Sonics owner won't meet with Nickels if KeyArena on agenda

Sonics and Storm owner Clay Bennett today said he'll pull out of a planned meeting with Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels if the mayor continues to pitch a KeyArena renovation as a solution to the team's arena situation.

Bennett, in a written statement, said such a meeting would "not be productive or necessary" if Nickels insists on sticking to the idea of keeping the teams at KeyArena.

In response, Nickels said in a statement that if Bennett only wants to talk about how to get out of his KeyArena lease early: "then I agree — a trip to Seattle isn't worth the price of the plane ticket."

Last month, Bennett called Nickels to request a meeting to discuss KeyArena. At the time, Bennett said he'd listen to the mayor's KeyArena renovation ideas, but said he did not think they would work to make the arena profitable.

Bennett has said he wants to explore whether the Sonics can buy their way out of the team's lease before it expires in 2010.

Nickels, however, has continued to say he'll hold the team to the lease and push for a KeyArena renovation.

At a news conference Wednesday, Nickels said he believed KeyArena could work if the Sonics contributed $100 million to the effort.

Today, Bennett's statement made it clear he's not interested.

"In issuing our call to action last month, we were hopeful the Mayor would use his regional leadership platform to rally support for a solution. Instead he focused on old unworkable concepts that are not acceptable."

"It is clear that if all we have to discuss is the renovation of KeyArena, then a meeting with the Mayor will not be productive or necessary."

"We can only hope that business, civic and elected leadership can step up quickly and offer real solutions to help build a new building. We stand ready to engage in those discussions."

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