SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson says the ongoing NBA lockout will not deter the city from moving forward with a financing plan for a new Kings arena.
In a statement Thursday night, he said, "While like many others we hope that the NBA and the players are able to come to an agreement, our focus has always been that this facility is more than just a professional basketball arena but rather, similar to what has taken place in Kansas City, an entertainment and sports complex that will generate economic activity and create jobs."
The Kings were on the verge of leaving for Anaheim this summer. Instead, NBA commissioner David Stern and Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof gave the city until March 1 to approve a plan to help finance a new arena or the team could leave.
