Council president to Seattle arena investors: You’re not addressing the elephant in the room

Through all the hubbub of the Seattle arena debate, one issue isn’t being addressed by proponents of a new SoDo venue, according to City Council President Bruce Harrell.

Related: Russell Wilson says KeyArena RFP won’t interfere with SoDo arena

“We are dancing around the elephant in the room, and the elephant in the room is, are you going to get us a team?” he said Monday.

Harrell made the comment the same day as the city’s new arena committee met for the first time to — eventually — answer the question: Should Seattle build a new basketball and hockey arena in SoDo, or remodel or replace the KeyArena?

Private investor Chris Hansen has addressed the issue, as recently as February when he told KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson he believes the chances of Seattle getting an NBA team are nearly 100 percent. However, that could take as long as 15 to 20 years.

In February, Hansen and his private investment group again asked the city to vacate a block of Occidental Avenue to clear the way for a new arena. The new proposal to the city council says there will not be a street vacation until an NHL or NBA team is acquired and the arena is under construction.

The city would have to vacate one block of Occidental Avenue South in order to allow Hansen and his group to build a new arena. Though the group has attempted to find workarounds, the city council has been resistant to the idea — as have other interested parties, such as the Port of Seattle.

Harrell did say he was intrigued with the most recent proposal by Hansen, especially because it would all be privately funded.

“The most recent proposal from Mr. Hansen and his investment group certainly is catching my attention because they’re not using public funds anymore,” he said.

Meanwhile, several developers reportedly came forward with interest in the KeyArena site, after the city issued a Request for Proposal at the end of the year. Representatives of both AEG and Oak View Group were on hand for the walkthrough of the aging arena, but neither offered much comment.

Proposals to renovate or replace KeyArena are due April 12. Mayor Ed Murray will get the council’s recommendations in June. After that, the decision is his.

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