Leiweke optimistic about Seattle-based NBA franchise
Now that major renovations to Seattle's KeyArena have been approved, is the city prepared for the return of an NBA franchise?
Seattle city council recently voted 7-1 in favor of a proposal for a $600-million redevelopment of KeyArena, in the hopes of attracting another major sports franchise. It's a step in the right direction in the process for the NBA to bring basketball back to Seattle.
Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke is heavily invested in the city, understanding that the talk of a Seattle-based franchise has been a hot topic since the NBA left Seattle for Oklahoma City. Leiweke has been around sports franchises for a long time and has a realistic, but optimistic, outlook on the matter.
"I’ve been through this," Leiweke told reporters, according to Yahoo Sports Chris Mannix. "I’ve seen teams ripped out of communities. It’s not a pretty thing to go through. I feel the pain, and we’ve been dealing with Sonics Rising and the Sonic community, and we understand. Lots of people have preferences about the NHL compared to the NBA. Whichever one comes first, if we do a great job with them, the other one will come."
Leiweke uttering "the other one will come" may give a feeling of hope for basketball fans in the Pacific Northwest. Seattle mayor Jenny Durkan went as far as to tease Seattleite's during the agreement signing, wearing a Seattle SuperSonics T-shirt under her blazer.
With the NHL carrying 31 franchises and aiming for an even number, it's likely they'll get first dibs. But it's clear Leiweke won't stop there.