Investors announced for Seattle’s NHL franchise

Seattle’s hopes for a new NHL team got a financial boost with new local investors jumping onboard the effort.

NHL Seattle timeline: Seattle’s push for hockey

“This is the fun part, to build it, to sell it, to fill it,” said Seattle NHL CEO Tod Leiweke.

“It was critical that we found local partners … we found the best local partners,” he said.

A group of local investors were announced Wednesday and include:

• David Wright, vice chair of Seattle Hockey Partners, managing member of Grousemont Associates, and board member of the Space Needle Corporation
• Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon Web Services
• Adrian Hanauer, majority owner of the Seattle Sounders FC
• Jay Deutsch
• Chris Ackerley
• Ted Ackerley
• Jeff Wright

Tod Leiweke: “We are joined in our journey by an incredible group of local leaders…they were hand picked, not only because they have resources, but they bring other things to the table.”

“They love Seattle…they all show up today wanting to win.” @NHLSeattle_ @NHLtoSeattle pic.twitter.com/XLUEWW3SdL

— Jessamyn McIntyre (@JessamynMcIntyr) September 5, 2018

It was also announced that the Ackerly family will be involved in the NHL ownership group. The family once owned the Seattle SuperSonics.

Not only were the investors announced, it was revealed that the Oak View Group and the City of Seattle have come to a final deal on the KeyArena renovation with goals for new sports teams. The city’s Committee on Civic Arenas will meet to discuss the KeyArena deal Friday. Mayor Jenny Durkan said that she hopes to “see that Sonics sign again.”

“It is the beginning of building the KeyArena for the next generation and the next 50 years in Seattle,” Durkan said.

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“We are going to have a world-class venue right here at the heart of the city,” she said. “It will be a prime destination for music and for sports … we are going to get that NHL team and Seattle will love hockey.”

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