Seattle Will Get Lenny Wilkens Way

Lenny Wilkens, one of the NBA's all time greats will get a street by what is currently Key Arena, named after him.
Wilkens coached the 1978-79 Seattle Super Sonics to it's only NBA world championship. He also played for the team from 1968-72, serving in the pretty much now extinct role as player-coach from 1969-72.  He was also player coach for the Portland Trail Blazers for one season, before retiring and spending another year as full time coach. 
Wilkens has continued to live in the area, doing philanthropic work and working to possibly get the NBA to return to Seattle.

Phoenix Suns Owner Reportedly Threatens Move

Have the tables been turned?  In the news, recently, the owner of the Phoenix Suns has reportedly said that if  he doesn't get the arena deal that he desired, he will move the team TO Seattle, also tossed in as a potential landing spot was Las Vegas.  We in this area have seen every one of our major pro teams threaten to leave and the Super Sonics actually carried through.  Since then, we have been repeatedly teased with the potential of the NBA moving back.

While Key Arena is undergoing a major rebuild that will allow us to put an NHL team on the ice, it is clear that teams may use this area, now once again a hot spot due to growth from Amazon, to gain leverage on their cities to build arenas at tax payer expense.  

My guess is that Phoenix's arena issues will work themselves out, but  for maybe just instant, Seattle has been teased with the possibility of an NBA return. 

Chris Hansen-Seattle City Council Reach Agreement

The Seattle Times reports that the Seattle City Council has come to an agreement with Chris Hansen to build a basketball-hockey arena in the Soda area in hopes of bringing the NBA back to Seattle. According to the Times, the terms of the deal will be announced today.   It did say that the deal calls for Hansen to help fund road improvements to ease possible overcrowded streets, a concern of the Port Of Seattle.   The Hansen group also hopes the arena would allow an NHL team to relocate here.

Pro Sports Arena Plans Revealed--Public Money Involved

It is not just rumour, Seattle Leaders have been in contact with a Bay Area Hedge fund manager Chris Hansen in hopes of building a new arena that will allow the NBA to return to Seattle.  The deal is contingent on approval to use public funds and the ability to bring both an NBA and NHL franchise into the area.  The proposal would have the arena built south of Safeco Field, forming with Century Link Field, a three stadium sports complex.  Seattle Sonic Legend Lenny Wilkens is a leader in the drive to bring the idea to reality as are Seattle mayor Mike McGinn and King County Executive Dow Constantine (pictured above).