Seattle working to bring NBA back

[Andrew]

That's not happening either.

[Phil89]

News soon?

http://www.king5.com/news/New-Seattle-a ... 07008.html

A source tells KING 5 News a press conference is scheduled at Seattle City Hall Thursday to announce a deal on a new sports arena complex.

Chris Hansen, a former Seattleite, and current San Francisco hedge fund manager who has approached Seattle about his interest, is reportedly in Seattle.

[Sauru]

they better not move the hawks. i get to see my celtics 2-3 times a year now if they hawks go what will i do then?


bad enough they moved the thrashers

[Andrew]

Sounds promising, but they're still going to have to build that arena first. They're probably still 3-5 years away from realistically having a team in Seattle again.

[Phil89]

I've read people suggest that they could temporarily play at KeyArena whilst the new arena is being built. Is that an option?

[_Steve_]

I'd take the Kings or the Hornets but I have a feeling we're still five or so years away.

With all the effort KJ brought up, I don't believe it will be the Kings...

[Andrew]

I've read people suggest that they could temporarily play at KeyArena whilst the new arena is being built. Is that an option?

I'd assume so, though it'd certainly be controversial given that the unsuitability of the KeyArena was a key argument in moving the team to Oklahoma City in the first place. Of course, it'd be easier to justify with a new arena on the way, which obviously wasn't happening a few years ago. I'm guessing if Seattle were getting their Sonics back, most fans could probably just appreciate the irony of the situation and be happy they've got their team again.

[Phil89]

Guess Seattle will have to look elsewhere now.

http://www.nola.com/hornets/index.ssf/2 ... ounce.html

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal will announce this afternoon that the State of Louisiana and the New Orleans Hornets have reached an agreement in principle that will keep the team in the city at least through 2024 with no escape, with an NBA guarantee of another All-Star Game in New Orleans Arena sometime during the period of the lease, sources with knowledge of the deal said Friday morning.

The state legislature will be asked to approve a capital bond issue of about $50 million that will fund improvements to the Arena which will allow the Hornets to generate additional monies and relieve the state of the burden of providing the team annual subsidies.

Sources indicate the new deal will save the state more than $70 million Additionally there will be no new taxes necessary to fund any part of the agreement.

Terms of the new lease agreement must be accepted by a new owner when the team is purchased from the NBA.
Arena improvements, if the capital outlay is approved by the legislature, will be completed over two offseason periods, and will help the Arena to remain state of the art so that it can continue to attract other major events.

Sources said the deal also will include language wherein the Hornets could receive and additional $10 million in capital outlay monies in 2013 that can be used for either additional improvements to the New Orleans Arena or for the Hornets training facility.

[NovU]

Seeing the Thunder doing well this season, makes me wonder if they stayed the SuperSonics how exciting it could have been. I definitely would have made a day trip to Seattle to catch a game or two.

When Vancouver lost the Grizzlies, we knew the team was never going to come back. Though Seattle has more chance of getting a team back, it sounds like they still got a long way to go.

[_Steve_]

Bold move from New Orleans, I'm surprised. It's still quite an amount of money for the city/ state...

[Andrew]

Bold move from New Orleans, I'm surprised. It's still quite an amount of money for the city/ state...

Especially with the team still looking for a new owner. There probably are potential owners who are willing to keep the team in New Orleans, but they might be turned away if they know they're not going to have any chance of re-location for 12 years.

[Phil89]

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/201 ... -proposal/

ORIGINAL STORY: The Metropolitan King County Council this afternoon is discussing the memorandum of understanding for the Sodo sports arena proposed by investor Chris Hansen. The council is expected to vote on the agreement after discussion.

The 10th floor chambers are packed, with many in the crowd wearing Sonics’ green and gold. There is space on the ninth floor for the overflow crowd.

Linda Styrk, managing director of the seaport for Port of Seattle, said “we think it’s too early to enter into binding agreement ”

Keith Weir, officer with the Seattle Building and Construction Trades Council, called the arena “a life saving opportunity for my members.”

If the King County Council approves an agreement with the city and private investors Monday, Seattle City Council President Sally Clark said that would not hurt the bargaining position of the city, which is trying to get more out of ongoing negotiations with Hansen.

“The city is now in the lead in negotiating,” Clark said.

Earlier today, about a dozen union, shipping, business and environmental advocates gathered to reiterate concerns about the proposal’s impact on maritime industry jobs.

We’ll have updates here throughout the discussion.

UPDATE 3:30 p.m.: After two hours of testimony — that strayed at times to topics such as homelessness, emergency response and medical marijuana — the public comment period has ended and King County Council members are discussing the details of the Sodo arena agreement.

A vote will follow.

UPDATE 4:15 p.m.: Council members are now taking up amendments.

The first one, sponsored by Jane Hague, would insert a statement saying that, consistent with the King County Strategic Plan, the county “commits to working collaboratively with the Port of Seattle throughout the development and operation of the arena…”

The second amendment is related. Sponsored by Kathy Lambert, it commits the county and Port of Seattle to work together to obtain from the state a heavy haul corridor designation.

Both passed unanimously by voice vote. Additional amendments are being discussed.

UPDATE 4:45 p.m.: Additional amendments have dealt with securing the rights to the Sonics name, offering reduced-price tickets, supporting the Seattle Storm and requiring an economic analysis. The discussion is continuing.

UPDATE 5:15 p.m.: Three Council Members — Julia Patterson, Bob Ferguson and Jane Hague — quickly declare their support, citing protections for taxpayers and the power of sports to bring people together.

Larry Phillips, who has been most skeptical along with Peter von Reichbauer, says sports is critically important to community, but the stewardship role of the council to protect the public purse and industrial lands also is important. He said he’ll vote no.

Reagan Dunn, also said he’ll vote no, saying he’s still hung up on the location and the Port of Seattle as an economic engine. He said he hopes the issues can be worked out.

UPDATE 5:30 p.m.: Peter von Reichbauer says he’ll vote no. Joe McDermott indicates he will vote yes.

UPDATE 5:45 p.m.: Council Chair Larry Gossett and Kathy Lambert say they’ll vote in favor of the arena deal, which seals the deal. The 6-3 vote was taken to applause from the audience.

So...now they just need a team?

[_Steve_]

Are there any other candidates beside the Kings? IIRC the Hornets will stay in New Orelans for quite some time...

[Andrew]

I still reckon the Sonics will have to come in the form of an expansion team that subsequently takes up their lineage, similar to what happened with the Cleveland Browns (or so I understand it). The Kings may move and perhaps get a new name, but I don't think the league will be too keen for them to effectively fold to become the resurrected Sonics.

I'd imagine there's still a long way to go but that's got to be the best Sonics related news in quite some time.

[_Steve_]

Using the "Cleveland Brown model" would mean adding another expansion team. I really hope that isn't the case. Even with 30 teams there is too much space between top and bottom. You can ask the Rockets how it is to play in no Man's land. Don't get me wrong, I'd really love to see the Sonics coming back, but not on the price of (even one) more expansion teams.

[Andrew]

I'd rather that than see another team's lineage end so unceremoniously, particularly when that lineage dates back to 1945 in the NBL and 1948 in the BAA/NBA.

[Killer Crossover aka OG]

I hope they come back and the new Coach is then the Glove assistant coach the The Reign Man

[koberulz]

I'd rather that than see another team's lineage end so unceremoniously, particularly when that lineage dates back to 1945 in the NBL and 1948 in the BAA/NBA.

Move the Kings to Charlotte, move the Bobcats to Seattle, rename them and kill the Bobcats history. Nobody would even notice.

[Andrew]

I'd have to imagine it'd be far less of a blow than to lose the Kings' lineage, yeah.