Seattle investor has plans to build downtown arena

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

There's also a team in Everett and the T-Birds actually play in Kent. I think the teams can co-exist.

The ShoWare Center is a beauty.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by Muta

The ShoWare Center is a beauty.

Does that not look like a convenience store to anyone else?

[saskflames69]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Does that not look like a convenience store to anyone else?

I was thinking more of a Save-on-Foods.

[Muta]

Hahaha... how about this one.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Pretty sure that's the Superstore wedged between 4th and Centre st NW.

Looks beautiful at night!

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

This situation screams expansion franchise. I'd be shocked if the NHL didn't announce relatively soon (as in, maybe a few months after the regular season starts or the end of this upcoming season at the absolute latest) that the League is expanding to Seattle and Markham. Probably 2015-16 or 2016-17.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

This situation screams expansion franchise. I'd be shocked if the NHL didn't announce relatively soon (as in, maybe a few months after the regular season starts or the end of this upcoming season at the absolute latest) that the League is expanding to Seattle and Markham. Probably 2015-16 or 2016-17.

They need an NHL owner in Seattle. The arena financier is only in for the NBA team. Maybe the Chicago wolves owner would be interested as he was wanting to build an arena as well.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

They need an NHL owner in Seattle. The arena financier is only in for the NBA team. Maybe the Chicago wolves owner would be interested as he was wanting to build an arena as well.

I'm fairly certain the ownership group will include Don Levin. He wants to own a team in Seattle and even though it looks like his Bellevue arena project won't go through, this one should work nicely.

[seattleflamer]

Levin really wants that Bellevue deal since he'd have control of the building and the additional revenue sources. Also rumors that Gretzky is part of Levin's investor group and when Gretzky was in town, he met with Bellevue city officials according to reports in late July.

Wayne Gretzky, who was seen at a Seattle Mariners game Wednesday, took a meeting with Bellevue officials to discuss the possibility of a NHL arena in the city, according to KJR radio's Dave "Softy" Mahler.

Bellevue spokesman Claude Iosso said he was unaware of the meeting.

A source close to the situation said talks between Bellevue and suitors for an NHL arena have been ongoing, but the source did not want to go into any particular individuals.

"There are people working on it," the source said.

As for the SODO arena deal, this was a big win for Seattle taxpayers even though general Seattle property taxes will go up nominally ie.$60/year on a $350K house .

Although nothing is 100% fool proof and does potentially weaken the ability of the city to finance other potential projects, this deal isn't the usual corporate welfare scheme that usually comes with professional sports teams.

[krazycanuck]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

I'm fairly certain the ownership group will include Don Levin. He wants to own a team in Seattle and even though it looks like his Bellevue arena project won't go through, this one should work nicely.

I wonder if Paul Allen would have an interest in owning an NHL team in Seattle. I know he was rumoured to have tried to put a team in Portland before (where he owns the Trail Blazers and the arena). He would be a dream owner for the NHL if they were looking at expansion.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by krazycanuck

I wonder if Paul Allen would have an interest in owning an NHL team in Seattle. I know he was rumoured to have tried to put a team in Portland before (where he owns the Trail Blazers and the arena). He would be a dream owner for the NHL if they were looking at expansion.

I'm not sure how interested he is in the NHL these days. The names you're going to hear start swirling are Levin and Ballmer.

[MissTeeks]

Seattle City Counsel approved the arena legislation today:

https://twitter.com/ChrisDaniels5

BREAKING - Seattle City Council APPROVES #SeattleArena legislation 6-2.

Chris Hansen releases statement thanking council for vote, and willingness to "roll up their sleeves" #SeattIeArena

[tomo]

I wonder how serious Kratz and Lowe are or did they just want to position themselves against edm city council while going to the seahawks game?



OILERS BRASS VISITS SEATTLE ARENA AMID TALKS WITH EDMONTON

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=406031

[sevenarms]

Originally Posted by tomo

I wonder how serious Kratz and Lowe are or did they just want to position themselves against edm city council while going to the seahawks game?



OILERS BRASS VISITS SEATTLE ARENA AMID TALKS WITH EDMONTON

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=406031

I'm sure the name "Oilers" will go over well with the tree-hugging Seattle folk.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Muta

The ShoWare Center is a beauty.

I realize it looks like a convenience store from the outside but from the inside I like all the surrounding glass as it makes the concourse bright and airy. The dark, drab concrete concourse of the Saddledome makes you feel like you are in an industrial facility by comparison.

[hwy19man]

Originally Posted by krazycanuck

I wonder if Paul Allen would have an interest in owning an NHL team in Seattle. I know he was rumoured to have tried to put a team in Portland before (where he owns the Trail Blazers and the arena). He would be a dream owner for the NHL if they were looking at expansion.

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

I'm not sure how interested he is in the NHL these days. The names you're going to hear start swirling are Levin and Ballmer.

Portland would be terrific but, Mr. Allen does not want competition to his beloved Trailblazers of the NBA. Having both cities would be excellent. I wonder how long until Katz makes a trip to Portland, Oregon.

[coop3422]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I realize it looks like a convenience store from the outside but from the inside I like all the surrounding glass as it makes the concourse bright and airy. The dark, drab concrete concourse of the Saddledome makes you feel like you are in an industrial facility by comparison.

I wonder what it would cost to heat in the winter though if it were in Calgary? lol.

I can't believe people are talking about expansion, when it's clear that teams are currently bleeding and need to be moved

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by coop3422

I wonder what it would cost to heat in the winter though if it were in Calgary? lol.

I can't believe people are talking about expansion, when it's clear that teams are currently bleeding and need to be moved

People think about expansion because the NHL IS planning to expand. In their new divisional realignment they proposed, the divisions were unbalanced since Western divisions had 8 teams while Eastern only had 7. It's obvious that the NHL intends to have 2 more teams added to the league in the near future so the divisions are all balanced.

NHL believes in the market teams are in right now, that they can still work with the right owners in place. And if a team or two has to move, there's numerous potential locations to go too, while still have more cities available for teams.

Off the top of my head, cities that could support an NHL team if a owner wanted to move there (and an arena can be built or already has been):

Quebec City
Markham (Toronto 2)
Hamilton
Seattle
Kansas City
Hartford
Houston
Las Vegas (Don't really see that happening at all personally)

[Alberta_Beef]

I'd love to see a Seattle team roll out some uniforms that had similar colours to the old North Stars uniforms from the early 90s

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

I'd love to see a Seattle team roll out some uniforms that had similar colours to the old North Stars uniforms from the early 90s

You mean like these?

large image

NSFW!