Seattle investor has plans to build downtown arena

[hwy19man]

Originally Posted by getbak

The biggest hurdle for Seattle right now will be where to play for what would likely be at least 3 seasons before the new building is opened. The Key Arena has a capacity of about 10,000 for hockey and a number of those seats have obscured views of the ice. The arena in Everett where the Silvertips play has a capacity of about 8,500, but it's designed for hockey, so they would all be good seats. The problem is that Everett is 30 miles from where the new arena would be, where Key Arena is only on the north side of downtown Seattle.

That is the major problem, no suitably sized building to play in for that period of time. Tacoma and its dome there (not the best venue either) is 54 km south of Seattle. Another wild idea would be for the team team to play in Portland, Oregon at the Rose Garden (an excellent facility), 233 km south of Seattle.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by getbak

I think because the League owns the Coyotes, they'll want to maximize the value they get from the sale, so a bidding war between Seattle and Quebec City (and Kansas City and/or Houston, or anyone else) would be in the League's best interest. It would also allow them to find out if there is enough interest in a possible expansion.


The biggest hurdle for Seattle right now will be where to play for what would likely be at least 3 seasons before the new building is opened. The Key Arena has a capacity of about 10,000 for hockey and a number of those seats have obscured views of the ice. The arena in Everett where the Silvertips play has a capacity of about 8,500, but it's designed for hockey, so they would all be good seats. The problem is that Everett is 30 miles from where the new arena would be, where Key Arena is only on the north side of downtown Seattle.

I don't see any NHL hockey in Seattle until the new arena is built, there is no rush from an owners point of view, the league is in dire straights in several markets, it would make more sense to buy an existing team and leave them losing money where they are for a few years then move them.

[slcrocket]

The Tacoma Dome, while not an ideal venue, can reportedly seat around 15k-17k for hockey. It would work in the interim.

Can Seattle support five sports? I have the same question. Football is a lock as it is king...the Mariners are also a lock since there is enough history and baseball's profitability model doesn't force teams to sell out the majority of their games. The Sonics, given the right arena, would be fine as well as there is enough history and fan base to keep things going (even in the waning lame duck years, I recall that attendance was not a big issue).

So then you've got the Sounders and the NHL franchise. MLSer's are kind of a fringe group but, as previously mentioned, numerous enough to keep things going. Since the NHL season happens at roughly the same time as the NBA, I have some concerns that people will use their disposable income for something they knew and grew up with. However, the minor league hockey teams (Silvertips and Thunderbirds) still garner a lot of interest, and it's surprising how many Western Washington residents drive up to Vancouver because it's the closest venue. I think that the NHL would need a hell of a good marketing effort in its initial years in Seattle to survive, but I think it could.

[seattleflamer]

^^^I think the Sounders prove you can play and attract fans/attention during baseball and football season. I find most of the sports teams to be niche driven anyway except UW football/basketball.

It is certainly going to be a question mark until they try it. But really what is there to do with a disposable dollar on a week day evening in the middle of winter that doesn't involve getting wet? I loved going to Sonics games just for that reason.

Sounders prove that there is a substantial underground soccer market that can be translated into financial success. And I think there is a stronger and more established hockey base here than certainly anything in Florida, Texas or California had at the outset. There is a following for the Canucks and niche followings for 2 WHL franchises on opposite ends of the metro area so that speaks to something.

I agree with AFC that there won't be a rush to get a NHL team till an arena is built. Though I think it is a buyer's market which is prompting Hansen to act now for both a team, land and financing costs which are comparatively low. Do all those things happen if you wait? Maybe, maybe not.

On a side note, it is interesting on the same day of this announcement, Amazon bought a huge chunk of the Denny Triangle in downtown Seattle.

Apparently the city/county didn't offer to finance 40% of Bezo's cost to build 3 million sq ft of new office space. Hmmm.....

[Flash Walken]

With the momentum this has gathered in a short period of time, I wonder if the we'll see Seattle with a pro team in October, with an Arena built in 3 years time? Sounding an awful lot like Winnipeg.

[Wise Gamble]

Hope NBA comes to Seattle so I can finally go down and watch some games vs the Bulls/Thunder/Heat

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by c.t.ner

That being said, the overall picture skeptic in me sees the NHL already pushing to sell the Coyotes franchise to a potential owner in Seattle. I know everyone is talking about Quebec as the main destination, but something in me just can't see Bettman losing two American market teams to Canada in two years. A sale to a Seattle group dying to have a major tenant seams far to logical. Plus unlike, say a Florida (although I don't think they are in desperate need for relocation, just an example) or a New York Islanders, the NHL has full control over the sale.

That being said, I'll wait for SCH to come in and crush my speculation in a matter of seconds.

Quebec is quite a bit further ahead than Seattle at this stage. Quebec has an owner, a building (coming...) and a market - Bettman's three main criteria. Seattle has no owner, no building (yet) and a market.

If Coyotes need to be moved quickly, it's Quebec. If they hang on for a couple of more years it may become a toss-up.

My personal opinion is Southern Ontario and Seattle will be expansion franchises in five years or so.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by hwy19man

That is correct. Cities use this acronym for proximities to the city core and are usually comprised of mixed use developments.

In the United States, other cities use similar acronyms:

Denver, Colorado has an area similarly called LoDo (Lower Downtown).
Omaha, Nebraska has NoDo (North Downtown).

Don't forget DoWiSeTrePla in New York!

[slcrocket]

So apparently this Christopher Hansen is going to be contributing $300 million of his own cash to the project. Not that of his group or investors, but HIS cash.

[TurnedTheCorner]

"seattle investor has plans to lose hundreds of millions of dollars before becoming insolvent"

Subject fixed. You're welcome.

[Azure]

I'd imagine that they will do the same thing Winnipeg did, and get STH to commit to 5 years, and suite holders to commit even longer.

That should give them the time to build the fan base accordingly.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

Quebec is quite a bit further ahead than Seattle at this stage. Quebec has an owner, a building (coming...) and a market - Bettman's three main criteria. Seattle has no owner, no building (yet) and a market.

If Coyotes need to be moved quickly, it's Quebec. If they hang on for a couple of more years it may become a toss-up.

My personal opinion is Southern Ontario and Seattle will be expansion franchises in five years or so.

I don't think expansion works in Seattle, just to costly to make sense for anyone in a likely weak market, they will be looking to pick up a cheaper deal on a Jersey or Islanders or the like

[tjinaz]

Rumor is Jamison group is wrapping up sale of Coyotes and keeping in Glendale.

Believe it when I see them turn over the keys....

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-pu...143756163.html

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by tjinaz

Rumor is Jamison group is wrapping up sale of Coyotes and keeping in Glendale.

Believe it when I see them turn over the keys....

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-pu...143756163.html

Exactly. You'd have to think that any sale involves some sort of subsidy from the city as Hulsizer's deal did. And any form of subsidy involves the sale of bonds. And... you're right, here we go again.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by tjinaz

Rumor is Jamison group is wrapping up sale of Coyotes and keeping in Glendale.

Believe it when I see them turn over the keys....

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-pu...143756163.html

NHL again says Coyotes haven't been sold


http://www.king5.com/sports/canucks/...139849553.html

"We are the owner of the team, and thus should know if and when we have a deal to sell the team," NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told KING 5 Tuesday.

"I have unequivocally denied (several times) that we have a deal with Jamison, (much less that the Board has approved him)," said Daly. "I hope it gets done with Jamison, but there is a long way between here and there."

[Jordan!]

Yawn

[Vulcan]

There's an hour show on right now on NBC Seattle, channel 1210 on Bell TV called the Seattle Arena. They must be serious.

[Vulcan]

They are looking at Sacramanto, New Orleans, the Grizzlies, Indianapolis, and Milwaukee for NBA franchises. Sacramento has a March 1 deadline to get their plans together, if they want to keep their team. IIRC they want a NBA team before they build and look at a NHL team.

The mayor says there will be no direct money invested by the city and they will be careful not to get into a situation like Glendale [didn't mention Glendale per se]
They need two teams to make it viable.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

They are looking at Sacramanto, New Orleans, the Grizzlies, Indianapolis, and Milwaukee for NBA franchises. Sacramento has a March 1 deadline to get their plans together, if they want to keep their team. IIRC they want a NBA team before they build and look at a NHL team.

I wouldn't be suprised to see the NBA back in Vancouver at some point, by all accounts Stern considers allowing the Grizzlies to move a blunder on his part.

[Vulcan]

In the NHL of course they are looking at Phoenix. Columbus, Florida, NYI or even Tampa but Florida has been making money, so they probably won't move. Goes on to mention the local hockey history and youth hockey in the area in an interview with Jamie Huscroft. City is growing and should be able to support the NHL but not as excited as for the NBA.