Hey Seattle, what happened to two separate tracks?
While I certainly appreciate that there is a lot of work to be done on negotiating a memorandum of understanding with Oak View Group regarding the potential KeyArena redevelopment, is it truly necessary to pull all resources from reviewing the SoDo arena street vacation request?
Earlier in the year, in one of the first meetings of the newly formed Select Committee on Civic Arenas, we as constituents were informed that, while the city pursued a possible new arena project at Seattle Center, the SoDo project would continue on its own track. The investment group submitted their second request for vacation in February. Everyone was eyeing late summer or early fall as to when the council would entertain the request following the standard recommendation process.
Yet, this week we're told it's in fact not two separate tracks, and that the city has a clear priority to which to devote resources. Yes, we'll make sure to place language in a resolution to reaffirm our commitment to pursuing a potential project at KeyArena that asserts no preferred or guaranteed outcome. But all actions speak to a preferred project.
I'm not saying I'm not open to a KeyArena redo. Honestly, I'm pretty much of the opinion now that it's our likely best path toward an arena, toward getting the NBA back, toward bringing the NHL to Seattle, and toward a worthy civic arena for not just music and entertainment but to host events like national political conventions for which the city has had to skip on applying. This is not a popular opinion among the sports fandom, I'm aware, but my holistic read of the landscape leads me to it.
My concern is that, preference or not, the arena process was presented to the public as two proposals to be given fair, if not equal, weight and consideration. They were to be independently studied along their different tracks until such a time as both could be considered in tandem and a single choice arrived at.
Yes, the SoDo project has the benefit of years of process behind it. The OVG project still has to get through the gauntlet to be on a comparable level to consider between the two. It's understandable that resources would be moved in that direction to play "catch-up." Yet, the SoDo project is still in play until at least December 3, 2025 by agreement, and there is still action to consider on it. It should be given its fair due.
The city would do better for itself to continue the vacation process with SoDo. You have the previous work that SDOT did prior to its first recommendation for the project in late 2015 to lean on. Getting the project to its vacation vote presents just the kind of transparency that has been lauded throughout the KeyArena process to date.
In the end, the choice still lies with the city and the council. Why not get your table fully set so you can make the best and most informed choice? Finish both tracks; it’s in the city’s best interest.
Comments
Perfectly stated
By Paul Rogers on 08.16.17 11:49am
Agreed
Why this council is doing this is puzzling to say the least. Do they not get the political advantages for doing both?
By snovalleyhockeyfan on 08.16.17 12:49pm
To me, the POS paid for the delay with the $ for Lander
politics is fun
By Jeff - j1012 on 08.16.17 12:04pm
Come to the eastside Hansen, we'll have you!
By itsanospreybich on 08.16.17 12:05pm
Yep!
Plenty of land in the Spring district in Bellevue he can redevelop…….
By snovalleyhockeyfan on 08.16.17 12:49pm
How is the transit access to the Spring District?
By NWEastcoaster on 08.16.17 6:58pm
Will have light rail before Key Arena.
By itsanospreybich on 08.16.17 10:40pm
ooooooooooh:)
If enough plot for an arena, some sports minded investors better get an option for that land.
By NWEastcoaster on 08.17.17 6:13am
Thank you again Matt
Please accept my apology for doubting that you and SR would continue to use your voice to support the street vacation. I truly believe that it is our best opportunity to return the Sonics, if only as leverage to ensure that any deal for the Key Arena will include the NBA, or as Plan B. I can only hope that your holistic reads are valid, and that future NBA owners agree on the viability of whichever outcome Seattle enables.
Cheers!
By cortone on 08.16.17 12:39pm
We report it
when there is something to cover. Good, bad, otherwise. We can’t manufacture the news or progress at either site, but we continue to be dedicated to the return of the Sonics (and Kraken!) and covering what may come to those ends.
By Chris Meirose on 08.16.17 3:10pm
So you're just journalists? And SonicsRising is just a news site?
By cortone on 08.16.17 4:13pm
We always try to be as impartial as possible
We take what we are given and work with it. We’re mostly pro SoDo from a biased stand point. It’s obviously the best site. Over the last couple of weeks I had the pleasure of being back in the city for longer periods of time. Stayed in a Seattle Center the night before a job interview. Traffic was horrrid at 7:15am! Not great to get out of. Stayed with a friend in Kent over the weekend and we took the Sounder train to and from the Mariners games. Fantastic experience! Great way to get in and out of SoDo in a stress free fashion!
I’d love for the arena to be SoDo, but the city has been blinded by the port and won’t get a fair shake anymore. It really makes me sad.
We’ll continue to cover things as down the middle as possible and that will include us biting our tongue and going into the Seattle Center 80+ nights a year to cover NBA and NHL. If we are deemed credential worthy.
By Kevin Nesgoda on 08.16.17 6:56pm
I"m sure you'll earn your credentials.
By cortone on 08.16.17 8:31pm
I’ve gotten almost all
I’ve requested recently. Portland is the weirdest in regards to that.
By Kevin Nesgoda on 08.16.17 8:54pm
Congratulations Kevin
Remember to treat us fucking losers kindly when you’re in the big time.
By cortone on 08.16.17 9:03pm
You’re not losers
And I don’t want the big time.
By Kevin Nesgoda on 08.16.17 9:46pm
Honest question, and I don't mean to insult you or anyone else here, but....
Why?
If the goal of this site is to be a news outlet, that’s a fine answer. I’m certain the number of people that read without participating far outpaces the commentariat here, as with most blogs (but I wonder how many of those readers would continue to do so with just articles and no comments). But since you have an opinion that’s on the record, and have a reasonably legitimate voice by being part of a known network like SBNation, why not exercise it?
Take this comment from Mr. Shea in a different thread:
If you’re not specifically looking to be a "news outlet" for a team that at this point doesn’t exist and isn’t imminent, wouldn’t there be more value in making this place the missing voice in all of this debate? Or at least making the attempt?
Is the issue hockey fandom, the recent growth in hockey-first fans here, and that being anti-Key Arena is anti-hockey?
I’m certainly not trying to tell anyone what to do with this site, or how to invest time and effort with regards to sports teams in Seattle. And I’m not trying to sound condescending with regards to any aspect of the writing here, by anyone. I’m just curious why a site called "Sonics Rising" would choose to manifest itself as anything other than a advocacy group for getting the Sonics back to Seattle (and that includes having the opinion that the best thing to that end is remodeling Key Arena). Or, more accurately I suppose, why it lost that focus….
By Brad Johnson UW on 08.20.17 6:58pm
I second this
Nice work, I didn’t know how to phrase this as well as you have.
By cortone on 08.25.17 11:19am
Bezos
Hansen needs to figure out what he can do to get Bezos on board.
Maybe discuss how Amazon could take all the ticketing process for the new arena.
You get major $ backing, plus a South Lake Union major business owner claiming how that added traffic is going to impact his employees could make a big difference.
By GoHuskies on 08.16.17 12:48pm
Better yet have Bezos object the Key Arena stating it is too close to Amazon headquarters!!!
Hansen needs to an Ace on the river or something. He can’t sit back and doing anything now. He needs to completely fight back!!
By WoodLandSonic40316 on 08.16.17 12:52pm
Sorry.
It’s defeatist, but pretty sure this is the final nail in the coffin. SoDo’s been effectively killed, and given the way it was it’s hard to imagine a potential owner ponying up for minimal profits.
By Drunk Viking on 08.16.17 1:06pm
There's nobody, that runs or reads this site, that opposes Hansen's street vacation application going to a vote, correct?
If so, this "organization" should be demanding that, not just in an article here, but at city hall. The only way one is listened to is by being part of a group that politicians think could have an effect on them.
By Mr. Shea on 08.16.17 1:38pm
I would have thought that that was one of the reasons Brian Robinson was on the advisory panel
To ensure transparency, ensure the best opportunity to return the Sonics, and to ask the tough questions.
By cortone on 08.16.17 1:56pm
I might be cynical
But I think his inclusion on the panel is to check a box. In their view, "fan outreach" is accomplished simply by giving him a seat at the table. Whether or not Brian represents the majority view on here that the street vacation should be addressed, and is actually pushing for it, is another story.
By Yoonhawk on 08.16.17 5:32pm
I don't think
Brian represents anyone’s view but his own. History has shown that his voice is a very good representation of many fans of the Sonics. Few have worked as hard for their return. Few have sacrificed as much personally and professionally. Few have as much skin in the game in the real world of actually doing things that might lead to the return of the Sonics. You can be cynical about that as you please, but Brian’s credentials in this are legit, and that’s why he’s included. It’s why Chris Hansen included him. Yet nobody was ever cynical about that…
By Chris Meirose on 08.16.17 8:22pm