Sacramento Kings Usher In New Era With Sellout Opener
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Sacramento celebrated the Kings as the team kicked off a new season and a new era at Wednesday night's home opener.
Fans pack a sold-out Sleep Train Arena, making opening night a victory for a city that kept its Kings.
"It really, really feels good to keep the Kings in Sacramento," said NBA Commissioner David Stern.
The new owners put on quite the party before the game.
With all the spirit of a showman, Kings majority owner Vivek Ranadive delivered the line that Sacramento fans have been waiting for.
"I have just one thing to say to all of you. This is your team and it's going to stay!"
And, the crowd ate it up.
Ranadive took center court with his new team on opening night, full of Sacramento's new stars.
In another king-size moment, Ranadive was joined by Mayor Kevin Johnson and Stern at center court. The mayor presented Stern with the key to the city and declared it David Stern Day in Sacramento.
Earlier, Stern walked the purple carpet and said, for him, this was a surprise ending.
"We thought that nobody was going to come forward and match the price, to have the ownership group that would have the depth," said Stern.
It's a surprise ending with a new beginning.
The new era is here.
The Kings went on to beat the Denver Nuggets by two points, with a final score of 90 to 88.
