Sacramento Kings HOPING AN IDEA WILL FLOAT

Posted on 11/04/2016 | About Sacramento, California

Last week the Sacramento Kings launched the 2016/2017 season from their new home, the Golden 1 Center. Before the tip-off there were talks of the city’s hopes to host the NBA All Star game in 2020. Although Sacramento has less than 5,000 rooms close to the game site (as preferred by The NBA) they are considering another option; to dock a ship in the Port of West Sacramento to lodge the fans.

Last year the city offered to partner with Napa Valley Resorts to accommodate guests if they were to host the NBA All Star game. It was not ideal, with fans having to travel 70 miles from their hotel to the stadium. The NBA’s decision for a hosting city is based on close proximity to the arena.
Steven Hammond, head of the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the city has about 2,000 high-end hotel rooms and a ship would supplement the difference in a more plausible way.
Yolo County Supervisor Oscar Villegas, who represents West Sacramento, sent a letter to the NBA Commissioner Adam Silver pleading a case for ship accommodations.
“With a 30-foot depth, the Port is equipped to handle regular dockings by large cargo ships, which will also be sufficient for medium-sized cruise ships.”
He wrote that the Port of West Sacramento is “prepared to work with the US Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security to assure a safe and secure environment for guests staying on these ships.”
“A corridor for passengers to check-in and move freely from the ship to (Golden 1 Center) will be created and staffed accordingly with security personnel,” Villegas wrote. “Buses, shuttles, taxis and ride-sharing services will also be able to provide safe and convenient transportation for guests to and from the Port.”
The hope is to charter ships with 1,500 to 2,000 cabins, and doing so with advance notice is desirable. Authorities acknowledge that this option is an expensive one.
In the meantime, a 16 floor hotel and condominium tower next door to Golden 1 Center will be finished in the spring of 2017 offering 250 rooms and Hyatt has plans for a 165 room boutique hotel in 2019.
The NBA will announce their decision on who will host the 2020 game in 2018.
The Sacramento Kings is the only major league sports team in the city.