NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman decided to rain a little bit of on the parade of people ready to use the Oak View Group’s indoctrination as KeyArena developers as a welcoming party for the NHL. In an interview with the NHL Radio Network on Wednesday, Bettman had this to say about a team coming to Seattle:
"We haven't made any commitments to Seattle. We're not making any commitments to expand. We're not planning on moving anybody."
Of course, we could all point back to how many times Bettman said the league wasn’t going to expand at all before ultimately announcing the opening of the expansion process subsequently awarding the Vegas Golden Knights to billionaire Bill Foley. Bettman hasn’t changed his stance, however, that the league wants tangible evidence of an arena actively being built.
"If (Seattle) sorts out the building arrangement and somebody actually puts a shovel in the ground, my guess is there will be people knocking on our door saying, 'We'd like to have a team play in that building. If and when all that happens, then we'll focus on it, and decide if we have any interest in expanding and if we have any interest in expanding to Seattle.
Beyond that, there is no reason for anyone to think a team is imminent right now in Seattle."
It’s somewhat curious in my eyes that Bettman would say “my guess is there will be people knocking on our door,” when he knows that billionaire David Bonderman, who the league has confirmed talking to, and movie mogul Jerry Bruckheimer are looking to be owners. Could it be more Bettman doublespeak?
There have been questions of whether the NBA and NHL would approve a renovated KeyArena since before the Oak View Group even appeared on the scene here in Seattle. This morning, at least part of that question was answered by KIRO 710's Mike Salk.
It's not entirely surprising, given that OVG CEO Tim Leiweke has said repeatedly that his group would work to meet both leagues' specifications, but it does offer some semblance of confirmation. Salk did double down on Bettman’s comments somewhat however…
Certainly, there is no promise and no guarantee of a team until all i’s are dotted and t’s crossed, but with two viable arena plans being offered up, we appear to be closer than we’ve ever been.
Comments
Interesting nugget
"….and somebody actually puts a shovel in the ground…"
Interesting – that’s the first time I’ve seen/heard either commissioner infer that shovel ready is not enough.
By ksmith1984 on 06.08.17 8:34am
Bettman usually prefers the phrase
"steel coming out of the ground."
By Taylor Bartle on 06.08.17 8:36am
Ahh
Honestly hadn’t heard him make any reference but probably just wasn’t looking for it.
By ksmith1984 on 06.08.17 8:37am
He used it a lot talking about Vegas
And sometimes when comparing Vegas to us.
By Taylor Bartle on 06.08.17 8:40am
Yes, Those Words Are The Big Ones
Bettman is making it clear to Seattle that they need to follow the "build it and they will come" model.
Makes it interesting for Hansen if he needs to go NHL-first, too.
By MartinHughes on 06.08.17 10:09pm
I'm not worried about whether the Seattle Center arena will please the NHL.
I’m worried about it being acceptable to Adam Silver.
I wish the NBA wouldn’t be so publicly distanced from us in this process.
By Thane of Cascadia on 06.08.17 8:44am
Same here, Thane.
Same here.
Given that the NBA’s footprint is much smaller than the NHL’s, I would have to think it would be acceptable. But you never know.
By Taylor Bartle on 06.08.17 8:46am
Since this is a-okayed by Gary
The only NBA issue is whether the financial structure in the building allows for and benefits from 2 teams. The same group owning 2 teams would help alot.
By OlyBrandon21 on 06.08.17 9:08am
NHL
won’t award team until the building is 100% approved and can’t be derailed and probably not until there is as Taylor quoted GB "steel coming out of the ground."
Thinking that’s going to happen sooner is unrealistic.
and yes this "my guess is there will be people knocking on our door," is the usual double speak you get from Bettman.
By Todd Little on 06.08.17 9:11am
or in the case of the Key reno has actually started since the building exists already unlike past expansion sites.
By Todd Little on 06.08.17 9:14am
I've pretty much given up on SoDo after this week.
It was great, and I still believe it would be a better location, somewhat selfishly as a commuter from Renton. But I’d rather have a team in a less-than-ideal location than I would no team at all. And if Bettman is giving OVG a thumbs up, that’s all I need to get onboard with the complete remodel.
Thank you Mr. Hansen, none of this would have been possible without you even if we rebuild the Key.
By Drunk Viking on 06.08.17 9:42am
Its not a slam dunk yet that OVG and SCC come to a complete agreement
By gstommylee on 06.08.17 10:28am
Sure, but it's certainly more of a free throw shot than it is the half court buzzer-beater that SoDo is.
By Drunk Viking on 06.08.17 10:35am
I would put sodo as a full court buzzer-beater
This is no longer about Sodo vs Key arena its about taking care of Key arena long term. I’m waiting to see if Hansen’s party will have an alternate key arena plan for the city to consider.
By gstommylee on 06.08.17 10:37am
No
By Throbert Bedford on 06.08.17 10:59am
OVG Technically is just starting the game....
They still don’t have a deal yet with the city. They have the momentum to get that way, but as of yet it is all talk. I hope Chris does more than what he is leading on during the summer. I do look forward to SDOT recommendation to vacate occidental. Still does not make any sense how we are in this position, but yet here we are 2 groups willing to put over 500 million to build an arena.
By WoodLandSonic40316 on 06.08.17 11:33am
Yeah, No
SoDo remains a street vacay away from being shovel-ready.
Can OVG say that?
By MartinHughes on 06.08.17 10:10pm
Remember that the Key has a commitment to the NCAA
for opening round men’s tournament games in 2019. Getting shovels in the ground becomes tricky for the key anytime before spring 2019. Shovels could be in the ground in SODO this fall.
By Payton's Rules on 06.08.17 11:11pm
Nah. . .. I have a hard time believing the NCAA wouldn't work with Seattle on postponing due to an OVG arena remodel.
By kinsesu on 06.08.17 11:20pm
Pushing back to
2023? or relocating to the T-dome? I do think they might just choose to pass over or withdraw the award, but I hope you were using your invisible sarcasm font.
By Payton's Rules on 06.08.17 11:48pm
Rebels against common sense
I wouldn’t rule out the possibility that they would still follow through with the NCAA tournament in 2019 on the grounds that the council believes that the professional sports billionaires should run on "Seattle Process Time." Also fear that they wouldn’t get it back for a long time.
Remember, this is the same outfit that was perfectly fine with kicking millions of dollars in Lander Street development and other transportation infrastructure aid to the curb.
By NWEastcoaster on 06.10.17 12:02am
Read this article:
http://sportspressnw.com/2233378/2017/arena-deal-done-its-the-second-inning
Obviously Key Arena has a lot of momentum behind it, but there’s a ways to go. Besides, when the city is involved anything can happen.
By itsanospreybich on 06.08.17 12:45pm
I feel like lately I need to add a disclaimer to all my comments here.
I was really just making a light-hearted basketball-related comparison, wasn’t trying to say all the work is done. Far from it. We all agree I’m sure that getting City Council approval is still a big hurdle to overcome. But it still pales in comparison to whatever additional steps SoDo’s have to go through.
By Drunk Viking on 06.08.17 1:01pm
Agreed.
By itsanospreybich on 06.08.17 1:15pm
Good article. . . . a good reminder that there's still more innings yet to play.
It’s odd. . . .as someone who’s followed this saga for too many years. I still feel like I’m missing something. Most pundits, traffic studies and various others see Sodo as the superior choice.
I get it. . . the Key is a city asset. But, can it really be that hard to find another solution for the Key ? Still feels like they’re trying to cram a square peg in a round hole. It’ll be interesting to see if the SCC also tries to ram this thru.
Side note; As a long-time Seahawks sea tix holder. . . .Irks the hell out of me that they were in attendance supporting the lame duck Mayor/OVG’s party.
By kinsesu on 06.08.17 1:21pm