Kevin Johnson

Nikki Nicholson

Sacramento, Calif. – Today, the Sacramento Kings announced that the local premiere of the ESPN 30 for 30 Documentary “Down in the Valley” will take place on Monday, October 12 at the historic Crest Theatre in downtown Sacramento. Produced by the acclaimed ESPN Films’ 30 for 30 documentary series, the film will air nationally on Tuesday, October 20 at 6 p.m. PDT on ESPN.

While seating is limited, fans will have an opportunity to attend the screening by entering the “Down in the Valley” premiere lottery. Starting today, fans can visit Kings.com/30for30 to register for the opportunity to win two tickets. Winners will be notified by October 1.

“This is a story about the unrivaled pride and passion of this region. I’m excited to see the best fans in the NBA take the national stage,” said Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé. “The support and persistence of the entire Sacramento community to save this team will forever be ingrained in the history of the Kings and the City of Sacramento.”

The film is directed by Jason Hehir, whose previous contributions to ESPN Films include the acclaimed “Fab Five” and “Bernie and Ernie” documentaries. “Down in the Valley” highlights the fight to keep the Kings from relocating, led in large part by a legendarily passionate fanbase, and the launch of their next chapter in Sacramento. The film debuted earlier this year at the Tribeca Film Festival.

“It's a proud and humbling moment for Sacramento,” said Mayor Kevin Johnson. “’Down in the Valley’ details the story of a community that came together like never before to fight for our Kings and our future. I can't wait for audiences to relive a special moment through this special film.”

"For years, Sacramento faced certain defeat but the city and its people never gave up," said director Jason Hehir. “This film explores what a franchise truly means to its fanbase, and underscores the power of sports to uplift a city. I’m honored to share this film with Kings fans and the City of Sacramento.”

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Sacramento Premiere Announced for ESPN 30 for 30 Documentary “Down in the Valley”

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Kings Introduce Golden 1 Center

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30 for 30 Kings Doc Premiere

Alex Kramers

Early in “Down in the Valley,” as Sacramento native and NBA-star-turned-mayor Kevin Johnson describes the conditions of his deprived neighborhood and trying upbringing, his grandmother’s favorite saying serves as foreshadowing for his, and Kings fans, later herculean efforts.

“If a task has once begun, do not leave it until it’s done.”

As the 78-minute documentary – debuting in a 479-seat auditorium inside a quaint Chelsea, N.Y. theater – simultaneously chronicles Johnson’s and the Kings intertwined histories, at its core, the film explores the precious, loyal bond between a team and community, and the emotions engendered when that union is both at its highest peak and on the verge of crumbling.

“The K.J. story is really compelling and really interesting, but I would not have agreed to do the project until I met some of the grassroots fans and realized how passionate they were about the team staying,” explained six-time Emmy Award-winning director Jason Hehir on the SVA Theater red carpet. “That’s what resonated with me because I know what it means to be a fan.”

Before devoting ample time to chants, rallies and pivotal social media crusades, Hehir first lays the groundwork with a detailed look at the previously vagabond Kings road to finding residence in Northern California, as NBA sportswriter and historian Bob Ryan illuminates Sacramento’s aspirations and overwhelming enthusiasm for a sports identity.

“We were hoping to get 5,000 season tickets sold,” recalls original Kings Owner Gregg Lukenbill. “We ended up with applications for 25,000 tickets in a building that sat 10,000 people.”

Archived footage of the first game at ARCO Arena oozes with nostalgia – the electric environment still rivaling that of any sports venue – while a Playoff-like atmosphere resonates despite the team’s sub-.500 record over the course of the subsequent decade.

The film not only fluidly integrates viewpoints from interview participants, including former Kings All-Star Chris Webber and longtime NBA Commissioner David Stern – all of whom marvel at the uniqueness and fervor of the fanbase – but juxtaposes Johnson’s shift from basketball standout to aspiring politician with the Kings volatile on-court fortunes.

Breathtaking highlights of “the greatest show on court” during the late 1990s and early 2000s – a free-flowing, uptempo style contingent on constant motion and precise passing – scintillate to the booming bass of Outkast’s “Bombs Over Baghdad,” cowbells harmoniously clanging in the seats.

Moments later, as Webber and Sacramento radio personality Carmichael Dave reflect on the 2002 Western Conference Finals in separate interviews, a mutual pain resonates in their voices – agony that’s further escalated by mirrored recessions in both the team’s success and city’s declining fiscal climate.

“The political and economic landscape, in some weird way, it paralleled our basketball team,” tells Johnson, who was elected mayor on Nov. 4, 2008.

At the height of the downturn, “Down in the Valley” follows the threads emanating from the dark cloud of relocation to showcase early seeds of a grassroots movement, as fans pledge to donate thousands of dollars toward building a new arena and utilize Twitter campaigns as a vehicle to express their undying support.

The now iconic scene of Kings TV broadcasters Grant Napear and Jerry Reynolds delivering a teary signoff in between long pauses following the 2010-11 season finale – as thousands of diehards thunderously chant in the background and refuse to leave their seats – remains emotionally stimulating – both for the viewer and participants themselves.

“I was very emotional watching it – it brought me back to those moments, which were, at times, really hard to describe because of the ups and downs on a daily basis of what everybody was going through,” said Napear after the premiere. “(The film) was just so well-put together – it chronicled the entire emotional roller coaster that the city of Sacramento went through (and) just completely captured the amazing ride.”

Driven by a proud community galvanized in its front to save the Kings – as throngs of purple-and-black-clad devotees await his arrival at Sacramento International Airport and deafeningly chant outside the St. Regis Hotel in midtown Manhattan – Johnson’s confidence nor upbeat disposition ever show signs of cracking.

The Hall of Fame finalist – fighting off tears at the mere thought of a barren, silent basketball arena in The River City – makes it clear no obstacle would stand in the way of saving the beloved hometown franchise.

“It really felt like we were in a battle to protect something that was ours,” says Johnson. “It was about fighting for my city.”

As the documentary captures the back-and-forth intensity of negotiations in ensuing years, it demonstrates the complexities of the mayor’s obstacles and provides glimpses into his presentations to League executives and team owners, offering a revelatory, unflinching view from every standpoint.

The broader forces of the relocation committee’s decision to keep the Kings in Sacramento are most palpable when Johnson answers a blocked-number call from Stern and raises his arms in euphoric celebration, which transitions to a powerful snapshot of Carmichael Dave – tears streaming down his face – barely able to speak to a similarly weeping, speechless Napear.

“This is a love story – it’s a story of the fans of Sacramento and their team,” said Kings Principal Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé on the red carpet, adding construction on a downtown, state-of-the-art sports and entertainment center is well underway. “They got together and found a way to keep their team.”

At a post-screening Q&amp;A session, Johnson – seated in a director’s chair with a luminous Tribeca Film Festival logo behind him – deflected countless praise thrust upon him to an integral group of spectators, asking all Sacramento natives in the audience to stand.

“This is a Sacramento story – these folks came from 3,000 miles away to be here, and they did their part to keep the team in Sacramento,” he said, looking out at hundreds of applauding supporters.

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Kings '30 for 30' Debuts at Tribeca

A short trailer for the Sacramento Kings 30 for 30 documentary "Down in the Valley," which premieres this Friday at the Tribeca Film Festival, was posted by News10 Sports Anchor Bryan May to his Facebook page on Monday night.

The teaser video runs just over a minute and begins with Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson's perspective following the Kings final home game of the 2012-13 season.

TNT Analyst and NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley also makes an appearance, stating "I don't think Kevin tried to save the team because he was the Mayor, I think he tried to save the team because Sacramento is home."

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Teaser Released for Kings 30 for 30 Doc

In a press release Monday, producers of "Playing to Win: A Relentless Pursuit to Save a Team" announced they'll premiere the documentary at the Sacramento International Film Festival on April 29 in downtown’s Esquire IMAX Theater.

“The film chronicles the heartache, fight and resolve during the tumultuous era in Kings history when the franchise seemed destined to relocate to Seattle,” stated the release.

“After years of hard work by so many people in this community, we are thrilled to be able to present this film on the big screen,” said director Rusty Prevatt in the release. “The threat of the Kings leaving Sacramento for Seattle brought this community together in a way we have never witnessed before. We hope our film has captured the city’s passion for keeping its beloved team in Sacramento.”

The film will showcase exclusive interviews with Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, Kings Chairman Vivek Ranadivé, Kings President Chris Granger, KHTK Sports 1140 Host Carmichael Dave and more.

The documentary’s initial showing — which comes just days after ESPN’s “30 for 30” film that also chronicles the city’s effort to retain the Kings — is scheduled for the two-year anniversary of the NBA Relocation Committee’s recommendation (7-0) to keep the team in California’s capital.

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Kings Film Announces Premiere

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In early October, the City of Sacramento and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF teamed up with the Sacramento Kings to announce the launch of a new pilot program, UNICEF Kid Power.

The month-long initiative’s goal was to leverage the power of technology and philanthropy to educate and promote student fitness in the Sacramento region.

Results of the test were recently announced in a blog on Mashable’s website.

“The pilot program's results showed that those kids who participated were 55% more active than those who did not, and they earned enough points to feed 473 severely malnourished children,” stated Matt Petronzio in his recap of the program.

Prior to the pilot program in Sacramento, Mayor Kevin Johnson spoke about the importance of healthy and active lifestyles in today’s youth.

“Making sure our children are active and healthy is vital to their success in school and beyond,” said Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson. “As the program’s pilot city, Sacramento is proud to have the opportunity to work with the Kings and UNICEF to actively engage our schools and our students in this innovative program combining personal fitness goals and giving back to those in need. We hope this program will set a precedent for schools across the country to follow.”

To read more about the program and the next cities the program is set to make its debut, check out the following link:

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Kings, UNICEF Kid Power Pilot Program Recap

From acclaimed director and five-time Emmy winner Jason Hehir, who directed ESPN’s “30 for 30” about the Fab Five, Sacramento’s story of passion and perseverance, titled “Down in the Valley”, is about to open to an international audience.

According to a synopsis on Tribeca Film Festival’s website, the movie follows “former NBA superstar turned Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson as he battles owners and executives to keep the Kings at home.”

The website also notes the film is “a roaring testament to the passion and power of the small-market fan.”

The festival runs April 15-26 in Tribeca, N.Y.

Joining “Playing to Win: A Relentless Pursuit to Save A Team”, it’s the second such documentary set to debut this spring.