Arena Deal thread: UPDATE: DEAL PASSED AND SIGNED OFF!!!

[SeaTown81]

Stay focused, guys. This plan is about Seattle. It's about SODO. Any talk about Bellevue or Tacoma kills every ounce of momentum this thing has going for it. This plan dies, most likely you're back to square one. And likely years away from getting back to the point we're at right now.

Went to the meeting last night. It was awesome. Sonics fans represented. I felt such pride. Got chills multiple times. Like I said to the SonicsGate guys at the bar afterwards, I can't wait for the real celebration.

 

[JOz56]

Thought the Union Guy (For electrical or construction?) who said that it's about time we start spending money and get this economy going nailed it. Sonics Guy, the Indian dude and alot of other in the beginning did a great job. I'm still catching up on the second part, as I had to cut off due to work, but for the most part everyone represented. I wish I could have made the trip from Spokane last night.

 

[BlueThunder]

Chris Hansen was on Dori Monson (Kiro 97.3 Seattle) today, and was asked about the Bellevue option, and Tacoma wasn't even mentioned. Chris said something close to "I have no comment on any other site. SoDo is our only target", and he listed several reasons why that made perfect sense. So he's gonna try to ram this down their throats until they accept his proposal, and he said he's very patient and will wait until they say "absolutely, no way, no chance in Hell, will you ever build it in SoDo". Only then would he be willing to move the conversation to another city. But he didn't say that. He said he was only committed to the SoDo site, and that was the end of the discussion. And I don't want them out of the Seattle city limits! Ok, in Bellevue, I suppose they could still be called the "Seattle" Supersonics, but in Tacoma, I think it would be hard to call them anything but the "Tacoma" Supersonics, since Tacoma is a major Washington city in its own right. Sorry you guys that desperatly want them in Tac-town *cough* Throwdown, Glove *cough*....

 

[Throwdown]

I personally don't care where its built, I just want it built! I do harbor some feelings towards Seattle for letting the Sonics leave in the first place, and those feelings probably will never go away I personally feel they like they shouldn't have this opportunity and have it in Bellevue just purely out of spite.

But its whatevz, whether its in SoDo, Bellevue, Tacoma, or in mine or your neighborhoods I want an arena in he Puget Sound region of this state, I want the NBA back point blank.

It does sound like his tone with Monson was a lot different than his tone with Softy when he has talking about other areas.

 

[JOz56]

I'm watching the other part of the meeting now. And I saw the part where the guy was asking for 1,000 dollars each and why not put it to a vote, then the guy who followed who admitted that he didn't read anything in regards to the Arena but still didn't want it. And all I could think was "there ya go."

 

[Sports Hernia]

Chins up fellas, if this arena deal looks likes its going to really happen, there will be teams availible in the near future. The NBA business model still blows so many teams are hurting, plus David "Little man" Stern is going to retire soon which increases Seattle's odds bigtime.

For me the big prize is an NHL team, but in order to get that we need to get the NBA first.

There is a lot of political posturing going on right now, from the port to the politicians themselves. Deals can and will get made behind closed doors. Remember how there was very little chance that Safeco was getting built after it got voted down by the residents, and how the Hawks were as good as gone under Bubba behring?

All it is going to take is a little political will, and to keep the pressure on the politico's. Where's Slade Gordon when you need him? LOL, he rolled some political skulls to get Safeco built.

 

[Throwdown]

Chins up fellas, if this arena deal looks likes its going to really happen, there will be teams availible in the near future. The NBA business model still blows so many teams are hurting, plus David "Little man" Stern is going to retire soon which increases Seattle's odds bigtime.

For me the big prize is an NHL team, but in order to get that we need to get the NBA first.

There is a lot of political posturing going on right now, from the port to the politicians themselves. Deals can and will get made behind closed doors. Remember how there was very little chance that Safeco was getting built after it got voted down by the residents, and how the Hawks were as good as gone under Bubba behring?

All it is going to take is a little political will, and to keep the pressure on the politico's. Where's Slade Gordon when you need him? LOL, he rolled some political skulls to get Safeco built.

I don't think Stern is the problem at all. I think he actually wants the NBA in Seattle, and Hansen has said as much.

 

[SeaTown81]

I don't think Stern is the problem at all. I think he actually wants the NBA in Seattle, and Hansen has said as much.

Exactly. Stern wants a team back in Seattle. If you don't realize this, you haven't been paying attention.

I understand hating Stern for the role he played in the Sonics leaving. I don't exactly like the guy either. But if you're able to separate yourself from your emotions and strictly examine the situation, Stern doesn't have any sort of ill will against Seattle that would cause him to make it hard for us to get back in the league. If anything, he views what happened here as a black eye on his career. I've actually heard from people close to him and the league who say that he'd like nothing more than to rectify what happened here before he retires. I know it doesn't fit in our M.O. of hating the living hell out of him. But what happened, happened. He was doing his job, playing hardball with the city and looking out for the owners who pay his salary. He's still a slime ball. Don't get me wrong. But whether or not he's commissioner when Seattle attempts to get a team has ZERO to do with us being successful. Like I said, if anything, he would like to do away with the black eye of losing a city of 41 years. If a scenario were to open up with us battling the likes of Anaheim and Kansas City for a team, I actually think Stern being GM would end up in our favor.

And I couldn't agree more with the rest of what you said about political posturing, Hernia. This is one big game for these politicians. Sucks that it is. But that's the way this crap works. These council members do not want to be viewed as simply signing off on Mayor McGinn and Dow Constantine's plan. They want to be viewed as being the ones who stepped up and fought to make it better. They want to force amendments and concessions from Hansen, so they can take credit when it passes. It's the only way some of them feel they can sign off without losing political capital. This isn't over by any means. I still feel that it's up in the air in a few regards. But I'm hopeful that was time passes, things will fall the right way.

 

[twisted_steel2]

Sports Radio KJR ‏@SportsRadioKJR
WOW! Busy day ... Breaking: King County Council sends arena proposal out of committee. Will vote on proposal Monday! It's expected to pass!

 

[Blitzer88]

Sports Radio KJR ‏@SportsRadioKJR
WOW! Busy day ... Breaking: King County Council sends arena proposal out of committee. Will vote on proposal Monday! It's expected to pass!

Very nice!

 

[SeaTown81]

County MIGHT vote on Monday. Will definitely meet. Vote is a possibility. Not guaranteed.

Great news, though! Would love to see them pass this and put the pressure on the city.

 

[-The Glove-]

Sports Radio KJR ‏@SportsRadioKJR
WOW! Busy day ... Breaking: King County Council sends arena proposal out of committee. Will vote on proposal Monday! It's expected to pass!

What does this mean? Anybody wanna break it down for a fool?

 

[SeaTown81]

Sports Radio KJR ‏@SportsRadioKJR
WOW! Busy day ... Breaking: King County Council sends arena proposal out of committee. Will vote on proposal Monday! It's expected to pass!

What does this mean? Anybody wanna break it down for a fool?

So the proposal up til this point was being discussed by the county budget and fiscal management committee, which includes 5 of the 9 county council members. Basically this is saying that they feel they've discussed the details enough to send it out of committee and on to the main council for discussion. This will take place this coming Monday. If they feel they don't have anything left to clear up, they can then vote.

 

[SeaTown81]

http://publicola.com/2012/07/23/king-co ... a-forward/

McDermott’s legislation includes four “strikers”—essentially, conditions that must be met before the council will vote on the legislation.

First, arena backers would have to demonstrate that the project will bring specific benefits to the neighborhoods surrounding the arena and to the larger community.

Second, the team’s name would have to be the Seattle SuperSonics. (This stipulation is already in the proposed memorandum of understanding, but McDermott says he wants to make the guarantee stronger).

Third, arena backers would have to provide new pedestrian infrastructure serving the new arena, particularly from the existing SoDo and Stadium light rail stations.

And finally, all financial records associated with the companies that own the new arena and its team would have to be made available to the general public.

 

[JOz56]

So if they vote, what are the odds that it passes?

I know Phillips and PVR were no's, but what about the others?

 

[chris98251]

McDermott is just grandstanding for voters, he's a career politician and knows how to get his face in the media, his objections are easy to meet but he makes them to show he's working for the people while still working for the Sonics fans.

 

[-The Glove-]

Sports Radio KJR ‏@SportsRadioKJR
WOW! Busy day ... Breaking: King County Council sends arena proposal out of committee. Will vote on proposal Monday! It's expected to pass!

What does this mean? Anybody wanna break it down for a fool?

So the proposal up til this point was being discussed by the county budget and fiscal management committee, which includes 5 of the 9 county council members. Basically this is saying that they feel they've discussed the details enough to send it out of committee and on to the main council for discussion. This will take place this coming Monday. If they feel they don't have anything left to clear up, they can then vote.

Thank you, kind Sir! I don't want to get my hopes up just yet.

 

[SeaTown81]

mitch levy @kjrmitch
King County will vote first on arena deal. Looking like Monday at 130pm. Insiders are guessing 7-2 in favor. #notcountingmychickens

 

[chris98251]

Well I know the City is the major vote, but having the county vote be positive would put a spot light on the City, something they will promanade around in if history has shown anything but will also have them have to answer to why it doesn't pass in the City if the County likes it.

 

[Throwdown]

I guess PVR is pissed lol