Seattle, Sacramento continue to battle for NBA franchise
»Play Video
SEATTLE -- Seattle Design Board members spent Tuesday night poring over the look and feel of the proposed SoDo arena before giving the go-ahead to keep the process moving.
While fans feel it's taking forever, board members say this process is deliberate for a reason.
"You would expect a much slower process for a building like this," said design board member Gundual Porksch
There are concerns about plaza access. The design has it turned at a 45 degree angle, and includes a lighted façade that could show videos or team photos.
"We want it to enclose and make that space comfortable. But then again, does it start to block views or create a barrier?" said architect Anton Foss.
In Sacramento, where Mayor Kevin Johnson is fighting to keep the Kings from leaving, city officials took serious shots at Chris Hansen's plan.
The city manager said he will meet with Sacramento arena investors next week to start negotiations. From there it's a race to April's pivotal meeting of the NBA's Board of Governors.
"We're going to try our best to have that to you a week earlier," said City Manager John Shirey.
Business leaders in the California capital made their pitch too, saying Sacramento has consistently been better than Seattle when it comes to fan support.
"Not only did we show up to games, but our team wasn't as good and we still showed up to games, so don't ever let anyone tell you we're fair weather fans in Sacramento," said Kunal Merchant with Think Big Sacramento.
But back on the home front, another battle that had seemingly been settled may not be over.
The Longshore Union said today it will appeal a judge's ruling that tossed out its lawsuit challenging the city and county's Memorandum of Understanding.
The union claims it violates state law with bias toward placing the arena in SoDo.
"Let's be clear: The MOU is about one location. A SoDo arena," said union attorney David Mann.
Proof that the battle isn't finished just yet.
While fans feel it's taking forever, board members say this process is deliberate for a reason.
"You would expect a much slower process for a building like this," said design board member Gundual Porksch
There are concerns about plaza access. The design has it turned at a 45 degree angle, and includes a lighted façade that could show videos or team photos.
"We want it to enclose and make that space comfortable. But then again, does it start to block views or create a barrier?" said architect Anton Foss.
In Sacramento, where Mayor Kevin Johnson is fighting to keep the Kings from leaving, city officials took serious shots at Chris Hansen's plan.
The city manager said he will meet with Sacramento arena investors next week to start negotiations. From there it's a race to April's pivotal meeting of the NBA's Board of Governors.
"We're going to try our best to have that to you a week earlier," said City Manager John Shirey.
Business leaders in the California capital made their pitch too, saying Sacramento has consistently been better than Seattle when it comes to fan support.
"Not only did we show up to games, but our team wasn't as good and we still showed up to games, so don't ever let anyone tell you we're fair weather fans in Sacramento," said Kunal Merchant with Think Big Sacramento.
But back on the home front, another battle that had seemingly been settled may not be over.
The Longshore Union said today it will appeal a judge's ruling that tossed out its lawsuit challenging the city and county's Memorandum of Understanding.
The union claims it violates state law with bias toward placing the arena in SoDo.
"Let's be clear: The MOU is about one location. A SoDo arena," said union attorney David Mann.
Proof that the battle isn't finished just yet.
Do these port people realize nearly all basketball games take place in the evening.
People go in and about 2+ hours later they come out. They make it sound like they are blocking off the streets to play there.
@mstipton The don't seem to have an issue with 7:05 Mariner starts but those 7:30 Sonic starts will cripple their truck traffic that stops at 4:00 or 4:30.Â
@jonhumbert http://t.co/rUGKhkXYMg
@jonhumbert Lundgaard should just delete his Twitter account. A 17 year old pretending to know everything in this situation is all time dumb
@jonhumbert they haven't stepped up because the last rumor shows their offer is awful
@jonhumbert that's catchy, I like it #BattleAgainstSeattle #KingsForeverSonicsNever #herewebuy #KINGSallday
@jonhumbert Would this be Seattle's version of CBS13?
@bgpappa not sure quite what you mean.
@jonhumbert Nevermind. Bad Joke.
@jonhumbert Ya. Take care.
@bgpappa no worries. Thanks for checking in on us though.
Forget the economic and tax revenue harm that will come from businesses ceasing to use the Port of Seattle, do all you greedy sports fans out there not realize the NBA is playing every city for a fool? This is a game of musical chairs with purposefully-not-enough sports teams for every city that wants one to force a bidding war, and the tax payers and local citizens are the ones who lose, while the NBA reaps huge profits.Â
@NW-Economist Oh look, this guy again.
Yawn!
@Hachee_Bungwhy @NW-EconomistWhen logic fails that's the best you can do....
@NW-Economist @Hachee_Bungwhy No. Repeating myself gets old but apparently never gets old for you.Â
If it takes longer to move goods through the port, then clients will look elsewhere for their terminal needs. Being as I live and work in Tacoma, I say -Â
Build Baby, BUILD!!
Mwahaha!!!!
@Audio Cat You'd think just by typing the 3 word slogan you would have won over the conservatives
Freight movement is a very real concern in the SODO area, whether the arena is built or not. Those of us who work in SODO see the challenges daily, and our roads aren't going to get any wider. Throw in a toll tunnel, and thousands of commuters using 1st Avenue South to avoid paying the toll, and then toss in a new events center, and you'll have gridlock that will prevent anyone from getting anywhere for hours - including sports fans.Â
The longshoremen have a VERY legitimate concern. City revenue from the Port far outweighs any revenue that will be generated by a basketball/hockey team, and you sports fans had better understand that this issue isn't about your selfish priorities.
@Bscowler Nothing at the new arena would start until long after the port workers are at home watching reruns of Sanford and Son.Â
@Bscowler So your telling me that there will be a sporting event everyday? Most Sporting events are at night so how will the traffic be so bad for the Longshoremen ?
@Bscowler   God forbid if the Mariners ever got back to their 3 million fans a season again. That would cripple the port. I haven't heard about anyone griping about the Sounders. That must have hurt the port when the Clink became a two sports stadium. However, a small 18,000 seat Arena is the end of the world?
Alright, let's give up on the arena, raze the Clink & Safeco & put a eight lane road connecting to I-5. However, even if that was ever done, the port, the longshoremen would still be whining & complaining about something else.Â
@Bscowler " you sports fans had better understand that this issue isn't about your selfish priorities."
Nor is it about yours, right?
Here is a question and I'm not trying to slam anyone. Doesn't a Long Shorman once on property get paid regardless? So what is the beef? I know of truck drivers who get paid regardless of the amount of time it takes to deliver a load.
@Nightshift A lot of drivers get paid by the load. However, that's a moot point since the Port closes to truck traffic 3 hours before a Sonics game would start.
The fans will never forget who the long shoreman really are. They will never get any support from the sports fans in seattle
The Longshore Union really has a more possible fatal reason to be concerned about its very future. Shorter transit time by two days from the Orient favors arrivals at location near Vancouver BC. This issue trumps all issues of is it Seattle or Vancouver?Â
For the Seattle Longshore Union to pick this SODO Arena battle, which they may win, they will lose the war. Put another way the union without focus is lost in a winless war.