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The Maloof family informed Anaheim officials this morning, reports the OC Register. It's a remarkable turnabout from what seemed like a done deal several weeks ago. But Sacramento launched a major effort to keep the NBA franchise from moving to OC, and the league's relocation committee apparently had serious reservations about the move to Anaheim. From the Register:
The Maloofs learned about the opposition during a conference call Wednesday with the seven-member relocation committee chaired by Oklahoma City Thunder owner Clay Bennett. Also on that call were Ducks billionaire owner Henry Samueli, whose financial guarantees were the backbone of the Anaheim proposal, and Michael Schulman, chairman of Anaheim Arena Management, the Samueli-owned company that runs Honda Center and had been in relocation negotiations with the Maloofs since last fall.
The NBA is expected to make an announcement this morning.
Mark Lacter created the LA Biz Observed blog in 2006. He posted
until the day before his death on Nov. 13, 2013.