Originally published September 17, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified September 17, 2007 at 9:04 PM
Study says Auburn site would work, but Sonics arena would cost $450M
A new arena for the Sonics and Storm near Emerald Downs is close enough to Seattle to work but would cost more than $450 million, according...
Seattle Times staff reporter
A new arena for the Sonics and Storm near Emerald Downs is close enough to Seattle to work but would cost more than $450 million, according to a study by consultants for the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe.
The study — which did not address how to pay for the arena — said an 18,500-seat arena could be built on a 26-acre pasture owned by the tribe adjacent to the horse-racing track.
The tribe's consultant, Washington D.C.-based Brailsford & Dunlavey, estimated the cost for a 770,000-square-foot arena at $452 million, assuming construction started in 2009.
A survey of Seattle's corporate community found some support for the arena proposal if that was the only way to keep the NBA franchise in the Seattle area.
But the business leaders said they'd prefer an arena in Seattle, Bellevue or Renton, according to Jason Thompson, the Brailsford & Dunlavey consultant who briefed reporters on the study this morning.
The study found the Auburn site, 25 miles south of Seattle off State Route 167, is reachable by car for a larger population of potential NBA ticket buyers than Seattle's KeyArena. But the consultant said improvements to roads in the area would likely be required.
The study was sent on Friday to Gov. Christine Gregoire and Sonics and Storm owner Clay Bennett for review.
Muckleshoot representatives cautioned this is only the first step in a possible new NBA arena. While the tribe would donate its land to an arena project, it is not yet clear how the arena construction would be funded.
Rollin Fatland, a Muckleshoot spokesman, said the tribe is willing to pay for development of a financing plan if there is interest from the Sonics and political leaders.
Fatland said it is likely taxpayers would be asked to contribute to the arena project.
Jim Brunner: 206-515-5628 or jbrunner@seattletimes.com
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
UPDATE - 10:53 PM
Greg Oden, LaMarcus Aldridge help Portland beat Chicago
NBA | D'Antoni didn't bench Nate Robinson for poor shot
NBA | Martell Webster propels Trail Blazers
Bremerton's Marvin Williams helps lead Hawks to win
Jazz gets rare win in San Antonio

PNW Magazine | Easy As Pie
A little friendly competition between professional pie-baker Kate McDermott and The Seatttle Times' Kathleen Triesch Saul is handled with great taste.
nwautos
Local riders say they've seen a surge in scooter interest in recent years, mostly from people wanting another commuting option. Seattle now ranks as o...
Post a comment
nwjobs
Post a comment
Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
Do you suffer from "sitting disease"?
Post a comment
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Tugboat sinks at Seattle waterfront pier
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
- Craigslist adoption ad: A plea by young mother-to-be? A scam?
- Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
- Woman stabbed by stranger in North Seattle
- Snow piles up on Cascade slopes
- Denny Triangle gains skyline, but tenants slow to come
- Illegal workers quietly let go
401 - Climate change speeds up since 1997 Kyoto accord
214 - Metro won't cut bus service after all
160 - New Husky recruit: Enes Kanter
105 - Middleton says Huskies "plan on scoring at least 50 points'' Saturday
86 - Tattoos at Mill Creek Church pierce skin, soul
85 - Bellevue residents blast new bikini espresso stand
76 - Jerry Brewer: Seahawks can't lean on the Hutch Crutch now
75 - Seattle woman charged with knife attack on boyfriend's ex
75 - Senate Democrats split on health bill's fate
58
- Sprouts, raw fish on attorney's 'do not eat' list
- Tattoos at Mill Creek church pierce skin, soul
- Food-safety lawyer's wish: Put me out of business
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Architects, chefs find 'kid' within to build Gingerbread Village
- Rediscovering Moab, 'the most beautiful place on Earth'
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Taste | The Great Pie Bake-off pits friends and fruit








