Seattle arena gets environmental clearance, Hansen 'completely open' to NHL preceding NBA
Hedge fund manager Chris Hansen is one step closer to building a new arena in Seattle.
Hansen and his group of investors are trying to build a facility to host potential NHL and NBA teams in the region. In a statement Thursday, the Hansen group said the project has cleared an important hurdle: they have received environmental clearance to continue working toward landing a construction permit:
The long-awaited Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Seattle Arena has been released and it is a greenlight for us to continue moving forward to finish the remaining work needed for the final construction permits.
The group called the clearance a "major milestone" in their quest to bring pro hockey and basketball back to the Emerald City.
Hansen acknowledged the possibility of the NHL returning before the NBA and said the investors are open to a hockey team occupying the proposed facility before a basketball franchise:
We also wanted to take the opportunity to reiterate that we remain 100 percent supportive of the NHL returning to Seattle and playing in the Arena - and are completely open to the prospect of that occurring prior to the NBA. In light of recent speculation, we would just like to clarify that we have sought to be as accommodating as possible in our negotiations with potential NHL partners, with our only major requirements being that such a deal does not jeopardize the process or put the City, County, Taxpayers or us in a worse financial position.
Last month, billionaire Ray Bartoszek and RLB Holdings filed a competing joint request with the intention of building a multi-purpose arena in nearby Tukwila. Tukwil mayor Jim Haggerton has sent letters to both Gary Bettman and Adam Silver throwing his support behind the project, for which he's created a "special opportunity district."
Bortoszek tried to buy the Arizona Coyotes and relocate them to Seattle in 2013 and he has met numerous times with Bettman, the NHL's commissioner.
The NBA has the option to purchase the Milwaukee Bucks at a relative discount if they don't have their own arena deal in place by 2017, likely the earliest an NBA team will become available for relocation.
Hansen's target date for completion of his group's arena project is 2018, according to the FEIS document released Thursday.
- With h/t to The Sporting News