Sacramento City Council Voted to Build the Kings a New Arena

The most important city vote was passed last night, as far as the Sacrameto Kings are concerned. The Sac Bee captures the scene: “In a historic vote, the Sacramento City Council approved the financing plan Tuesday night for a $391 million sports arena in the downtown railyard. By a 7-2 vote, the council accepted a nonbinding ‘term sheet’ agreed to by city officials, the Sacramento Kings, arena operator AEG and the development firm slated to build the project. An overflow crowd began assembling at City Hall more than three hours before the meeting began. Led by hundreds of Kings fans dressed in white T-shirts – and with Kings co-owner Gavin Maloof and team point guard Isaiah Thomas joining the crowd – security officials said it was among the largest audiences ever for a City Council meeting. It was a festive scene inside council chambers and in two other rooms filled to capacity. One speaker broke into song. Fans waved signs. And when the council vote was tallied, the crowd of more than 500 erupted. Mayor Kevin Johnson, who helped craft the term sheet last month during tense negotiations in Orlando, Fla., called the vote ‘a historical moment in Sacramento.’ When it was his turn to vote on the matter, the mayor leaned back in his chair, raised his arms and yelled, ‘Yes!'”