Arena investment group holds ‘Bring back our Sonics’ rally in Seattle

The group hoping to build a new NBA arena in Seattle held a “bring back our Sonics” rally
in the city’s Pioneer Square area, not far from the
proposed arena location.

97.3 KIRO FM’s Brandi Kruse estimated nearly 3,500 fans showed up – along with
a number of former Sonics stars to demonstrate support for
the plan put forth by hedge-fund manager and investment
group leader Chris Hansen.

The rally is an important opportunity to send a strong
message to the city and county councils considering
whether to approve financing for the new arena, according
to Kevin Calabro, 710 ESPN host and former voice of the
Seattle SuperSonics, who emceed the event.

“I just think that there’s so much upside to this. I
think it’s a bold progressive step I hope the city will
take,” Calabro told 97.3 KIRO FM Seattle’s Morning News.

While it’s a chance to mourn the loss of the beloved
Sonics, Calabro says it’s also a chance to begin the
healing, especially for those fans feeling the pain of
watching Seattle’s former team playing in the NBA finals
as the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“It’s the chance to look forward, not back,” Calabro said.

Former Sonics players Shawn Kemp, Detlef Schrempf, Gary
Payton, and Slick Watts appeared, along
with popular Seattle music groups the Blue Scholars and
the Presidents of the United States of America.

“Today is a huge day for so many reasons,” says vocal
Sonics advocate and “Sonicsgate: Requiem for a Team”
director Jason Reid. “It’s a chance for Sonics fans to
come together and not only get our minds off the fact that
game two of the NBA finals should be happening in our city,
but also to come together behind this very generous arena
proposal that Chris Hansen and these guys have come up
with.”

The effort gained a lot of attention on Wednesday as
several well-known and well-heeled Northwest names joined the list of
investors. Hansen sent a letter to King County Executive
Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn indicating
that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and members of the
Nordstrom family are also on board as investors in the
arena.

Sonicsgate director Reid says this is Seattle’s big chance
to show the nation the city is ready to have an NBA team
again.

“We have an unprecedented plan that we can get behind that
will bring the NBA back,” says Reid. “The mayor is not
meeting with David Stern in New York if this isn’t serious
business. Steve Ballmer and the Nordstrom brothers aren’t
coming out publicly unless this is serious business.”

Hedge-fund manager Chris Hansen introduced the proposal
for a new $490 million basketball arena in the SoDo area
earlier this year.

The project calls for about $290 million in private investment from Hansen’s group, along with $200 million from the city and county through 30-year bonds. Any franchise that comes to Seattle and uses the arena would be required to sign a non-relocation agreement that would span the life of those bonds.

A memorandum of understanding on a new arena was reached last month between Hansen and Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and King County Executive Dow Constantine. That agreement is being reviewed by the city and county councils with votes expected later this summer. Both would need to approve the agreement for the project to move forward.

The rally is one of four ways Hansen is asking for the
public’s support. Hansen also encourages arena supporters
to contact their elected officials, follow the cause on Facebook and Twitter and sign the petition to bring back the
Sonics.

“The momentum is building to bring the team back,”
says Reid, “I think everyone in Seattle should be
excited.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.