Key Arena
KeyArena could be used as a temporary home for the NBA and NHL if a new, permanent arena is built south of the Safeco Field parking garage. (AP Photo/File)

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Burnside joined "The Kevin Calabro Show" to talk about the possibility of the Phoenix Coyotes relocating to Seattle and whether they could play in KeyArena while a new arena is built.
It's been nearly four years since the city of Seattle last had a professional basketball team, but now for the first time since the SuperSonics left for Oklahoma City, local basketball fans have reason for hope.

Christopher Hansen, a wealthy San Francisco hedge-fund manager and Seattle native, has been working behind the scenes to bring an NBA team back to the Emerald City. In recent months, Hansen has purchased land south of the Safeco Field parking garage and told city officials that a sports arena could be built with minimal impact on tax payers.

Public funding for a new arena could include admission taxes and increased tax collections tied to a boost in Sodo property values, according to documents obtained by the Seattle Times. In an email to city leaders, Hansen said he's "confident that with a little effort and creativity we can find a solution that meets our needs and the City's/State's desire to get a team back to Seattle without a large public outlay."

Building a new state-of-the-art multi-purpose arena has been estimated to cost about $400 million.

The city is also following developments of the Sacramento Kings franchise, which could leave the California capital very soon. The city of Sacramento has a March 1 deadline to come up with a viable proposal to build a new arena for the Kings.

According to the report, KeyArena could be used as a temporary home for a new team with permission from the NBA until a more permanent venue is built. A New Jersey arena consultant told city leaders in a meeting that the Kings franchise could play in Seattle as soon as next fall if Sacramento fails with a new arena proposal.

A new multi-purpose arena could also house a professional hockey franchise after recent reports regarding the NHL's interest in the Seattle market. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told ESPN.com's Scott Burnside that "there are a lot of people who think Seattle would be a great place to have a team."

Burnside told the "Kevin Calabro Show on 710 ESPN Seattle" last week that the NHL is looking to sell the Phoenix Coyotes franchise within the next 90 days, though their intention is to keep the team in the desert. Yet, Burnside agrees that the Emerald City could be a favorite to land a team should one become available.

"You'll hear a lot of cities come up over the next three or four months, but I think it's interesting that Seattle, at least in my impression, has moved either to the top of that list or very near it," he said.

No final offer has been made, but Mayor Mike McGinn said Saturday he's taking the proposal very seriously. Though he noted that the city budget cannot be tapped to fund a new multi-purpose arena. In 2006, Seattle voters approved an initiative that says the city must make a profit on any investment it makes in a sports arena.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Comments (31)


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  • mikeyg2000 wrote...
    YES YES YES
    February 5, 2012 9:10 am
    Please sieze the day on this one, Seattle. This could mean landing an NBA and NHL team!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • otmilkr wrote...
    Where do the Conservatives stand
    February 5, 2012 9:22 am
    on this one? It will be interesting to see what they type, the HPDs of the world and such. Conservative always means pro business, pro profit , pro creating billionaires and millionaires.... but Conservative also means low taxes and keeping the Public and Private sector apart, and less public sector overall. Oh, ok, I have a recent example I can look at to see. When taxes, like those paid to fund a military are used to enrich the wealthy and create more wealthy people, that according to the Conservative rulebook is ok. So I am guessing the Conservative posters here will be in favor of the new arena.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    otmilkr
    February 5, 2012 9:42 am
    Not being the official spokesperson for conservatives I can just offer you my thoughts.

    Firstly, the article suggested a stadium could be built for minimal taxpayer impact. Before being able to draw any real conclusions one would need to know what that mean in real numbers and how they intend to achieve that.

    Personally, I'm not a basketball fan, seems like too many spoiled thugs...but that's a personal preference. If they can build a stadium with no taxpayer impact then it's just another business moving into town...I see no reason to be against that. The more burden on taxpayers the less desirable the option. I suggest that after real details are determined put it all on a ballot and let the taxpayers have their say if they want to assist funding something like this.

    Your later statement is silly. Conservatives, tea party folks in particular are against tax money being given to the rich...or have you missed the whole shrink the goverment, reduced taxes bit? Government is corrupt and the more money you put into the hands of the corrupt the more they can siphon off to their friends and suporters. If you were against money being taken from tax payers and given to the rich the left should have embraced the tea party instead of lying and slandering them. But we know that the reality was the left doesn't want to decrease the tax burden on the middle class, they would rather increase it and they will continue to siphon it off to their friends and supporters.

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  • otmilkr wrote...
    Rational...
    February 5, 2012 12:26 pm
    Conservatives are fine and dandy with the military being used to defend the interests of petroleum Corporations which also benefitted Defense Contractors. You don't really beleive the "Iraqi Freedom" BS do you? They don't care about Iraqi freedom any more than anyone else's freedom. The CEOs that flew to D.C. in Corporate jets to ask for bailout money would likly be Conservative, wouldn't they? Or would they? I don't know. Another thought, is when Corporations bust Unions and the result is more people working with less beenfits, isn't that Corporate Welfare at taxpayer expense? If a Corporation gets the work out of an employee and that employee later in life ends up as a Senior on public assistance because of no retirement benefits, the Corporation diverted the true cost of that employee.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    otmilkr
    February 5, 2012 10:22 pm
    If I were a liberal I'd accuse you of being a racist for not wanting freedom for the brown skinned Iraqis.

    Since I'm not a liberal I'd just say that Bush is a progressive, Obama is a progressive...same worldview, somewhat different methods to achieve their ends. Ultimately, progressivism ends in totalitarianism. I was against going to war with Iraq back when it was being debated. Not that I was a fan of Saddam, but the whole process was flawed as well as the motivation.

    Don't make the mistake of confusing conservatives with republicans...there is a difference, alhtough there is some overlap. Most of the tea party are conservatives, but many are not republicans. Conservatives refer to "RINO's", but they're not really RINO's, they are republicans...progressive republicans, which is why conservatives are at odds with them. The republican party is indeed divided, and the point of division is conservativism vs progresivism. The democrat party has entirely surrendered to progressivism.

    So when you see disputes and rejecting of Romney and Gingrich from the right, to a large extent you're seeing the divide between conservatives and progressives as well as some who view themselves as just being practicle. Those folks claim they want to vote for ABO (anybody but Obama), and they'll set aside their values in that choice.

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  • wcremedy24 wrote...
    *
    February 5, 2012 9:33 am
    *waits for ignorant comments about the NBA being full of thugs while ignoring the crime in the NFL
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • seasalem22 wrote...
    Make it happen
    February 5, 2012 9:58 am
    Just make this happen. Seattle is a great NBA city. I'm sure the NHL would do fine also and would help that league overall. Seattle is to large of a city and has too great a history as a basketball town not to push forward with these plans. I'm glad to see bussiness people making this happen rather than government. That should make this process go faster. Maybe a pipe dream but hey best news in a long time.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    How many actual jobs come with a NBA team?
    February 5, 2012 10:16 am
    I would give them the same tax relief and city $$$ as I would any other company that came into town offering probably less then 50-75 jobs would get.But not a cent toward building a new arena
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • EDub wrote...
    Job's and other Benifits from a NBA Team - - -
    February 5, 2012 10:34 am
    Here are some of the benefits that we lost from the loss of the Sonics * 159 Jobs (directly), many of which are very high paying job (not to mention hundreds of other jobs from associated business) * More than $230 million in annual economic impact * A company in an industry whose growth projections could very well double in five years * A company and its employees that are daily newsmakers that draw positive national attention, television coverage and tourism to Washington State. * Corporate donations of money from the Company and its high paid employees * High profile employees support many charitable programs - A minority role model program, skills training clinics, fitness programs for kids and wheelchair athletes, breast cancer awareness, a camp for children with serious medical conditions and many other charitable causes. And to respond to otmilkr, I would like to ask how Conservative Greg Nichols ,Frank Chopp or Chris Gregoire are? I'll answer you - not very - They all are villains in the sad story of the loss of the Sonics !
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • otmilkr wrote...
    Ok E dub
    February 5, 2012 12:23 pm
    The people you typed, Nichols, Chopp, Gregoire... are villians because they did not approve spending tax dollars to build a stadium? The NBA has growth projections that project a doubling in 5 years? How is that going to happen? Build a stadium with nothing but luxury suites for the wealthy... maybe, I don't see any other way. Working people are less and less able to do anything other than survive. I am not 100% understanding your post, but I tried.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    EDub
    February 5, 2012 6:38 pm
    For the most part you can eliminate the actual team payroll from the equation as it consists mainly from players who will live part time in the area and go elsewhere in the off season.The $230 million will simply be spent else where in the area.Who travels to NBA cities from outside the area to see NBA games and what favorable tourism is gained from occasionally having your team on National TV?If asked for Millions of dollars in benefits and tax relief the City would be better off donating money directly to organizations such as fitness programs for kids,minority role model programs and the other charities you mentioned and save the taxpayers a ton of tax dollars.Read Don Bauders report sometimes on the influence of Pro Sports to a city it will open your eyes.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Citizen of Krazy Town wrote...
    Build it in Bellevue!!!!
    February 5, 2012 12:18 pm
    Seattle has already had its chance at having a great NBA team and they blew it. There is a perfect area right along 405 on 116th avenue that is mostly abandoned car lots. It would be a great place for fans to quickly get an and out of the city for a game and Bellevue would do a better job of attracting a great team....AND KEEP THEM!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • anotherfencewalker wrote...
    "Minimal Taxpayer Funding"...
    February 5, 2012 12:42 pm
    Here we go again....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • otmilkr wrote...
    Fence
    February 5, 2012 2:00 pm
    Well..... you know what that means... lol
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • kellysplanet wrote...
    Yes to NHL no to NBA
    February 5, 2012 3:04 pm
    To heck with Stern and his NBA. I am all for the NHL coming to Seattle but not the NBA as long as that crook Stern is in charge. I am still bitter about him and Bennett stealing the Supes from us. I would hate to see us get a lousy team like the Kings in here and have Durant and OKC come in here and crush us for years to come. I will never support the NBA as long as Stern is running it. I like how he is doing everything he can to keep the Hornets in New Orleans but didn't lift a finger to try and keep The Sonics here. He can go kick rocks for all I care
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wcremedy24 wrote...
    kellysplanet
    February 5, 2012 4:25 pm
    That kind of thinking is very shortsighted. We're all bitter and hate Stern but it's not like he's going to be around forever, this isn't just about the next several years, it's about getting a team back here period. And plus, it's not like he's going to make a public appearance before every game or something. And the Kings are in a similar situation as the Sonics were when they left, you can't just assume a team is gonna suck forever, look at how good the Thunder are after all those down years here because of high draft picks. I hate stern as much as the next guy and hope he retires soon but i'm not going to hold out just cause the league has a dumb commissioner who is nearing the end of his career..
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • anotherfencewalker wrote...
    Let the lies and Bull5hit begin!!
    February 5, 2012 6:35 pm
    Sports and politics...The perfect storm.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • O-town listener wrote...
    couldn't care less about sports..
    February 5, 2012 6:43 pm
    Frankly, the magic is gone.. Sports in general feel as corrupt as everything else in this country.. I don't miss the supersonics at all and I never had any interest whatsoever in attending.. Bellevue for an arena is ridiculous - 405 can't handle the regular traffic as it is.. And otmilkr - if you really think there is any difference in republicans and democrats when it comes to siphoning money from one person, and giving it to a rich person, then you have bought into the system as much as everyone else you seem to rail against.. The whole system is s4:t.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Steve in Bucoda wrote...
    How about with NO taxpayer funding.
    February 5, 2012 6:44 pm
    Seems this State "government" doesn't care. After voters said NO to new stadiums they go and hold an emergency session to overturn the people's will. My, how short the memories are. Just forget it; not one more penney for private businesses to build temples to their greed.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }

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ESPN.com NHL writer Scott Burnside

Monday, Jan 30, 2012

Burnside joined "The Kevin Calabro Show" to talk about the possibility of the Phoenix Coyotes relocating to Seattle and whether they could play in KeyArena while a new arena is built.
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