the Sacramento Kings in the City of Sacramento and the Pursuit of a New Sports and Entertainment Facility in Downtown Sacramento. Furthermore, the City has begun the reevaluation of its parking assets. A contract with Walker Parking Consultants has been executed and their due diligence work is underway. In addition, the City Treasurer is conferring with investment bankers in the City investment banking pool that have specific expertise in the area of parking asset monetization. Staff will continue to coordinate with the ad hoc committee during the development of the preliminary terms. The preliminary terms will be presented to the City Council for approval prior to the April NBA Board of Governors meeting.
A new Sacramento-based ownership will need to provide a plan to develop and finance a new venue since the NBA has indicated the current arena does not meet the long-term needs of the team or the league.
In 2012, the City in partnership with the NBA and private interests developed a financing plan for a new City-owned arena in the Downtown Railyards. That plan included financial participation by the City derived from leveraging the City’s parking assets, the sale of identified land assets, and other sources (Master Owner Participation Agreement, etc.). The plan identified revenue streams to backfill any City General Fund losses from the privatization (or monetization) of the City’s parking enterprise.
The plan also addressed the existing lease-revenue bond financing (loan) with the Kings which would have been repaid and subsequently refinanced with adequate security and collateral. It should be recognized that the 2012 structure, and all its detail, will likely change in this scenario. New owners of the team will likely expect different business arrangements and terms to account for potential differences in proposed approach. Potential differences could include: a) a project location other than the Railyards; b) less development risk exposure to the City for design, construction and cost control as a result of the new owners potentially taking the lead in development; and c) ancillary real estate development opportunities in addition to an arena or other elements that bring measurable economic benefits and returns to the City General Fund and the developer.
Architect: Chong Partners Architecture; Project Team: Jeff Warner, Partner, Louis Kaufman, Associate Partner (June 2004)
Downtown Sports and Entertainment Studies (2004-2005)
In 2004, a detailed analysis was provided on the feasibility of an Entertainment and Sports Center at the Downtown Plaza site. Included below are staff reports and a Sports Arena Site Analysis which analyzed several potential sites for a new arena.
Kings Arena Records and Documents
Click on link for important Kings Arena documents and records.http://records.cityofsacramento.org/
Staff Report/Press Releases
April 29, 2013
NBA Relocation Committee Recommends That Board Of Governors Deny Kings' Request To Relocate
New York - The NBA announced today that the league’s Relocation Committee has unanimously recommended that the NBA Board of Governors deny the application of the Sacramento Kings to relocate to Seattle. The Board will convene during the week of May 13 to vote on this matter.
March 26, 2013
Entertainment and Sports Center Staff Report and Term Sheet released
February 19, 2013
Resolution in Support of Keeping the Sacramento Kings in the City of Sacramento
Resolution in Support of Keeping the Sacramento Kings in the City of Sacramento (2)
May 8, 2012
Status of Entertainment and Sports Complex Activities Link
April 12, 2012
ESC+Intermodal Site Planning Workshop Presentation Link
April 3, 2012
Entertainment and Sports Center (ESC) –Predevelopment Agreements Report
Link 1 Link 2 Link 3
March 6, 2012
Entertainment and Sports Center (ESC) Report #2012-00231
February 14, 2012
Supplemental Agreement: Entertainment & Sports Center Contract Amendment
Link
January 9, 2012
Parking Monetization Information Link
December 13, 2011
Entertainment and Sports Center Update and Parking Monetization Report # 2011-01016
December 13, 2011
E&SC update and parking monetization report to Council Link
December 8, 2011
City of Sacramento Releases Entertainment and Sports Center Parking Monetization Study Link
September 27, 2011
Agreement: Exclusive right to Negotiate for Entertainment and Sports Complex Report
Link 1 Link 2 Link 3
Entertainment and Sports Complex: Schedule, Budget and Professional Services Report
Link 1 Link 2
September 13, 2011
Entertainment and Sports Complex Technical Review Report Link 1 Link 2
Think Big Sacramento Nexus Report on the Entertainment and Sports Center Link
Exclusive Right to Negotiate for the Entertainment and Sports Complex Link
Technical Review Report Link
Natomas Area Site Reuse Link
August 4, 2011
Urban Land Institute Final Report, Benefits to Locating Sports Complex in Railyards
Link
May 26, 2011
Feasibility report to the City Council Link
Contact us
John Dangberg,
Assistant City Manager, 916.808.1228
