‘No truth’ to report of Seattle mayor avoiding NBA leaders
Jan 17, 2017, 7:41 AM | Updated: 9:44 am
The mayor of Seattle is expected to announce his decision on an arena plan Wednesday. (AP)
(AP)
The Seattle Mayor’s Office and the NBA are denying a report that Ed Murray has been “ducking” calls from NBA commissioner Adam Silver about a new arena.
Report: Ed Murray re-election campaign has everything but an opponent
The website, 16 Wins a Ring, cites unnamed NBA sources in a report claiming the league is set to announce two expansion teams, and that Seattle would get one of them if it works out the arena situation.
However, the report says the NBA commissioner is “frustrated” Murray isn’t returning his calls for an update on the arena.
“[NBA Commissioner] Silver has been frustrated by Seattle Mayor Ed Murray’s ducking of his calls and meeting requests,” 16 Wins reports.
Seattle and NBA representatives told The Seattle Times the report is false.
Murray spokesperson Benton Strong told the Times he was planning to set up a conference call with the NBA and NHL, but the mayor’s office has not been avoiding league leaders and there was “no truth” to what 16 Wins is reporting.
The idea of bringing an NBA team back to Seattle has been floated for some time now. Recently, the City of Seattle released the Request for Proposal to redevelop KeyArena. That request asks bidders to meet the minimum requirements for an NBA and NHL arena. It also requires bidders to submit two plans: One if KeyArena is designated a historic landmark and another to tear down the existing venue and build a new one.
Meanwhile, Chris Hansen’s private investment group continues to push for an arena in SoDo. In October, a proposal from the group showed the investment team has offered to forgo public financing and cover the funding gap for an infrastructure project to ease congestion concerns near the Port of Seattle.
Murray has emphasized that he wants to be the mayor that brings an NBA team back to Seattle and is open to all proposals.
