But the report doesn't address how the $300 million arena would be paid for – and Sanjay Varshney with Sacramento State’s business school says that could make all the difference.
Varshney: “The most critical element when measuring the true economic impact is truly gonna be the financing mix. Whether or not the whole project is 100% private financed – the economic impact for that is going to be very different compared to, let’s say it’s 100% public financed.”
Varshney says that’s because any public money spent on an arena could be spent in other ways to boost the economy instead.
The report also doesn't say whether the number of jobs created would be worth a large public investment.
The mayor’s task force is looking at seven proposals – but we won’t learn how they’ll be financed until an open house next week.