SEATTLE — The Seattle City Council has approved a deal for a new $490 million basketball and hockey arena in SoDo. Construction will begin when private investors secure an NBA team.
Council members voted 6-2 to approve investor Chris Hansen's plan that calls for $200 million in public investment.
If and when an NBA team is found, the arena will be built just south of the Safeco Field parking garage.
Earlier this month, three council members announced their support for the deal after Hansen agreed to changes to the original memorandum of understanding that would address transportation concerns in the area around the proposed arena.
Changes in the plan still must be approved by the King County Council, and it must pass an environmental review.
Hansen issued this statement after the vote:
"Today’s City Council vote marks the culmination of a long and productive negotiation process that started with the Mayor and his staff more than a year ago and more recently with the City Council. I want to thank all of Seattle’s elected officials and their staffs for their willingness to roll up their sleeves and work with us to get us to this point. I think that today’s vote demonstrates that by listening to each other and working hard to address the concerns of all stakeholders that we can make the arena a reality and bring professional basketball and hockey back to Seattle. While we still have a long way to go I am heartened by the tremendous level of support this project has enjoyed. I look forward to working with the county council again as they now consider the modified MOU."
NBA officials have already said the league is not planning to expand, which means a team would have to come from another city.
Adam Brown produced "Sonicsgate," a documentary detailing how Seattle lost the Sonics to Oklahoma City. The film was shown Sunday night at a prevote rally.
"Obviously, we would still prefer an expansion team to a relocated team because we know how that feels," Brown said.
Former Sonics player Shawn Kemp was among those who appeared at the rally.
"The love of basketball in this area is tremendous, and people generally feel like we've been robbed," Kemp said.
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