New Sonics Facility | Arena issue to get D.C. hearing

Seattle City Council President Nick Licata plans to take his fight against taxpayer funding of professional sports arenas to Washington, D.C., on Thursday.

Licata is scheduled to testify before a congressional panel casting a critical eye on the economic-development arguments used to justify new arenas — such as the proposed $500 million Sonics arena in Renton. The hearing before the domestic-policy subcommittee of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee was called by U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, the panel's chairman.

Licata will testify about his "successful attempt to fight a new arena being built in his city for the Seattle Supersonics," according to a news release from Kucinich's office.

Licata opposed a $200 million expansion of city-owned KeyArena for the Sonics and backed an initiative to broadly restrict city subsidies for pro sports. After that measure passed in November, the owners of the Sonics and Storm said the teams would leave Seattle after their leases expire in 2010.

The teams now have pinned their hopes on building an arena in Renton, asking for at least $300 million in state-authorized King County taxes and an additional contribution from Renton.

Also scheduled to testify at Thursday's hearing are critics of taxpayer-funded arenas in other cities and academics who have disputed the benefits of professional sports on local economies. The panel also will examine similar issues surrounding publicly funded convention centers and hotels.

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