The Seattle Center's new KeyArena was officially completed in late October, and already has hosted a world-class concert and several Thunderbirds and Sonics games. The new facility, which was built on the foundations of the former Coliseum, boasts approximately 3,000 additional seats, three new seating levels, improved sight lines, and expanded concessions.
The $73 million project created a beautiful new facility that would have cost $135 million or more to build from scratch. Re-using the massive steel roof trusses and concrete frame saved more than $15 million. The Seattle Center location saved $15 to $20 million in property and landscaping costs, compared to similar projects in other cities. In addition, the Sonics invested $15 million in kitchen, concession, commissary and team areas.
Best of all, the $73 million project will not cost Seattle taxpayers a dime: revenue from the new building will pay the entire renovation cost, and provide increased revenue to support other Seattle Center programs.
Miscellaneous Facts
There are assisted listening devices for the hearing an visually-impaired
Retractable seating is used to created 155 wheelchair-seating locations, establishing a system that enables able-bodied patrons to sit with disabled companions
58 wheelchair locations are provided in the suites.
There are 171 chairs with folding armrests for motion-impaired patrons
Ramps are located on both the east and west sides for access into the building
Three elevators are available for getting to the various levels.
A significant effort was made to recycle, re-use and reduce during the construction of KeyArena.
The original building was recycled instead of torn down and rebuilt. Its shell was kept, while the interior of the building was completely renovated.
Pieces of the former building's acoustical ceiling were cleaned and re-used for sound buffers.
The cobblestones inside the building and outside the building were recycled from the plaza of the former International Fountain. These cobblestones originally were recycled in 1962 from the old streets in the city.
The demolition and scrap materials were recycled throughout the project. These items include plastic, steel, copper, wood, gypsum board and cardboard.
Precast concrete wall panels and steel joints removed from the NASA Building (which was used for storage) were re-used to build the new commissary.
Other re-used items include the cooling chillers, major landscape materials, and use of existing West Court Building for the Sonics retail store.
The landscaping around the KeyArena involves 9,000 plants in a total area of 32,000 square feet. Last winter, Seattle Center gardeners created a contemporary design with a Northwest flair that would look as good from the inside of the building as it did from the outside. The landscaping focuses on a diversity of plants with a mix of evergreen, deciduous, and flowering plants, including a variety of grasses and conifers.
The Sonics Team Shop is one of the largest team-owned and -operated retail stores in the NBA, and is open year-round. The new store features unique, quality Sonics memorabilia from the NBA's top licensees. A 50-foot jetway connecting the KeyArena concourse and the Sonics Team Shop will set the atmosphere for an exciting shopping experience. Action-oriented, life-sized photographs; pulsing audio; and neon streaks will help build the excitement as fans approach the shop thorough the jetway. The store's interior integrates multimedia technologies with gigantic basketball displays that will keep fans in tune with the excitement of the NBA.
The center speaker system at KeyArena is a sophisticated exploded center cluster design, with four sets of speakers hung above the goal lines for basketball in north, south, east and west clusters. The clusters are time-delayed for proper arrival times of sound to the clusters. The south cluster can be rotated to supports south-end stage productions.
KeyArena BY THE NUMBERS
| 1 | Toilet fixture for every 46 people when the KeyArena is at full capacity |
| 2 | Star dressing rooms |
| 5 | Locker rooms |
| 7 | Layers to the roof |
| 8 | Sides to the new state-of-the-art scoreboard |
| 8.5 | Foot shower heads in the Seattle SuperSonics locker room |
| 11 | Miles of pipe used in the ice floor |
| 22 | Concession stands |
| 24 | Inches; the size of the seats in the luxury suites |
| 27 | Ticket windows |
| 35 | Number of feet the event floor was lowered |
| 58 | Luxury suites |
| 145 | Feet; the height of the KeyArena from the floor to the intersection of the roof trusses |
| 155 | Wheelchair locations |
| 171 | Seats with retractable armrests for the motion impaired |
| 250 | Television monitors throughout the building |
| 500+ | The largest number of people working on the KeyArena at one time |
| 650+ | Cars that can be parked in the new parking structure |
| 1,100 | Club seats |
| 2,400+ | Retractable seats |
| 9,000 | Plants used in landscaping |
| 10,000 | Truckloads of dirt taken to Interbay |
| 17,072 | Seating capacity for SuperSonics games |
| 26,800 | Cubic yards of concrete used to construct the building |
| 57,000 | Pounds; the weight of the new scoreboard |
| 100,000 | Pounds; the maximum weight the new trucklift can hold |
| 100,000 | Pounds; the weight of the stage and lighting equipment that can be hung from the rigging grid |
| 200,000 | Cubic yards of dirt excavated from the bowl and taken to Interbay |
| 496,000 | Ice balls in the storage tanks used for the ice floor |
| 1,500,000 | Dollars; the amount of money this project saved by recycling and reusing |
Directions to the KeyArena
The KeyArena is located on the grounds of the Seattle Center (formerly the site of the 1962 World's Fair) in the lower Queen Anne area of Seattle.
(From Interstate 5) Take the Mercer Street exit from I-5 and follow the brown-and-white visitor's signs to the Seattle Center. The KeyArena is located on the northwest corner of the grounds with street access along First Avenue North and cross streets Thomas and Republican. Public parking is available along First Avenue and Fifth Avenue North, Mercer Street, and throughout lower Queen Anne. If you are staying downtown you can catch the Seattle Center Monorail that leaves Westlake Center (Pine Street between 4th and 5th) every 15 minutes on the hour.
SONICS WIN RENT DISPUTE OVER NBA LOCKOUT
July 1, 1999
Copyright 1999 MediaVentures
An arbitrator has ruled in favor of the Seattle Supersonics in a dispute with KeyArena over whether the team owed rent during the NBA player lockout. The lease says the team does not have to pay for games missed because of a labor dispute, but the city said the clause did not apply if the owners locked the players out.
The arbitrator did not explain the ruling, but said the team got to keep most of the $341,144 in rent it withheld. The decision meant a loss to the city which had already decided to refund more than $1 million in lease payments from luxury suite holders.
SEATTLE WNBA FRANCHISE ACCEPTS CHANGE IN LEASE TERMS
October 14, 1999
Copyright 1999 MediaVentures
Developers of a proposed WNBA franchise for Seattle grudgingly accepted new lease terms outlined by the Seattle City Council that sets the team's rent at $20,000 a
season, but requires it to pay $100,000 in advance and recoup the balance from earnings. Team officials called the amended provision of the three year lease "unethical and
unfair," but said they would submit it to the league in hopes of being part of the 2000 expansion program. The unnamed team has already sold 5,500 season ticket pledges.
The team had negotiated with the city and believed it had a deal to cover expenses. Council officials said the extra money was for rent. The higher rent will hurt the team
because its ticket prices were based on earlier negotiations.
The city is still smarting from money it lost during the NBA lockout. An arbitrator ruled in favor of the Seattle Supersonics in a dispute over whether the team owed rent
during the lockout. The lease says the team does not have to pay for games missed because of a labor dispute, but the city said the clause did not apply if the owners locked
the players out.
The arbitrator did not explain the ruling, but said the team got to keep most of the $341,144 in rent it withheld. The decision meant a loss to the city which had already
decided to refund more than $1 million in lease payments from luxury suite holders. The new WNBA team would be owned by the Ackerly Group, which also owns the
SuperSonics. The SuperSonics pay $874,000 a year in rent.
THE ULTIMATE SPORTS ROAD TRIP
By: Andrew Kulyk & Peter Farrell
| KeyArena Ranking by USRT |
| Architecture |  | 7 |
| Concessions | | 6 |
| Scoreboard | | 6 |
| Ushers | | 5.5 |
| Fan Support | | 6.5 |
| Location | | 7 |
| Banners/History | | 6 |
| Entertainment | | 8 |
| Concourses/Fan Comfort | | 6 |
| Bonus: Space Needle | | 3 |
| Bonus: Dan Dickau Sighting | | 3 |
| Total Score |  | 64 |
March 30, 2001 - The structure that houses KeyArena opened in 1962 as the Seattle Center Coliseum. It is part of a larger exhibition complex known as the Seattle Center that was built to host the 1962 World's Fair. In 1967 the NBA awarded an expansion franchise to Seattle and the team known as the SuperSonics settled into the Coliseum as their new home. As the years went by the building began to show its age and by the early 90's it became apparent that the
Sonics would need a new home with all of the amenities of a more modern arena. In an
unusual move it was decided that the Coliseum would be closed for a year and it would be
remade into a state of the art venue. In the meantime the Sonics would use the Tacoma
Dome as a home base and in the fall of 1995 the Coliseum reopened its doors as KeyArena.
Outside the Venue
Included in the Seattle Center complex are many unique exhibition halls as well as
Seattle's signature landmark, the Space Needle, just a short walk away. The architecture of
this building is certainly unique, with a pyramid shaped roof and plenty of glass,
spectacular landscaping and colored pavement. The main plaza is on the west side of the
arena where there is a small marquee displaying ads for the current and future events. In
another unique move, the Sonics have their team store on 1st St. in a building separate
from the arena...or so it seems. After one is finished checking out the shop there is an
underground passageway that takes you right into the arena concourse.
The Concourses
"The Key" is a four sided building in the shape of a pyramid, though the incline of the slope is not as sharp as most buildings of that shape and one can enter the building through any
of the four sides. In at least one of the entrances there was a mural with several monitors
showing the fans entering the venue from outside. This is a two concourse building with
stairs to take one up to the upper level. At many points in the upper level one can get a
good view of the action in the lower concourses. From the lower concourses one can look
outside the building as well, which is attractively landscaped and bears a sloped limestone
and fieldstone veneer and lots of glass. For the most part the concourses are wide and
bright and filled with plenty of souvenir and concession stands. At the main entrance is a
large sculpture taking up the entire wall, which is some sort of huge musical string
instrument. Strum your fingers along the strings and an array of light and shooting water
will entertain you.
Concessions
Of course being Seattle there was no shortage of espresso stands here and with
Starbucks now being the majority owner of the Sonics ."The Key" is already being
nicknamed "The Coffee Pot" by the locals.
The Bowl
Two main seating levels with a level of suites separating the two. There are club seats at
the top of the lower sideline with its own exclusive concourse which we found nothing to
write home about. The eight sided scoreboard sits above center court and simultaneous
scrolling ad panels ring the arena above the suites interspersed with dot matrix boards
showing game stats and out of town scores and other miscellaneous ads. Interesting to
note that the setup for hockey is much different from what we normally see in most arenas.
Here they simply roll back the seats at one baseline and leave the other intact for either
sport. This creates a look similar to what we see at Rochester's Blue Cross Arena where
the center scoreboard bcomes somewhat off-center.
Banners/Retired Numbers
Above the arena bowl are the banners. On one sideline there is a huge "GO SONICS"
banner centered amidst a pair of Seattle Thunderbird (WHL) championship banners. What?
No 1916 Metropolitans' Stanley Cup banner? We were hoping that there would be
something in the building to honor the first US based team to win the Cup but none to be
found. At the other sideline is where jerseys honoring Lenny Wilkens, Jack Sikma, Freddy
Brown, and current head coach Nate McMillan hang alongside the Sonics' division,
Conference and '79 NBA title banners. Also interesting to note that Wilkens' banner is for
his time as a player and as a coach and at times in Seattle did both at once.
Extra Points
During the first half we sat behind a pair a college age kids one of which had a funky 70's
haircut. We didn't think much of it of course until a bunch of grammar school children
converged on him looking for his autograph. It was then we realized that the funky haired
college kid was none other than Gonzaga's sharpshooting star guard Dan Dickau. We
exchanged pleasantries and went about our ways as he disappeared to somewhere else
for the second half.
Summary
Overall, a great place for a game and very nice arena. Not an overwhelming venue but one
we'd have no problems checking out again. We came away much more impressed with the
renovation of the arena in Seattle than with the similar job done in Oakland at the New
Arena.
KEYARENA NAMING RIGHTS DEAL ALTERED
October 9, 2008
Copyright 2008 MediaVentures
Seattle, Wash. - The city of Seattle has regained $615,000 of $2.3 million lost in naming-rights
revenue when KeyCorp agreed to renegotiate its deal and continue as the title sponsor of
KeyArena.
"We have found Key to be an outstanding corporate citizen and we're delighted to continue our
partnership," Seattle Center Director Robert Nellams said in a statement.
When the city accepted a $45 million buyout that allowed the Sonics to move to Oklahoma City,
it terminated a 15-year deal signed in 1995 with KeyCorp that generated $1.1 million in revenue in 2007.
City officials approached the Cleveland-based bank in September and the two sides settled on a
two-year deal in which KeyCorp pays the city $300,000 next year and $315,000 in 2010. The
agreement is subject to approval by the City Council, which will vote in December.
The city was forced to offer a substantial discount to KeyCorp after losing the Sonics and
minor-league hockey's Seattle Thunderbirds. The Storm is the primary tenant of the arena at
Seattle Center. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
SEATTLE MAYOR STILL HOPES FOR NBA FRANCHISE
October 23, 2008
Copyright 2008 MediaVentures
Seattle, Wash. - Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels said he hasn't spoken to anyone with the NBA
since the Sonics left town in the summer, but he feels "the door is open there" to the league
returning to what would be a remodeled KeyArena.
Nickels said Seattle has already presented the outline of a new plan to state lawmakers,
seeking to authorize the use of local tax revenues currently going to the Washington state
convention center. The city wants that money to be used to remodel the building the Sonics said
was obsolete before they deserted it.
"We'll be going to the Legislature in their next session" beginning in January, Nickels said at a
ceremony inside KeyArena to announce Seattle University will be using it when the school returns
to Division I basketball this season.
Nickels said Seattle will ask for authorization to divert 1 percent of the existing hotels tax in
Seattle from the convention and visitors bureau to the city. He said the convention center no longer needs those revenues and the city should get them "just like every other city does."
"Those funds (would be) available for an NBA franchise," he said.
They could generate enough money to back $75 million in bonds - the missing piece in a $300
million arena renovation plan proposed by Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer. Ballmer's
group would contribute $150 million. Another $75 million would be culled in city dollars from other sources.
In a statement after the Sonics and Seattle settled their lease dispute in July, NBA
commissioner David Stern said the league would help Seattle acquire a new team if state
lawmakers approve a KeyArena remodel before the end of 2009.
Even though the city's latest plan asks for far less, legislative leaders aren't thrilled that city officials are trying to force a 2009 deadline upon them. (AP)
SEATTLE PLANNING TO WOO NBA TEAM
October 30, 2008
Copyright 2008 MediaVentures
Seattle, Wash. - A new plan to divert a portion of hotel-tax money from the state convention
center to a remodel of KeyArena could help Seattle begin pursuing a replacement NBA team as
soon as 2010.
NBA Commissioner David Stern said "positive" talks have gone on between the league and a
potential ownership group headed by Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer, who led an ill-fated
plan to save the Sonics earlier this year.
Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis confirmed the talks, and said he was optimistic that this time around
the city's request for state authorization will meet little resistance when the Legislature convenes in January.
"It should be noncontroversial, because it's a city-only tax that already exists and will not be an increase," Ceis said of the latest attempt to find a long-sought public portion of a proposed $300 million renovation for a building currently deemed financially obsolete by the National Basketball Association.
"If we can get our funding package together this session, we can start to work with the Ballmer
group on identifying a team for Seattle, but probably not until 2010."
Stern, speaking to reporters on his annual season-tipoff conference call, made his first public
comments on Seattle since the Sonics left.
"I don't want to mislead, so I will say that we have had some contact and we're aware of what's
going on," he said. "I'd rather not deal with the specifics of it at this time, but we have had some positive contact."
While no city official has talked to Stern, Ceis said standard procedure always has been for
Stern to go through the owner, or potential owner. He confirmed that Stern and Ballmer have
talked, and Ballmer conveyed the new funding plan for the public portion of the remodel.
The tax under consideration is different from the so-called stadium taxes from King County that
the Sonics, as well as the University of Washington, pursued in recent sessions to fund their sports building projects.
A 7 percent tax on all hotel bills within the city long has been dedicated to convention center
operations. The city, which is still negotiating with the hotel industry and center officials on the proposal, seeks to divert one-tenth of the revenue to Seattle Center and the KeyArena project.
Ceis said that growth in hotel-room rentals over the past 10 years is generating enough revenue
for the diversion to produce over a 15-year period the $75 million necessary to finance construction debt without compromising convention center operations.
Last year the Ballmer group, which included a former part-owner of the Sonics, telecommunications mogul John Stanton, committed $150 million in private money to the remodel.
The city dedicated another $75 million in future admission taxes.
But when the Legislature did not take up the city's request for the balance through diversion of
stadium taxes, Seattle had no arena plan that might have helped forestall the NBA's decision to
grant owner Clay Bennett's request to move the Sonics to his hometown of Oklahoma City.
The settlement, which paid off the $34 million in construction bond debt remaining from a
remodel completed in 1995, included a provision for another $30 million to the city by 2013 if an
NBA team had not moved to Seattle. But the city had to have an NBA-ready arena, or the funding
committed for one, by Dec. 31, 2009.
For practical purposes, that means the pending session in Olympia will be last chance for any
funding requiring state authorization.
Since the NBA has no current plans to expand domestically, the only option would be to
relocate a team from another city.
As many as half the teams in the NBA may have had operating losses last season, and some of
the smaller-market teams have been in financial trouble for a while, including Memphis, New
Orleans and Milwaukee. The Sacramento Kings also have been stymied in securing public funding
for a replacement building for Arco Arena.
Unless a team is at the end of its lease, the Ballmer group would be in the same position
Bennett was in Seattle - an out-of-town owner attempting to pull away a team under contract with
its city.
Ceis said that if a team is secured, the city has provisions to do the remodel before arrival, or to work around a six-month NBA regular season. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
KEYARENA RENOVATION MONEY MAY BE LOST
December 4, 2008
Copyright 2008 MediaVentures
Seattle, Wash. - Seattle city leaders are now saying that tax money for a remodeled KeyArena
could be used for something else if the NBA doesn't return.
Seattle Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis told top civic and tourism leaders that he wants the $75 million
to be used on the entire Seattle Center.
The city has been focused for months on asking the legislature for one percent of the local
hotel-motel tax that was used to pay off the convention center to instead pay for a KeyArena
makeover. But now, Ceis believes lawmakers may be more likely to approve the proposal under
different conditions.
"We think it's better to allow the authority to be allowed for the entire Seattle Center grounds
and, if we do get an NBA team, we do have a revenue stream for it," said Ceis.
The Seattle Center just finalized a comprehensive 20 year master plan which calls for a
renovated Seattle Center House and Memorial Stadium at a cost of more than $500 million, but
with no real way to pay for it.
Gov. Chris Gregoire says there is support for the city's tax plan in the legislature.
"It's not a top priority to many of them, but it can't be any revenue which is useful to provide
essential services," said Gregoire. (KING)
STORM SIGNS NEW LEASE FOR KEYARENA
January 15, 2009
Copyright 2009 MediaVentures
Seattle, Wash. - The Storm has agreed with the city of Seattle on a 10-year lease to keep the
WNBA team at KeyArena.
The city began working with the Storm's owners last February to negotiate a long term lease. In
the new lease, the Storm will be charged a lower rental fee and will share in some of the revenues, as a long-term tenant.
"KeyArena is a terrific home court for all the fans who have been so loyal to the Storm over the
years," said Anne Levinson, chair of Force 10 Hoops, who negotiated the lease on behalf of the
team. "We appreciate the city partnering with us so that we can keep ticket prices affordable for a diversity of fans and families throughout the region."
Levinson is one of four local businesswomen who purchased the team from Clay Bennett last
year. KeyArena has been the home court of the Storm since its first season in 2000. The lease
agreement is subject to City Council approval.
The Storm still needs renovations to KeyArena. When Bennett moved the Sonics to his native
Oklahoma, he also stripped the facility of its plush courtside seats, high-tech televisions and other equipment.
Levinson said in the past that Force 10 Hoops, one of six independent owners in the WNBA,
would rather share in the cost of new amenities for the arena. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
LATE DEAL POSSIBLE FOR KEYARENA
February 19, 2009
Copyright 2009 MediaVentures
Seattle, Wash. - State Rep. Ross Hunter says he has a plan to help pay for a Key Arena
remodel, but the city of Seattle may not be happy about it.
Hunter, the House Finance Committee Chair, says he's drafted a proposal which would send
this issue back to the voters of Seattle.
Hunter says the bill's language could call for a public vote on a property or business tax
increase in order to pay $75 million of the Key renovation.
Seattle's Mayor Greg Nickels had been backing an idea to shave 1 percent of the hotel/motel
tax currently designated to pay off the state convention center, and direct it toward the Key.
But Hunter says the math doesn't add up and the state's general fund would actually take a
hit based on current projections.
Seattle city leaders publicly maintain they're still working on a proposal to get through the
legislature during this session.
The city stands to gain $30 million from former Sonics owner Clay Bennett if the legislature
passes a Key Arena remodel package, and the city doesn't receive a new NBA team in the next
five years. (KING)
OPTIMISM FADES FOR KEYARENA DEAL
February 26, 2009
Copyright 2009 MediaVentures
Seattle, Wash. - Hope appears to be fading that Seattle will collect a $30 million bonus from the
Oklahoma group that bought the Sonics.
Seattle officials have rejected a proposal for meeting the terms of a lease-breaking deal between the city and Clay Bennett's firm, said Rep. Ross Hunter, chairman of the House Finance Committee.
"I was willing to offer the bill as a courtesy to the city," Hunter said. "They don't want me to
introduce the bill."
Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis countered that Hunter's bill would not meet the terms of Seattle's deal
with the business that bought the Sonics. But he has not yet written off the $30 million.
When Seattle let the Sonics out of their KeyArena lease early for $45 million, Bennett's group
promised to pay an additional $30 million if the city renovated KeyArena yet failed to attract a new NBA basketball team. That deal specifically required that the Legislature buy into a renovation financing plan before adjourning its 2009 session this spring.
Hunter said his plan meets that criterion - by simply providing the city taxing authority it
already has. He is prepared to propose a bill that would allow the city to increase Seattle's property or business taxes, with voter approval. "It seems very straightforward. It's their tax stream; it's their decision," Hunter said. "The bill is sitting on my desk. They asked me not to introduce it." Ceis said Hunter's proposal doesn't cut it.
"It's got to be something that works to meet the terms of the (lease) settlement agreement," Ceis
said. "I'm not certain that the piece of legislation he showed us accomplishes that. In fact, I know it doesn't," Ceis said.
The city already has authority to ask voters to increase property taxes through levies and to ask
for business tax increases, too. Still, Hunter said, his bill technically meets the terms of the
lease-breaking deal.
"The agreement we have with the Oklahoma boys says that we have to give (the city) authority
to do that. The deal depends on me giving them something," Hunter said. "That would enable
them to get their $30 million."
Hunter says the city is pushing another tax idea, but neither side will discuss it.
"They're working hard at figuring out the details and making sure it's viable," Hunter said.
City officials previously asked the Legislature to expand a hotel/motel tax to pay for KeyArena
renovations. Hunter shot down that idea after determining the tax results in lost state revenues.
(Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
KEYCORP REWORKS NAMING RIGHTS DEAL
March 26, 2009
Copyright 2009 MediaVentures
Seattle, Wash. - Eight months after a settlement allowed the Sonics to leave town, the City
Council is set to endorse a new agreement with KeyCorp for naming rights to KeyArena at a
discount price of $600,000.
The contract, renegotiated in the summer of 2008, would keep KeyArena's logo above Seattle
Center for another two years at $300,000 a year. Under the former contract, which was contingent
on having an NBA tenant in the building, KeyCorp was due to pay $1.3 million in 2010.
The Ohio-based bank signed a 15-year contract for sponsorship rights in 1995 after the arena
was remodeled.
The Sonics were sold to new owners in Oklahoma City, led by Clay Bennett, who paid $45
million last year to settle a lawsuit filed by the city to keep the team in Seattle.
The agreement also saves the city from having to remove the KeyArena signs, including the big
neon letters above the building, and other promotional materials, which would have cost about
$250,000, Daoust said.
In addition to the Sonics, KeyArena lost the Seattle Thunderbirds, who moved their junior
league hockey team to Kent's new events center.
KeyArena has since signed the Seattle Storm to a new 10-year contract and brought in the Rat
City Rollergirls for five bouts this year, which have been immensely popular, Daoust said.
Also expected to play home games at KeyArena is Seattle University's men's basketball team,
the Redhawks, who are returning this year to NCAA Division I competition, she said.
KeyArena also entered into a one-year contract with AEG Facilities for help with advertising,
premium seating sales, and other services once handled by the Sonics. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
WASHINGTON LEGISLATURE CONSIDERING KEYARENA BILL
April 23, 2009
Copyright 2009 MediaVentures
Olympia, Wash. - The Washington legislature is considering a bill that could fund
improvements to KeyArena and put the Oklahoma City Thunder in the position to pay $30 million
to Seattle, but observers say the bill is all but dead. The legislature adjourns Sunday.
Senate Bill 6116 would allocate a portion of existing restaurant and car rental taxes to pay for
the arts and housing for poor people as well as for improvements to KeyArena.
Specifically, the measure says: "If by 2013 the city of Seattle has a lease with an
NBA team the 2 percent car rental tax and the King County food and beverage tax raised
within Seattle must go to pay for bonds for necessary improvements to Key Arena."
To break his lease at KeyArena and move the team, Bennett agreed to pay $45 million. He also
agreed to pay the city another $30 million if the NBA doesn't send a new team to a revamped KeyArena by 2013. However as part of that deal the Legislature has to approve a revenue stream
for a facility by the end of this year Ð or Bennett gets to keep his money.
KEYARENA BILL COULD RETURN IN SPECIAL SESSION
May 7, 2009
Copyright 2009 MediaVentures
Olympia, Wash. - Legislation that could allow the City of Seattle to fund upgrades to KeyArena
and collect $30 million from the new owners of the SuperSonics could be revived in a possible
special legislative session of the Washington legislature. The legislature adjourned without taking
action on the bill.
The bill would extend an existing hotel and restaurant tax. Doing so could allow King County
to fund the improvements. When the SuperSonics left town, to be reborn as the Thunder in
Oklahoma City, the new owners promised $30 million to the city if funding for upgrades or a new
building was in place this year.
ItÕs not known yet whether a special session will be called or when it might take place.
The city has said the $300 million KeyArena upgrade could be paid for with $150 million from a
potential ownership group headed by Microsoft's Steve Ballmer, $75 million from the city and $75
million raised by new tax sources or an extension of the current taxes.
