On Thursday, the City of Seattle announced the members of a community advisory group to aid in their exploration of a redevelopment of KeyArena for a new sports and entertainment facility.
The Office of Economic Development released the names of the 13-member Arena Community Advisory Group. The group consists of community members of all walks who can speak to employment and labor; restaurants and hospitality; the Lower Queen Anne, South Lake Union, and Belltown neighborhoods, Uptown businesses, and Seattle Center.
Speaking on behalf of fans will be two familiar names, our own Brian Robinson and NHL to Seattle’s John Barr, a friend and contributor to the site.
Here is the full press release from OED:
NEWS RELEASE
FROM THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joe Mirabella, Communications Director, Office of Economic Development, joe.mirabella@seattle.gov
The City of Seattle Launches Arena Community Advisory Group
SEATTLE (July 20, 2025) – As part of the ongoing process of evaluating plans for the possible redevelopment of the Arena at Seattle Center into a state-of-the-art entertainment and sports facility that could potentially bring the NHL and the NBA to Seattle, the City of Seattle assembled an Arena Community Advisory Group.
The group’s purpose is:
* To help the City ensure that a redeveloped Arena would connect and integrate with Seattle Center and surrounding neighborhoods and advise on mobility planning
* To partner with the City in the development of labor agreements supporting current and future workers
* To champion “Women and Minority Business Enterprises” policy inclusion in any forthcoming agreements that may be negotiated
Members of the Arena Community Advisory Group include:
* Monty Anderson – Executive Secretary, Seattle Building and Construction Trades Council
* John Barr – NHL to Seattle
* Robert Cardona – Uptown Alliance
* Andrea Caupain – Chief Executive Officer, Centerstone
* Evan Clifthorne – Project Belltown
* Brian Curry – 10 Mercer Restaurant and Seattle Center Advisory Commission member
* Deborah Frausto – Uptown Alliance
* Ollie Garrett – President, Tabor 100
* Nicole Grant – Executive Secretary, Martin Luther King County Labor Council
* Mike McQuaid – South Lake Union Community Council
* Brian Robinson – Founder, Sonics Rising
* Sarah Wilke – Executive Director, Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF)
* Jane Zalutsky – Executive Director, Seattle Center Foundation
The group will meet on an ongoing basis through the permitting and environmental review processes and development of any final development agreements that may be negotiated.
In early 2017, the City of Seattle issued an RFP for the redevelopment of the Arena. The City chose Oak View Group as the preferred partner and is currently negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Oak View Group. The City Council will review and potentially adopt the MOU later this fall.
For more information, visit www.seattle.gov/arena
Comments
settle down.... a legit observation
AaronQ13Fox: I single out @206empire because, while he shares the ultimate goal of NBA/NHL, I hope he understands/represents the major concerns of fans. twitter.com/aaronq13fox/st…
By bmac64 on 07.20.17 2:00pm
I'm a little disappointing in the purpose of the group
Don’t get me wrong, i’m glad to see NBA and NHL fans have a huge voice/advocate with Brian Robinson – someone who I trust in this fight more than anyone. His record speaks for itself.
However, i’m a little taken aback that the city wouldn’t designated a specific purpose of the group is ensuring the return of the NBA has plenty of safeguards in any contract and/or design. I mean, two of those three "purposes" of this committee have nothing to do with getting the NBA back. Yes development of labor agreements supporting current and future workers and championing Women and Minority Business Enterprises are certainly important issues that i would expect to be in ANY contract of this scale with the city. But i don’t think either of those issues have any impact on determining if the NBA will choose to expand or relocate to Seattle in the future. Advice on mobility planning is the only portion of this committee that I can really see as being beneficial. Maybe i’m wrong or looking at this wrong, i just want someone who is independent and level-headed (like BR), having input on the MOU, design of the arena and building in safeguards to ensure a future OVG/NHL partnership doesn’t block the NBA from coming simply by pricing them out as the 4th party to the arena. This committee does none of this and more seems to target the appeasing the segment of the populous that are not huge sports fans.
By ksmith1984 on 07.20.17 2:08pm
They included Brian and John specifically because of the sports focus
By Matt Tucker on 07.20.17 2:20pm
I get that...
But the city has specifically designated 3 purposes that the group will focus on – none of them have really anything to do with sports, except the mobility issue which transcends more than just sports. And many beneficial sports focused purposes are missing from the committee "purpose." Look, I know Brian isn’t going to get involved in something where he can’t make a positive impact on the cause… I just am scratching my head about how a committee with three purposes mostly unrelated to sports is going to improve any deal with OVG to ensure returning the NBA* is the "#1 priority" as our city leaders have claimed it is.
*I more or less think the NHL is a done deal… So mainly focusing my concerns on the NBA (no offense to John).
By ksmith1984 on 07.20.17 2:29pm
There's not going to be much a community advisory group can offer on that front
These are things the city is likely going to rely on the consultants to work through.
That said, the fact that they’ve included these two voices in the group sticks out in a big way. In addition, there are other members in the group who are outspoken sports fans, like Robert Cardona, Monty Anderson, and Ollie Garrett.
I doubt this will be missing from the conversation at all.
By Matt Tucker on 07.20.17 2:47pm
My question
Are any of these voices lobbying for either OVG or SODO?
I want decisions and comments made in this committee to be what’s best for all the people who use this facility be it transportation, transit, restaurants, bars, hotels, etc (total fan experience). I don’t want decisions made because something is being forced down our throats so we have to settle. Don’t get me wrong, I’m for any location that gets us a team even if I do prefer SODO but I still want everything to be done in the best way possible whichever site is ultimately selected.
By Kodi on 07.20.17 2:58pm
This committee is specifically regarding KeyArena
If they so choose, the city council can put together their own community advisory panel to discuss between the Center and the SoDo options.
By Matt Tucker on 07.20.17 3:09pm
That doesn't answer what I asked
I want to know if anyone on that list is a lobbyist for OVG.
As I wrote I want decisions and comments made in this committee to be what’s best for all the people who use this facility be it transportation, transit, restaurants, bars, hotels, etc (total fan experience).
By Kodi on 07.20.17 3:17pm
There might be some who prefer the KeyArena option
But no one hired by or working for OVG.
A number of these people were on the prior advisory panel during the RFP process.
By Matt Tucker on 07.20.17 3:23pm
That's all I wanted to know
By Kodi on 07.20.17 4:10pm
Are you asking if anyone is being paid by SODO or OVG
to be on this panel? You would think that would disqualify anyone on this list.
By Otto Rogers on 07.20.17 3:25pm
I would agree
By Kodi on 07.20.17 4:09pm
And this...
Is why we are likely to run into a bad decision making process….and I don’t see why anyone would argue against the fact that it does nothing to ensure that the best decision is made regarding the macro situation.
By blykmyk44 on 07.21.17 10:58am
Also note...
None of their stated goals is to figure out what is the best option for the city…just what could be the best option for Key Arena.
By blykmyk44 on 07.21.17 10:57am
Don't really understand the purpose of this committee.
Weren’t there experts brought in by the City to negotiate the MOU? I’m not confused as to why a committee is needed to ensure that women and minority owned businesses are used throughout the project.
This committee will have little to no impact on the project, as the review panel had little to no impact on the proposal selected to move forward at Key Arena. What’s more frustrating than fans being shut out of the process is this little dog and pony show to make it appear that they aren’t.
By itsanospreybich on 07.20.17 2:31pm
I'm confused as to why...*
By itsanospreybich on 07.20.17 2:45pm
In part, this is a way to get many groups in the wider community to be on board with the process
As Matt noted, they’ve bought in a nice cross section of sports supporters. I think this will be good for the return of the Supes and for #NHLtoSeattle.
By Speedcat on 07.20.17 2:54pm
Please explain how you think this committe will
have a positive impact on the return of the Sonics and NHL to Key Arena. The purpose of the group as stated in the press release has nothing to do with that.
By itsanospreybich on 07.20.17 3:16pm
In our case, I think its so that local sports community activists - Brian (NBA) and John (NHL) - will be given a front-row seat to hear how the project will play out, not necessarily whether it will - or even should - happen.
In a broader sense, I think its about hearing how the new arena will integrate into what already exists – the people and structures – when this thing is done. The City is trying to demystify the arena upfront so that people will sign off on it, or at least tolerate it. For best results, they need to push back against local opposition before it can start.
I wonder if Brian and John will have any input into our concerns about lease requirements. (Remember the AEG ask about not enabling efforts to help arenas move forward elsewhere – i.e. ‘no’ to a street vacation vote request? Would we be locked into thirty years of that talk here with OVG?) I suspect that level of input will not be given to this committee. Will possible traffic solutions be discussed in any real way? Where are we with parking? etc, etc, etc.
By Bizzquik on 07.20.17 6:19pm
I will not be restrained
Despite rumors that I am accommodating and complicit I ask hard questions and my purpose for being there is to make sure that everybody in the room prioritizes bringing the Sonics back. I do not expect any subjects to be off limits for questions and will wield as much influence as I can based on the answers to those questions.
By Brian Robinson on 07.20.17 6:26pm
and what happens if
bringing the Sonics back and accommodating the NBA long term is near the bottom of their priority list?
By Seattle_Fan1980 on 07.20.17 6:43pm
IF I were to realize that I am pretty happy to have wound up in position to do something about it.
I did it to Clay Bennet and I did it to Greg Nichols.
I disagree with your assessment. I’ve spent a lot of time with a lot of people and feel like OVG is very legitimate and Tim Leiweke is serious about bringing the NBA to town. I wouldn’t participate if I did not believe that and have information to substantiate it.
I’m not the one trying to slow down an arena option. I’m all for speeding up both plans and know that delays can equal death politically. The idea that we should slow down one proposal to let the other guy catch up is not something I approve of regardless of site.
By Brian Robinson on 07.20.17 6:47pm
Besides their 74 year old NBA ownership guy
what tangible things about OVGs plan makes you think they are NBA focused? Not "vaporware", tangible things.
By Seattle_Fan1980 on 07.20.17 6:50pm
Wait, hold up. Leiweke being a chief Dolan lieutenant isn't enough proof for you that he has top-level NBA connections?
This is June, but you can find articles from, oh, the 90’s.
By Bizzquik on 07.20.17 7:21pm
And the guy only ran 4 different NBA teams
and was involved with the league as long as Adam Silver has been part of it.
By Matt Tucker on 07.20.17 7:40pm