24 Hour Fitness founder Mark Mastrov and billionaire Ron Burkle have sent the NBA an official offer to buy Sacramento Kings. If accepted, the pair will keep the franchise in Sacramento, preventing a move to Seattle.

NBA spokesman Tim Frank confirmed the league received the bid Friday.

Sacramento mayor and former NBA point guard Kevin Johnson announced the Mastrov-Burkle bid during his state of the city address to local residents on Thursday night. Johnson has been vocal and active in Sacramento's hopes of keeping their NBA franchise.

Mastrov plans to serve as the Kings' majority owner. Burkle will lead the effort to build a new arena and lure in a potential WNBA franchise.

A Seattle group has a signed agreement to buy the franchise from the Maloof family. The NBA Board of Governors is expected to vote by mid-April on the bid.

The Seattle group has been vocal of their plans to move the Kings to Seattle and reincarnate the defunct Supersonics franchise.