Sports is our Business
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Scott Hall wrote:A lot of it will depend on how big of a sports fan you are if you're just soccer and casual NBA who knows? I still
say if Seattle goes on a deep playoff run there's no way you'll not get sucked in.
KeyArena’s grand reopening has been delayed yet again, threatening the start of the Seattle Storm’s 2021 basketball season, and potentially costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Documents obtained by The Seattle Times show construction costs have ballooned to $900 million dollars. The first price tag put renovations at $600 million dollars, with work originally scheduled to wrap up in time for the 2020 NHL season in October.
That was initially delayed 12 months by the NHL, when it became clear that it wasn’t a feasible date for the end of construction. After that, eyes were trained on the 2021 season for the debut of Seattle’s new hockey team.
The latest estimate has the renovated KeyArena opening closer to June 2021, bumping up against the May start of the Storm’s season, and just four months before the beginning of the NHL season.
Over the last two years, funding estimates have jumped almost continuously, due to skyrocketing labor and building material costs, among other factors. Most recently, the price tag sat at $800 million, back when ground first broke on the renovation back in December 2018.
The rebuild is set to include a 360-foot-long glass atrium, dedicated locker rooms for Seattle’s new NHL team, a potential NBA team, and the Storm, 50,000 square feet of storage, and a 750,000 square foot interior. Capacity for hockey games will seat up around 17,400 people, while basketball will house 18,600.
While the renovation is using all private money, this could still end up impacting Seattle taxpayers. If delays cause the Storm to miss home games, the city would be on the hook for $260,000 for each game the team is forced to relocate.
According to the Times, a new deal between NHL Seattle and the Oak View Group developer caps the renovation’s costs from rising any further. There are no details on whether or not the original plans for the project have been scaled back to account for delays and the need for additional funding.
Seattle NHL Franchise To Have AHL Affiliate In Palm Springs
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. -- Seattle's new NHL franchise intends to have its American Hockey League affiliate in Palm Springs as part of a new arena proposed for the city.
The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and Oak View Group announced plans Wednesday to build a privately funded arena on tribal land in downtown Palm Springs with the intent of serving as the home ice for Seattle's affiliate. NHL Seattle and OVG have jointly submitted an application for an expansion AHL franchise, the 32nd for the league, which would begin play in the fall of 2021, at the same time Seattle's NHL franchise will begin play.
OVG is currently financing and leading the renovation of the arena at Seattle Center that will be home to the NHL franchise.
The new arena in Palm Springs will seat up to 10,000 fans and include an adjoining training facility. The groups hope to begin construction on the arena in February 2020.
Ron Francis Named Seattle GM
Seattle's new NHL franchise has its first general manager.
Hall of Famer Ron Francis was named the expansion team's GM Thursday.
"After seven months of due diligence, research, conversations, interviews and evaluation, we are thrilled to announce Ron as our GM," NHL Seattle CEO Tod Leiweke said in a statement.
Francis will receive a multiyear contract from the team, a source told ESPN's Emily Kaplan.
Cactus Jack wrote:Otis Driftwood wrote:Cactus Jack wrote:Sorry Otis, but Seattle is a way better market for hockey than Houston.
The NHL needs to market the sport & their stars better in the states. Not having a partnership with ESPN hasn't helped either.
Football will always be the most popular sport in the US. But, Hockey should be on par with Basketball & baseball in this country.
You should want an expansion team then. Look at how it worked out for Vegas.
Oh I'm very excited that Seattle is finally getting a team. Even though the location (Key Arena) isn't ideal by any means. It will likely mean having to sit in traffic for an extra hour just to get to the arena. But, that's what we've been given. So why fight it, right!? I just hope it doesnt keep fans from attending. The team will need to be somewhat successfull or it could be a real concern.
Otis Driftwood wrote:Cactus Jack wrote:Otis Driftwood wrote:
You should want an expansion team then. Look at how it worked out for Vegas.
Oh I'm very excited that Seattle is finally getting a team. Even though the location (Key Arena) isn't ideal by any means. It will likely mean having to sit in traffic for an extra hour just to get to the arena. But, that's what we've been given. So why fight it, right!? I just hope it doesnt keep fans from attending. The team will need to be somewhat successfull or it could be a real concern.
Happy for you, Brother!
Cactus Jack wrote:Otis Driftwood wrote:Cactus Jack wrote:Oh I'm very excited that Seattle is finally getting a team. Even though the location (Key Arena) isn't ideal by any means. It will likely mean having to sit in traffic for an extra hour just to get to the arena. But, that's what we've been given. So why fight it, right!? I just hope it doesnt keep fans from attending. The team will need to be somewhat successfull or it could be a real concern.
Happy for you, Brother!
Hey, Otis!
What's Kraken!?
