Dive Brief:

• In Sacramento, California, the city council has approved a plan to put $255 million in public money into helping the Kings professional basketball team erect a new entertainment and sports venue downtown.
• The facility will include an arena that will be the NBA franchise's new home court and has a total expected cost of $477 million.
• The council vote 7-2 last week for the deal, sparking jubilation on the part of supporters of the plan and a threat from opponents to organize a petition drive seeking a popular vote on the deal.

Dive Insight:

The Kings' plan is to start work this fall and to have the facility online and ready for play by December 2016. It's unclear that the project can be put to a vote; the city checked with attorneys and does not believe it can. Opponents of the plan to look for a way to penetrate the city's defense.