Of course, the Natomas Chamber of Commerce is going to be against what's good for the whole city -IF they feel it will in any way threaten their member's profits. Never mind that the Natomas sprawl has for many years done significant damaged our downtown's economy.

Here is the problem with our out-dated council district system -city councilman Ray Tretheway represents both Natomas and the northern chunk of our downtown where new arena is proposed. Now can you guess how many voters live in the downtown section of District 1 compared to how many live in the suburban Natomas. We will have to wait and see how this will affect his support of the land swap.

The Natomas area and people have nothing but helped and supported the downtown area. Not sure how you could think they have not. The vast population of Natomas has shopped in the downtown area, ate in downtown restaurants and supported events in the downtown area. Do you think other outlying areas do that? Do people from Roseville support the downtown area? Elk Grove? I would think not. Fact is --- Natomas has been good for downtown.

I have been to most of the other cities in the US that have a sports arenas in their downtown and to be honest, most have not worked out well.

Has The Staples Center revitalized the downtown LA area? NO. Still high crime and too many homeless.
Indianapolis RCA dome? NO -- in fact it was moved away from downtown because it was not working.
Denver -- ok yes but their downtown was much better situited that ours is. Oh and they moved their new football stadium further away from downtown. Hmmmmm.
Seattle? NO - the Supersonics left
Oakland? Oh yes that worked.
OKC -- yes that one worked. No really it did.
I could go on... but I think I made my point. Just because you build a new sports area in a cities downtown, does not make it a good deal for that city.

Yes, Natomas is a better fit than downtown for a sports arena. Yes, Ray Tretheway is a bone head. But I hope he can keep the arena here in Natomas.

Tretheway would be backing this... We finally have some world class (well at least one w/ financing) proposals. Tretheway and his backers claim that all Arco needs is a can of paint.

What is forgotten in this debate is the number of conventions Sacramento loses every year, because of Arco's current location. Conventions over and over again have backed out...they will not deal with the hassle of busing to Arco.

Natomas should back the move... with the massive increase coming into the city coffers, there will be more money for city services..

For the Natomas Chamber of Commerce to claim that retail activity grew up as a result of Arco...go back to school and learn a little economics. Except for one or two businesses, all of the retail growth has been following the rooftops, NOT Arco.

I could care less where the arena goes, or for that matter if there is an arena at all.

But at a time when we need a city council actually working on behalf of all Sacramentans for this important and costly decision, we have Trethaway lurching off on a "Save Natomas" gambit.

What's next, a Rob Fong led rally in favor of locating the arena in the duck pond in William Land Park?

In the end taxpayers are going to be forced to pay for this piece of crap arena... I don't care what they say, there is not one private company who is going to pony up all the cash without loan guarantees from the City.

Johnson and his cronies will come out and say that whatever proposal will be 100% privately financed. But wait until you read the fine print, it will not be built without loan guarantees or municipal bonds.

Loan guarantees = tax payers paying...within 5 years, the new arena owners (probably an LLC of Maloof's and the Greek Mob) will go bankrupt, the tax payers will be left holding the bag, and the City will give the arena to the Maloof's and/or the Greeks for next to nothing, while we get to pay for it for the next 30 years.

There is simply no way in hell that the tax payers are going escape paying for it.

Would this be the same Tretheway who has fought against light rail going up Truxel Boulevard and thus making the current and any potential arena more accessible?

Welcome or unwelcome, agreeable or disagreeable, whether we shall spend another penny on this tiresome plan to waste the public's money, is the issue before us.

They need to keep the Arena in Natomas. The Arena is what makes this side of town a desirible area. Plus its easy to get to for travelers coming there to an event. Down town is already a nightmare driving there ... that will just make traffic absolutely worse. Even may cause accidents because of the location that people will not be used to. I believe if the arena was relocated this town would fall apart. Most of the stores and restaraunts get there business from the arena and lots of places would close if that happend. I think this town would turn low class and I do not want to see that happen its a nice area ideal for the Arena