Report: New bidders for Sacramento Kings

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SACRAMENTO, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Pittsburgh Penguins owner Ron Burkle and investor Mark Mastrov have emerged as possible buyers of the Sacramento Kings, sources told the Sacramento Bee Tuesday.

Burkle and Mastrov, founder of 24 Hour Fitness, would keep the Kings in Sacramento and work with city officials on a plan to finance a new downtown arena, the newspaper said.

Burkle and Mastrov emerged as potential 11th-hour saviors for Sacramento, which stands to lose its NBA team to Seattle unless a counteroffer sways the Maloof family, the current owners of the Kings.

Sources told the Bee Burkle and Mastrov were seen as a deep-pocketed "dream team" by city officials, who have been scrambling in recent months to cobble together a plan to build a sports arena that would keep the Kings in town.

The Bee's source said Burkle and Mastrov consider Sacramento to be a stronger market than Seattle due to the size of the television market and proximity of corporate entities and California elected officials.