Tacoma to renovate Tacoma Dome for NHL and/or NBA team?

[Nuclear SUV]

they have light rail there now that would ease traffic concerns

The line is a joke. It runs from downtown, southeast though the poorer neighborhoods that used to ride the bus, and then southwest to the airport. It is faster to drive to the airport, even in traffic, than take the snail rail. The line is a political, gerrymandered mess. If they ever extended the sucker to Tacoma, it would take around 90 minutes each direction.

 

[Grudy0]

so my question to the seattle natives is what was the deal with the key arena? was it that the team was demanding that the arena be renovated with taxpayer money? was it that the team threatened to leave if a new arena was not built with taxpayer money? im just asking because it seems that if the region was not willing to put money into a facility to keep a team that the public really wanted to keep around why would they put up money for an arena for an NHL franchise? I think we all agree that the tacoma dome would be a temporary solution at best so a new building would have to be built no?

Not native...

The place underwent an extensive renovation to house the Sonics in the mid-1990's. Less than 10 years in, Starbuck's and Sonics owner Howard Schultz unsuccessfully lobbied Seattle for a new arena. That led to the sale of the team to Clay Bennett's group in 2005. It appears Bennett's group simply wanted to move the team.

It was always about a taxpayer-funded facility, and when it was known that the City of Seattle wasn't going to bend, the moving trucks came in.

 

[Ruslan Zainullin]

Not native...

The place underwent an extensive renovation to house the Sonics in the mid-1990's. Less than 10 years in, Starbuck's and Sonics owner Howard Schultz unsuccessfully lobbied Seattle for a new arena. That led to the sale of the team to Clay Bennett's group in 2005. It appears Bennett's group simply wanted to move the team.

It was always about a taxpayer-funded facility, and when it was known that the City of Seattle wasn't going to bend, the moving trucks came in.

so in 2011 moving forward would a new multi purpose arena in seattle be a possibility? or has that ship sailed with the sonics leaving?

 

[Bear of Bad News]

The line is a joke. It runs from downtown, southeast though the poorer neighborhoods that used to ride the bus, and then southwest to the airport. It is faster to drive to the airport, even in traffic, than take the snail rail. The line is a political, gerrymandered mess. If they ever extended the sucker to Tacoma, it would take around 90 minutes each direction.

I take the lightrail to/from the airport, and I think that it's fast and convenient.

(It doesn't go south of the airport, though)

 

[JawandaPuck]

The Sonics were moving to OKC no matter what. They said they would stay if the taxpayers built the world's nicest arena in Renton, but those lying weasels had zero intention of keeping the team here. They bought the team to move it and make their small little city seem more significant than it really is.

Key Arena is too small, that's its flaw. A remodel wouldn't be enough. I expect an arena to be built eventually in Bellevue, most likely the old Safeway distributing site east of 405 and south of 520. It just happens to be along the future lightrail line from Downtown Seattle to Redmond.

Or how about in the big north parking lot of Qwest Field? All Seattle major league stadiums would be just a few blocks from the financial center of downtown (helping ensure the success of the hockey team perhaps). See in red outline below...

Here's an example of a hockey arena and football stadium built next to one another...

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Not native...

The place underwent an extensive renovation to house the Sonics in the mid-1990's. Less than 10 years in, Starbuck's and Sonics owner Howard Schultz unsuccessfully lobbied Seattle for a new arena. That led to the sale of the team to Clay Bennett's group in 2005. It appears Bennett's group simply wanted to move the team.

It was always about a taxpayer-funded facility, and when it was known that the City of Seattle wasn't going to bend, the moving trucks came in.

The other issue is you have the National Register of Historic Sites, of which Seattle Center Coliseum is a part of, hence why they had to supervise and/or approve of said reconstruction......

 

[Nuclear SUV]

Or how about in the big north parking lot of Qwest Field? All Seattle major league stadiums would be just a few blocks from the financial center of downtown (helping ensure the success of the hockey team perhaps). See in red outline below...

It is already spoken for. The City Clowncil wants housing there.

The prospective arena locations mentioned before are:

• Key Arena site, Seattle Center
  
• Memorial Stadium site, Seattle Center
• Pier 46, which is near SAFECO Field & C Link Field (major pipedream)
• Sabey site (former Assoc. Grocers distribution center at south end of Boeing Field)
• Bellevue Safeway Distribution Center site
• Renton landing
• Muckleshoot land in Auburn next to Emerald Downs
• Tacoma Dome remodel

 

[Nuclear SUV]

Here is a pic that shows the Safeway site, which is where I think an arena will eventually be built.


Safeway Dist. Center is the large warehouse complex in the middle of the pic. Downtown Bellevue is across freeway in upper left.

Future light rail route:

 

[JawandaPuck]

Here is a pic that shows the Safeway site, which is where I think an arena will eventually be built.


Safeway Dist. Center is the large warehouse complex in the middle of the pic. Downtown Bellevue is across freeway in upper left.

Future light rail route:

Does safeway still use the warehouse or have they moved everything to Auburn? Who owns that piece of land in Bellevue?

 

[JawandaPuck]

It is already spoken for. The City Clowncil wants housing there.

The prospective arena locations mentioned before are:

• Key Arena site, Seattle Center
  
• Memorial Stadium site, Seattle Center
• Pier 46, which is near SAFECO Field & C Link Field (major pipedream)
• Sabey site (former Assoc. Grocers distribution center at south end of Boeing Field)
• Bellevue Safeway Distribution Center site
• Renton landing
• Muckleshoot land in Auburn next to Emerald Downs
• Tacoma Dome remodel

By housing do you mean condo towers?

 

[pdxshark]

i'm going to puke if/when seattle gets an NHL team before portland. I know, larger city and all that, just think it would work better here.

Would be nice to take the train up there to see the sharks though, I do like both downtown tacoma and seattle. I would prefer it to be in an urban environment like that rather than out in the burbs. Tacoma has made some good strides to improving their core and it would make sense for them to pursue an anchor attraction like an NHL team.

If its seattle, well, they may as well designate a "giant stadium disctrict" because Qwest and Safeco plus another new one (if its in that area) would certainly be interesting. Imagine traffic if all three had home games! Though I guess with hockey starting in october you don't have to really worry about the mariners overlapping with them

 

[Nuclear SUV]

By housing do you mean condo towers?

This:

http://www.northlotdevelopment.com/

 

[dronald]

i'm going to puke if/when seattle gets an NHL team before portland. I know, larger city and all that, just think it would work better here.

Would be nice to take the train up there to see the sharks though, I do like both downtown tacoma and seattle. I would prefer it to be in an urban environment like that rather than out in the burbs. Tacoma has made some good strides to improving their core and it would make sense for them to pursue an anchor attraction like an NHL team.

If its seattle, well, they may as well designate a "giant stadium disctrict" because Qwest and Safeco plus another new one (if its in that area) would certainly be interesting. Imagine traffic if all three had home games! Though I guess with hockey starting in october you don't have to really worry about the mariners overlapping with them

Are your friends NHL fans? Just asking because my family lives in Portland and they all think Hockey is a joke.

 

[Nuclear SUV]

I would prefer it to be in an urban environment like that rather than out in the burbs. Tacoma has made some good strides to improving their core and it would make sense for them to pursue an anchor attraction like an NHL team.

Downtown Bellevue has the more active and growing core vs. Tacoma. Plus the arena location in Bellevue is closer to their downtown core than the Tacoma dome is to Tacoma's.

Downtown Renton could also develop into a dynamic urban core too, especially if Boeing moves operations from there and opens up some major lakefront land for development. A lakefront arena in Renton would be incredible. It would be like Husky Stadium with dining cruises, tour boats, and party yachts taking thousands of fans to the game via the water.

The only location previously mentioned for an arena nowhere near a current or potential core is the Muckleshoot site in Auburn. The theory behind that location is the tribe would subsidize much of the arena's costs and possibly build a casino nearby, or use the arena to get more folks to their current casino on the opposite end of Auburn. For much of its history, the Muckleshoot casino has been the area's largest revenue casino among the many in the area. They have lots of money, and lots of aggressive competition from nearby tribal casinos in Fife, Snoqualmie, and Tulalip, which is potentially why they may be a player in building an arena, especially if there is going to be little or no public financing for the project.

 

[MuzikMachine]

Is it that wise to build residential developments that close to a stadium? During events it would have a lot of traffic congestion and noise. In Calgary there are very few concerts at McMahnon Stadium due to noise and there isn't houses at the endzone. Seems like if that goes through there will be a NIMBY battle shortly afterwards. An arena or commercial development would seem to make more sense.

This:

http://www.northlotdevelopment.com/

 

[Ruslan Zainullin]

Is it that wise to build residential developments that close to a stadium? During events it would have a lot of traffic congestion and noise. In Calgary there are very few concerts at McMahnon Stadium due to noise and there isn't houses at the endzone. Seems like if that goes through there will be a NIMBY battle shortly afterwards. An arena or commercial development would seem to make more sense.

The houses may not be in the endzone at Mcmahon but they are pretty close, hence the lack of concerts at the venue. Maybe this would be different if Mcmahon was an indoor venue, who knows.

 

[Nuclear SUV]

Does safeway still use the warehouse or have they moved everything to Auburn? Who owns that piece of land in Bellevue?

Safeway sold out and moved to Auburn. Wright, as in built the Space Needle Wrights owns the land... Wright Runstad is currently involved in the Husky Stadium remodel project which starts in November.

 

[Buck Aki Berg]

Is it that wise to build residential developments that close to a stadium? During events it would have a lot of traffic congestion and noise. In Calgary there are very few concerts at McMahnon Stadium due to noise and there isn't houses at the endzone. Seems like if that goes through there will be a NIMBY battle shortly afterwards. An arena or commercial development would seem to make more sense.

If the stadium came after the condos, you might have a point, but with the stadium already there, anybody who buys those condos knows what they're getting themselves into.

 

[IU Hawks fan]

If the stadium came after the condos, you might have a point, but with the stadium already there, anybody who buys those condos knows what they're getting themselves into.

Huh?

The stadiums are already there. Safeco and Centurylink.

 

[Buck Aki Berg]

Huh?

The stadiums are already there. Safeco and Centurylink.

Exactly. So why would somebody buy a condo next to a stadium, then complain about the stadium being there?

 

[htpwn]

Is it that wise to build residential developments that close to a stadium? During events it would have a lot of traffic congestion and noise. In Calgary there are very few concerts at McMahnon Stadium due to noise and there isn't houses at the endzone. Seems like if that goes through there will be a NIMBY battle shortly afterwards. An arena or commercial development would seem to make more sense.

It's been done before, and I don't think it has ever posed any issues. The only thing that the Rogers Centre had to stop was the fireworks after a home run.