KING 5’s Chris Daniels is reporting that Sonics Arena investor, and former Sonics forward, Wally Walker met with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly some time Tuesday at the league offices in New York.
The meeting, which was not the first between Walker and the league, was said to be an update on the Sodo arena’s progress. It was described by Daniels’ sources as “a warm, friendly discussion on the project, and the league’s future plans.”
The meeting took place in between Stanley Cup Finals games and one day before Tim Leiweke’s Oak View Group was named as the developer of a KeyArena renovation and subsequently announced their NHL ownership group of David Bonderman and Jerry Bruckheimer.
It’s great that the Sodo group remains in contact with the league (or leagues? We haven’t heard any updates about the group’s conversations with the NBA), however a more powerful message would be to announce their own NHL ownership group. It’s unlikely that Walker would have the means to be an owner. Former Chris Hansen partner-in-waiting Victor Coleman is available again after his Seattle Partners group rescinded their offer to renovate KeyArena.
Since the project has gone fully private, there should be nothing holding back an NHL partner from stepping forward. The project is capable of being NHL first at this point and, if comments from the NBA, Mayor Murray, and Leiweke are to be believed, certainly would need to be. The original MOU made construction of the building contingent on having an NBA team, but given that the Sonics Arena team has offered to tear up that MOU in order to privately fund the project, that should be no issue.
The Sodo project is clearly, ahem, still here and still working. However, there is still much more work to be done. Much to-do was made of OVG’s ownership partnership with Bonderman and Bruckheimer, and Sonics Arena would do well to fight fire with fire, or an ownership group with an ownership group.
This certainly looks like the beginning of the end for this long and winding road, but there’s still a ways to go until we find out where the final destination lies. Seattle City Council President Bruce Harrell told Daniels that he expects SDOT to forward the street vacation application to the Council this summer. A vote is tentatively scheduled for some time in September. They will then vote on KeyArena in December.
Comments
SODO Arena
The SODO Arena is so beautiful, I’m praying that it Wins and its good that Hansen’s Group is talking to the NHL and im sure they are in contact with NBA
By Sonics3313 on 06.09.17 1:03pm
Beautiful indeed.
By itsanospreybich on 06.09.17 1:55pm
The rings feature alone are worth it
If Sodo fails, I hope some other arena steals it. It’s just such a neat idea.
By LaBidda on 06.10.17 11:50am
That would be hard to do With out touching the roof
By gstommylee on 06.10.17 12:02pm
Spoken like a true architect.
Oh, wait.
"Changing" the roof line, and "touching the roof" are two very different different considerations. The first is clearly a design goal for both the RFP and for Landmark status, and so for OVG as well. The second is not part of the discussion, as long as "touching" it does not materially change the roof line per the other guidelines.
By cortone on 06.10.17 12:13pm
I wasn't saying Key should be the one to steal it.
I meant any future arena in the world should incorporate this idea if they can. It’d be difficult to make it work with an old building needing elements preserved.
By LaBidda on 06.10.17 12:42pm
Detroit already kind of did
They just don’t go all the way around
By Taylor Bartle on 06.11.17 3:08pm
These also look a little more like loge seating
than the Sonic Rings. I think Detroit got their concept from the "bridge" seating that MSG added during its renovation a few years ago. They basically hang some fans out above the crowd to get a better view of the ice/court from above.
http://deadspin.com/here-are-the-new-sky-bridges-at-madison-square-garden-1445151314
The Sonic Rings are planned to be SRO spaces that they could add temporary seating into if they needed.
By Matt Tucker on 06.11.17 4:08pm
Fight!! Wally, Chris, Russell, Peter, Erik. All of you, fight! Fight for Sodo and make NHL-first happen!! Fight for this 5-year dream to finally happen! Fight!!
By Bizzquik on 06.09.17 1:24pm
Why would SCC approve any street vacation now?
They would be contradicting themselves and screwing up the Key Arena charity plans – if the NHL went to SODO, any last chance Key Arena had at renovation and renewed life is over. (Yes, I know the Key rebuild is not contingent on NHL but come on – the heavy NHL focus is obvious and a pro franchise at the Center makes the whole SCC giggle.)
The city now has a stake here and handing that stake over to CH would make zero sense at this point.
SODO is dead.
By BellevueCoug on 06.09.17 1:45pm
Exactly how would they be contradicting themselves?
I have not heard one of them make the claim that Key Arena is a done deal or the only horse in this race. I don’t doubt some of them feel this way but I didn’t see any of them, even CM Bagshaw, at the announcement on Wednesday standing behind, beside or with the mayor.
By Reichly on 06.09.17 2:54pm
Approving vacation would increase their negotiating leverage against OVG
By bgramer on 06.09.17 3:29pm
Especially if they believe their own rhetoric that Sodo wont get teams without building so it doesnt matter in that case
amirirte?
By Trolltossin on 06.09.17 10:40pm
Your premise about "last chance Key Arena...life is over" if false.
By cortone on 06.09.17 3:35pm
Dude, no.
By Throbert Bedford on 06.09.17 4:19pm
Key Deal skepticism from Thiel
Art does a nice job spelling out why SCC may not say "forget street vacay, we got the sweet key deal."
http://sportspressnw.com/2233393/2017/thiel-city-needs-help-to-manage-an-arena-deal
By MC Nuggit on 06.09.17 1:52pm
Coleman and Bartoszeck need to team up!
I believe the two of them combining forces would be able to make a big enough contribution to the SoDo project to strike a deal with Arena Co.
By itsanospreybich on 06.09.17 2:08pm
There's multiple ownership groups out there that want in on NHL
For example Jeremy Roenick’s coalition. I would have also named Bartoszek or Sperling, but if they were pursuing alternative locations, they’re probably not interested in partnering with Hansen/Wally.
By bgramer on 06.09.17 3:24pm
Hansen will be on with Softy soon
By Jeff - j1012 on 06.09.17 3:25pm
I think Chris hansen mentioned this but is it possible to have two arenas in Seattle?
There not really next to each other like Safeco and CLINK. Why couldn’t we have arena for the NHL and arena for the NBA?
By korboko on 06.09.17 3:25pm
Theoretically we could...
Murray has indicated that no, they do not want two arenas, not sure if anyone from city council has made similar comments. We know that Rob Johnson wants both Key and SODO to compete for teams but other councilmembers scoffed at him.
By bgramer on 06.09.17 3:28pm
It would be a first in the country
Every city that has both teams shares an arena. The biggest problem would be having the finances pencil out. They would be competing for concerts and other events.
By Taylor Bartle on 06.09.17 3:28pm
Hansen has said in the past
Just being a NBA-only arena pencils out. Now with this going private, I don’t know if this has changed.
By bgramer on 06.09.17 3:31pm
Yeah, I think NHL-only is more of a question mark
Which is why OVG is so focused on music, to fill the rest of the calendar.
By Taylor Bartle on 06.09.17 3:34pm
Especially the longterm outlook. Im guessing the prognostications for the NHL arent as rosy as the NBA
By Trolltossin on 06.09.17 10:41pm