Seattle arena investor Chris Hansen: Beers on me

The Seattle City Council and investor Chris Hansen have reached a tentative agreement to build an arena in Seattle’s SoDo neighborhood.

Statement from Chris Hansen:

As you have all read by now, we have reached an agreement with the City Council on the MOU. As I think you can all appreciate, this was a very difficult process and we really did our best to find a solution that addressed the needs of the City and County as well as the concerns of project opponents, while still making this a workable transaction from our perspective. In this regard, I would like to personally thank all of the City Council members for putting so much effort and thoughtfulness into the MOU and our negotiations over the last month. It really took a lot of effort to get this done and your City Council members and their staff really deserve a lot of credit for making this happen.

As I have said in the past, the democratic process is a unique part of our City’s culture and one of the things that makes it great. Thus, even as I feel the initial transaction terms we offered were exceptional and amongst the best ever offered to a city for an arena, I am truly happy that we were able to find the common ground to reach an agreement that addressed the concerns of both Councils and the various stakeholders in the SoDo neighborhood – that’s what getting things done is all about.

But most of all, I would just like to thank all of you for all of your support. All of the emails and letters to council members, the turnout at the City and County Council hearings, the rally at Occidental Park, and the flood of Green and Gold throughout our City for the entire summer. Your voices were heard and your hearts spoke volumes. I really hope you all just appreciate how much it meant and what a difference each and every one of you made. Anyone who thinks Seattle doesn’t have great sports fans with incredible passion doesn’t know what they are talking about. As one fan told me at Bumbershoot last weekend, “they can tear out my heart bro, but they can never take my Sonic Soul.”

And on that note, I would personally like to buy you all a beer at FX McRory’s this Thursday from 5-7. First beer for everyone is on me.

– Chris Hansen