Sonics/NHL/New arena thread

[Sports Hernia]

Kind of feel it was in life support when the Kings didn't move here and Ballmer bought the Clippers. Since then the NBA haven't exactly been accommodating to Seattle even if the street vacation got approved. More bummed about no NHL. Tukwila is the last hope really, renovating Key arena is a pipe dream.

If they keep proposing Key arena, my question is why can't they just completely raise it and rebuild on the footprint to a higher height? Is it protected? If so why? It's ugly, outdated and isn't architecturally relevant. It's not that old to be worth saving, many building from the 60's are demolished without second though. If it's cause it's in Seattle Center, big deal. The only building anyone inside or worldwide in Seattle center from the world fair that people care or know about is the space needle, the monorail at a stretch. Any new building isn't exactly going to take away from the space needle. If the out there EMP design can't nothing will.

If they ever get an arena in Tukwila, then they should call themselves the Tukwila Super Sonics. The Seattle city council can get bent.

 

[Blitzer88]

Still can't get over this.................this was as good a deal as they, the city council, could realistically hope for and nothing.....just years of hard work down the drain.

 

[Throwdown]

Still can't get over this.................this was as good a deal as they, the city council, could realistically hope for and nothing.....just years of hard work down the drain.

It hurts bro, hurts bad.

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

Kind of feel it was in life support when the Kings didn't move here and Ballmer bought the Clippers. Since then the NBA haven't exactly been accommodating to Seattle even if the street vacation got approved. More bummed about no NHL. Tukwila is the last hope really, renovating Key arena is a pipe dream.

If they keep proposing Key arena, my question is why can't they just completely raise it and rebuild on the footprint to a higher height? Is it protected? If so why? It's ugly, outdated and isn't architecturally relevant. It's not that old to be worth saving, many building from the 60's are demolished without second though. If it's cause it's in Seattle Center, big deal. The only building anyone inside or worldwide in Seattle center from the world fair that people care or know about is the space needle, the monorail at a stretch. Any new building isn't exactly going to take away from the space needle. If the out there EMP design can't nothing will.

If they ever get an arena in Tukwila, then they should call themselves the Tukwila Super Sonics. The Seattle city council can get bent.

It would always be the Seattle Supersonics, however if it was a hockey team in Tukwila, I wouldn't mind something starting with Washington, Washington state or Seatac. You'd probably have more of the eastern part of the state on board for any arena funding if it didn't have the Seattle name on it.

 

[Ruminator]

I work in sodo and there's no way there's enough room for an arena plus all the parking. There just isn't. Build the arena on the east side....somewhere

Totally agree. Or have China create a new island in Lake Washington and put the new arena on that and we'll all ferry to and from it on game days. But seriously, Bellevue -- just east of 405 -- always seemed feasible.

 

[twisted_steel2]

I was hoping some of this anger would have dissipated over night, but still pretty steamed.

What is killin' me now is how cold blooded this whole thing was for Hansen. This project has been grinding away at the 'Seattle Process' for 4.5 years. Just trudging through the muck. Looks like were at the final step.... and they crush it. Final step after 4 and a half years and they extinguish it with a smirk.

He's bent over backwards with all their demands, giving in over and over. And all for nothing, just a quick vote, done.

That's so ruthlessly cold.

 

[CurryStopstheRuns]

Well if it eventually doesn't happen I hope Hansen holds that land till the City wants something, payback can be a bitch.

He could just be like the guy in Portland that purchased land to build a highrise, the city said no, and he turned it into a homeless friendly lot to piss them off.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

To me this goes far deeper than vacating a street and whether that impacts traffic, the port, whatever.

If our city council, the Times and overall sentiment over a billionaire building a sports stadium has shown us anything through this process, it's that there's a VERY progressive liberal bias against this project.

Our snobby liberal city sees ourselves as this bastion of homeless tiny houses, bike lanes no one uses, green and clean fuel buses that cost 500,000 and break down twice a week, bronze pigs and outlawing plastic bags in grocery stores..............letting some rich guy build a palace for other millionaires? Err, not so much.

When I hear Bagshaw and these other out of touch and defiant council members, THAT'S what I hear. Actual DISDAIN for the entire thing.

 

[twisted_steel2]

To me this goes far deeper than vacating a street and whether that impacts traffic, the port, whatever.

If our city council, the Times and overall sentiment over a billionaire building a sports stadium has shown us anything through this process, it's that there's a VERY progressive liberal bias against this project.

Our snobby liberal city sees ourselves as this bastion of homeless tiny houses, bike lanes no one uses, green and clean fuel buses that cost 500,000 and break down twice a week, bronze pigs and outlawing plastic bags in grocery stores..............letting some rich guy build a palace for other millionaires? Err, not so much.

When I hear Bagshaw and these other out of touch and defiant council members, THAT'S what I hear. Actual DISDAIN for the entire thing.

True.

Spending time on Twitter and Reddit, I'm just sadly disappointed. Lots of fellow Seattleites with those very views.

Got to the point I'm just giving up trying to talk to them about it, the facts don't matter. They're ignored.

Its philosophical battle that can't be won. All they see is, "No giving taxpaper $$ to a billionaire!! No way, we need to fund these homeless shelters, and clean needle giveaways!!!"

"It's not an either or.... both can happen. Profits from arena could go to those programs? NNNNOOOOO!!!"

Just not going to happen in this city.

 

[Tech Worlds]

Well now that we aren't giving public money to a billionaire it's time to give it to the poor and buy all those books for the unfortunate.

When is that going to happen again?

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

Gonzalez told her colleagues 20 minutes before the vote she was a Yes. Something stinks. Guessing she got some political favors or some cash to change her mind that quickly.

 

[Sports Hernia]

Gonzalez told her colleagues 20 minutes before the vote she was a Yes. Something stinks. Guessing she got some political favors or some cash to change her mind that quickly.

Pretty sure the port "fattened some bank accounts" in the last week. My gut feeling is some shady crap went down.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

Gonzalez told her colleagues 20 minutes before the vote she was a Yes. Something stinks. Guessing she got some political favors or some cash to change her mind that quickly.

Another microcosm of the corruption of politicians.

Gonzalez: "I'm going to vote for this...............oh wait, what, we're not voting for it? Oh OK." *checks no*

and sorry to be sexist but the five women all voting no can't be a coincidence, some sort of sisterhood solidarity? That stinks of collusion on this vote.

 

[IndyHawk]

I wanted the Hockey team but now it's nothing either way.I do feel bad for the die hards who wanted the NBA back though

 

[hawkfan68]

This doesn't surprise me the least bit...The Seattle city council is useless. It's like sticking a bra on a cow's udder. They don't support the city, just their personal agendas. Look at names on the city council that should give you an idea how worthless it is.

 

[Seahaaaawks]

I just don't get it? Politics aside... Why wouldn't any city want this? A new arena creates a ton of jobs, and 2 new sports teams brings a ton of money to the area every home game.

Friday the 22nd I took the bus downtown to watch the Mariners game at sluggers and the whole district was closed by 6:30. On a Friday night I thought it would be hopping even with the M's out of town, nope. Had to walk 10 blocks uptown to find a bar that was open. A new arena with a hockey and basketball team and I'm pretty sure it's buzzing in the SODO district. Assuming one of the teams made the playoffs but still... A ton of money being spent by fans and the city votes no...? I don't get it...?

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/edi ... ned_buffer

Feels like a very biased, poor timed and questionable article, rubbing the salt in the wounds OF SeattleNBA and NHL fans. I'm not even an NBA fan and think its a distasteful article.

It says there were other prospective owners and groups to bring the Sonics back that didn;t get explored other than Hanson but it doesn't say who? That is news to me. Can someone clarify? Hansons bid seemed legit, especially when Ballmer was on board and things seemed to be getting done until the NBA stopped the Kings moving.


I understand there were groups for NHL for SODO, Bellevue and Tukwila but these groups have had radio silence since the NHL asked groups to enter applications for expansion and pony up cash. Tukwila sounded promising for a while and even quite advanced with little trouble from the city government there until we heard they missed a payment for an environmental review. I've heard nothing since.

I get SODO wasn't the perfect site but realistically where else was there space for arena to get built near downtown other than demolishing Key arena without going East or South. Seattle is a pretty landlocked city.

 

[chris98251]

http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/city-council-improved-process-for-arena-and-nba-team-search/?utm_content=buffer7022c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=owned_buffer

Feels like a very biased, poor timed and questionable article, rubbing the salt in the wounds OF SeattleNBA and NHL fans. I'm not even an NBA fan and think its a distasteful article.

It says there were other prospective owners and groups to bring the Sonics back that didn;t get explored other than Hanson but it doesn't say who? That is news to me. Can someone clarify? Hansons bid seemed legit, especially when Ballmer was on board and things seemed to be getting done until the NBA stopped the Kings moving.


I understand there were groups for NHL for SODO, Bellevue and Tukwila but these groups have had radio silence since the NHL asked groups to enter applications for expansion and pony up cash. Tukwila sounded promising for a while and even quite advanced with little trouble from the city government there until we heard they missed a payment for an environmental review. I've heard nothing since.

I get SODO wasn't the perfect site but realistically where else was there space for arena to get built near downtown other than demolishing Key arena without going East or South. Seattle is a pretty landlocked city.

That article is political grandstanding, notice it gives the name of all the females, and to do it right and a better deal, someone footing the whole bill practically and your going to get a better deal then that plus area, highway and business improvements, renovate a whole area. Yeah those deals are bad, the only real truth was that they said the Port was the Cities Bread and Butter, actually that's not correct, its the City Councils Bread and Butter, how much bread was given to butter them up is my question.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

It says there were other prospective owners and groups to bring the Sonics back that didn;t get explored other than Hanson but it doesn't say who? That is news to me. Can someone clarify? Hansons bid seemed legit, especially when Ballmer was on board and things seemed to be getting done until the NBA stopped the Kings moving..

There were 3-4 groups, but only Hansen was serious enough to put up the millions, buy land and go after the Kings to show the city and league he was serious.

The question I need answered is there are pics of Bagshaw and the other city council members during numerous rallies for the Sonics holding hands with fans and supporting the arena. So what happened in a very short period of time.

THAT stinks of corruption. Obviously the port and other cancerous influences (Mariner's brass) got to the council members.

Just sad, and doesn't give me much faith in the entire process. Like I said, this was never about vacating a stupid street for one block. It's been about everything but that.

 

[Throwdown]

I've completely given up. I no longer have faith that Seattle will ever get its act together.