Once again, we have experienced a setback. An all too familiar feeling for us professional basketball fans that have been fighting to bring the Seattle Supersonics back. Once again, an all too familiar foe has stepped up to provide that setback. It wasn't the NBA. It wasn't David Stern. It was once again the City of Seattle making the wrong choice despite the fervor of the fans. The City Council voted against the street vacation for the SoDo Arena 4-5.
There are a lot of people to be thanked today. Our own Brian Robinson put together the social media campaign that we ran today and was trending in six of the ten top spots on Twitter within in an hour.
How did it get trending so fast? You, the rabid basketball fans who want the Sonics back in Seattle. Thank you for coming to standing with us and having our backs every step of the way.
A big thank you also needs to go out to the four yes votes from the council. In fact, here are their names:
| CM Bruce Harrell | @BruceHarrell | https://www.facebook.com/bruceharrell |
| CM Tim Burgess | @CouncilmanTim | https://www.facebook.com/CouncilmemberTimBurgess/ |
| CM Rob Johnson | @CMRobJohnson. | https://www.facebook.com/CMRobJohnson/ |
| CM Mike O'Brien | @CMMikeOBrien | https://www.facebook.com/CMMikeOBrien/ |
Please be gracious to those gentlemen. They are fighting the good fight. Send them a thank you message via email, Facebook or Twitter. They deserve to hear some good words.
The following council members voted no:
| CM Deborah Juarez | @CMLGonzalez | https://www.facebook.com/cmlorenagonzalez/?fref=ts |
| CM Lorena Gonzalez | @CMLgonzalez | https://www.facebook.com/cmlorenagonzalez/?fref=ts |
| CM Kshama Sawant | @CMKshama | https://www.facebook.com/cmkshama/ |
| CM Lisa Herbold | @lisa_herbold | https://www.facebook.com/CouncilmemberLisaHerbold/ |
| CM Sally Bagshaw | @sallybagshaw | http://www.facebook.com/people/Sally-Bagshaw/1039566440 |
In no way do we condone sending nasty messages to these five members, and if you see any, please call that person out. I'm not mad at them, I'm not. I'm extremely disappointed in them. If anyone should know the power basketball fans have in Seattle elections, just ask Kshama Sawant. She can pretty much thank Sonicsgate for her council position.
Mayor Ed Murray released a statement late Monday afternoon following the vote:
"I firmly believe that a new arena will be built that brings the NBA and NHL to our region.
"The City's past actions contributed to the Sonics leaving Seattle. Today's Council vote makes it less likely that the NBA will return to the City of Seattle.
"Despite today's vote, I remain committed to exploring all options to bring the NBA and NHL, not just to our region, but to a new arena in the City of Seattle."
I'm honestly not sure where we go from here at the moment, but we always regroup and come back stronger and more organized than ever. It's okay to be sad and bummed out now. I am.
Just know this was a conditional street vacation request, and it can be asked for again when a team is in hand or about to be in hand. Honestly, that time could be sooner than most of us think.
Thanks to everyone again!
UPDATE
Chris Hansen has released his own statement on behalf of the arena investment group:
Today’s City Council vote was disappointing but we don’t believe it is the end of the road in our quest to bring the NBA and NHL back to Seattle. We know all the fans who have stood solidly by us these past years share our disappointment but it is important that we all stay focused on our shared goal.
We now need to take a little time to step back and evaluate our options, better understand the council’s concerns and find a path forward. We will keep you posted.
Comments
One issue Kevin
how are we suppose to get a team with no shovel ready arena?
By gstommylee on 05.02.16 7:51pm
Sooner than we think?
If a team like a Brooklyn/Milwaukee became available, would the city Council then be willing to vacate the street with the team possibly in hand?
By Murphy24 on 05.02.16 7:56pm
Let's not go down this one again
The only likelihood is Utah and maybe New Orleans of things go really south with the Benson family. But it’s not happening in all likelihood. I don’t see how anyone can be swayed to change their vote if they were going to ignore the facts presented to the council over the past few months, not to mention the mitigation Hansen was willing to give for the street vacation alone.
By Barely Able on 05.02.16 7:59pm
Having the actual thing...
…is better than talking about what can be done IF you get the thing.
By The Andy on 05.02.16 8:02pm
I think for it being rejected
a 5-4 against is actually a good thing. It can be resubmitted and we just need 1 no vote to flip. And i think there is a couple CM folks (not sawant not herbold or bagshaw)
I rather have a 5-4 against than a 7-2 against.
By gstommylee on 05.02.16 8:04pm
It wouldn't be a Kevin article is it didn't go out on some vague comment people will blow way out of proportion and site for months as evidence the Clippers are about to move.
By wetzelcoal on 05.02.16 7:57pm
Now, Now...
… before you dump on Kevin on what is a difficult day, remember this is the same guy who tweeted at Geoff Baker a week or so back that he should hit him up next time he actually wanted inside NBA information. Kevin knows.
Of course, that still doesn’t make it easy when you’ve just lost 4-5 to a bunch of muppets.
By MartinHughes on 05.02.16 8:03pm
I'm sure he does know something about something.
But telling everyone he knows something without saying what it is is just annoying. Do you remember the last time he did this? People spent months convincing themselves that Hansen had a deal worked out with the NBA and then by the time he finally felt like sharing people were disappointed because the news had been built up to such unreasonable proportions in their minds that nothing short of Silver holding a Sonics jersey would have satisfied them.
By wetzelcoal on 05.02.16 8:06pm
Clippers aren't moving
By Kevin Nesgoda on 05.02.16 8:14pm
And, even if there had been a chance they were going to before
where would they move to now? A permanent home at KeyArena?
By SoDoLive2016 on 05.02.16 8:16pm
sodo arena is not actually dead
it was dealt a blow but not dead. Legally the city has to honor the MOU until nov of 2017 they are not required to renew it.
By gstommylee on 05.02.16 8:17pm
Yes, they have to "honor" it.
As long as CH can find a way to build the arena with a street running right through the middle of it. "Honoring" the MoU is meaningless without the vacation.
By SoDoLive2016 on 05.02.16 8:19pm
Umm
Nothing says Hansen CAN NOT resubmit for street vacation. City of Seattle can still legally not look at other options due to MOU still being in effect.
By gstommylee on 05.02.16 8:20pm
Of course he can.
But it’s hard, as of now, to see how he could get a more favorable decision next time.
By SoDoLive2016 on 05.02.16 8:25pm
What if he just builds around the road?
There’s no traffic anyway, so if it goes right through the basketball court, who cares?
By PyroKinesis on 05.02.16 8:27pm
5-4 against with the right conncessions can = 5-4 in favor
He needs to focus on 1. Back when the MOU was revised he need to appease 5 people to get the approval.
By gstommylee on 05.02.16 8:27pm
Agreed
I’m just trying to figure out which concessions would do the trick.
By SoDoLive2016 on 05.02.16 10:16pm
My thoughts...
exactly. All in favor of Kevin dropping his whole "i know something you don’t know" schtick raise your hand.
By jasonnn. on 05.02.16 8:18pm
A Nesgoda Post!
Sorry we had to meet digitally again under such circumstances, Kevin.
Hope life is good apart from the obvious.
By MartinHughes on 05.02.16 7:57pm
Truth!
I’m always around, just incredibly busy with my MBA work and starting something new on the side. Can’t believe it’s May!
Hope all is well with you, sir!
By Kevin Nesgoda on 05.02.16 8:19pm
Perhaps you could answer a question i have above
How can we get a team with out a shove ready arena?
By gstommylee on 05.02.16 8:23pm
Promise of a team
Should easily flip that no to a yes. Not that worried about it.
By Kevin Nesgoda on 05.02.16 8:29pm
How exactly can the NBA promise of the team or the NHL have a promise of the team?
NHL currently see no viable NHL arena plan. I can’t understand how the leagues can actually promise something with no shovel ready arena.
By gstommylee on 05.02.16 8:31pm
Yeah Kevin we had little shot when this plan was viable
now we can’t even be leverage.
We are now the Fighting Footnotes! ALL HAIL THE ANCIENT HISTORY!
By sofa-king on 05.02.16 8:35pm
Haven't members of SR said that the NBA can't come out and promise us a team without a formal bidding process?
By Thane of Cascadia on 05.02.16 8:38pm