Does Port of Seattle buy its own argument against arena?
Aug 13, 2012, 5:14 AM | Updated: 9:23 am
The Port of Seattle continues to say publicly that it opposes the new arena in SoDo because it believes it would cause too much traffic, hurting its bottom line and its ability to expand. But do Port of Seattle leaders really believe that?
A series of emails uncovered by KING 5 calls the Port’s concerns into question.
These emails were sent in April and May just as the proposed $490 million arena plan was gaining momentum. They seem to contain thoughts and comments that run counter to the Port of Seattle’s public stance against the arena.
In an April email, a Port manager wrote to a Port commissioner saying the SoDo site has the proper zoning, and it appears to have all the transportation connections including freeways, light rail, and bus service.
A month later, an email from the Port’s transportation director about the potential impacts on Terminal 46 from Mariners games says the late games have less of an impact on operations because of the terminal’s closing time.
Arena supporter Brian Robinson said, “I think it just affirms what we knew all along that the games happen too late to matter, and they knew that.” Most of the proposed arena’s games would start after 7 p.m.
Just last week, the Port voted unanimously against the arena plan saying it’s not good for its business or for regional mobility. To that, Robinson said, “at some point, it would seem like our elected officials would start questioning whether we could take what these guys say at face value.”
A spokesperson for the Port says these emails were written and sent long before all the analysis was complete and they are now outdated. The Port still believes the arena would kill jobs and hurt its plans for expansion.
The Seattle City Council is expected to vote on the plan sometime this week. That vote could come Monday. The King County Council already signed off on on the initial proposal.
The city and county would be asked to provide $200 million in financing for the plan that would be paid back by arena revenue.
