Legendary Sonics coach joins new KeyArena panel
Feb 24, 2017, 8:36 AM | Updated: 9:52 am
The City of Seattle has formed an advisory panel focused on counseling the mayor's office as redevelopment proposals are submitted. (Photo by Feliks Banel)
(Photo by Feliks Banel)
Three-time Naismith memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and former SuperSonics coach Lenny Wilkens joined an 11-member panel that will council the Seattle mayor’s office on upcoming proposals to redevelop KeyArena.
“I am honored to have been asked by Mayor Ed Murray to serve as a community leader on his Arena Advisory Panel. I have, and always will be working to help our great city bring the NBA back to town. I am looking forward to reviewing the RFP proposals while offering advice to the Mayor,“ Coach Lenny Wilkens said. “I have fond memories of playing and coaching basketball in this city, and I hope to see the NBA return sooner than later! While I support all options for bringing basketball back, I will be going into this process with my eyes wide open.”
Murray announced the Arena Advisory Panel Thursday.
The panel was formed at a time when the city searches for ways to revitalize the aging KeyArena and while a private investment group fights to make its dream of building a new arena in Seattle’s SoDo district a reality.
In January, the City of Seattle released a request for proposals to renovate or rebuild KeyArena. Those who submit proposals must craft one that assumes KeyArena is a landmark building — it’s eligible for the status — and another that envisions a new arena at Seattle Center.
Related: Prospective developers kick the tires on KeyArena
Near the end of January, the city hosted a tour of the KeyArena for companies interested in bidding on a remodel or rebuild. During the tour, Brian Surratt, the director of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development, said the city views the KeyArena as a separate conversation from the efforts down in SoDo.
Both AEG and Oak View Group have expressed interest in bidding for the job.
Meanwhile, investor Chris Hansen says he and his group are still all in on the SoDo proposal. Hansen maintains SoDo is the best location for an arena.
Even if you can house the NBA and NHL — with a KeyArena makeover — former NBA player and Sonics GM Wally Walker says they believe there will be parking and traffic issues.
“We think maybe the city is solving for a problem other than trying to attract the NBA and NHL here,” Walker said. “And if that’s the problem you’re trying to solve for, SoDo is by far the best site.”
The SoDo group met with Seattle council members last week to continue their years-long discussion of an arena.
Related: Hansen confident SoDo is best for NBA, NHL arena
As The Seattle Times points out, the SoDo arena proposal could be under review for as long as six months. However, a city review team could submit a final report on the KeyArena to Seattle Mayor Murray by June.
Who’s on the Arena Advisory Panel
The panel includes the following people: Wilkens; Jan Levy, chair of the Seattle Center Advisory Committee; Deborah Frausto of the Uptown Alliance; Nicole Grant, executive secretary of the King County Labor Council; Ethan Stowell, owner of Ethan Stowell Restaurants; Ollie Garrett, president of Tabor 100; Megan Jasper, CEO of Subpop Records; Todd Humphrey, former hockey player and chief commercial officer of League Inc.; Jill Nishi of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Rico Quirindongo, architect.
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