Investor still pushing for arena competition in Seattle

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Chris Hansen, right, the investor who is seeking to build an arena that could host an NBA basketball team near Safeco Field in Seattle, takes part in an interview with the Associated Press, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017, in Seattle. Hansen is scheduled to attend a Seattle City Council hearing Tuesday in support of his plan, even as the city has already indicated official support for a competing plan from the Oak View Group to remodel the existing KeyArena instead of building a new facility. Photo: KPUG/(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

SEATTLE (AP) — An investor is continuing to push his plans for a new sports arena in Seattle’s stadium district even as the city moves forward with efforts to renovate KeyArena across town.

Chris Hansen said Tuesday that his group doesn’t have issues with the investment in the aging city-owned KeyArena, formerly the home of the NBA’s SuperSonics. But he doesn’t want to see his plans ignored after years of trying to get final approval for his project, which is ultimately aimed at getting an NBA team back in Seattle.

Hansen said, “How is it a bad thing, (despite) what you want to do at KeyArena, to also approve ours?”

He added,”At a minimum, having competition will ensure better economics for both the city and a prospective NBA owner when it comes time to purchase a team.”

#SODOArena investor Chris Hansen – We are not selling our land until an NBA team is in #Seattle.

5pm @KING5Seattle pic.twitter.com/yEGAqC1h8g

— Chris Daniels (@ChrisDaniels_TV) October 10, 2017

Hansen’s group did a full media blitz ahead of a public hearing on the city’s arena situation Tuesday night. The city of Seattle and Oak View Group have reached agreement on a proposed memorandum of understanding for a privately financed remodel of KeyArena costing around $600 million. A final vote on the MOU is expected in early December.

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