There has been a lot of speculation over the past few weeks as to who exactly has been funding the anti-arena campaign in Sacramento, especially after it was revealed that the $80,000 payment was wired through L.A. Law Firm Loeb & Loeb.  Loeb & Loeb also happen to be the Maloof Family's Attorneys.

The truth is even stranger however as multiple reports came through today that the mysterious donor is none other than Chris Hansen, the hedge fund manager who unsuccessfully tried to purchase the Sacramento Kings and relocate them to Seattle earlier this year.  Carmichael Dave was the first to report this story and the Sacramento Bee has confirmed.

In the Bee's story, Hansen made the donation to S.T.O.P. about a month after the NBA blocked the relocation of the team.  This is after interviews in which he said he regretted trying to take a team away from another city.  Given Hansen's expressed desire to continue working on bringing an NBA team back to Seattle, the fact that he is actively going against the NBA's wishes and trying to impede Sacramento's chances at getting an arena will very likely not be viewed favorably by the NBA.

The Bee also says that the city has received paperwork from as many as 1,700 people demanding that their name be removed from S.T.O.P.'s petition.  That was before the news that Chris Hansen was behind the funding.

The FPPC is holding a press conference at 4 P.M. regarding this news.  KHTK 1140 will be broadcasting it if you want to listen.

UPDATE 6:05 P.M.:

The Bee has a copy of Chris Hansen's Statement:

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