Thunderbirds PLANNING Move Out Of Key Arena

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Thunderbirds PLANNING Move Out Of Key Arena

Post by Pounder » Sun Jul 02, 2006 8:56 pm

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/hockey/27 ... rds30.html

As with any arena proposal, don't count the chickens before the eggs hatch.

Russ Farwell is now quoted as saying they cannot afford to stay at Key, so something is likely to happen.

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Post by Minor League Man » Tue Jul 04, 2006 12:56 am

Translation: Seattle wants an NHL team.
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Post by Pounder » Wed Jul 05, 2006 5:55 pm

Wrong translation.

Key Arena isn't even suitable for NHL anyway. It's a setup far worse than what Phoenix had when they were playing in America West... or whatever it's called now.

The Sonics want a new arena, or major renovations to Key (which itself was a major renovation of the old Seattle Centre Coliseum). Maybe that involves NHL, but the NHL is trying to get out of the "second tenant" business.

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Post by Pounder » Tue Mar 20, 2007 8:49 pm

http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/st ... 9815c.html

Update time.

Kent has approved their funding for the events center. The posted article demonstrates that the proposed state funding is 33% approved, and seemingly faring a lot better than state funding requests for a new Sonics arena (in Renton) and a proposed NASCAR track across the Sound in Bremerton. Kent seems to fully expect that the arena will be ready for the Thunderbirds by opening face-off for 2008-09.

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Post by SeaToby » Sat Nov 08, 2008 8:05 am

I read the WNBA club has moved into the Kent Arena as well as the WHL hockey club, leaving nobody at the Key Arena. When the arena cannot keep a minor league franchise, what made Seattle think it could keep a major league franchise? Especially when the arena is twice as old as any other NBA arena?

Much has changed in the arena business, too bad Seattle lost their NBA club to Oklahoma City. Its not like the new owner didn't give Seattle a year to change its mind and build a new state of the art arena.

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Post by rams80 » Sat Nov 08, 2008 10:05 pm

[quote=""SeaToby""]I read the WNBA club has moved into the Kent Arena as well as the WHL hockey club, leaving nobody at the Key Arena. When the arena cannot keep a minor league franchise, what made Seattle think it could keep a major league franchise? Especially when the arena is twice as old as any other NBA arena?

Much has changed in the arena business, too bad Seattle lost their NBA club to Oklahoma City. Its not like the new owner didn't give Seattle a year to change its mind and build a new state of the art arena.[/quote]

As the arena was completely rebuilt during the mid-90s with taxpayer money, Seattle likely felt that a new arena was not necessary.
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Post by Pounder » Wed Nov 12, 2008 8:49 pm

Completely renovated... with one notable exception.

The outer shell of the arena was considered to be the "other" signature structure of Seattle Centre. That was kept... and everything else was crammed in.

It also wasn't good for hockey... it was rebuilt for basketball, but 6,000 seats couldn't be used in the hockey alignment... basically everything from one blue line to the end boards couldn't be sold. That doesn't make for enhanced revenue.

Then there's Initiative 91, which banned further public arenas for private gain in Seattle. I'm guessing you'll see that spread instead of more arenas.
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