Muckleshoot Tribe to study prospect of arena for Sonics

The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe has hired a firm to study whether a new arena west of Emerald Downs racetrack could support the Sonics.

Ralph Morton, executive director of the Seattle Sports Commission, met with tribal representatives earlier this month to discuss the possibility of the Sonics playing in a potential new arena near the Auburn horse-racing track, which sits on tribe-owned land.

"Our organization is looking to make sure we're exhausting all our options out there," he said, adding that officials were "connecting dots to see all the ways we might keep the Sonics in town."

The SCC attracts and promotes regional sports and recreation events.

Rollin Fatland, a Muckleshoot tribal spokesman, said the facility-planning and program-management firm Brailsford and Dunlavey, based in Washington, D.C., has been on the project only a few days. He would not discuss the study's cost or expected completion date.

Fatland explained that the Muckleshoots want to exercise "due diligence and thoughtful consideration before deciding what to do next."

He said he has not spoken with Sonics owner Clay Bennett about the study.

"We're happy they're taking a serious look," Morton said.

Bennett, an Oklahoma City businessman, bought the Sonics last year and said he will keep the team in the Puget Sound area only if a new arena is built.