Seattle releases conceptual drawings of proposed sports arena
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SEATTLE -- The city of Seattle released a report Friday detailing some of the design options for the new $490 million sports arena in the SoDo neighborhood.
The 73-page "Early Design Guidance" document details three proposed designs of the new arena.
One design would create a dramatic, exterior glass shell around the arena, giving 360-degree views of Seattle's landmarks to those inside.
Designers say the highly transparent facade would "provide maximum visual connectivity from and into the building" and would have a "landmark, iconic form."
Downsides were listed as it would have less street activity along First and Holgate, it'd have less reinforcement the north-south activity corridor and it may create challenges with the Seattle Energy Code.
The second design is more rectangular and would "maximize function, architectural footprint and street frontage." It would incorporate an open plaza on its north side that could be used for civic gatherings.
On the other hand, that design would provide less transparency from and into the building, the report said, plus designers worry the public space "may feel less intimate on non-game days."
But it's the third presented option that designers have declared their "preferred choice" -- featuring a stepped plaza on the north side that creates a "front porch to Downtown, 1st Avenue and Occidental Street."
The report says this design combines some of the benefits from the first two, with windows placed for framed views from and into area landmarks but also maintaining a "flexible facade for 1st Avenue and Holgate."
In October, both King County and the city of Seattle gave final approval to build the basketball and hockey arena in the city once a team is secured.
Hedge fund manager Chris Hansen is leading a group that wants to build the $490 million arena near the existing Mariners and Seahawks stadiums with $200 million in public financing. The public investment would be paid back with rent money and admissions taxes from the arena, and if that money falls short, Hansen would be responsible for making up the rest.
Other investors include Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer and two members of the Nordstrom department store clan.
The arena does face a lawsuit from the Longshore Union, who claim Seattle and King County violated the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) by signing the memorandum of understanding.
The 73-page "Early Design Guidance" document details three proposed designs of the new arena.
One design would create a dramatic, exterior glass shell around the arena, giving 360-degree views of Seattle's landmarks to those inside.
Designers say the highly transparent facade would "provide maximum visual connectivity from and into the building" and would have a "landmark, iconic form."
Downsides were listed as it would have less street activity along First and Holgate, it'd have less reinforcement the north-south activity corridor and it may create challenges with the Seattle Energy Code.
The second design is more rectangular and would "maximize function, architectural footprint and street frontage." It would incorporate an open plaza on its north side that could be used for civic gatherings.
On the other hand, that design would provide less transparency from and into the building, the report said, plus designers worry the public space "may feel less intimate on non-game days."
But it's the third presented option that designers have declared their "preferred choice" -- featuring a stepped plaza on the north side that creates a "front porch to Downtown, 1st Avenue and Occidental Street."
The report says this design combines some of the benefits from the first two, with windows placed for framed views from and into area landmarks but also maintaining a "flexible facade for 1st Avenue and Holgate."
In October, both King County and the city of Seattle gave final approval to build the basketball and hockey arena in the city once a team is secured.
Hedge fund manager Chris Hansen is leading a group that wants to build the $490 million arena near the existing Mariners and Seahawks stadiums with $200 million in public financing. The public investment would be paid back with rent money and admissions taxes from the arena, and if that money falls short, Hansen would be responsible for making up the rest.
Other investors include Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer and two members of the Nordstrom department store clan.
The arena does face a lawsuit from the Longshore Union, who claim Seattle and King County violated the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) by signing the memorandum of understanding.
This will simply reinforce for many that the fix is in - by law they are required to consider ALL possible sites. So where are "conceptual drawings" for the others sites being considered? I would bet they are going with Hansen's tantrum - building it where I want or I will take my money & go. I very much doubt they will even go through the pretense of considering other sites.
The "preferred" option #3 DOES seem to fit into the neighborhood with its landlocked cruise ship aesthetic.
The NBA does not appeal to me at all and the NHL is self destructing. Do we really need this?Â
 @lakeview No because everything this city does should be based on what you like....Â
Now that is a super idea!
Sure would look better if we could get the Port to leave and take all their truck traffic with it......Maybe put in a world class yatch club, that would bring more money to the area than the jobs the Port provides.Â
 @DinkorSink You realize the Port of Seattle generates over 194,000 jobs in WA right? And you want to replace it with a yatch club? Sounds like you need to re-take basic math.
I like design 3 the best...but they need to do something else with the "cruise ship" feature on top.
Dont forget to draw the little union guys picketing outside!
@thatsjarrod/They will not win in court, be sure of it 100%
YUCK to all three designs !
I very much preferred the 1st one - the Rounded Design.
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The others, I do agree, look like Museums etc...I got ZERO "sports" feel from them, at all.
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Designs 2 and 3 look too much like huge libraries or museums. I picture people driving around and around trying to find the arena...lol. Design 1 has the most potential, IMO, though I would make some minor changes to add interest to the design. There should be a public vote on the design.
I will be honest, I am not a sports person at all. In fact I always thought that Seattle had a basketball team, until I saw some guy wearing a hat 8 months ago reading R.I.P. Seattle Sonics. I ask my husband if the hat was saying that they were going to die in their next game, but my sports freak husband had to give it to me straight. As I read this and look at the pictures it still put me at a lost on things. I can tell how excited people are about this and how bad they want it. From the way it sounds its going to be great for Seattle. I say lets get the job done and build it. I would go back and ask my husband about everything on this issue but when he goes off on sports, I tend to smile and nod my head. Sports to me is like me going to him and telling him step by step on getting my nails done. I only clicked on this to figure out things myself.Â
Technically none of them really look like the architecture for a sports arena. However, I like the first one. The full glass where you can see the inside, or be inside looking out is rather appealing. Also you got your outdoor space around the corners as well. For me, the 1st is the best of the three.
It looks like a tugboat.
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BUILD IT!
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Toot Toot!!!!!!!!!!
When the tunnel goes through who will see the iconic structure? It looks like someone was playing with blocks.
Why not just buy a big cruise ship and turn it into a arena? That why when the team leaves again they can take it with them.
 @I Like Meat No one cares for your negative opinion.Â
 @GOCOUGS  @I Like Meat I found it quite humorous.
This is almost look like Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon.Â
There's not one design that is updated, they all look like something out of the 60s, that only a lazy architect with no imagination would think up. Also, where's the parking and traffic flow. Get an architect with gumption and imagination. These designs are the most boring I've seen in any country far and wide, even any city.
 @EmCo Where is your design?
The money would be better suited to improve transit if you ask me. Not EVERYONE likes sports, but we all get to sit in crappy seattle traffic most of the time.
@jec0435 IMHO adding the stadium will increase jobs and the economy of the area, year round. The initial jobs that will be needed to build the stadium, the jobs needed to maintain it, those needed to man the events and concession stands within, as well as boosting the economy around it, bc of the money spent by not only the teams that will be traveling to the area, but the fans that follow as well. It's a great opportunity for the city and people overall.
 @jec0435 But everyone can agree that bring a major sports or concert venue to seattle will be good for the city! This will be good for the Seattle's economy.
 @jec0435 So answer me something. Are you saying that a private investor like Hansen should buy a plot of land with his own money for mass transit and pay for the mass transit himself. Or are you just another clueless ignorant when it comes to this issue?
@Zoso @jec0435
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Answer ME this, Zoso... Why is it that you feel free to call EVERYONE who disagrees with the stadium ignorant, moron, etc?
 @LocalLady I think I explained that on a reply further down. But to save the trouble, apparently people still think that the taxpayers are paying for this arena and still can't figure out Hansen is paying for it with his investment. He even acknowledged if it didn't work out, he'd still pay for all the costs! Even Paul Allen didn't do that with Qwest!
 @jec0435 So how are you going to generate the same amount of equivalent money for that??  The funds for the arena are coming from users.
So we are going to throw $200 million of the taxpayers (MY) money away to build yet another monument to the overpaid fratboys who throw or kick a ball around?>
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I thought we VOTED not to DO that and the legislature did it anyhow?
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Heck, we HAD an iconic stadium...we blew it UP!
 @Woodswalker The kingdome is history and its time to build and move on! This new stadium/venue will bring revenue and  an iconic team back to seattle. Its not "MY" money. It is "OUR" money, future, and CITY! Your rhetoric about fratboys displays a lack of understanding about the prospects and possibility a world class venue would bring to Seattle. Take a walk in the woods.Â
@GOCOUGS @Woodswalker
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You say it's "our" money. True. But, there are MANY who are opposed to this - why was it never put to a vote of the people? Were they araid it would lose? It was a very likely outcome of a public vote.
 @Woodswalker Are there really that many morons out there who complain about taxpayer money being spend that have not paid attention long enough to read or watch a story to figure out that taxpayers are NOT paying for this arena by now? Seriously, some of you people are really pathetic!
@Zoso @Woodswalker
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Perhaps unlike you they have not been drinking the koolaid & slavering over the thought of "getting the Sonics back".
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You say it will not "cost" the tax payers, that it is such a good onvestment.
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IF it is such a good investment, why does Hansen & his cronies need ANY money from the city & county? Why not pay 100% of it themselves and then they can keep 100% of the profits & revenue?
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Many *claim* that it's a good deal because they will *give* it to the city once it is built. NOT a good deal - this takes it off the tax trolls, thereby reducing the revnue it can/will generate from property taxes to $0.00, instead of it being taxed.
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Then there is the claim it will not cost anything because it will be REPAID by ticket revenue. If it is REPAYING, how did it get PAID to begin with? Oh yeah, it was borrowed money. BORROWED against the bonding capacity of the city & county. Bonding capacity is like your check book - you can't spend it more than once. If there were some cataclismic event & we needed that bonding capacity for something else (say the start the tunnel & everything above it collapses in the hole) then there would be no bonding capacity to use for emergent costs...because it was "spent" on a stadium.
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Why is it that those "for" the stadium see no problem with calling ANYONE against it names (moron, idiot, etc) simply because they object to the stadium?
 @LocalLady Well if that's really what we're all worried about, then my question is, where the hell was all this opposition when we had Safeco Field and Qwest Field built? Quite frankly it was because of how deals were made I really wasn't for them! But they happened anyway. And no I have not "been drinking the koolaid & slavering over the thought of "getting the Sonics back." Like everybody else, I'm just gonna wait and see what happens because I'm not gonna get all excited about something happening if we don't know when or if it's really gonna happen, a lot of fans need to keep that in mind. This is just a first step and quite frankly there is probably not gonna be a better offer whan what we already have. These people need to remember that Seattle is a basketball town, and there were a lot of advantages of having a team like the Sonics here. The problem is everybody always want to look at the bad consequences and not even think about the good it does, and mainly because they have no interest in it. People need to remember that this is a good opportunity for more jobs in Seattle, revenue for the city, basically help provide a more stable economy here. But it ain't gonna happen if everyone is gonna keep pansying around and bicker about stuff that they don't understand. This gioes beyond just being a Sonics fan! We need to quit the BS'ing around and just get it done!
 @Zoso No need to be so spiteful. Maybe some of us haven't been following it as closely as you have. Does that make us morons? pathetic? Feel free to educate us, but don't be a big meanie doing it.
 @jec0435  @Zoso It does when you blindly assume something and form an opinion on something you clearly know nothing about.Â
 @jec0435 I got a better idea; Either educate yourself before you comment, or don't comment on something that you don't understand. Simple?
 @Woodswalker You don't go you don't pay for it.  Didn't you read or follow the discussion of the last 6 months??Â
 @ifETA  @Woodswalker Yah Yah Yah, we've heard that before - it will not cost the tax payers?? When all is said and done and they leave town, there is another arena - vacant.
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 @contraryjim  @Woodswalker The Sonics stayed for 41 years and were profitable when they were moved by non local ownership to their hometown.  When has a local Seattle sports franchise moved to another town??  The Seattle Pilots??  Well MLB got sued and we got the Mariners.  So once in 50 years with three major sports.  Hey Boeing moved their corporate headquarters and they receive tax dollars.  The east Marginal headquarters building is essentially vacant too.
This is so stupid. It will be a huge waste of money and despite the MEMORANDUM of UNDERSTANDING (which won't be binding) the tax payers will be stuck holding a lot of the cost. On top of that no one in favor of this has driven in Seattle recently because they'd know the traffic is already bad and this will only drive businesses away from Seattle altogether, combined with McGoo's war on cars.
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Seahawks and Mariners audiences already have to drive in 2-3 hours early to get there and into a seat on-time, this will make it worse. Not to mention killing Seattle's port and driving away all those tax dollars.
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But keep on pretending like none of you remember that the city "forgot" to give the traffic upgrades that they promised would come with Safeco and Qwest/Century Link. Keep on believing the city will do ANYTHING to help traffic. I have many bridges to sell you.
@NorthwestEconomist Â
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PLEASE, provide PROOF to your ridiculous statement. Better yet, let's look at the recent history.  Show me proof that the taxpayers got screwed by the Mariners when Safeco was built. Show me proof that the Seahawks shafted the taxpayers so far (paid off in 2020) with the construction of their stadium. You won't find it!
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However, that doesn't stop people like you just blindly making these statements. Not one penny of the "Tax Payers" money is being spent on the proposed basketball arena.
 @path_tech Reality must bug you a lot. You're one of those people who keep letting serial killers out of jail because they promise on MEMORANDUMS of UNDERSTANDING that they won't do it again. Hilarious. Please give me your bank account number I have a great deal for you.
http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/why-seattle-needs-a-stupid-new-sports-arena/Content?oid=12735183
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Taxpayers spent $384 million in 1997 building Safeco Field after the Mariners threatened to move, followed by another $300 million for CenturyLink Field after the Seahawks threatened the same. In both deals, taxpayers picked up the bulk of the cost but almost none of the revenue from these purportedly publicly owned facilities.And more than a decade after its implosion, we still owe $69 million on the Kingdome, while losing millions of dollars a year on KeyArena, thanks in part to a $75 million refurbishment in 1995 that was financed by 20-year bonds but secured by only a 15-year lease.
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@The206 @NorthwestEconomist @path_techÂ
".... Taxes for Safeco and Century Link were raised by hotel and taxi fees. i.e. paid for by tourists and visitors ...."
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So, according to you, only "visitors and tourists" use hotels & taxis? Not even close buddy. MANY "locals" use hotels & taxis as well - ALL taxpayers got stuck with the bill, regardless of whether they were "visitors & tourists" or "locals". And do not forget that they ALSO raised taxes on restaurants in King County for the stadiums as well - so EVERYBODY who wate in a restaurant paid as well.
 @The206  @path_tech I suppose you enjoyed THIS? http://www.seattlemet.com/news-and-profiles/publicola/articles/new-safeco-tax-loophole-to-cost-city-millionsA fool and their money are soon parted. Keep on believing everything the corrupt city council and Chris Hansen tell you, they can see the future clearly and are 100% trustworthy.
 @NorthwestEconomist  @path_tech You clearly failed economy there Mr (Mrs) "Economist"  Taxes for Safeco and Century Link were raised by hotel and taxi fees. i.e. paid for by tourists and visitors.  Safeco was paid off early and Centruy Link is on schedule to be paid off early.  Losing millions of dollars on the Key was the fault of the city leaders for a poor deal to begin with.  Please learn about what you are arguing for and against before you make ridiculous statements.Â
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Also, the Stranger article you posted is an argument FOR the arena, so nice work on that one. Â
 @NorthwestEconomist No traffic upgrades?? Have you been to sodo to see the upgrades and changes since the stadiums have been put in? New on-ramps and off-ramps. How about that new tunnel they're working on? Driving 2-3 hours early to get to a game? Maybe if you live in Ellensburg. You obviously haven't been to a game in a while.
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The port won't die, it will grow and get stronger. Are you saying that Seattle won't buy anymore imported goods???Â
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Seattle Center may die, but when you take away all the fun stuff and put in a glass museum, then it will die regardless of where the Sonics play.
 @Sanctuary You're obviously not someone who goes anywhere near Seattle regularly. The city only gave 2/6 of the promised upgrades. That new ramp near century link does nothing to mitigate the traffic hell down there.
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Next time there's events or a game, go look on WSDOT or turn on 1000 AM and listen to the traffic backups. As for leaving 2-3 hours early, that's part for the course for anyone south of Tukwila or north of Shoreline and will only get worse. But I guess in your world everyone lives in Sodo and uses a bicycle.
@NorthwestEconomist   Hey! If you think it's that bad, you could move.