Hansen congratulates Sacramento on keeping Kings

May 20, 2013 @ 4:43 pm

SEATTLE (AP) - Chris Hansen is not going away in his pursuit of bringing the NBA back to Seattle.

Hansen released a statement on his SonicsArena.com website on Monday afternoon, congratulating Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson on his efforts to keep the Kings in California, while also vowing to keep up his pursuit of getting the NBA back to Seattle.

"Even as we are disappointed with the developments related to our efforts to purchase the Kings, we would just like to reiterate our dedication to bringing the NBA back to Seattle," Hansen wrote. "We will continue to press forward with our arena plans with the same commitment and effort we have over the last two years, and look forward to working with the City (of Seattle) and (King) County to see the project through the hurdles that remain. Likewise, we plan to continue to work with the league regarding opportunities that may arise to return an NBA franchise to our City."

Hansen's statement came less than a week after his attempts to purchase the Kings and move them to Seattle were denied by the NBA Board of Governors in Dallas. The league's owners voted 22-8 to deny the move of the franchise to Seattle and the Maloof family struck a deal with lead Sacramento investor Vivek Ranadive a day later to sell the Kings and keep them in Sacramento by selling a 65 percent controlling interest at a total franchise valuation of $535 million.

Hansen's group _ that includes Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer _ had offered a purchase price based on a $625 million franchise valuation and a relocation fee of $115 million.

"Given what our community went through in 2008, if there is any silver lining in this for Seattle it is seeing Sacramento's dedicated fan base successfully rally to keep the Kings," Hansen wrote. "This was never about Seattle fans versus Sacramento fans, and it goes unsaid that there is a mutual respect given the circumstances we have both been through."

Fans of the league and supporters of Hansen's efforts believed this was the best opportunity to bring the NBA back. Political and public support was at its peak since the messy departure of the Sonics for Oklahoma City following the 2008 season. Hansen made a point in his statement of thanking the political leaders that have stood behind his arena efforts and his pursuit of the Kings and thanked fans for displaying their desire to see the NBA return.

From the start of the process, Hansen has pledged patience and reiterated that need.

"When we began our efforts in 2011, we went into it knowing that above all else it would take patience," he wrote.


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Comments (5)


  • Add A Comment

  • CH wrote...
    wow other stories say it a done deal . . . .
    January 9, 2013 5:02 pm
    I want to get to the truth - get me a fake news reporter on the line.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mike17Will wrote...
    You didn't even read this story obviously
    March 12, 2013 7:57 am
    Hansen said no inference should be drawn between the start of a ticket waitlist and the efforts in closing the purchase of the Kings and relocating them to Seattle for the 2013-14 season. "We are in the midst of working through the approval and relocation process with the NBA, and we would expect a determination to be made at the Board of Governors meeting in mid-April," Hansen wrote. Doesn't sound like a done deal to me
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Hawkin wrote...
    I think the Plot is setting in...
    March 11, 2013 5:13 pm
    Fasten ya seat belt West Coast. Gots ta believe da road is about to get done rocky. (cue the General Lee horn from the Dukes of Hazard followed by some Waylon Jennings)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Hawkin wrote...
    To anyone who
    March 11, 2013 7:21 pm
    may want to read racist connotations into the above comment, that is not the case. My favorite athletes are non Caucasian and one of them is Bill Russell. To learn about Bill Russell is to learn about integration and team on the court and in life. Some of his direct experiences of racism are eye opening along with other players from his era. I also grew up loving the Dukes of Hazard. I am probably being over reactive, at the time of posting this comment no one had said the comment was racist, but I felt the need after reading it in the thread. (Please vote for me when I run for office)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • MossBro wrote...
    Keep them in the Dark
    March 12, 2013 10:57 am
    WOW 710am i see the "Smoke Screen" is in full effect , Last Night i went to bed after reading this artical with 9 comments on it , but when i woke up the negitive ones were gone , now left with 4. Out side of your little studio NOBODY CARES about the Sonics , In the "Real World" people are hurting , People are having to cut back , maybe tou should get a clue ?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }