Seattle planning new arena to lure NHL team?

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Quote: Originally Posted by jyoung

I believe Seattle already has a WHL team called the Thunderbirds, so it wouldn't be too farfetched to see them step up to the NHL level given how big the city is and how loyal the fans there have been to all the other sports teams in the city.

Quote: Originally Posted by bad_philanthropy

There are actually four WHL teams in the state. How well that represents a Seattle market's interest in NHL hockey, I can't say, but the sportvis definitely not foreign.

I actually went to a Thunderbirds game this past year. There was already a good contingent of fans there, and the atmosphere was great. Definitely trying to go again at some point this upcoming season. I think the sport would do well. We like the smaller sports up here, but usually it takes a top level team to really see the fanbase increase significantly. Funny thing about the Seattle Thunderbirds is that their arena is actually closer to where I live than it is to Seattle by just a little bit.

Also, the game I went to was later on in the season when they were close to being out of playoff contention. They finished 17-41-12 (or 17-41-7-5 if you want to split OTLs and Shootout losses like the site does) so it's nice to see they still had a good amount of fans at the game.

[Money99]

This is great news! I think Seattle is a potential hockey hotbed.
Aren't they the best selling MLS franchise too?

I can see them being similar to San Jose in their support and passion for the game.

[DrJones]

Quote: Originally Posted by CardsFan27

I see, yeah I don't really have a set time in mind but just glancing at the schedule saw the November date and that's usually a pretty easy time to get off work, I also would like to go skiing and give snowboarding a try and I've heard that's a pretty good time of year for it typically. Would be coming up to visit a friend so would be needing two tickets together, figured they'd be pricey and sounds like they are but I can live with paying $150 since its not something I'd be doing every day and who knows when (or if) I'd ever make it back up that way and I'd definitely like to see a game there and who better to see one against than the Hawks. Guess that would be one other question worth asking, I'm assuming going to a game wearing a Blackhawks jersey as long as you aren't being obnoxious about it the fans wouldn't give you more than the usual heckling you would expect going anywhere?

Hey, did you ever wind up going to a Hawks/Canucks game last year? If so, how was your experience?

[Coug00]

Quote: Originally Posted by Money99

This is great news! I think Seattle is a potential hockey hotbed. Aren't they the best selling MLS franchise too? I can see them being similar to San Jose in their support and passion for the game.

Yep, just under 40,000/game for the Sounders, Montreal is next with 24k/game. They're expecting 65,000 at the CLink for the upcoming game against the Galaxy. There's no doubt in my mind Seattle would LOVE the NHL.

The King County Council approved the MOU today. The Seattle City Council is next. They're posturing a little bit, but it's standard negotiating tactics. I'm feeling pretty good about an approval by the end of September.

[Kobalt]

Quote: Originally Posted by TracerBullet

I actually went to a Thunderbirds game this past year. There was already a good contingent of fans there, and the atmosphere was great. Definitely trying to go again at some point this upcoming season. I think the sport would do well. We like the smaller sports up here, but usually it takes a top level team to really see the fanbase increase significantly. Funny thing about the Seattle Thunderbirds is that their arena is actually closer to where I live than it is to Seattle by just a little bit. Also, the game I went to was later on in the season when they were close to being out of playoff contention. They finished 17-41-12 (or 17-41-7-5 if you want to split OTLs and Shootout losses like the site does) so it's nice to see they still had a good amount of fans at the game.

Actually, they were in it until the end. In WHL, I guess you're still in playoff contention with that record I know this cause their goalie was tweeting about how he was disappointed to not make the playoffs when they had a chance in the last game of the year.

http://whl.ca/standings/show/ls_season/238/subtype/1
Finished 2 points out of the playoffs. Would love to see hockey in Seattle after seeing them lose the Sonics.

[TracerBullet]

Quote: Originally Posted by Kobalt

Actually, they were in it until the end. In WHL, I guess you're still in playoff contention with that record I know this cause their goalie was tweeting about how he was disappointed to not make the playoffs when they had a chance in the last game of the year. http://whl.ca/standings/show/ls_season/238/subtype/1 Finished 2 points out of the playoffs. Would love to see hockey in Seattle after seeing them lose the Sonics.

Yeah, I realized that after I wrote it. They were pretty damn awful though.

[CardsFan27]

Quote: Originally Posted by DrJones

Hey, did you ever wind up going to a Hawks/Canucks game last year? If so, how was your experience?

Didn't end up working out, had a lot of changes happening at work and wasn't able to get time off.

Going to make it up there for sure this year, December or January seem to be the times it would work best for me but if that's when I go I'll just catch a game not sure who against, Hawks are up there in mid November and early February so I'm really hoping to be able to make one of those work instead, can't wait to make it up there though heard a lot of good things about Vancouver.

[CougarMVP]

Quote: Originally Posted by Coug00

Yep, just under 40,000/game for the Sounders, Montreal is next with 24k/game. They're expecting 65,000 at the CLink for the upcoming game against the Galaxy. There's no doubt in my mind Seattle would LOVE the NHL. The King County Council approved the MOU today. The Seattle City Council is next. They're posturing a little bit, but it's standard negotiating tactics. I'm feeling pretty good about an approval by the end of September.

Sweet. This thing needs to pass!

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Arena has been approved!

Quote:

SEATTLE – In near back-to-back votes Monday afternoon, the King County and Seattle councils approved the proposed NBA / NHL arena project in Seattle's SODO neighborhood. County councilmembers voted unanimously (9-0) to approve the revised deal, while the city coucil vote was 7-2. Investor and hedge fund manager Chris Hansen wants to build the $490 million arena south of Safeco Field and has already snapped up $53 million in land for the project. Monday's approval by the two councils means Hansen can now begin shopping for an NBA and NHL franchise. The deal reached with the two councils calls for up to $145 million in public financing if Hansen can get one team to fill the building. Public financing would be $200 million for two teams. The financing would be paid by arena-generating revenue and includes no new taxes.

Link

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Arena design renderings:

http://www.sonicsarena.com/news/hockey-anyone

And if you want to see what the upper sections look like (it's with the B-Ball court instead, but obviously this stuff won't change up top):

http://www.sonicsarena.com/news/arena-renderings