Font Size:

My first visit to Arco Arena was an unforgettable one.

On Monday night, I took a trip to Sacramento to see Kings fans make a dramatic effort to keep their team in town. The 'Here We Stay' campaign sold out Arco (now Power Balance Arena) and made a powerful statement to the Maloofs (three of which were in attendance), that Kings' fans won't let this team move to Anaheim without a fight.

I've seen many sporting events in my lifetime and I can honestly say this one ranked in the top 10. The game featuring Clippers' star Blake Griffin was enough to cover the price of admission for most fans, but this contest was, as Kings head coach Paul Westphal would later describe it, "almost poetic."

It had all of the elements: Kings fans pleading for their team to stay; the flashy owners sitting cozily in their courtside seats, clearly shaken by the emotion of their fan base and the prospect of making a decision that would forever make them public enemy number one in the capital city. And then there was the noise: something that still rings in my ears and gave me goosebumps during a dramatic fourth quarter comeback victory.

I've always wondered what it must have been like to go to a Kings game during the glory days of Vlade, Peja, Webber and Bibby. Considering, how bleak things look for this team right now, I may never get that chance. That being said, I've never had so much fun covering a 15-win team.