( CNN ) -- The Sacramento Kings wo n't be headed north to Seattle after all -- despite its owners reaching a deal to sell the team to a Washington state group -- after NBA executives voted Wednesday to reject such a move . Twenty-two members of the league 's Board of Governors rejected the Kings ' relocation bid , while eight voted in favor . Commissioner David Stern cited the existence of a `` strong ownership group , '' a construction team and plan to build a new arena , plus strong support from Sacramento 's mayor and others in the region , as reasons why the Kings will remain in northern California . `` I would say it 's a victory for Sacramento , not the NBA , '' Stern told reporters , applauding the `` excellent '' if ultimately unsuccessful Seattle bid . Wednesday 's vote follows months of talks between members of the Maloof family , the majority owners of the Kings , and a Seattle-based group that includes investor Chris Hansen and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer . In January , these two parties reached a deal for that group to buy the Maloofs ' 53 % share of the team as well as minority owner Bob Hernreich 's 12 % stake . But that agreement needed the OK of the NBA 's Board of Governors to go through . It did n't happen . The Maloof family and Hansen 's group , though , kept on talking , leading to another deal ( for a higher price ) and this week 's scheduled vote by the NBA board . Meanwhile , Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson -- himself a former all-star NBA guard -- kept pushing to keep the Kings in his city . That involved crafting a stadium plan and working with a group of individuals committed to keeping the team in Sacramento . Stern said that over the `` next 24 to 48 hours , '' NBA officials will talk to the Maloofs to try to `` facilitate an agreement '' for them to sell the Kings to the so-called Ranadive group , thus assuring the team remains in California . And he vowed `` fair dealing and ultimate consideration down to the road '' for any future efforts to land an NBA team in Seattle , which saw its last franchise -- the Supersonics -- leave for Oklahoma City in 2008 . After Wednesday 's vote , Johnson said he was excited the Kings are staying put , saying it will be a boon for his city . And he promised that he and others in Sacramento will continue working to execute their plan . `` We 're going to deliver . Why ? Because it 's bigger than basketball , '' Johnson said . `` We 're talking economic development and job creation . ''
The NBA Board of Governors votes 22-8 to reject the Kings move to Seattle . NBA 's commissioner calls it `` a victory for Sacramento '' more than a defeat for Seattle . '"