The 5 major hurdles Sonics face in Olympia

Taxpayers built Safeco Field for the Mariners. The Seahawks got Qwest Field.

So why are the Sonics having so much trouble landing a similar deal for KeyArena?

"It's beyond me that we're in this position," principal owner Howard Schultz told reporters last week. "I think you can maybe chalk it up to maybe naiveté on our part."

For the second straight year, the Sonics have dropped a bill relatively late in the legislative session seeking $200 million or more for an upgrade to KeyArena or a new arena elsewhere. The money would extend the life of hotel-motel, restaurant and other taxes used to pay for the construction of the football and baseball stadiums. Arts groups would also share in the bounty.

A legislative committee this morning will consider the Sonics request, which has picked up the support of some powerful lawmakers, though many remain skeptical. The Mariners and the Seahawks, too, met with serious resistance at first. In the end, only serious threats to leave town — coupled with aggressive lobbying — prompted lawmakers to give in.

The Sonics eventually may get their way, too. But here are five obstacles they face:

1. They haven't sweated enough. Much like the team's sluggish defense on the court, some legislative insiders say the Sonics front office has not moved its feet quickly enough in the political arena.

"Frankly, I don't think they've worked members very much, and then all of the sudden we get an ultimatum," said Marty Brown, legislative director for Gov. Christine Gregoire. "It just doesn't feel to me like there's been enough groundwork done."

Some lawmakers were irritated by Schultz's statements last week suggesting the team might be sold or leave town unless an arena package is approved before the end of the session March 9.

"Both the Mariners and the Seahawks worked extremely hard to get what they got. They did the work. He [Schultz] is just sitting back there saying, 'Give it to me or else,' " said Sen. Dave Schmidt, R-Mill Creek, who helped push the baseball and football stadiums.

Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown said the Sonics' latest bill is "in play," but said Schultz's threat rubbed a lot of lawmakers the wrong way. "To walk in here 30 days before the end of session and say it's 'My way or the highway,' that gives me a lot of heartburn," said Brown, D-Spokane.

Some backers of the team say the Sonics' lackluster effort last year to get a bill through the Legislature didn't help their cause. "It didn't put a marker in the sand, it dug a hole," said Steve Leahy, president of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce.

Nonetheless, the Sonics have picked up some powerful allies. Senate Ways and Means Chairwoman Margarita Prentice and House Finance Chairman Jim McIntire are pushing to get something passed this year. "I think if I put muscle behind it, it could happen," said Prentice, D-Seattle, but added "we're not guaranteeing anybody anything."

And even if legislators OK the bill, the Sonics would have to get approval from the Metropolitan King County Council.

Schultz, who is chairman of Starbucks, dismissed the notion the team hasn't tried hard enough.

"Have we met with every single legislator? No ... But we have stated our case broadly and we have met with senior elected officials on both sides of the aisle in the city and county and state," he also said last week.

Sen. Erik Poulsen predicted the Sonics will eventually get taxpayer help. He said the Legislature and team must first go through a sort of mating dance.

"There's a formula used nationwide for getting a stadium built," said Poulsen, D-Seattle. "That includes first, a failed legislative proposal, and then a threat to move the team."

2. Didn't we just build them an arena? Some of the Sonics owners' complaints right now sound similar to ones made in the 1990s, when the team played in the decrepit Seattle Coliseum.

In 1994, the city of Seattle and the team, then owned by Barry Ackerley, agreed to a $74 million renovation that created KeyArena. The facility was praised as a national model, and officials promised its luxury suites would easily pay off the construction debt.

"Unfortunately, some of the chatting is, 'Didn't we just fix that place?' " said Leahy. "In civic psyche time, 1994 feels like only yesterday."

The new owners now portray KeyArena as among the worst venues in the country, because of its small size. Also, Schultz called the team's lease — which splits arena revenue with the city — "probably the worst economic arrangement of any professional sports team in the United States of America."

3. Seattle infighting muddies the water. Several key legislators have said they don't see the Sonics getting anywhere in Olympia unless Seattle leaders unite.

"It's their facility," said House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle.

The Sonics went to Olympia last year with the support of Mayor Greg Nickels but without the blessing of the City Council. That irritated some council members and made the city look divided.

This year, the mayor has taken a more cautious approach, appointing a task force to study KeyArena and make recommendations in the coming weeks. That process has moved too slowly for the Sonics, but Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis said it's the sort of work necessary to build a convincing argument.

"They [the Sonics owners] haven't appreciated the time the legislative process takes. These guys are private sector, they're used to the boardroom thing, where they say, 'We want this,' and they get their way," Ceis said.

But some Seattle officials are unlikely to ever support the team. Seattle City Council President Nick Licata recently told Sports Illustrated the city wouldn't suffer much if the Sonics skipped town, calling the team's cultural impact "close to zero."

4. Too many hands in the pot. The Sonics aren't the only sports promoters asking for public assistance.

A Florida-based racetrack developer has abandoned, for this year, efforts to get the Legislature to help pay for a $345 million NASCAR track in Kitsap County.

The state's minor-league baseball teams want $25 million for renovations to their stadiums.

Rep. Kelli Linville, D-Bellingham, said it might make sense for lawmakers to form a study group to come up with priorities for funding such projects.

"I don't think fiscally we're at the point where we can cut a deal with every group," she said.

Some legislators say if the taxes are to be extended, there are far more worthy causes.

Sen. Ken Jacobsen, D-Seattle, has proposed putting the money toward replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

Rep. Hans Dunshee wants to fund state and local parks. "Let me get this straight, we're cutting funding for parks where people can walk and get some exercise so we can put money into a place where people sit on their butts and drink beer?" said Dunshee, D-Snohomish.

5. A losing team doesn't help. The Sonics are 19-30, and before Wednesday's game, were giving up a league-leading 106.9 points per game. So perhaps its no surprise that fans haven't so far played a role in the arena fight.

"On a gut level, how the team is doing is always a factor in these stadium fights," said Poulsen. "They [Sonics lobbyists] need to remind people that the Seahawks and the Mariners were once in the toilet."

Jim Brunner: 206-515-5628 or jbrunner@seattletimes.com

Ralph Thomas: 360-943-9882 or rthomas@seattletimes.com