Hangar 27 Repair Plan Gets Council OK

"Destination: Goal" by Seattlest Flickr contributor jaycoxfilm

The City Council has approved Arena Sports' proposal to renovate Hangar 27 at Magnuson Park. The project, which is entirely privately funded (are you listening basketball fans?) will begin immediately, and the facility will open in 2009. The city retains ownership of the structure, however, Arena Sports will receive free rent up to the value of the improvements. Additionally, Arena Sports will offer free programs and scholarships. Nearly 50 percent of the floorspace will be available for non-sporting community events.

The venue was popular with many organizations, including the Rat City Rollergirls, who were forced to move to the smaller Hangar 30 this season. Hangar 27 was condemned last year due to structural and environmental concerns, the most obvious of which was the constant stream of dust particles floating in the air from the peeling, poorly maintained rafters.

Our favorite memory of Hangar 27 was when we bought some fries during a RCRG match a few years ago, and as we were eating them, our sweetie said, "Hey! Who eats blue cheese on their french fries?", pointed at our snack, and gave us a quizzical look.

It wasn't cheese. It was a large, fuzzy, dust-encrusted paint chip that had plopped down from the ceiling directly onto our previously scrumptious fries. Ewwww!