In the attached press release the Professional Basketball Club announced an agreement with ICON Venue Group to participate in the securement of a new arena in the Puget Sound area.
The group’s projects include some of the most significant sports and entertainment facilities anywhere, including INVESCO Field at Mile High and Pepsi Center in Denver, STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and Comiskey Park in Chicago. Currently, ICON is overseeing the development of Newark Arena.
In almost every conversation regarding the PBC and their overall intentions regarding the Seattle area I am informed that their selection of key partners is indicative of their desire to keep the team in our area. Most recently statements along these lines came from the Washington Restaurant Association who have become involved in the process as a result of their participation in the tax/revenue streams under consideration. This representative described a night and day comparison between old ownership and new with a prediction that Clayton Bennett and his ownership group will get the deal done due to their thourough and dilligent approach. They are hiring the right people, and spending enough money to get this deal done.
In my dual role as supporter and watchdog I find myself frequently questioning their motives and always coming back to the conclusion that they are making every effort to keep the Sonics in Seattle. If this region loses it's NBA team it will be because we failed to step up to the plate, not because of ownership's intentions.
THE PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL CLUB, LLC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2006
Contacts: Jim Kneeland, PBC, 206/682-5066
Melissa Nutt, ICON, 303/796-2655
TOP VENUE DEVELOPER CHOSEN TO PLAN MULTI-PURPOSE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT ARENA FOR GREATER SEATTLE AREA
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SEATTLE, WA --The Professional Basketball Club, LLC (PBC) has selected the highly regarded ICON Venue Group (ICON) of Denver and its President and CEO Tim Romani to guide the extensive analysis, planning and development process to build a world-class multi-purpose sports and entertainment arena in the greater Seattle area. ICON will represent PBC using its extensive experience and resources to develop a viable venue business and site design plan.
ICON’s responsibilities will include financial modeling and feasibility analysis, project planning and organization, site analysis and selection as well as venue programming and concept design.
“Without question, we have selected the very best in the world for this complex and challenging project,†said Clayton I. Bennett, Chairman and Managing General Partner of PBC. “ICON and Tim Romani have the global credentials to provide us with the expert advice we need to advance a realistic project of the scale and scope we envision for the greater Seattle area. The company’s impressive track record includes many of the premier sports and entertainment venues built in the past few years. Tim is the best and I have every reason to believe we will develop an exciting concept and viable public and private economic proposal.â€
ICON is a joint venture between the Romani Group, one of the industry’s top firms in the development of sports, convention and medical facilities and AEG, one of the leading sports and live entertainment presenters in the world. Currently, they are engaged in project management for stadium and arena projects in cities worldwide including London, Berlin, Chicago, Kansas City, Denver, Salt Lake City, Ontario, and Newark, with total project budgets exceeding $3 billion.
The group’s projects include some of the most significant sports and entertainment facilities anywhere, including INVESCO Field at Mile High and Pepsi Center in Denver, STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and Comiskey Park in Chicago. Currently, ICON is overseeing the development of Newark Arena,