Bravo!

Love that monopoly-man fatcat NBA logo.

Screw Kaiser Stern!

I never thought of that.

I don't watch basketball, so it's never really affected me, but what they are doing is wrong. There are so many fans that love the Sonics to do this will crush hearts for generations. =(

I'm kind of at the point where I'm rooting for the Sonics to go to OKC. All this talk about what a crime and tragedy this is obscures the fact that this is really about how Seattle leadership blew it. They called Schulz's bluff when he wasn't bluffing. So rather than okaying a $200 million deal two years ago and never having to know the name Clay Bennett, people are stuck praying for a last ditch, too little too late effort for the same money. Brilliant.

I disagree, Aaron. Schultz's plan was a flat giveaway, and I think that he, Stern, Bennett et. al. are rightly derided for spurring a cutthroat race to the bottom in the form of public subsidization of their private business. Similarly, they've shown remarkable bad faith in their handling of the situation, alternately arguing that they're an economic driver and that their departure would have no economic effects on the city.

Personally, I oppose public subsidization of private sports teams. From what I understand, the new package has the potential to be a good deal for the city, so I find it exciting.

And yeah, owners have the right to try to take their investments where they want. But the NBA is a business, and the customers can have their say. Hence the mockery.

Kim,
How dare you type such words. I hope that the starbucks non-fat grande mocha you just spent $6.50 on falls in your lap. We said NO to H.Schultz and we are saying NO to Clay. We will say NO until is feels good to say YES. Please excuse the pun. GO SONICS

Last updated March 5, 2008 11:05 p.m. PT

Native son has plan to save Sonics, KeyArena
Developer Griffin offers to fund half of $300 million makeover
By GREG JOHNS
P-I REPORTER

Matt Griffin grew up in South Seattle and played youth football in the Rainier Valley. His dad is a Franklin High graduate. The younger Griffin attended Lakeside, class of '69, before heading off to Princeton.

He's as true a native son as you'll find in Seattle, a man so committed to the city that he and his wife live downtown on Fourth Avenue and don't own a car between them, choosing to walk, bike or ride the bus wherever they go.

So when the Seattle developer says he wants to help provide solutions for KeyArena and the Sonics, you know where his heart lies.

His message to the NBA, being delivered with the developing news of his investment group's interest in salvaging such a disrupted situation?

"You don't have to run away from Seattle," Griffin said. "We have a plan."

Whether there is time and political will in the region to put the plan in place figures to be the $300 million question.

NBA commissioner David Stern blew more rhetoric Seattle's way in a Monday night interview with a pair of Portland television reporters, leaving little doubt he's beyond looking for solutions other than paving the way to Oklahoma City for Clay Bennett's ownership group.

Stern again blamed city and state politicians for failing to come up with an arena solution in time to save the Sonics.

"I have no problem with that choice," Stern told KATU and KGW reporters. "But don't say the NBA is moving out. We understand the push theory and we've been pushed out."

But Stern apparently isn't listening to the latest push, which Griffin admits is aimed at letting NBA owners know Seattle does have serious interest in keeping the Sonics before the league's Board of Governors votes on Bennett's request to relocate the franchise in Oklahoma City at its April 17-18 meeting.

If the city wins its pending lawsuit against the Sonics and holds the team to its KeyArena lease through 2010, that would buy more time to convince NBA owners that Seattle has a viable arena in a much larger market than Oklahoma City.

Griffin's group of business partners has asked to remain anonymous to this point, with the exception of Costco CEO Jim Sinegal. But sources indicate some serious Seattle money is waiting in the wings to see if their offer of funding half of a $300 million KeyArena makeover will garner support from city and state politicians who'd be asked to split the remaining $150 million.

Griffin said the plan would be to keep the existing KeyArena roofline and seating structure largely intact, but expand the size of the building significantly.

The public portion of the funding would go toward infrastructure improvements such as a new underground parking lot to the south, improved sound systems for concerts, better loading docks and necessary seismic work. The private contributions, Griffin said, would be earmarked for specific benefits to the primary tenants, such as improved amenities for premium-seat fans in the lower bowl, restaurants and things that would provide better revenue streams.

As one of Seattle's leading developers, he sees this as a win-win for the city and its residents.

"If KeyArena loses its major tenant and the region is sitting here three years from now trying to figure out how to rejuvenate this place, the city is going to spend a lot of that money anyway," Griffin said. "It's a lot tougher to fix something after it's gone off the edge.

"The Center isn't as vivacious as we'd like it to be, but don't pull one of the legs out from under the stool just when you're trying to amp it up."

City Councilman Tom Rasmussen, who chairs the Parks and Seattle Center committees, said it would be a benefit to have private help with funding a KeyArena remodel as the city moves forward with a major Seattle Center renovation.

"We have a number of important elements to the Center plan," Rasmussen said. "One is KeyArena, but there's also Memorial Stadium and the Center House. I've seen estimates from $180 million-$200 million to renovate Center House. The stadium isn't inexpensive either. So $75 million for KeyArena, in comparison, would be one of the lower costs."

Mayor Greg Nickels is leading the late charge in Olympia, trying to drum up support for a measure that would provide a matching $75 million from the Legislature by extending the same hotel-motel and car rental taxes currently paying off Qwest and Safeco fields.

That effort isn't generating much momentum, given the late start in a session that ends next Thursday, but there are backroom discussions under way and Griffin remains hopeful.

Pearse Edwards, a spokesman for Gov. Chris Gregoire, said the governor is coordinating with Seattle and King County officials in an attempt to get movement on the Sonics' legislation, but nothing definitive has been worked out.

"It's a massive project to renovate KeyArena," Griffin said. "But only one small piece needs to be done in Olympia and that's the request for $75 million of funding through some future taxes. ... We've really been partners with the city on that. The city is leading the effort in Olympia and we're trying to be helpful."

Who exactly the "we" is remains a mystery that Griffin said will be undone if the idea generates sufficient interest.

"There'll be a time for that, it's just not yet," he said. "These are people with other jobs and lives to lead.

"Being a Sonics owner isn't their objective in life. But knowing we have to save the team and fix Seattle Center is important to them."

If Bennett chooses not to sell the team, a KeyArena remodel could serve to draw a future franchise to Seattle.

The New Orleans Hornets, struggling to survive in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, could be looking for a new home in two years if the team fails to meet an attendance standard that would allow owner George Shinn to break his lease.

Stern said in November that if the Sonics departed, Seattle would be "very unlikely" to get another team. He softened slightly Monday, but made clear his unhappiness over the pending court battle and the city's intention to hold Bennett's group to its lease through 2010.

"I never say never," Stern said of a potential replacement team. "I'm only focusing on the reality of the current situation. And we'll see what happens down the road.

"If the expressed desire to bleed current ownership for three more years is acted upon, then we'll take the bleeding with them and the chances of there ever being a franchise in Seattle again are not very good."

P-I reporter Greg Johns can be reached at 206-448-8314 or gregjohns@seattlepi.com. P-I reporter Chris McGann contributed to this report.
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Last updated March 6, 2008 11:32 p.m. PT

Local group's bid to save Sonics up to Olympia
Lawmakers lukewarm to plan
By GREG JOHNS AND CHRIS McGANN
P-I REPORTERS

A high-powered local ownership group says its $300 million plan to renovate KeyArena could persuade the NBA to keep the Sonics in Seattle. Now all they have to do is persuade state lawmakers to approve the idea before they adjourn next week.

· Native son has plan to save Sonics, KeyArena
Without the legislative OK to use tax money for part of the project, time may run out for pro basketball in Seattle, the group said Thursday.

Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer, whose $15 billion portfolio ranks him as the world's 31st-wealthiest person on the latest Forbes list, heads a four-man group that Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels hopes can buy the Sonics or another NBA team while also splitting the cost of a major KeyArena overhaul.

Ballmer, wireless executive John Stanton, Costco CEO Jim Sinegal and developer Matt Griffin make up the quartet unveiled Thursday in Seattle's belated bid to head off franchise owner Clay Bennett's effort to move the Sonics to Oklahoma City.

Several significant hurdles remain, however, including the fact that Bennett has no interest in selling the Sonics, particularly in the wake of a successful $121 million tax package passed by his hometown voters Tuesday to spruce up Oklahoma City's Ford Center for an NBA team.

Additionally, while Seattle and King County political leaders quickly lined up behind Thursday's announcement, the proposal received a lukewarm reception in Olympia, where legislators are being asked to allocate $75 million of future tax streams to the effort.

The group of private investors doubled its own offer to $150 million several weeks ago, Griffin said, "in order to make this an obvious choice." And with Nickels leading the push, the city appears willing to commit $75 million.

But unless the Legislature agrees to commit an equal amount from the same King County restaurant and car-rental tax that is funding Safeco Field, the issue apparently won't be settled before an NBA Board of Governors meeting in New York on April 17-18 at which league owners will be asked to approve Bennett's relocation request.

"This is a remarkable window of opportunity and one we cannot pass up," Nickels said. "Once the NBA makes the decision this team can move to another city, the rules change pretty dramatically."

Whether the NBA will even entertain options at this point remains to be seen.

"Mr. Bennett has said the team is not for sale," said league spokesman Tim Frank, declining further comment.

A spokesman for Bennett didn't respond to messages Thursday.

Griffin, who said Ballmer and Stanton would be the major investors in the group, acknowledged there's no way to force a sale to his group even if it finances a new building.

"Obviously our preference is to have the Sonics," Griffin said. "There is a lot of great legacy there (and) we'd rather not lose that. But if and when negotiations happen with the league, if Seattle got another NBA team, we'd be willing to do the same offer."

Gov. Chris Gregoire praised the local businessmen for stepping up with "what the public has been asking for all along" in terms of a substantial private commitment to renovate KeyArena, according to spokesman Pearse Edwards.

"But she is not making any commitments to legislative leaders, local officials or potential owners about the proposal," Edwards said. "With one week remaining in session, the governor is focused on priorities such as transportation, health care and passing a budget with a healthy surplus that meets the needs of the state."

State lawmakers also expressed reservations. House Speaker Frank Chopp, a strong opponent of public subsidies for a privately owned NBA team, deferred to Rep. Jeff Morris, D-Anacortes, to speak for the Democratic caucus.

Morris said it is simply too late to bring up a controversial bill — one that has not been drafted yet — in this year's legislative session, which is scheduled to adjourn Thursday.

"There is absolutely no chance of us considering it this legislative session," Morris said.

Former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton, now working as an attorney representing the city in its pending lawsuit against the Sonics, said there is sufficient time and stressed the need for the Legislature to act now.

"This is very time sensitive," Gorton said. "If we don't have a plan in place, in my view the relocation committee will approve a transfer (to Oklahoma City) and next year there won't be a team available.

"The league feels Seattle has been relatively indifferent in this matter and has presented it with no alternatives. It's not correct to proceed on the assumption this idea will be available next year."

Ballmer's presence adds considerable weight to the Seattle group. Though he's been a frequent attendee of Sonics games in recent years, the 51-year-old has never entered into pro sports ownership.

Asked to comment about the Sonics during a Microsoft conference Thursday in Las Vegas, Ballmer declined.

"I'm not talking about that today," he said.

But Gorton acknowledged the obvious effect of adding a man whose personal wealth would rank second behind only Paul Allen among NBA owners. Allen, a fellow Microsoft shareholder, owns the Portland Trail Blazers.

"They can't claim we have a group that is financially incapable of running an NBA franchise by any means," Gorton said. "When I was dealing with baseball, that was our problem for 25 years. That was the problem with the Pilots and the first three ownership groups of the Mariners. They really didn't have enough money to run a major league franchise. That is not the problem in this case."

Stanton, a former McCaw Cellular executive who was a 20 percent owner in the Sonics' previous group led by Howard Schultz, is valued at just over $1 billion. He now owns Trilogy Equity Partners.

Sinegal and Griffin would be smaller financial contributors.

For proponents of a Sonics solution in Seattle, this was a long-overdue day.

"It's been a long time in waiting," said Brian Robinson, director of the Save Our Sonics fan group. "We're just thrilled it's coming out from behind closed doors. We're tired of telling people there is progress. The public needs this shot in the arm to get behind it and I think they will.

"The mission now is to get something done in Olympia."

But Morris said "because we are within the last week of session, it takes a two-thirds vote to actually get something on the floor for consideration."

"Just looking at the controversy of the other packages we've seen, there's no way we could line up a two-thirds vote to even consider this."

Morris said the latest offer has more merit and there is "a lot more interest in pursuing something, but our plans at this point are to look at it during the interim and bring it back during the 2009 session."

Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis said the restaurant and car-rental tax stream in King County is paying off the Safeco Field bond debt ahead of schedule. The bonds, originally slated to be paid off in 2016, are now on schedule to expire in late 2011.

Ceis said Thursday's proposal would redirect the restaurant tax to KeyArena from 2012-2014 and the car-rental tax from 2012-2016.

He noted that if the Sonics leave Seattle after their KeyArena lease expires in 2010, the city will still owe $25 million on the 1994 KeyArena remodeling project and would face an estimated $20 million or more in new improvements.

Any lease agreement with the new group would be written to expire at the same time as payment for the new remodel ended, a period Ceis estimated to be at least 15 years.

The new KeyArena overhaul would likely begin in 2010 and take about three years to complete, Ceis said, with the construction timed to work around the Sonics' season so they wouldn't be displaced.

Improvements would include adding club seating, suites, restaurants and other amenities to improve the revenue potential for tenants. Griffin said he'd already talked to Seattle University officials about the potential for the school to play its games in KeyArena when it upgrades to Division I status next year.

KEY PLAYERS IN INVESTMENT GROUP

Steve Ballmer

Microsoft's chief executive officer is worth 15 billion.

Matt Griffin

Developer of Pacific Place, Wells Fargo Center and the WaMu Tower.

Jim Sinegal

Founder and chief executive officer of Costco Wholesale.

John Stanton

Ex-McCaw Cellular executive previously owned part of Sonics.

P-I reporter Todd Bishop contributed to this story. P-I reporter Greg Johns can be reached at 206-448-8314 or gregjohns@seattlepi.com. P-I reporter Chris McGann can be reached at 360-943-3990 or chrismcgann@seattlepi.com.
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Last updated March 7, 2008 9:17 p.m. PT

Gregoire upbeat on Sonics
By CHRIS McGANN
P-I CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT

OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gregoire breathed new life into a bid to keep an NBA team in Seattle on Friday when she provided guarded and incomplete information about talks she's been having with a group of local investors seeking public money to renovate KeyArena.

On Thursday, House Democrats showed interest in the new offer, which would require the state to OK the use of stadium taxes now used for Safeco Field to raise $75 million for the $300 million renovation. But they said they would not take up related legislation this session.

A day later, Gregoire refused to rule out the possibility that a bill could be passed before the Legislature adjourns Thursday.

"We're not done talking about what we are going to do this session," Gregoire said. "We're still talking."

Asked if there might be something done on basketball this session, Gregoire said. "Yeah."

But the comments came after Gregoire had outlined the difficulties the new ownership group faces. Foremost is that current Sonics owner Clay Bennett told her Wednesday that the team was "unequivocally not for sale."

"At some point we have to accept that," she said.

"Having said that, I am encouraged that we can hopefully be able to get an NBA team in Washington state, and I'll do everything I can, if it's at all possible, to have that team named the Sonics."

Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer, wireless executive John Stanton, Costco CEO Jim Sinegal and developer Matt Griffin make up the group trying to revive the effort to keep an NBA team as the anchor tenant at KeyArena. The group says it will contribute $150 million to a KeyArena upgrade. The rest of the money would come from Seattle ($75 million) and King County taxes ($75 million).

"I couldn't be more excited about local ownership and this set of people who stepped forward, and with them comes an understanding of our community and what they want and therefore they've put forward a good amount of money that they would use for renovation for KeyArena and the Sonics," Gregoire said.

Gregoire said Bennett plans to take two years to renovate the Ford Center in his hometown of Oklahoma City, "and he intends to move in."

On Tuesday, voters in Oklahoma City passed a $121 million tax package to renovate the Ford Center for an NBA team.

"I don't know any reason at this point for the Legislature, if there is no opportunity for them to buy this current team, to do anything this legislative session. I have brought the issue to the attention to all of the leadership, we have had good conversations about it. I am encouraged, I think they are absolutely open, and let me assure you the door was closed before we had this kind of local ownership and their willingness to step forward."

Unless the Legislature agrees to commit an equal amount from the same King County restaurant and car-rental tax that is funding Safeco Field, the issue apparently won't be settled before an NBA Board of Governors meeting in New York on April 17-18 at which league owners will be asked to approve Bennett's relocation request.

Gregoire declined to discuss details of the conversations she'd had with the investment group.

"I don't want to get outside the conversations we are having inside the Legislature," she said. "It's a difficult subject to work with. They are very encouraged and much more open because of this new ownership and their willingness to bring forward $150 million. But what we are going to be able to do, if anything, is still an open question "

Gregoire said the new ownership group made all the difference in how the public and the Legislature will respond. The group's willingness to come forward also brightened perceptions.

"It's a fragile discussion ... and I'm sure not going to be the one to stymie it, because I want something to happen."

P-I reporter Chris McGann can be reached at 360-943-3990 or chrismcgann@seattlepi.com.
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KeyArena plan

Save Our Sonics is urging fans to call legislators to voice support for a KeyArena remodel plan to be addressed during the legislative session that ends Thursday. The Washington legislative hotline is 1-800-562-6000.

"If people have felt powerless and want to do one simple thing, they should call this hotline," said the group's founder, Brian Robinson. "There is still time to act and these calls make a tremendous impact

Dino Rossi supports KeyArena renovation
Monday 03-10-2008 5:57pm PT
KJR - Gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi joined Groz and Gas today on 950 KJR and said he supports the legislation for the KeyArena remodel that would help the Sonics potentially stay in Seattle.

Rossi also delivered some breaking news on the proposal. Rossi met with the four men heading up the proposal; Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, wireless mogul John Stanton, Seattle developer Matt Griffin and Costco CEO Jim Sinegal and discovered that one of the four men was willing to cover the cost of overrun for the remodel of KeyArena.

So in addition to the $150 million of private money that the group will put up they will also flip the bill for any costs that exceed the renovation.

In a letter released by the group today they stated that there $150 million dollars will be pulled off the table if there is no arena plan passed by April 10 by the Legislature.

The group wants to extend the $75 million in car-rental and restaurant taxes in King County.

Those taxes are currently being used to pay off the debt at Safeco Field and they expire in 2016.

The other $75 million would come from the city of Seattle, through admissions taxes or lease payments on KeyArena.

Rossi also said today in a interview with Groz and Gas that the Legislature has known about the proposal for quite some time.

"It's kind of a ridiculous statement actually because behind the scenes they've known about this group since October or November. They also knew about the latest proposal somewhere around February. To say they got jammed at the last minute is I think disingenuous at best," Rossi said.

Rossi shares the same stance as Mayor Greg Nickels, former Senator Slade Gorton and the four members of the group in saying that a deal needs to be done this legislative session.

"The bottom line is that you have to put a proposal in front of the Board of Governors (NBA) before their April meeting so there is an opportunity for the Sonics to stay here. But if you don't do that you won't get that opportunity and maybe force Clay Bennett to sell the team," said Rossi.

Another point brought up by Rossi was that the Legislation is not out of time, they do have enough time to get something done.

"People telling you that it's too late are nonsense. As long as they haven't gaveled out it isn't too late," said Rossi.

Like many people in the region the Sonics 41-year history means something to the people of Washington. "I stood on that parade line in 1979 when the Sonics won (NBA title). I was there cheering them on when they were going down the street - It was a like a mob scene. They mean a lot to this region. And you have some citizens who are stepping up and giving a $150 million dollars to this proposal," said Rossi.

The legislative session retires on Thursday.

New Sonics investment group
Thursday 03-06-2008 12:03pm PT
SEATTLE - One of the potential Sonics

Wasn't the Patriot Act rushed through congress without anyone able to read it and understand it? If we can destroy the Constitution in one night why can't we just get a lousy 75 million passed in a week? What a buch of pussies, go eat bran flakes and vote for Clinton you jerks I hope her dumpster wipes you out with one huge fart. PS the Sonics are the only team to win anything, in this loserville of a town. Oh I forgot the Seahawks rule.. bandwagoneers have some backbone.

C'mon Joseph. When Stern unzips and says "Down on your knees!", you're gonna do it??

Props to Seattle for exposing the Emperor's New Revenue Model for this bogus league!! If these damn teams can't survive without public subsidies, there's something very, very wrong in ProSportsland.

Do you really think money for these greedy owners and rapacious agents and overpaid players should be taken from heath care and housing and education?? And don't try to justify the expenditure by saying "We'll just rape anyone who travels to our fair city!! It's like...free money!"

I sure am glad SOME politicians see how repulsive that is.

The only honorable reaction here is bitter hatred of Stern and the NBA.

Thought of doing something similar, only it ends with...

The NBA where caring happens?

You know, rather than copy and pasting four entire articles it is generally more polite in comment threads to link to the stories while pulling out a key paragraph or two to quote.

Just a thought.

Oh, and fun piece Damon.