DLA Piper represented Goldman Sachs in connection with a $265 million private bank financing for the $477 million construction of the new Sacramento Kings arena. The Kings are contributing $222 million, and the city of Sacramento is providing $255 million.

Following years of obstacles and rumors that the team might leave town, work on the basketball franchise’s new home at Downtown Plaza began on Friday, August 1, with a ceremony that included speeches by Mayor Kevin Johnson and Kings President Chris Granger.

A multi-use facility, the new arena will seat approximately 17,000 and will accommodate sporting and entertainment events such as professional and collegiate sports, concerts, ice shows, indoor rodeo, trade shows, large graduations, family shows, and other indoor entertainment.

Peter White, co-chair of DLA Piper’s global Sports, Media and Entertainment practice, led a team that included Randi Bernstein and Jason Goldstein, along with: Jamie Knox, Robert Alessi, Erin Byrnes, Caleb Ginsberg, Robert Mendez, Gerald Rokoff (all New York), Mark Whitaker (Northern Virginia), Kristin Franceschi (Baltimore), Stephen Mysliwiec (Washington, DC), Brian Fielden (Atlanta), Charles Deem (San Diego), and Daniel Balys (Chicago).

White led a similar team in November 2013 representing lenders Goldman Sachs and UBS on the construction of the new Minnesota Vikings stadium.