Group wants to build basketball arena with retractable roof

Without money, real estate or political buy-in, the latest proposal to build a new downtown arena for basketball and hockey is about as close to reality as the plan to put a retractable roof on the proposed stadium for playing winter sports in rainy Seattle.

But, then again, the idea was floated on April Fool's Day.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels said Tuesday he welcomes community involvement in the city's business, but he's cool to the proposal from a group led by former Seattle SuperSonic "Downtown" Freddy Brown. It's unquestionably the least plausible plan for keeping professional basketball in Seattle.

"We remain focused on improving KeyArena so that it will remain the region's sports and entertainment facility for years to come," Nickels said.

The plan comes from a group calling itself B2 Inc., named for Brown and Dave Bean, senior director of Wongdoody Communications (a real company).

The pair say all they need for their Emerald City Center is some cheap real estate, a billion dollars in private money and some volunteers for an advisory board. (Full disclosure: This reporter was asked during the news conference if she was interested in serving. She declined.)

Sonics owners Clay Bennett estimated his new stadium would cost $500 million with public and private money. He's planning on moving the team to Oklahoma City.

They would not share any names of people who have helped pay for startup expenses, but Brown, who recently retired from Bank of America, said he knows some financial people who will find the project appealing.

The team has picked five possible locations for the entertainment complex. Their No. 1 choice is the least likely politically - a site owned by the Port of Seattle and under a long-term lease to a container shipping company. The mayor says Pier 46 is doing just fine as a money generator for the region.

B2 envisions the tourist attraction they hope to build as Washington's version of Disney's Epcot Center, with pavilions to highlight state industry, Native American culture and pioneer history. They expect sponsorship from corporations like Boeing and Microsoft.

Bean said the basketball and hockey stadium (with a retractable roof) is just part of the package and the project could proceed without an NBA or NHL team in Seattle.

The group wanted to get its idea on the table before the NBA commissioners meet to discuss the future of basketball in Seattle, Bean said.

A third "B" - basketball legend Bill Russell, who called himself an old friend of Brown - stopped by the news conference but said afterward he didn't have an official role in the project. "I told him if there was anything I could do to help," Russell said.

The proposed stadium would not have luxury suites. Instead, Bean and Brown are promoting the idea of luxury common space where corporate executives and celebrities could mingle and network.

Bean, who says he was trying to bring professional volleyball to Seattle 30 years ago when Brown was captain of the 1979 NBA champion Sonics team, admitted that the plan is a bit of a long shot.

"I don't know which is going to be harder - pro volleyball or trying to sell this project we're talking about today," said Bean, who also mentioned that he used to sell hot dogs at Tacoma Rainiers games.

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On the Net:

Emerald City Center: http://www.emeraldcitycenter.com