"The terms of the relocation to Anaheim were not fully understood by the (NBA Board of Governors' relocation) committee, having to do with the lease and various other issues," Stern said. "In addition, (Sacramento) Mayor (Kevin) Johnson came in and said that there are lots of ... additional dollars available that would improve the Kings' performances, the Kings' economic performance in Sacramento if they stayed."
The deadline for the team to apply for relocation was Monday, but the league opted to extend the deadline until May 2, Stern said.
The potential move of the team to Honda Center is likely to draw opposition from the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers.
The unprecedented third NBA team in the Los Angeles market could lessen the value of the Lakers' 20-year deal with Time Warner Cable for the television rights to their games and provide additional competition for the Lakers and Clippers for sponsorship money.
An Anaheim delegation on Thursday touted the city's virtues before the board of Governors in an attempt to win support for the move.
Mayor Tom Tait told the board Anaheim has cleared the way for financing the team's relocation. The Anaheim City Council voted unanimously March 29 to
issue up to $75 million in bonds for improvements at Honda Center to help induce the Kings to move.In a letter to NBA Commissioner David Stern dated Thursday, Tait described Anaheim as "an international destination known for its sports and entertainment offerings. Our city attracts over 20 million visitors each year, while Orange County attracts over 40 million annual guests."
While Anaheim is part of the nation's second largest media market Tate wrote, "We represent an audience distinct from Los Angeles."
Tait added in his letter to Stern that the potential fan base for the team would be more than just the three million residents of Orange County.
"Add in the adjacent counties of Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego, there are more than seven million potential fans and ticket buyers," Tait wrote in the letter. "I know that we will fill the seats at the Honda Center when NBA basketball comes to town."
Sacramento officials, however, made a presentation to continue to have an NBA team, including announcing it has the backing of billionaire supermarket owner Ron Burkle to buy the Kings or another team, which would move to Sacramento.
"The Burkle Group is ready to commit the resources and expertise necessary to keep the NBA in Sacramento," its statement said.
"Our group believes Sacramento is an important NBA market that can thrive with new ideas, new resources and an absolute commitment to delivering the best on and off-court experiences for fans."
But Kings co-owner Joe Maloof told The Orange County Register, "We have known Burkle for many years, but we are not selling the team."
The Maloof family has expressed disappointment over the years over the inability to have a new arena built. Playing in Anaheim would likely result in higher television rights fees and more money from corporate sponsorships than Sacramento.
Honda Center officials have been actively interested in trying to lure an NBA team to Anaheim for several years. The then-Vancouver Grizzlies were one possibility, but the team moved to Memphis in 2001.
Anaheim was a potential temporary home for the New Orleans Hornets after Hurricane Katrina forced their temporary move in 2005, but they chose Oklahoma City instead.
The Clippers played several regular-season games at Honda Center, then known as the Arrowhead Pond, each season from 1994-99, but ended that when Staples Center opened in 1999.
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