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Washington Legislature doesn’t act on arena request
By The Associated Press
Friday, March 14, 2008 | No comments posted.
SEATTLE — The future of professional basketball in Seattle is back in limbo.
Despite a last-second push, the state Legislature did not act on a proposed renovation plan for KeyArena, home of the Seattle SuperSonics, before adjourning Thursday night.
Offered up by four prominent Seattle businessmen, the proposal called for $75 million of the $300 million renovation cost to come from the extension of current King County taxes. That would require legislative approval.
Another $75 million would come from the city and the businessmen would provide the remaining $150 million.
But Gov. Chris Gregoire said Thursday afternoon there were simply not enough votes to push the proposal through so late in the session. She reiterated there is interest in looking at the proposal next year.
“That’s not to say they don’t want to move forward, that is not to say they don’t agree with the proposal that’s being suggested,” Gregoire said. “They want bridge funding by the city, come back next year, come back and do it right. But there are not enough votes to get it done now.”
Later Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, and other Senate leaders sent a letter to the four businessmen — Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer, Costco Wholesale Corp. President and CEO Jim Sinegal, wireless entrepreneur John Stanton and Seattle developer Matt Griffin — saying, “a legislative vote on your proposal is premature.
“We need as thoughtful and balanced an approach to this idea as we approach any public issue in the Legislature — but especially because we’re talking about taxes and the public financing of professional sports,” the letter continued.
Reached earlier Thursday, Griffin said, “I’ve told the city I will just stay calm on this and give them some time to think about what their choices (are).”
The businessmen came forward a week ago with a last-ditch attempt at potentially keeping professional basketball in Seattle, offering to pay for half the renovation costs contingent on their ability to purchase a team. NBA officials have said KeyArena is a severely deficient venue.
Current Sonics’ owner Clay Bennett is trying to move the team to Oklahoma City and has repeatedly said the team is not for sale. His application for relocation is scheduled to be reviewed at next month’s NBA Board of Governors meeting.
Ballmer and his group sent a letter to the governor and key legislators earlier this week, stressing the need to have the funding package approved by April 10 to give the group more leverage before the Board of Governors in a push to keep the NBA in Seattle.
Gregoire said no one has suggested a special session to take on the proposal.
“And I sure am not. I don’t see any reason. There are no votes,” she said.
State lawmakers said a solution could be found with the city of Seattle, should it choose to use its existing revenue authority in the short-term to bridge the funding gap. That would give the Legislature the opportunity to examine a large financial package next session for other projects in Seattle and King County, they said.
Officials with the city of Seattle did not return a phone message seeking comment.
“We believe the short-term and long-term plans laid out earlier this week should send a strong message to you and the NBA,” Brown wrote, “that we in the Legislature are serious about keeping professional basketball in Seattle.”
———
Associated Press Writer Rachel La Corte in Olympia, Wash. contributed to this report.
Despite a last-second push, the state Legislature did not act on a proposed renovation plan for KeyArena, home of the Seattle SuperSonics, before adjourning Thursday night.
Offered up by four prominent Seattle businessmen, the proposal called for $75 million of the $300 million renovation cost to come from the extension of current King County taxes. That would require legislative approval.
Another $75 million would come from the city and the businessmen would provide the remaining $150 million.
But Gov. Chris Gregoire said Thursday afternoon there were simply not enough votes to push the proposal through so late in the session. She reiterated there is interest in looking at the proposal next year.
“That’s not to say they don’t want to move forward, that is not to say they don’t agree with the proposal that’s being suggested,” Gregoire said. “They want bridge funding by the city, come back next year, come back and do it right. But there are not enough votes to get it done now.”
Later Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, and other Senate leaders sent a letter to the four businessmen — Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer, Costco Wholesale Corp. President and CEO Jim Sinegal, wireless entrepreneur John Stanton and Seattle developer Matt Griffin — saying, “a legislative vote on your proposal is premature.
“We need as thoughtful and balanced an approach to this idea as we approach any public issue in the Legislature — but especially because we’re talking about taxes and the public financing of professional sports,” the letter continued.
Reached earlier Thursday, Griffin said, “I’ve told the city I will just stay calm on this and give them some time to think about what their choices (are).”
The businessmen came forward a week ago with a last-ditch attempt at potentially keeping professional basketball in Seattle, offering to pay for half the renovation costs contingent on their ability to purchase a team. NBA officials have said KeyArena is a severely deficient venue.
Current Sonics’ owner Clay Bennett is trying to move the team to Oklahoma City and has repeatedly said the team is not for sale. His application for relocation is scheduled to be reviewed at next month’s NBA Board of Governors meeting.
Ballmer and his group sent a letter to the governor and key legislators earlier this week, stressing the need to have the funding package approved by April 10 to give the group more leverage before the Board of Governors in a push to keep the NBA in Seattle.
Gregoire said no one has suggested a special session to take on the proposal.
“And I sure am not. I don’t see any reason. There are no votes,” she said.
State lawmakers said a solution could be found with the city of Seattle, should it choose to use its existing revenue authority in the short-term to bridge the funding gap. That would give the Legislature the opportunity to examine a large financial package next session for other projects in Seattle and King County, they said.
Officials with the city of Seattle did not return a phone message seeking comment.
“We believe the short-term and long-term plans laid out earlier this week should send a strong message to you and the NBA,” Brown wrote, “that we in the Legislature are serious about keeping professional basketball in Seattle.”
———
Associated Press Writer Rachel La Corte in Olympia, Wash. contributed to this report.
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