SEATTLE -- Financial experts are
telling the King County Council that two more sports teams could put
Seattle fans on financial overload. They warn a new sports arena for
basketball and hockey could have fans cutting back support for other
teams.
Chris Hansen, for his part, believes questions have been answered. Seattle has fans. Seattle wants the Sonics. Traffic questions have been answered.
But this is Seattle. Probably the only place where if someone wants to spend hundreds of millions of his own dollars, there will be hearings, after hearings, before planning meetings, environmental impact studies, and SEPA compliance.
A hearing Thursday was No. 8 on Hansen's build an arena plan. Today's guests were an expert panel.
The argument most make is think of all the jobs building it and then think of all money all the screaming fans will spend.
The experts think a new arena would create 1,600 construction jobs for two years. But the economists add, the tax impact of the basketball arena is fairly small.
But they say the larger question is whether Seattle could support six professional teams, when you factor in the current Mariners, Seahawks, Sounders and Storm.
The money gurus say it is quite likely basketball and hockey would steal fans away from other teams.
Economist Dick Conway says he studied whether this is a great place for a new team:
"If you just consider population and you just consider the number of sports teams we have, this might be one of the worst places to locate a team," Conway said.
Conway says this is something that needs more study, a survey of fans. Other consultants suggest more studies of traffic to determine if there will be an impact on the Port of Seattle. And they question whether there is enough pedestrian access in the area so people would walk through what they called an inhospitable area.
The experts say new sports teams would add to civic pride, quality of life, and attractiveness to business. But there are traffic and fan questions that deserve deeper study.
Right now, the county council has just two more hearings scheduled, though more could be scheduled in August.
Chris Hansen, for his part, believes questions have been answered. Seattle has fans. Seattle wants the Sonics. Traffic questions have been answered.
But this is Seattle. Probably the only place where if someone wants to spend hundreds of millions of his own dollars, there will be hearings, after hearings, before planning meetings, environmental impact studies, and SEPA compliance.
A hearing Thursday was No. 8 on Hansen's build an arena plan. Today's guests were an expert panel.
The argument most make is think of all the jobs building it and then think of all money all the screaming fans will spend.
The experts think a new arena would create 1,600 construction jobs for two years. But the economists add, the tax impact of the basketball arena is fairly small.
But they say the larger question is whether Seattle could support six professional teams, when you factor in the current Mariners, Seahawks, Sounders and Storm.
The money gurus say it is quite likely basketball and hockey would steal fans away from other teams.
Economist Dick Conway says he studied whether this is a great place for a new team:
"If you just consider population and you just consider the number of sports teams we have, this might be one of the worst places to locate a team," Conway said.
Conway says this is something that needs more study, a survey of fans. Other consultants suggest more studies of traffic to determine if there will be an impact on the Port of Seattle. And they question whether there is enough pedestrian access in the area so people would walk through what they called an inhospitable area.
The experts say new sports teams would add to civic pride, quality of life, and attractiveness to business. But there are traffic and fan questions that deserve deeper study.
Right now, the county council has just two more hearings scheduled, though more could be scheduled in August.
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