Why Sacramento Needs to Keep the Kings

A lot has been written about the Kings and their impending move to Seattle.  I would refer you to a website called Sactown Royalty for the most up to date and interesting information on the attempted theft of the team.

However, I would like to take another tack on this argument.  Yes, I want the Kings to stay because I like the idea of professional sports in Sacramento.  I like to have a team in the race and to see the name "Sacramento" on a uniform while the team is playing in New York, Los Angeles, or Dallas.  But even if you don't give a rat's rear end about sports, Sacramento residents should be desirous of having an arena built in the Downtown area.

1)  An arena helps businesses in the area.  No matter what even takes place in an arena, the businesses in a several mile radius from the arena get more business before and after an event.  Argue against that if you would like, but it is true.  Restaurants, shops, hotels ... all gain from the extra foot traffic.

2)  An arena adds to urban renewal.  When an arena is built, investment around that arena picks up.  People invest in the buildings and businesses nearby, and they realize that good-looking, well-kept locations attract those customers, so investment in current and new businesses goes up.

3)  An arena adds jobs.  I'm not just talking about the jobs created by the businesses around the arena, which definitely adds up, but construction, maintenance, food service, taxi service, etc., etc.  It's a natural progression.

4)  Even if you are one of those that couldn't care less about the first three reasons, (and if you don't, I wonder about your logic, reasoning ability, and current residence), know that a new arena will bring more attractions to the city.  Would a top-notch musical performer want to play at the Sleep Train arena in a few years?  It's falling down, and the acoustics stink.  But a new arena downtown would bring all sorts of attractions, and would give the people of the area more to do and see and would keep them from having to travel to the Bay Area to see these performances.

In the end, it is up to the NBA now as to whether the Kings stay in Sacramento.  But the people who complain about the money being spent on an arena are not looking at the big picture, and they need to do so.  This area needs to pull the wheat stalk out of the teeth and become the destination it should be.