Mayor Says Support Lacking for New Arena

Sacramento’s mayor has given up hope for now of persuading the public and downtown businesses to support a plan to build a $538-million arena for the basketball Kings.

“I don’t see us moving forward at this point,” Mayor Heather Fargo said in Saturday’s Sacramento Bee. “We just don’t have the support.”

City officials envision the arena as the centerpiece for development. The Kings play in Arco Arena, about five miles from downtown.

The plan to pay for the arena includes a 4% to 8% surcharge on meals and drinks in the area. The proposal has drawn opposition from restaurants and bars. Fargo said there also seemed to be little public support. He said he was disappointed that Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof failed to back the plan.