Seattle Mayor Ed Murray’s announcement Wednesday that the city will enter into negotiations with the Oak View Group on a proposal for a privately financed renovation of KeyArena has not dissuaded the city’s other proposed stadium investor. Chris Hansen said his competition is still early in the process and preached patience when asked what affect the mayor’s announcement had on his 600-million dollar proposal for a stadium in the SoDo area.

Hansen spoke out during an episode of “Civic Cocktail” on Seattle Channel and seattlechannel.org. “I think our job here is to just sit back, be patient, see how things transpire over the next few months. Encourage the city council to approve our plan. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a little competition,” said Hansen. “They have a very long process in front of them.”

Seahawks QB Russell Wilson, who has partnered with Hansen, also appeared on the show reiterating his support for the project. “I definitely think we’re still alive,” said Wilson. “We like close games…we like winning close games.”


Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, second from left, speaks during a news
conference in front of KeyArena in Seattle, Wednesday, June 7, 2017.
Murray said the city will enter into negotiations with the Oak View Group
on a proposal for a privately-financed renovation of the city-owned
KeyArena. Plans for the remodel would bring the building up to standards
that could attract an NHL or NBA franchise once completed. (AP Photo/
Ted S. Warren)

Hansen’s original SoDo proposal involving public financing was rejected by the Seattle City Council last year. He and his group are now awaiting a council decision on a street vacation request for South Occidential Avenue for construction of a now privately financed arena.

It doesn’t sound like Hansen’s group is planning on stepping aside anytime soon. The thing you’ll hear from us is resolute commitment,” said Hansen. “To stay the course and make sure we do everything we can to get basketball and the NHL back to Seattle.”

(KPUG – Doug Lange; Information from the Associated Press & seattlechannel.org used in this story)