gstommylee
Registered User
- Jan 31, 2012
- 14,510
- 2,802
It is sad to see Schultz get vilified because he is a great businessman and has a certain unique value set that bleeds through Starbucks.
The issues were never his fault.
Key Arena was hurt because the next generation of sports stadiums went into effect right after the final upgrade.
He needed a new arena, the Mariners and Seahawks got their arenas, and he got none.
The fact that Key Arena is still an issue tells you everything you need to know about where the city and state stand today. The mayor makes press trips to NYC every year to meet with Silver and Stern and it is the same answer, do you have a replacement for Key Arena. No. Thank you for your time.
The reason why schultz got blamed cause he was the one that sold the team to bennett. He could have waited till someone local wanted to buy the team or tried to search for local group. But he didn't and the team was leaving the moment that agreement between bennett and schultz was done.
The problem with key arena that it was suddenly outdated and nothing happened cause of the recent renovations to the building in 95. You can blame that on the late sonics owner that intentionally designed key arena to be like that.
We have an arena plan that just finished its environmental review and it won't be built unless a NBA team is granted.
Arena funding requires there be a NBA team to start paying back the debt. This is the only way it would have gotten the initial approval from SCC sadly. I am not happy about that NBA team requirement but nothing i can do about that.
This is why ray B is planning an NHL/NBA arena in Tukwila but with out the NBA requirement but he needs to get the NHL before it gets built.
It would be nice if someone was willing to take the risk and just built it regardless of a NHL or a NBA team and just get it over with. Sadly i don't think that will ever happen here.
I'll tell you this sodo arena will be the last arena plan in the city of seattle to ever include any sort of public funding.