Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) released the following statement regarding the arena deal moving forward:
"I am pleased the Council has voted to move forward with plans for a new downtown arena. Now that the vote has taken place, the real work begins. It is imperative that an arena located behind the historic depot is well-designed and can co-exist with both the planned intermodal transportation center, and future Railyards redevelopment.
"The City has a once-in-a-generation chance to get the layout of, and access to, the intermodal and arena sites right, and they must take the time to do so. Last year, over 1.1 million people traveled through the historic depot, while 570,000 people went to Kings games; both numbers will only grow over time.
"All parties must ensure the site is developed in a manner that works for both transportation and arena users. The intermodal center cannot get lost in the shuffle."