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Seattle Investor Regrets Bid to Defeat Kings Arena

sonicsarena.com

Seattle billionaire Chris Hansen says he regrets funding a secretive effort to block a new downtown arena for Sacramento's professional basketball team.

Hansen's involvement was disclosed by California's campaign watchdog Friday.

He issued a statement saying he "made a mistake" by giving a Los Angeles law firm $100,000. The firm secretly funneled $80,000 to a group gathering signatures to force a public vote on the arena plan.

The Fair Political Practices Commission sued to learn Hansen's identity.

Hansen tried to buy the Sacramento Kings and move them to Seattle until his bid was denied by the NBA earlier this year. The team's new owners are working with city officials to build a downtown arena to replace the aging facility the Kings now call home.

 

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