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The group hoping to build a new NBA arena in Seattle is holding a "bring back out Sonics" rally Thursday afternoon in the city's Pioneer Square area, not far from the proposed location. (710 ESPN Photo/Jessamyn McIntyre)

Arena investment group holds 'Bring back our Sonics' rally in Seattle

BY KIRO Radio Staff  on June 14, 2012 @ 5:23 am (Updated: 6:54 am - 6/15/12 )

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The group hoping to build a new NBA arena in Seattle held a "bring back our Sonics" rally in the city's Pioneer Square area, not far from the proposed arena location.

97.3 KIRO FM's Brandi Kruse estimated nearly 3,500 fans showed up - along with a number of former Sonics stars to demonstrate support for the plan put forth by hedge-fund manager and investment group leader Chris Hansen.

The rally is an important opportunity to send a strong message to the city and county councils considering whether to approve financing for the new arena, according to Kevin Calabro, 710 ESPN host and former voice of the Seattle SuperSonics, who emceed the event.

"I just think that there's so much upside to this. I think it's a bold progressive step I hope the city will take," Calabro told 97.3 KIRO FM Seattle's Morning News.

While it's a chance to mourn the loss of the beloved Sonics, Calabro says it's also a chance to begin the healing, especially for those fans feeling the pain of watching Seattle's former team playing in the NBA finals as the Oklahoma City Thunder.

"It's the chance to look forward, not back," Calabro said.

Former Sonics players Shawn Kemp, Detlef Schrempf, Gary Payton, and Slick Watts appeared, along with popular Seattle music groups the Blue Scholars and the Presidents of the United States of America.

"Today is a huge day for so many reasons," says vocal Sonics advocate and "Sonicsgate: Requiem for a Team" director Jason Reid. "It's a chance for Sonics fans to come together and not only get our minds off the fact that game two of the NBA finals should be happening in our city, but also to come together behind this very generous arena proposal that Chris Hansen and these guys have come up with."

The effort gained a lot of attention on Wednesday as several well-known and well-heeled Northwest names joined the list of investors. Hansen sent a letter to King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn indicating that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and members of the Nordstrom family are also on board as investors in the arena.

Sonicsgate director Reid says this is Seattle's big chance to show the nation the city is ready to have an NBA team again.

"We have an unprecedented plan that we can get behind that will bring the NBA back," says Reid. "The mayor is not meeting with David Stern in New York if this isn't serious business. Steve Ballmer and the Nordstrom brothers aren't coming out publicly unless this is serious business."

Hedge-fund manager Chris Hansen introduced the proposal for a new $490 million basketball arena in the SoDo area earlier this year.

The project calls for about $290 million in private investment from Hansen's group, along with $200 million from the city and county through 30-year bonds. Any franchise that comes to Seattle and uses the arena would be required to sign a non-relocation agreement that would span the life of those bonds.

A memorandum of understanding on a new arena was reached last month between Hansen and Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and King County Executive Dow Constantine. That agreement is being reviewed by the city and county councils with votes expected later this summer. Both would need to approve the agreement for the project to move forward.

The rally is one of four ways Hansen is asking for the public's support. Hansen also encourages arena supporters to contact their elected officials, follow the cause on Facebook and Twitter and sign the petition to bring back the Sonics.

"The momentum is building to bring the team back," says Reid, "I think everyone in Seattle should be excited."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

KIRO Radio Staff, Staff report
Straight from the newsdesk.
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Comments (16)


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  • CH wrote...
    Bring "ALL" the money you got . . . .
    June 14, 2012 5:56 am
    The group is hoping for $200 million. LOL
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Integrator wrote...
    "ok"
    June 14, 2012 7:31 am
    and we'll "make" sure to "bring" "all" the extra "quotes" we can "find" as "well".
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • tjw914 wrote...
    Money?
    June 14, 2012 10:16 am
    Where's our own Bill Gates on this? Shipping money to foreign countries? If he pitched in a little bit wouldn't that be great? Just the profits from one years worth of software sales to Washington state government please.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Oly80 wrote...
    don't care about the NBA...
    June 14, 2012 6:35 am
    but, i did hear that the thunder is claiming that everything accomplished by the Sonics is really THEIR history. sorry, Gary Payton didn't play for the no-ok thunder. the thunder HASN'T won an NBA championship, yet. and, their star player wasn't recruited by the thunder. it's just stupid that they gloss over ALL Sonics history. ignoring the elephant in the room.

    it's not right.

    bring on the NHL!!!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • bora wrote...
    Big news, whole buch of morons will run around in that arena
    June 14, 2012 7:40 am
    nothing to do?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Forrest wrote...
    Why
    June 14, 2012 7:41 am
    do billionaires need a taxpayer subsidy? If it's a good investment and good for the community why don't they do it on their own?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Aren't people at work at 4:00pm?
    June 14, 2012 8:32 am
    The day workers are still at their job and the 4-12 shift is on the way to work. Guess that leaves the unemployed youth who believe money does grow on tree's .No doubt that the Hansen/Balmer group will somehow insure themselves a crowd.Big Money talks and Big Money will do its best not to look bad,its the cost of doing business
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • calapete wrote...
    messiah
    June 14, 2012 9:45 am
    the event goes until 4 pm.

    The Mariners have many games that start at 12:30 on weekdays. Do you suppose only the unemployed attend?

    Sorry your jobs sucks so bad. I will be there with bells on!

    GO SONICS!!!!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • calapete wrote...
    i meant 6.
    June 14, 2012 9:46 am
    4 - 6. Then you can catch the M's playing the Padres.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Newton wrote...
    The Euro is well on its way of Callapsing.
    June 14, 2012 11:27 pm
    The Dollar is Highly connected to the Euro through Bailouts. Greece is doing bank withdraws of 3.4 billion Euros per day(right Now!). They are all stocking up on food. All the Money is sucked out of greece do to debt they can no longer afford. Is the U.S just as broke as Greece and Spain YES!. The Vote on the Euro is this Sunday(june-17th) and if this goes down like the people of greece have predicted. A Mad Max World is comming up you will forget about the NBA and the NHL. This Arena could be a new camp for the Homeless. Yes all those in the rally including the go2guy will be into the FEMA camps to getting a good feed and Drink.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zagnut wrote...
    Chicken Little, errr, I mean Newton
    June 15, 2012 11:11 am
    Take a chill pill before you hurt yourself.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    Bring back your xwife . . . .
    June 15, 2012 4:36 am
    LOL
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }