A very clever strategy is emanating from facility operator Anschutz Entertainment Group. It’s a two-pronged affair based in Sacramento and Oakland. The movement draws upon what can be considered serious deficiencies in both markets in their inability to attract certain types of events and visitors. Most importantly, it offers hope to both cities, which are [...]

The March 1 deadline for the City of Sacramento to present a complete new arena proposal for the Kings and the NBA to consider has pushed at least one city to react in anticipation. Last year it was Anaheim, this year it’s Seattle. Seattle has been rumored for the last few weeks to have a [...]

The NHL has been talking about realignment for some time now. The move of the Atlanta franchise to Winnipeg truly got the ball rolling this year, though there seemed to be a consensus that the changes would be minor, such as moving Detroit or Columbus from the Western to the Eastern Conference. Instead, the NHL [...]

Time for a recap of the owners meetings. The Astros will be in the American League West starting in 2013. Next up: Figuring out the details of the scheduling format. Despite the grousing from many about the change, a few columnists have written in favor of the move, including ESPN’s Jayson Stark and Danny Knobler of [...]

After another 8-hour marathon negotiating session, the NBA and NBPA again found themselves without any kind of agreement for a new CBA. This time, Commissioner David Stern also threw down the gauntlet, leaving the owners’ newest offer on the table for the players to stew over until the close of business Wednesday. If the players [...]

Now that’s how you sell a place out. True North, the company buying the Atlanta Thrashers in an effort to move them to Winnipeg, announced earlier today that it had reached its goal of 13,000 season tickets sold. Not only that, they’ve also amassed an 8,000-person waiting list – and they had to cut it [...]

Before True North’s press conference devolved into a lengthy sales pitch for season tickets, there was an air of justice and patriotism in the crowd. I really sensed that a wrong was being righted, similar to the way a wrongly convicted man was getting his release. Of course, it’s borderline ludicrous to compare the two, [...]

Two weeks ago the City of Sacramento got a one-year reprieve. Today it’s Glendale, AZ, as the lucky city to get one year to fix its problems. Glendale’s City Council approved a $25 million subsidy to keep the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena. This follows another $25 million spent last year in hopes of keeping [...]

An agenda for the April 28 (9-12 AM) City Council Special Session was posted recently (PDF) at the City of San Jose website. The relevant stuff: Note one of the focus items: HP Pavilion. Undoubtedly, the City and the Arena Authority are looking at what’s transpiring in both Sacramento and Anaheim and they’re using that [...]

Now for the “fun” part. Last night I described the fate of redevelopment in a California where the concept no longer works within the budget framework. Today it’s time to discuss all of the great/terrible fates that await our favorite local sports franchises should RDA funding sources dry up. 49ers Bond Rush It all starts [...]