Here's something out of todays SeattlePi.
OLYMPIA -- Gov. Chris Gregoire breathed new life into a bid to keep an NBA team in Seattle on Friday when she provided guarded and incomplete information about talks she's been having with a group of local investors seeking public money to renovate KeyArena.
On Thursday, House Democrats showed interest in the new offer, which would require the state to OK the use of stadium taxes now used for Safeco Field to raise $75 million for the $300 million renovation. But they said they would not take up related legislation this session.
A day later, Gregoire refused to rule out the possibility that a bill could be passed before the Legislature adjourns Thursday.
"We're not done talking about what we are going to do this session," Gregoire said. "We're still talking."
Asked if there might be something done on basketball this session, Gregoire said. "Yeah."
But the comments came after Gregoire had outlined the difficulties the new ownership group faces. Foremost is that current Sonics owner Clay Bennett told her Wednesday that the team was "unequivocally not for sale."
"At some point we have to accept that," she said.
"Having said that, I am encouraged that we can hopefully be able to get an NBA team in Washington state, and I'll do everything I can, if it's at all possible, to have that team named the Sonics."
Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer, wireless executive John Stanton, Costco CEO Jim Sinegal and developer Matt Griffin make up the group trying to revive the effort to keep an NBA team as the anchor tenant at KeyArena. The group says it will contribute $150 million to a KeyArena upgrade. The rest of the money would come from Seattle ($75 million) and King County taxes ($75 million).
"I couldn't be more excited about local ownership and this set of people who stepped forward, and with them comes an understanding of our community and what they want and therefore they've put forward a good amount of money that they would use for renovation for KeyArena and the Sonics," Gregoire said.
Gregoire said Bennett plans to take two years to renovate the Ford Center in his hometown of Oklahoma City, "and he intends to move in."
On Tuesday, voters in Oklahoma City passed a $121 million tax package to renovate the Ford Center for an NBA team.
"I don't know any reason at this point for the Legislature, if there is no opportunity for them to buy this current team, to do anything this legislative session. I have brought the issue to the attention to all of the leadership, we have had good conversations about it. I am encouraged, I think they are absolutely open, and let me assure you the door was closed before we had this kind of local ownership and their willingness to step forward."
Unless the Legislature agrees to com
Gregoire upbeat on Sonics
BTW: Frank Chopp coming around on this proposal?
I'm in Olympia today and asked House Speaker Frank Chopp (Let's not forget to mention that he grew up in Bremerton.) about the proposed Sonics deal and he said he thought they (as in he and some other people) probably had something worked out that would address the issue. Technically, he didn't say "We're all for it," but given his language in the past on deals such as this, I would think Sonics hopefuls would see this as pretty positive.
All of this is going on way, way away from the general body, because when I ask our legislators about the issue they don't know much about it.
Chopp OK on Something for the Sonics
