Originally published July 19, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified July 19, 2007 at 5:23 PM

Sonics owner wants to reopen talks for KeyArena

Sonics and Storm owner Clay Bennett called Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels today to reopen talks on the future of the teams at KeyArena. But, Bennett added, those...

By Jim Brunner

Seattle Times staff reporter

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Clay Bennett

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Sonics and Storm owner Clay Bennett called Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels today to reopen talks on the future of the teams at KeyArena. But, Bennett added, those talks might also include how to get out of the arena lease before 2010.

"Anything and everything is on the table," he said.

Bennett, who is in Seattle today, said he asked for a meeting as soon as possible. Bennett has continually said city-owned KeyArena is inadequate for his teams, but this week, on the one-year anniversary of his purchase of the teams, he said he wants to talk.

It's time to "re-engage on this issue," Bennett said in a statement.

In an interview this morning, Bennett said he'll listen to city offers about a KeyArena renovation, but still does not believe the arena would work.

"I think KeyArena can be a fine building for certain events," he said, but would not be profitable for the NBA even with the $200 million expansion the previous Sonics had sought.

The Sonics lease at KeyArena runs through September 2010. Bennett said he may negotiate a settlement with the city to end that lease early, but stressed he would not simply break the lease without a settlement.

"We will not be moving in the middle of the night," Bennett added.

When Bennett and a group of Oklahoma City businessmen bought the teams last year, he signed an agreement requiring a "good faith" effort until Oct. 31 to seal an arena deal here.

Nickels confirmed that he talked with Bennett this morning. He declined to discuss specifics of what the city might offer to keep the teams at KeyArena.

"We would love to have a conversation about KeyArena being home to the NBA for 40 years," Nickels said.

Staff reporter Sharon Pian Chan contributed to this report. Jim Brunner: 206-515-5628 or jbrunner@seattletimes.com.

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