Microsoft CEO part of investor group for arena

[Andrew]

Steve Ballmer is joining in the efforts to bring back the Seattle Supersonics.

The effort to build a new arena in Seattle with the hopes of seeing the NBA return has added a big name: Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

Ballmer will be part of the investment group for both the arena and the acquisition of an NBA franchise, according to a letter sent Wednesday by hedge-fund manager and investment group leader Chris Hansen to King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn.

''While it was my intention to wait until the local investor group was fully assembled before making any announcement, given the intense community interest and requests from the city and county councils, three members of my investment group have agreed to come forward at this time,'' Hansen wrote in the letter, which was obtained by The Associated Press.

That Ballmer is part of the investment group is not a surprise. Ballmer is a longtime basketball fan who regularly sat courtside at SuperSonics games before their departure to Oklahoma City in 2008 and was part of a group that made a last-ditch effort to try to keep the team in Seattle.

I still don't think it happens for at least few years yet but if they can get that new arena, it'll surely set the wheels in motion.

[George7]

I would love to see the Sonics back in Seattle,even if it takes a few years to see it. There are a historic franchise and it's bad for the NBA not to have them. The problem is though,that such a thing would probably mean the relocation and the extinction of another franchise with great history as well,like Sacramento Kings...

[shadowgrin]

Sacramento Kings have great history?

[benji]

Of course they do like their 1951 NBA Championship, superstar Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson, and their shocking 1981 run to the Western Finals.

[shadowgrin]

Shocking.

Now I remember that they also had Top 5 PF in NBA history Chris Webber.

[Andrew]

Even if their success throughout the years has been limited to eras in other cities and some good years about a decade ago, it'd be a shame to see a team with that kind of longevity become defunct as the Sonics did. I don't think the NBA would be that keen on it, if/when the Sonics return I'd say it's only going to be through expansion.