NBA Rumors: Biggest Winners and Losers If Kings Bolt for Virginia
There is a good chance that the Sacramento Kings are close to becoming the Virginia Beach Kings, or whatever else they want to name themselves if they move.
Philip Newswanger and Bill Cresenzo of Inside Business share the following report which certainly points to the Kings heading east.
"The owners of the Sacramento Kings, an NBA franchise, and officials from Philadelphia-based Comcast-Spectacor are expected to be in Virginia Beach Tuesday to propose moving the team to the resort city and for Comcast to help build and lease a new pro sports arena.
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The Maloofs are denying it, but that doesn't carry much weight. This isn't the kind of thing they are likely to advertise before it is a done deal.
While the location is a shock, the fact they may be moving is not. After the latest deal fell through to build the Kings a new arena in Sacramento, moving the franchise has almost become a forgone conclusion.
I won't believe with a certainty that the Kings are moving to Virginia Beach until it becomes official, but that won't stop me from speculating on the ramification of this potential.
So if this move does happen, here are the biggest winners and losers.
Winners
The Maloofs
Of course they're winners. They wouldn't set up this deal otherwise. They have a city with Virginia Beach that is untouched professional basketball ground, unlike Seattle, where they can carve out their own identity, and instead of being surrounded by L.A. basketball teams, like they would be in Anaheim. They are a healthy distance from competition.
There is also the little detail of the fact that they have cable giant Comcast ready to help foot the bill for a new arena.
Now I have no idea what their lease deal would be, but I have to believe with all these cities vying for the Kings, that wherever they end up, they will be in a good position to make money.
Virginia Beach
It is tempting to put Virginia Beach in the loser's column here. After all, at 22-44 the Kings were one of the worst teams in the league last season, and no one was particularly surprised about that as they haven't had a winning record since 2005-06.
However, I am not that cynical...yet. This is a professional sports team for those fans to call their own. Sure that team is terrible, but they probably won't always be, and in the meantime, these fans can hope and watch for improvements.
In other words, they now have the chance to be irrational and overreacting sports fans, and that is a glorious thing.
Losers
Seattle
This news could not have hit any area harder than it did Seattle. Yes, it is about Sacramento losing their team, but the Kings leaving is a reality that Sacramento has already had plenty of reason to start digesting.
Seattle, still reeling from the sudden loss of the Sonics, is closing in on a deal that would build them a new stadium.
With the Hornets having sold, the hopes of landing a basketball team to play in an arena landed on the Kings, and with the Kings arena deal falling through, it seemed as if all the pieces were falling into place to have the Kings head up I-5 and start calling Seattle home.
If the Kings are not an option, Seattle may have a long wait before they have a chance to land another team.
There aren't any serious rumors out there about other franchises looking to move.
Sacramento
While the writing has been on the wall for Sacramento, there is always hope until a team leaves. When this move, or any other involving the Kings, is announced, it is going to be a dark day for the majority of Kings fans and the entire city.
The fans will feel like they've lost an old friend, by the way, I'm a jilted Sonics fan speaking from experience, but this is about much more than heartbroken sports fans.
This move would cost Sacramento a lot of jobs and a ton of revenue.
