My buddy who works in Olympia..

[HeavyP]

Sent this to me

House Finance chairman shows path to
Key Arena financing solution

March 12, 2008

OLYMPIA

[yearsago]

Ugh.

Horrible idea, and if I was the city, I would say FU to the state.

a 'promise' to pay back to the city? We know that is not going to happen.

'trust' us.

[RBNICE]

its a moot point whatever the city decides because the Sonics are not for sale and Clay is NOT interested in a facelift at Key

[yearsago]

its a moot point whatever the city decides because the Sonics are not for sale and Clay is NOT interested in a facelift at Key

They are not for sale now, because Bennett has all the leverage. If the BoG tells Bennett no. You think his tune might change?

[bennith13]

its a moot point whatever the city decides because the Sonics are not for sale and Clay is NOT interested in a facelift at Key

Things can change after the Sonics lose their court case and have to stay for another two years. I forget, were the Storm for sale? I remember Clay saying that he would never sell the Storm or the Sonics. With a plan in place to redo the key the BOG will not allow the Sonics to move to OKC.

[Dick Tate]

Puhleeze about the Storm. Do you really believe Bennett ever had any serious interest in the keeping Storm? C'mon! They were just a chip that he cashed in at a time when he was looking to quiet some of the resistance.

[bennith13]

I don't know. If you take him at his word then he had some serious interest in the Storm.

Do you think it is a lost cause to fight for the Sonics? On more then one occasion you have made post alluding to that idea.

[Dick Tate]

For the most part. I think the Sonics name and history can be saved for a possible future replacement team, but unfortunately that would likely require accepting a buyout offer before the trial.

[TheUrbanZealot]

-= original quote snipped =-



Things can change after the Sonics lose their court case and have to stay for another two years. I forget, were the Storm for sale? I remember Clay saying that he would never sell the Storm or the Sonics. With a plan in place to redo the key the BOG will not allow the Sonics to move to OKC.

I don't recall Bennett ever saying the Storm aren't for sale. He never said they weren't for sale either, he actually alluded to being open about the prospectus of keeping the Storm local, matter of fact. Like he was more open to the Storm staying, if nothing at all.

Can someone please pull the quote?

[RBNICE]

Clay already got $10,000,000 (million) for the Storm, I think to a local womens business group>> Liqudate any assests before moving time; like having a tag sale, before you sell your house First is was fire Bob, move Ray, then Rashard, Sell the Storm, move Kurt, move Wally, move D west and the highest paid player makes $6.5, for one more year then its move him !

[CatchNShoot]

Given all the twist and turns, especially over the last few weeks, it's hard to say what will happen, but I would be surprised if the City didn't come up with all or some of the $75 million. Even 50 cents on the dollar is a good deal for the City.

I'm very upset with the legislature for passing the buck to the City because it's not the City's responsibility to fund regional improvements. The legislature totally shirked its responsibility to the region when it unfairly burdened the City with the total cost of the Key Arena upgrade.

Notwithstanding, given the votes potentially lost in a heavily populated area, I wouldn't be surprised to see the State and County allocate a generous share of money to City projects next year, such as to other parts of Seattle Center and/or Husky Stadium. In the end, the City will be made whole without alienating the majority of people who don't support funding professional sports teams.