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Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder and Jeff Ament are among the local musicians and music industry executives who've signed a letter of support to city leaders for a new Seattle arena. (AP image)

Seattle musicians band together to back arena deal

BY Josh Kerns  on January 24, 2013 @ 3:40 pm (Updated: 5:46 am - 1/25/13 )

Seattle's music community has always had a close knit tie to the city's sports scene, from Pearl Jam's undying support of the Sonics to Macklemore's moving tribute to longtime Mariners broadcaster Dave Neihaus. So it should come as little surprise many of the biggest names in music have banded together in support of a new arena in SoDo.

"We are writing as members of Seattle's music community to voice our support for the efforts by Chris Hansen's investor group to build a new arena in Sodo," said a number of musicians including members of Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, The Presidents of the United States of America, and Death Cab for Cutie, in a letter to Mayor Mike McGinn and the Seattle City Council.

"Hansen's proposed development, along with its positive impact on Seattle Center, represents a great opportunity for performers and fans alike, and aligns nicely with KEXP's move to a new home at Seattle Center in 2014," the letter continues.

Among those signing the letter are Eddie Vedder, Mike McCready and Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam, Matt Cameron of Soundgarden, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie, Sub Pop Vice President Megan Jasper and Sasquatch! Music Festival producer Adam Zachs.

The letter touts the economic and cultural benefits of investor Chris Hansen's project in the SoDo neighborhood, along with Seattle Center.

"We believe one of the great benefits of the Hansen project is that it devotes resources to invigorating Key Arena at Seattle Center, which will be the temporary home of a new basketball team while the new venue is completed."

While the letter doesn't call for any specific action or offer any direct assistance, it does say the group stands in support of the project and is lending its collective voice to the effort.

Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
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Comments (5)


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  • CH wrote...
    Seattle musicians band together to back Seattle musicians band together to back arena deal -
    January 24, 2013 3:55 pm
    let see what the Seattle taxpayers have to say about the arena deal. They have no say? nice!
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  • maplefish wrote...
    CH
    January 24, 2013 9:25 pm
    Please, Duse, you seriously cannot be this stupid? Really, read a friggin newspaper article or something. THE TAXPAYERS WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THe SONICS or THE NEW ARENA! And why would you care anyway you ill-informed, BIG Government Liberal Welfare Rat...
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  • messiah101 wrote...
    FISH
    January 25, 2013 9:47 am
    Your side goes absolutely NUTs on this arena issue Why is that? Don't you have much larger FISH to fry? And why are you afraid of getting ALL the info on the table?Is it because like a little child you want you shiny new arena with a NBA team included? Is it because you feel that local governments should assist wealthy people obtain new arenas?Why?Are you under the ether so bad that you truly believe that the tax payers hold NO RISK from the $200,000,000 or so bond issue that the city is backing.If no risk is involved why didn't Ballmer or Hansen put up the money and ask the city for tax relief?Why did they ask the city to essentially sign for the loan?
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  • Rangerhawk wrote...
    Rock On!
    January 24, 2013 9:15 pm
    The Sonics were and are a part of Seattles identity. Maybe if people like CH would just move back to California and pay taxes where their teams are from we could have this thing up and running a little quicker and cheaper!
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  • messiah101 wrote...
    RangerHawk
    January 25, 2013 9:52 am
    Haven't you heard the Sonics are not coming back its the Kings that Hansen is after they have NO ties at all with Seattle except playing occasion games here. I'm still trying to understand how CH moving to California and paying taxes would have "this thing up and running a little quicker and cheaper"?Could you or are you capable of explaining that further?
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