Expo's arena moment

For more than 30 years, local officials have seriously considered, then ultimately rejected, building a sports arena at the state fairgrounds on Exposition Boulevard. This week, the National Basketball Association is hoping to buck that trend -- saying the time is right for Cal Expo.

Previous searches for the ideal arena location concluded that traffic issues at Cal Expo were too problematic, or that sorting through a land transfer with the state was too daunting -- or that the city would be better served having the arena downtown.

Sometimes, the timing just wasn't right.

"It's always been No. 2 -- always the bridesmaid," said City Councilman Rob Fong, who has been a chief supporter of a new arena in the city.

Enter John Moag, brought in by the NBA after Sacramento voters in November smacked down a city-county plan to raise sales taxes and build an arena in the downtown railyard. Moag, charged with taking a fresh look at arena options, ended up with an old idea: Build it at Cal Expo.

Moag is scheduled to brief City Council members Thursday. On Friday, he's scheduled to go before the Cal Expo board to ask it to approve opening negotiations with the NBA.

This time, Moag thinks a deal at the fairgrounds might fly.

He points to the large amount of vacant land and Cal Expo's name recognition as an entertainment destination. Two major hurdles to the plan -- traffic and money -- have possible solutions.

A bill on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk would allow a joint powers authority to issue bonds to pay for improvements to remake the fairgrounds, which could help pay for an arena. And Cal Expo, with $40 million in deferred maintenance, is launching an effort to remake itself.

Also, those familiar with Moag's financing ideas say he's looking at bringing in a large developer, with proceeds being used to pay for an arena.

Local leaders say some traffic relief is already in the pipeline. Moag has said the NBA would be a valuable ally when looking for ways to lessen the bottleneck on the Capital City Freeway.

And while the addition of an arena would add a layer of complexity to Cal Expo's own plans, Fong said it has a real upside. "The issue will have some substantial backing and will be on the front burner," he said.

Fong said he likes the idea of an arena at Cal Expo, and said he urged Moag to consider it.

"It seems like a great location, and the easiest place to get an arena deal done," Fong said.

Interest in a sports facility at Cal Expo started as early as 1975, city documents show.

That year, a city-county committee contracted with the Stanford Research Institute to analyze where a new baseball stadium could be built. There was urgency to replace the aging Hughes Stadium -- former home to the Triple-A baseball Sacramento Solons -- because it was not earthquake-safe.

The institute concluded that out of 15 locations, Cal Expo was the best site. "The advantages of existing parking, access and proximity to the population center made Expo particularly attractive," a city summary said.

However, there were lots of unanswered questions about concession rights and land costs. Local leaders wondered how the state land could be transferred and if the state would try to make a profit from the sale.

Voters defeated a property tax measure later that year that would have paid for the stadium. Much of the funding for the $4 million stadium was found when the county in 1977 earmarked about $3 million in federal funds.

Then, disaster for supporters.

"At the last minute, the state backed out," said former Sacramento County Supervisor Pat Melarkey, who was on the board at the time. "The environmentalists didn't want to build anything on the river. It was just dying on the vine."

Discussions continued, but there was little movement. In 1979, the city-county sports task force asked for the 1975 location study to be re-evaluated. Once again, Cal Expo came out on top.

And once again, the state rejected the idea.

The Cal Expo Master Plan Task Force in 1979 said a stadium would conflict with the fairground's long-range plans, and parking would be a problem.

About the writer:

• The Bee's Terri Hardy can be reached at (916) 321-1073 or thardy@sacbee.com. Bee staff writer Mary Lynn Vellinga contributed to this report.