Sacramento Pushing Forward With New Arena Plans Despite NBA Lockout

The unproductive NBA labor talks are doing nothing to stop Mayor Kevin Johnson and his team from their push to get a new stadium in Sacramento. Reports the Bee: “Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson said Thursday his effort to build a sports and entertainment complex downtown will move forward despite today’s announcement that the National Basketball Association and its players’ union have broken off contract talks. The league earlier this month canceled the first two weeks of the season. Further cancellations are expected as a result of [Thursday’s] negotiations breakdown. Johnson issued a statement reiterating his intention to build an arena for sports, concerts and other events, regardless of whether the Sacramento Kings play in it this year, or at any time. ‘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 mayor wrote.”