SEATTLE — Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn offered KeyArena to investor Chris Hansen for free, prior to Hansen opting to buy up property in the city’s SoDo neighborhood and attempting to build a stadium there, King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer said Monday.
The revelation came during a County Council meeting.
The mayor’s office said Hansen was offered the arena at a “nominal fee” for a new NBA team. Officials said the KeyArena rarely breaks even financially.
It isn’t clear what, if any, bearing the rejected offer might have on plans for a new arena in SoDo.
Ultimately, the offer was rejected because of transportation concerns.