Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait addresses city’s push to land Sacramento Kings
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In a prepared statement released Friday, Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait discussed the city’s effort to bring the NBA’s Sacramento Kings to town and made clear that the city wants the team to have ‘Anaheim’ in its name.
The agenda for a Tuesday special City Council meeting -- to discuss the possible approval of $75 million in privately financed bonds to assist with NBA relocation fees and improvements such as a new practice facility and NBA-caliber locker room in the Honda Center -- was released Friday.
Tait’s statement:
It is no secret that Anaheim is one of Southern California’s most exciting sports and entertainment destinations. With more than 3 million people in Orange County, the addition of an NBA team is a great move that promises to be a successful venture.
At Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, my colleagues and I will consider several agenda items that will further advance Anaheim’s position to attract an NBA Team. As exciting as this is, I want to be perfectly clear about how such a venture would impact the city and those it serves. The fact is the addition of a third major professional sports team in Orange County poses no financial risk for the taxpayers, the city’s finances and our community as a whole.
While the items before us on Tuesday, if approved, will clear the path for a professional basketball team to call Anaheim home, this is all contingent upon NBA approval.
One issue that is important to our community is that any new professional team sport our city’s name -- and our name only. Be assured that the city’s staff has addressed that issue very clearly.
As mayor, I look forward to joining my colleagues on Tuesday to consider these important agenda items. As a basketball fan, I’m hoping that we will soon be cheering at that first tip-off at Anaheim’s own Honda Center.
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-- Lance Pugmire
