Interesting quote from Kansas City Star columnist Jonathan Rand the day after the press conference announcing the transfer of the San Francisco Fog to Kansas City to become the Comets in May, 1981: "He's [Comets owner David Schoenstadt] trying to get milk out of a cow already nursing three professional franchises [Royals/Chiefs/Kings] and three Big Eight schools [Missouri/Kansas St./Kansas]...Schoenstadt said the Comets must average 11,000 fans for 22 home games to break even next season. It's hard to imagine them averaging more than 6,000, given the strength of their competition and newness of their sport...It's hard to envision the Comets prospering through the winter against the Kings and Big Eight basketball." I believe the late Johnny Carson might've said something like, "You are WRONG, naysayer breath!" Actual results: Comets 1981-82 average attendance was 11,508--almost double what Rand predicted (for a last-place team that went 14-30, mind you) and almost double the Kings' 1981-82 average attendance of 6,644! And the Kings were gone four years later. I'm just sayin'...
LOL! I can't say as we really want the Kings back here--I think KC would almost rather have the Scouts back instead! Apart from missing out on the Michael Jordan era at Kemper Arena, not too many folks around these parts were crying in their beer over the Kings' departure, especially since the University of Kansas replaced them as K.C's professional basketball franchise. And the AEG people (including Tim Leiweke) in charge of the Sprint Center don't seem all that sincere about bringing an NBA team back here since Sprint is already profitable without an anchor tenant, or they would've pounced on the Kings or Sonics or Hornets long ago. I honestly don't think they have any potential owners lined-up here. Same goes for the NHL--they've whiffed on getting the Thrashers, Coyotes, Predators and Islanders, and could probably take a serious stab at getting the Devils, so in a way, it would be like having the Scouts back, full-circle. At least we'd be getting a decent team...
Even funnier--the Comets SOLD OUT their first exhibition game in K.C.in October, '81. That same week, the Kings only attracted 10,262 to a game that actually COUNTED, their home opener...