NBA In The Key For First Time In 10 Years

It's only an exhibition game, but NBA fans in the Seattle area will finally get to attend a game in the Key for the first time since 2008.  The Sacramento Kings will face the World Championship Golden State Warriors .   

A few years ago, Chris Hansen, bought the Kings in an attempt to move the team to Seattle.  The attempt was thwarted by NBA Board Of Governors who wanted to keep the team in Sacramento. Golden State's Kevin Durant played his rookie season for the Seattle Super Sonics.

Tip Off for tonight' game is 7:30.

Seattle Storm Honored

In true Seattle fashion, it was a rainy day as the city honored the WNBA champion Seattle Storm with a parade and rally at Key Arena.  Thanks to Crosscut for the story and picture of  Storm veteran Sue Bird with the Championship trophy. (middle picture)
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan declared 1st Ave North outside Key Arena will be renamed Seattle Storm Way. (Bottom picture)  It was the Storm's third WNBA championship. Bird, was a part of all 3 championship runs.  The first in 2004 after Bird was on the US team that won the Gold Medal in Women's basketball in the Summer Olympics in the same year.

Seattle Potential NHL Team Sets Up Web Site

A potential National Hockey League team to be located in Seattle has begun advertising for it's new web site.  The web site at nhlseattle.com announces that the proposed team will take deposits for season ticket priority starting March 1st at 10am.   The proposed expansion team would play in the revamped version of what is now the Key Arena.

NHL In Seattle Gets One Step Closer

 

Seattle winters may be more exciting in the coming years as Mayor Jenny Durkan  has tweeted that OVG has completed the papers for requesting an National Hockey League expansion team.  Seattle has been without a major professional winter sports team since the NBA's Seattle Super Sonics left town in 2008. 
Of course, many Seattle sports fans are disappointed that the city didn't stay with the Chris Hansen plans to build an arena with the NBA as the primary tenant. 
The Oak View Group's plan is to remodel what is now Key Arena with the NHL as the primary tenant.  At this time, a new NBA team is not on the horizon.

NHL Said To Be Coming To Seattle

With the approval of a remodel of Key Arena, news sources are reporting that Pro Hockey could be on it's way to Seattle.  Social media has been talking at possible names which have ranged from standard to ridiculous.

Seattle Goes With OVG For Sports Arena

In what could be the most controversial of the never ending saga of new sports arenas, the Seattle City Council has given approval to Oak View Group to build a 600 million dollar renovation of what is now Key Arena.  The move means the city has abandoned efforts by Chis Hansen to build an ground up arena in the SoDo district.
Many NBA fans believe the SoDo arena would be a better in luring an NBA (pro basketball) team as Hansen indicted his desire to purchase a team.  Hansen had tried to lure the Sacramento Kings a few years back.
The Key project is said to be an attempt to lure the NHL (pro ice hockey) to Seattle, with  the possibility of the NBA returning in later years.

Oak View Group Selected In Key Remodel

The Oak View Group has been tapped by Mayor Ed Murray to redevelop the Key in an effort to get the two major winter sports in the area.  The group, let by Tim Lieweke and Irving Azoff, was introduced at a news conference.  The leaders announced a partnership with two perspective NHLowners, most likely a deciding factor in getting the nod.  Of course, the long range goal, would be to bring back the NBA. The previous mayor Mike McGinn, partnered with Chris Hanson, in attempting to build a basketball arena in Sodo that would also house Ice Hockey. 
The irony to this is that McGinn is again running for mayor, a position he lost 4 years ago.  Murray is not seeking a second term.
The Key Arena is located on the grounds of the Seattle Center, the site of the 1962 World's Fair. It was the home of the Seattle Super Sonics before the team moved to Oklahoma City to become the Thunder. 

Bette Midler Dazzles Seattle

We spent a very entertaining evening with Bette Midler, now a three time Grammy winner.  At the Key Arena, Midler sang a generation's worth of music,  told jokes blue enough to make a sailor blush and shared her unique views on pop culture and the rise of social media. The two hour show, included several costume changes.  She was backed up by a quartet of  girl back up singers and a full orchestra.

Colin Powell Inspirational In Seattle Appearence

Today, Deb and I were able to endure the lousy traffic to attend Get Motivated Seminar at Key Arena. We were lucky enough to get a premier on street parking spot. We only had enough time to attend the morning session, so after a late start we got to see only two speakers. Fortunately, one of them was General Colin Powell. Powell, of course, was the very first African American Secretary Of State. He served under the Bush administration, and while our politics may differ, General Powell may be the one politician to transcend party lines.
Powell talked about adjustments he needed to make, going from have his own jet and being called upon by worldwide leaders to just being retired. He spoke of the new media and how he wondered why his grandson didn't return his e-mails. He discovered that today's youth do not e-mail but communicate through text and twitter. Powell refused to go on facebook and was enraged to find that an imposter set up a phony page for him. He decided that it may not be as bad when his grandson told him that he had 35,000 followers.
Powell paid homage to the late Seattle School Superintendent John Stanford, also a general and spoke of the need to improve our nation's public education.
He also went through the steps of building a successful team, mostly by respecting your followers. He also emphasized the need of setting goals.
Some of the other speakers to appear at the Key were Laura Bush, Dan Rather, and Joe Montana.

Billy Joel-Elton John Rescheduled

Ticketmaster has been informing customers that hold tickets to the canceled Seattle Elton John-Billy Joel concert, originally scheduled for early Novemberthat the concert has been rescheduled for Wednesday February 3rd at Key Arena.

Good Time At Key Arena

Yes, Seattle does have an NBA team, although they have not gotten much press or aroused much interest this season. Deb and I headed to Key Arena last night as we got near courtside seats for Christmas and sat closer than ever before. The Sonics played like winners as they beat the Memphis Grizzlies 121-105. Although Memphis also was having it's problems, it looked like the Sonics were playing for something rather than playing out the string. Rachard Lewis scored 34 points and Ray Allen chipped in 27 for us.