Seattle-area politicians will make their case to NBA leaders this week that the league should allow the Sacramento Kings to be transferred here.
The NBA will have to decide between rival offers from Seattle and Sacramento. At this Wednesday’s NBA meeting in New York, Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and King County Executive Dow Constantine will explain how the city and county have committed to supporting the team’s transfer and building a new arena.
Constantine says he understands why Sacramento is trying so hard to keep the team, but that Seattle has more to offer.
"I think that we have some natural advantages in our region (such as) a much larger media market," Constantine said.
Constantine says he’ll outline the county’s financial contribution to investor Chris Hansen’s arena plan, as well transportation improvements the city and county have pledged to make.
McGinn’s spokesman Aaron Pickus says the mayor will highlight Seattle’s fast-growing economy as a reason to bring a professional basketball team back to the Puget Sound region.
SportspressNW.com columnist Art Thiel says he thinks the environmental impact statement currently being completed to assess the proposed site in Seattle's Sodo neighborhood is a big concern to the NBA.
"I think that’s probably the biggest worry of the NBA, that this deal might run afoul of either litigation or unresolvable problems in the environmental impact statement," Thiel said.
NBA officials are scheduled to vote in two and a half weeks.
