‘Can they draw enough people?’: KIRO hosts debate proposal to put Seattle’s NBA team in Snohomish County

BlackSun Private Equity, a New York-based firm, is pursuing an $8.1 billion bid for a Seattle NBA expansion franchise that would put the team in a new arena on Tulalip Tribes land near Marysville, roughly 30 miles north of Seattle.

The proposal would have the team initially play inside Climate Pledge Arena while the Snohomish County complex is built. BlackSun is the second publicly known bidder, joining One Roof Sports and Entertainment, which already operates Climate Pledge Arena and owns the Seattle Kraken. The NBA is expected to decide on expansion to Seattle, Las Vegas, or both before the end of the year.

Angela Poe Russell and Jim Dever, filling in on “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio, questioned whether fans would make the drive.

“How would you feel about Seattle’s next NBA team being in Snohomish County?” Angela asked. “Would you drive? The proposal is Tulalip land, 30 miles north of Seattle, in Marysville. They’re not based here, but they’re going to have local people contributing to this investment group.”

Jim said the distance on paper doesn’t match the distance behind the wheel.

“Speaking selfishly, as someone who lives in Seattle, Marysville might be 30 miles north, but when I drive I-5 at rush hour, it feels like an hour and thirty minutes,” Jim said. “It just feels so far away, and I say that not just to complain because I don’t want to have a long drive.”

He said transit could change the equation.

“Hopefully, light rail would be wonderful, wouldn’t it?” Jim said. “Gets right up to the stadium in Marysville.”

Still, Jim said he’d give it a shot.

“Why not? Why not?” Jim said. “My concern would be, can they draw from enough people to keep it going?”

He acknowledged the complaint cuts both ways.

“I guess people will drive to a game,” Jim said. “They drive into Seattle and complain about that.”

A decision is expected by year’s end

Two groups are now competing for the Seattle expansion bid. One Roof Sports and Entertainment remains the front-runner with its existing Climate Pledge Arena operation downtown, while BlackSun has partnered with the Tulalip Tribes and Native World Sports on a model built around tribal land and revenue-sharing.

“We know that we got the two groups competing,” Angela said. “We should have a decision by the end of the year on whether this expansion is Seattle, Vegas, or both. So we’re waiting. Go Sonics!”

“I’m dressed and ready for it,” Jim said.

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.