Kings owner Vivek Ranadive lauds purchase of River Cats; interest in European soccer teams

Kings owner Vivek Ranadive discussed his recent acquisition of the Sacramento River Cats, his commitment to the community and his pursuit of a European soccer team during an appearance at Sutter Health Park on Wednesday.

Ranadive held a joint news conference with former River Cats owner Susan Savage, West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero and West Sacramento City Manager Aaron Laurel before the team’s final home game of the season. Savage, whose family brought the River Cats to Sacramento in 2000, introduced Ranadive as the smell of hot dogs filled the concourse along the left-field line.

“We’ve been blessed both on and off the field with championship teams and great support from the community, not to mention being recognized by Forbes as the most valuable minor league franchise in the nation,” said Savage, who will remain with the team as a strategic business advisor and member of the ownership group.

“The Sacramento River Cats were my late husband Art’s dream come true, as many of you know, so when the family decided to sell, it was really important to find the perfect buyers. We received multiple offers, and luckily for us and all of you in the Sacramento region, the Kings were among the bidders. We were so excited. This guarantees the region won’t lose the team.”

Ranadive could hear gloves popping as players warmed up in the outfield grass behind him with the iconic Tower Bridge rising above them in the distance.

“I just want you guys to listen,” Ranadive said. “Did you hear that? That’s one of my favorite sounds in the world. There’s the squeak on a basketball court when the players run up and down and the sound of the ball hitting the mitt. That’s beautiful. That’s music.”

Later, Ranadive was behind the plate as San Francisco Giants legend Barry Bonds threw out the ceremonial first pitch on a sun-splashed afternoon in West Sacramento.

“Today is an exciting day,” Ranadive said. “Together, the Kings and River Cats are embarking on the next chapter of sports and entertainment in Sacramento. Susan and I share a similar value system when it comes to team ownership. We believe the team belongs to the fans and we have a responsibility to give back to the community. … I’m wholeheartedly committed to Sacramento and the long-term success of the River Cats franchise.”

Ranadive led a group that purchased the Kings for $534 million in 2013, vowing to keep the team in Sacramento after years of relocation talks. In August, the Kings, River Cats and Arctos Sports Partners finalized a reported $90 million deal establishing the Kings as majority owner of the River Cats, a Triple-A affiliate of the Giants.

“We’re super excited about this,” Ranadive told The Sacramento Bee following the news conference. “When I came into Sacramento, we paid what was then a record price for the Kings, and we’ve done the same with this. I think it’s more than double the previous high, so we’re doubling down on the city. We think this is a fantastic franchise. It’s really well-run and we just want to keep investing in Sacramento.”

Ranadive has also explored other endeavors. In recent months, he has been rumored as a potential buyer for multiple European soccer teams, including Chelsea F.C., AC Milan and Inter Milan.

“I think sports is leading the world,” Ranadive said. “It’s an area I am obviously very passionate about and it turns out to be a great business as we kind of move into an experiential economy. So, yeah, I’m interested in soccer teams. I’m interested in cricket teams. I’m interested in all kinds of sports teams. I’m looking at a variety of opportunities.”