arena3.jpg
The Seattle City Council has signed off on investor Chris Hansen's plan to build a new arena in SoDo. (AP Photo/file)

Sonics fans celebrate as arena clears Seattle council

BY Brandi Kruse  on September 24, 2012 @ 5:58 am (Updated: 9:56 pm - 9/24/12 )

A deal to build a new arena in the SoDo neighborhood was approved by the Seattle City Council on Monday, and perhaps none were more thrilled than the fans who have been part of the process from the very beginning.

Sitting in the front row, dressed in green and gold, were Kris Brannon and Jason Billingsley. Both are die-hard Seattle SuperSonics fans and regulars at meetings about the arena.

"I started doing this about three years ago," said Brannon, 38, of Tacoma. "People were like, 'The Sonics are never coming back,' but I never lost hope. I've been to over 1,000 events representing the green and gold."

By his side for much of those events has been Billingsley, who helps run a Web site called "Bring Back Our Sonics."

"I had to be a part of this because I just couldn't sit there anymore," he said. "It was making me crazy."

Should the Sonics come home to Seattle, Billingsley plans to spend more time with his girlfriend, who he said feels "neglected."

Several Seattle City Council members acknowledged the passion and persistence of fans.

"We've had lots of conversation over the past several months; multiple committee meetings and public hearings and lots of people coming out and testifying before the council, including our faithful ones here in the first row," said Councilman Tim Burgess, pointing to the fans.

The council passed the proposal on a vote of six to two. "I congratulate the City Council for approving the Memorandum of Understanding with Chris Hansen and his investment team to bring basketball back to Seattle," Mayor Mike McGinn said in a statement.

While arena investor Chris Hansen, whose mother was present for Monday's vote, can now start shopping for an NBA team, the plan still has to survive an environmental review and a vote of the King County Council.

The Port of Seattle and the Mariners remain strongly opposed to the plan.

Brandi Kruse, KIRO Radio Reporter
Brandi Kruse is a reporter for KIRO Radio who is as spontaneous and adventurous in her free time as she is on the job. Brandi arrived at KIRO Radio in March 2011 and has already collected three regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting.
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Comments (11)


  • Add A Comment

  • CH wrote...
    This is getting better by the day. CH has to get a team then they [team] has to wait till the arena is build [Key arena is open for rent] - sounds like a plan . . . .
    September 24, 2012 7:40 am
    Hope the City and Country will wait till CH has a team in his pocket before they hand him any money.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jpetro wrote...
    Can someone
    September 24, 2012 10:39 am
    wake me up when we actually have a team? Thanks
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Sir Wesley wrote...
    Arena Deal
    September 24, 2012 3:31 pm
    Great news! The train is finally leaving the station. It's time for the Mariners to get on-board or they will be left waiting on the platform. I have cut Chuck and Howard a lot of slack over the years. I fear it has been misplaced. It's time for both to get out of baseball and out of Chris Hansen's way. Sonics Arena is a good deal for all fans, Sonics and Mariners alike. I look forward to the day when the first shovelful of dirt gets turned.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Newton wrote...
    Oh its a plan all right?.
    September 24, 2012 3:37 pm
    Build a new arena. As a perfectly good arena sits vacant. Only goverment could be so frugal. I'm sure the flat busted City of sacramento would be more then happy to give seattle its problem child team.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Dan1 wrote...
    Stadium will or might not be built
    September 24, 2012 8:18 pm
    Clay B will not send a team back to Seattle. If the NBA does send some scrub team here we will all be paying dearly for it, you all know that RIGHT!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Derrol_o wrote...
    Clay B?
    September 24, 2012 11:05 pm
    What exactly do you think Clay B has to do with any of this? He's not even relevant. And no, the taxpayers aren't going to be buying the NBA team. That's all on Hansen and his ownership group's dime.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jlwood1142 wrote...
    Dan1, CH and Newton
    September 24, 2012 8:33 pm
    Thank god the city counsel has more sense than you three. You guys act like the city and taxpayers are fitted the bill for this and that's simply not the case. Leave your preconcieved notions and ideologies at the door or shut up!!! I'm sick of it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • C"mon Man wrote...
    Stop the press'
    September 24, 2012 8:58 pm
    King David Stern will have to sign on to any deal, I hope he does,but am not going to bet the ranch on him.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Dan1 wrote...
    jlwood1142
    September 25, 2012 5:55 am
    You are a gullible fool.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    jlwood1142 --- "If" CH did not need the City [money], then why does he_ have his hand out? . . . .
    September 25, 2012 7:28 am
    have your 3 year old kid explain it to you. Brandi Kruse little more work in the story - what was the vote. Who voted yes, who voted no? Tax payers would like to know. Not going to do your work this time.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sfk360 wrote...
    CH
    September 25, 2012 11:00 am
    Do you realize how dumb you sound using "CH" for Chris Hansen when CH is also your username?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }