Sacramento Kings Reach Deal To Become Majority Owner of Sacramento River Cats

The professional sports scene in Sacramento just experienced a notable shakeup.

On Friday morning, the Sacramento Kings announced they have reached a deal to become the majority owners of the Sacramento River Cats, the AAA affiliate of Major League Baseball’s San Francisco Giants.

.@RiverCats Form Partnership with Sacramento Kings and Arctos Sports Partners

📝⏩ https://t.co/HEOg9odKmT pic.twitter.com/pclaUhn7Y6

— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) August 26, 2022

The following statement was released by the Sacramento Kings on Friday morning

Today, the Sacramento River Cats, Sacramento Kings and Arctos Sports Partners announce a new partnership that establishes the Kings as the majority owner of the MiLB Triple-A team, bringing the River Cats’ business operations under the Kings umbrella. The River Cats will remain the Triple-A affiliate for the three-time World Series Champion San Francisco Giants and Susan Savage, longtime owner of the River Cats, will continue to serve as a strategic business advisor and member of the ownership group.

“My sons, Jeff and Brent, helped me continue what my late husband Art started back in 2000, providing fun, safe and family-friendly entertainment for everyone in the Sacramento region,” said River Cats Strategic Business Advisor Susan Savage. “As our family looks to transition into new ventures, we identified the Sacramento Kings as the perfect strategic partner to continue this tradition while deepening the organization’s footprint in a region we all love. It has always been about the community and our employees and that will not change.”

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Susan Savage and her family, who made the River Cats into a tremendous community asset with a great brand and tradition,” said Sacramento Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé. “We look forward to building on their inspiring legacy and continuing to provide families with memorable experiences.”

“We are proud of our partnership with the Kings and believe strongly in Vivek’s innovative vision of building a world-class sports and entertainment platform, coupled with his deep commitment to the Sacramento community,” said Arctos Sports Partners Partner Chad Hutchinson. “This is a unique opportunity to bring together two iconic organizations in one of the most dynamic markets in the country. We are committed to working closely with the Kings to serve the Sacramento community and deliver an exceptional fan experience.”

“In Sacramento, sports are part of our identity and a common cause that brings us all together. The Kings, the River Cats, and all of their fans embody the passion, energy, and civic pride of our great region,” said Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-06).

“This announcement builds upon this tight-knit community fabric, drawing together two Sacramento icons and economic anchors of our region. I want to give a special thank you to Susan Savage, her late husband Art, and their son Jeff for their amazing leadership over the past two decades. The River Cats organization is a regional institution – and it has taken an immense amount of dedication and hard work to make it the community pillar it is today. By adding the expertise of Vivek and the Kings management team, I know that this will only continue to grow. Making sure that the River Cats stay right here in the Sacramento family is not only about the economic vitality of the region, but also about maintaining the community bonds that define our hometown teams.”

The River Cats have been located in downtown Sacramento since 2000 where they have played their games at Sutter Health Park (formerly Raley Field).

With the Kings joining forces with their fellow professional sports team, one that is located just over the Tower Bridge, this partnership is bound to create several business and entertainment ventures in the downtown area during the coming years.

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