Sonics' Big White Stiffs Provide a Victory

Maybe the Sonics' problem this season has been the lack of a good lobbyist presence in the middle.

Unable to find success on the court, the team is fairing better in Olympia, where it is seeking financial help to remodel Key Arena. Some lawmakers have agreed to help the team out by extending the current hotel and motel tax currently in place in order to pay off bonds used to finance Safeco and Qwest Fields.

Sonics principal owner Howard Schultz wants to either a spruced-up Key Arena or construction of a new arena. If he receives neither, then he will explore options to move the team—stop us if you've heard this one before. He is looking for 200 million dollars in American cash money to upgrade the Key, which hasn't gone under any major remodeling in over 100 years, give or take a 0.

Schultz is demanding action by the end of the legislation session, March 9, after which he feels it will be too late to fix Key Arena and he will have no other option but to start shopping the team. His pleas went nowhere with the City Council, which shouldn't be much of a surprise because as we all know, aging hippies hate sports.

Even though there are no plans for the remodeling, those in the legislature feels that if the money is approved , the city and the team will be able to come together and work out the details.

Following a season in which the team finished third in the conference, the Sonics are now in next-to-last place, with essentially the same team…oh, except for the coach(es). Hmmmm, we can't quite see a connection.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@seattlest.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By David in News on February 8, 2006 2:36 PM

Comments [rss]

KISS fan

Howard Schulz is a genius. New taxes should be levied to create a brand spanking new sports arena! With a world-class basketball venue in Seattle, what do we really need schools, public transportation and police and fire services for?!? We don't! That's the brilliance! Heck, why not just dump on top of the car tab tax too! Maybe we'll get a Sonic's logo'd tab in addition to the Monorail tab!

Plus if our emerald city ever gets flooded, we'll need a third large sports arena to temporarily park the Sonic's player's Humvee's! Do you know how much it costs to replace an vehicle interior that has been water damamged?!?!

Seth

I'm a big basketball fan, but if the NBA can't survive in Seattle without taxpayer support, they need to fix their business model.

And if Howard Schultz makes the short-sighted and ludicrous business decision to move his basketball franchise from Seattle to Oklahoma City, then I'd say good riddance. Then I'd sell short on Starbucks stock.