With the announcement that the City of Seattle had settled with Clay Bennett and his Oklahoma City ownership over the Sonics lease at Key Arena a new chapter has been written in Seattle sports.
And with a general election coming up less than five months, the first few paragraphs written on the page will be about politics.
Gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi watched the aftermath of the lawsuit like many other Sonics fans with a sense of foreboding. His reaction to the settlement announcement was clear.
He pins responsibility for the team's expected departure on his opponent in the governor's mansion, Christine Gregoire.
To Rossi, the lack of action in Olympia is a microcosm of what he sees is wrong with the state. He said if the governor has "18 different positions" on the Viaduct he wasn't really surprised that she lacked the initiative to save a 41-year old Seattle institution.
"If she wants to be governor, she has to lead every once and awhile. You have to buck up and make a decision. If it's the right thing to do she needed to do it."
At the heart of the Rossi's complaint is the $150 million gift by Steve Ballmer to help renovate Key Arena. Nickels had pledged the City would kick in $75 million in matching funds to help renovate the government-owned and operated facility. All that was left was for the State to come up with a funding mechanism to cover the other $75 million.
The politically expedient thing would have been to pass the ball back to the King County Council to allow the county to vote whether or not to extend rental car and restaurant taxes.
"We had people who were willing to pay for this in a way that has never been offered for any sporting team before," Rossi explained. "All they needed to do in Olympia was allow King County to vote for an extension.
Instead the state turned down the public-private partnership, thumbed its nose at Ballmer and his local ownership group and ignored an opportunity to pay for a renovated Key Arena with tax revenue he says would mostly come from out-of-state tourists.
Now Rossi said the taxpayers are left with an empty building that doesn't have a core tenant to pay the bills.
"The Ice Capades won't keep it afloat. The [city] is going to come down to the state and try to get money to renovate it."
"Christine Gregoire is going to spin it into blaming everyone and his uncle," Rossi said. "Look, you can't blame Bush for this. A lack of leadership in Olympia caused this."
With the move of the Sonics all but a reality, Rossi was less than impressed at Gregoire's concern over playing the victim rather than displaying leadership on the issue.
"I've met a lot of Clay Bennetts over the years and I've dealt with them," Rossi said. "The Governor is going around saying 'He lied, he lied'. Of course he lied. What do you think he bought the team for?"
The question circles around to now what?
Rossi said that is a tough question. The best option he said is to see if there is still a willingness with Ballmer and his partners, or perhaps another ownership group, to see if there is still momentum to buy a basketball team. So instead of being the plucky underdog in this saga, Seattle might have to play the bully and look around the country to see if there is some other city's team to steal.
With all of the hurdles that have been put in the way now, Sonics fans find themselves down by six points with 15 seconds left on the clock and forced to foul.
Speaking with Rossi on the phone for 22 minutes, the frustration in the Sammamish politician's voice was clearly evident. As a kid in college he remembers attending the 1979 Championship parade the city put on to honor the team. And as a Sonics fan he still recalls the agony of coming up short in the 1978 and 1996 Finals.
The last game he attended was in March. The Sonics lost to Sacramento.
Obviously Rossi, running for election in November will be trying to make hay out of this issue.
Many of Rossi's supporters are in the Go Sonics and Take the Mariners with You camp. They feel that taxdollars shouldn't ever, ever be spent to attract an entertainment business to the region.
Rossi has heard the arguments. He just doesn't buy them.
"Whether you enjoy NBA basketball or not. The NFL or Major League Baseball. It isn't as relevant when you have companies that recruit to an area. Some people come to a city because it is a Major League town. A basketball team rounds out a community. When you have pieces missing, it makes it less of a package to attract top talent to come work in Washington state. People have to look past their own biases."
Rossi said there is a role for local government to help attract these kind of venues whether it is the symphony, opera, ballet or basketball. The fact that one of the most successful businessmen in the world was willing to pay for half of the renovation of a city-run facility in order to keep Seattle a "Major league" town lends added impetus to his position.
Now that the issue has changed from a legal case to a political matter, Rossi said he has already been reaping the benefits of his support for keeping the Sonics in town. He has been receiving e-mails and support from sports blogs as well as phone calls to his campaign office.
"We have a lot of people who are Sonics fans that are Democrats. Once I stood up and started taking bullets they [told me] at least you can make a decision," Rossi said.
Sonics fans have been kicking around the slogan "Remember in November" in order to express their dissatisfaction over a lack of will they see in their political leadership.
The question is whether this will translate into actual votes when ballots get mailed out in the fall.
Editorial Note: In response to the querry at #2, Rossi has been banging the drum in support of the Ballmer $300 million Key Arena renovations for many a moon now.
Here is a blog entry from the Tacoma News Tribune back in March.
He is quoted as saying on March 31.
"Normally I don't support these types of things," Rossi said, when asked about the proposal after the game. "But this was a very rare deal that was brought forward. You have four people who have stepped forward who really weren't interested in owning a team. But they understand what it meant for the region. "I've never seen a deal like this before, which is why I stepped up."
Rossi added that Gov. Gregoire should have called a special session in order for the state to allocate $75 million for the proposal.
Posted by DonWard at July 03, 2008 01:21 PM | Email ThisIf Rossi were governor, there would absolutely be no way government would have kept the Sonics. They would have been out of here much earlier. Government subsity for millionaire sports owners? Never....and no supporter of Rossi would have expected him to do that.
And higher taxes?
This is the worst kind of partisan pandering. A governor promsing reduced taxes woiuld have been first one waving goodbye.
Posted by: CallIt Likeitis on July 3, 2008 01:49 PMRegardless of which way the situation ended, Rossi could spin it as an attack on gregoire. This doesn't earn him any points in my book.
Posted by: john on July 3, 2008 02:01 PM$75,000,000 for $350,000,000; that is a good deal.
You libertarians pissed at Rossi, get in line and help us break a quarter century of one part rule! Letting this issue cloud your judgement is pathetic! We must get Rossi elected this fall or else!
Posted by: AP on July 3, 2008 02:16 PMA real leader would take a stand BEFORE the end. Rossi does the full meal deal on politicking...waiting till it's over and then criticizing.
Folks who dislike Queen Chrissie....Rossi is the same as this clearly demonstrates.
Not a leader...but an after-the-face criticizer offering nothing beforehand.
Beware...elect him and you get what you deserve...4 more years of politicians who talk talk talk and do nothing.
Posted by: GoodPoint John on July 3, 2008 02:32 PMSo, he's not really about cutting taxes? He's about "investing" when he feels like it?
Boy...not sure we can believe anything he says. Certainly not when it comes to taxes.
Posted by: AhIgetit on July 3, 2008 02:47 PMPlease. Let's get some perspective.
While there's certainly crossover, people that spend their time, money and emotions on professional sports couldn't give a rip about politics. And as we see in political boards, that goes both ways - most politico diehards don't give a rip about professional sports.
Yes, that's a generalization but you'll find it holds pretty true. Ask your sports buddies at the bar next time who their state legislators are. Ask a Kos kid to name six players on the Sonics' roster.
If one thinks this election is going to hinge on the Sonics leaving town, he or she is sadly mistaken. There are numerous issues that deserve more discussion than tax breaks for millionaires playing for billionaires.
If Rossi wants to focus on leadership, sure. This is an example. But it's just one example that 90 percent of the region's population isn't going to care much about.
Lest you get me wrong, I was - was - a diehard Sonics fan. Used to cover them professionally, as well. This was a raw deal and there's plenty of blame to go around. But this issue won't decide the election and if Rossi focuses on this specifically as opposed to attacking the overall lack of leadership - spending, transportation, union kickbacks - he'll end up losing more votes than picking up.
Posted by: jimg on July 3, 2008 02:48 PMAnd that's what I'm talking about. No, Chris. Last year was the time for this Legislature to act.
Basic leadership flaws. Use this an example, but don't dwell on it.
Posted by: jimg on July 3, 2008 02:53 PMThat's what folks will remember in November!
Posted by: Mr. Cynical on July 3, 2008 03:13 PMHow many people who voted Rossi in '04 do you think will cross over to Gregoire, especially after her pathetic four year performance? This issue will get some diehard Gregoire votes in the Rossi category. If any of you are a journalist and want proof, I will give you some phone #s of die hard Democrats voting for Rossi this fall. Gregoire isn't a rockstar among the left to begin with, so it isn't that hard, especially since as typical Democrats, they don;t follow the issues that closely, so when they see ineptness and failure first hand, like this issue, it raises questions overall.
Posted by: AP on July 3, 2008 03:20 PMYou don't get it. You do not understand the true value of the Sonics to the area. $75,000,000 would bring in billions. Sadly you don't understand this reality. Gregoire doesn't get it, Rossi does. Typical.
Posted by: AP on July 3, 2008 03:23 PMGregoire Fail in Black and White
Gregoire Fail in Green and Gold
Posted by: Cassie on July 3, 2008 03:42 PMHe tries to justify it by saying the tax is not new and is only on restaurants and tourist businesses. That shows a lack of economic understanding. Taxes against businesses hurt locals that own the business and all the citizens in the areas even if they do not pay them directly. Rossi either knows better and does not care, or is ignorant of basic economics. In either case he is making clear what type of politician he is... One who will continue to grow government whenever he thinks it will get him more votes and campaign donations.
Posted by: Lysander on July 3, 2008 05:28 PMAfter all, who's to say that an individual like me knows better how to spend my own money than 1. the collective will of the voters, 2. the politicians, or 3. the idiots posting here that think that taking my money and giving it to a sports team will bring in "billions".
Easy for your principles to fall by the wayside when you want something for yourself.
I wonder if a Governor named Rossi will be any different than the Governor we have now. Based on this situation the jury's still out.
Posted by: BA on July 3, 2008 05:59 PMAfter he loses the election over this, he'll have plenty of time to get the NBA package from DirecTV and watch the Oklahoma Flatlanders play whiffle ball... or whatever it was these clowns were doing last year; play that only bore a passing resemblance to actual "basketball."
Gee, just think... now you people will have to drive all the way down to the Soviet Socialist Republic of Portland to watch basketball.
Unless, of course, you do what you SHOULD do: support local teams HERE.
I have frequently repeated this truism: REAL Republicans would not BE pimping for the Sonics. And if you ARE Republicans, then I'm ashamed to call myself one... which is, come to think of it, just one of the reasons why I no longer do.
Posted by: hinton on July 3, 2008 06:07 PMNot if this is the biggest issue Dino can come up with.
It's good to hear a statement from him, even though the left will snip out and replay the "Of course he lied" part in countless radio and TV spots.
Posted by: Independent Voter on July 3, 2008 06:11 PMThe Sonics are leaving because the voters in Pierce, King and Snohomish counties ran them out of town. It is they who elected our governor, our county executives, the mayors and the members of the legislature. Those who didn't vote have no get out of jail card to wave about in their defense.
Last but not least: Where is Jim McDermott, the man with a plan, that represents the city of Seattle? He was silent when Boeing talked about leaving and now he was silent when the NBA threatened to leave.
Posted by: barrackslawyer on July 3, 2008 07:05 PMUnless you can find specifics about Dino Rossi wanting to raise any taxes without the will of the people, you can stop the spin machine and look at the facts. Anyone who thinks that's the reason not to vote for him is stuck on stupid and looking like a clown.
Posted by: KS on July 3, 2008 10:16 PM"We all have been waiting for a viable public-private plan to renovate Key Arena and keep the team here. Last Thursday, we got that plan," said Rossi. "I have been skeptical about stadium plans in the past, but this is the best proposal I've ever seen in this area. No new state or county tax would be levied, and public money would only be spent on the public areas of the arena."
The plan would allow the King County Council to vote to continue collecting a tax on rental cars through 2016 and bars & restaurants through 2013 for Key Arena renovations. The taxes are already authorized through 2016 to pay for Safeco Field and would only be levied in King County.
In other words he was in favor of continuing a tax that conservatives oppose. Why? To help foot the bill for a multimillion dollar business. Sorry Rossi supporters, but your man is just dead wrong on this one.
Werd.
Posted by: hinton on July 4, 2008 06:15 AM@13: Let the people decide? Mr. Rossi over and over voted against a simple majority for school levies. That's voting against letting a majority of the local voters decide if they should support schools with tax dollars. HAH on let the people decide. He's shown, on the record, he's for government deciding things like this, not people. Also, the people in Seattle decided NO when they voted. Guess he doesn't respect it when the people vote differently than he wants either.
@15: There's the tax as an investment thing again. That is no different than road taxes as an investment. THis Rossi-flip-flop history is saddening to watch live and in person. For things he and his backers want to spend government money on, he's fine with.
@18: You are right. Libertarians support the democratically controlled legislature to say "no public support for billionaire sports teams and owners." There are plenty of other cities where there are teams and no such owners. By his comments, Rossi certainly wouldn't help us in this regard. He says -- raise the taxes for sports!
@19: No, he won't. Only in the mind of crazy partisans.
@23: See above. Rossi, many times, on the record voted against letting people have a simple majority on the say of paying taxes for schools. He's also, many times, been against raising a levy lid which would allow local voters to determine HOW MUCH they want to pay for schools. He's not about letting the people decide...unless it fits some very specific political goal of his. This is on the record. No clown here...
@24: Well said again.
Guys, this is the wrong fight for Rs to have about Rossi. It's a losing battle since it simultaneously shows his hypocrisy and stance on raising taxes.
Posted by: NowIgetit on July 4, 2008 08:24 AMBullsh*t! In my 64 years, I have NEVER had ANYONE tell me that they moved to Seattle because it had major league sports. In fact, if Rossi's claim were true, why would any of this so called "talent" want to move to a city with deadwood teams like Seattle. If I were one of the so called "talent" that Rossi describes, I would be moving somewhere where the teams were winners. It appears that Rossi is in the sports fanatic category and thinks that sports team taxpayer extortion is okay. Mention the word "ball" or "puck", and all common sense goes right out the window. I was going to vote for him, but this shows a remarkable lack of good judgement.
NO TAXPAYER SHOULD EVER HAVE TO ANTE UP SO MUCH AS A NICKLE FOR ANYTHING TO DO WITH PRIVATE ENTERPRISE. ESPECIALLY PRO SPORTS.
Rossi calls conservative ideas bias? Who is this guy?
Posted by: NW Denizen on July 4, 2008 08:44 AMNO TAXPAYER SHOULD EVER HAVE TO ANTE UP SO MUCH AS A NICKLE FOR ANYTHING TO DO WITH PRIVATE ENTERPRISE. ESPECIALLY PRO SPORTS.
If that nickle would mean an extra $5 in your pocket would you still agree with your statement? I mean, heck, imagine if there were no fricken roads you piece of ignorant s*&t.
I do agree that having a pro sports team is not really a deal-breaker in private-sector recruiting. San Diego seems to be doing fine without an NBA team. As does Cincinnati, St. Louis, Kansas City, Nashville, Tampa Bay, Charlotte. All cities with pro football and baseball teams. Hell, L.A. is surviving without an NFL team! How is that possible. And the quirkiest thing of all, Las Vegas has NOT ONE pro sports team. Yet, it is one of the fastest growing cities in the country. How does Rossi explain that?
Billions will not be lost because the Sonics are no longer here. Numerous economic studies have been done on this issue. And they show that sports teams have a negligible effect on the local economy. Moreover, new stadiums do little to improve the economic development of the area in which the stadium is built. So, it is unlikely the city will suffer any major economic loss by the Sonics leaving (conversely, Oklahoma City will not dramatically benefit economically from getting the new pro sports team.
So, let's no longer use the "positive economic impact" when trying to justify public welfare for sports teams and stadiums, because there just isn't any. Well, to be technical, the economic impact is 1/10 of 1%.
Posted by: Dave on July 4, 2008 03:12 PMThe remainder would have been sympathetic to Dino Rossi's proposition to saving the team.
Posted by: KS on July 4, 2008 09:19 PMWhaaaaaa, whaaaa, whaa. Sob, sob. Whatsa matter? Did the big, bad man take away your basketball? Oh, you poor boy. Boo, hoo, hoo.
The answer to your question is yes, I am willing to take the loss to stop sports madness in Seattle. Apparently you haven't noticed the condition of the streets in Seattle or the fact that the viaduct is sinking into the bay.
Too bad your parents didn't provide a better education for you, or you would understand the concept that you buy bread before you buy toys.
If having a pro basketball team is SO important to the economy of Seattle, then let Ballmer, Allen, Gates and the rest pay for it. If you believe so strongly in this issue then stop whining, get off your ass, put a group together and FUND IT YOURSELF. If it can be done in Green Bay, it can be done here. Unfortunately, with you it isn't going to happen because it seems that the most you can muster in the void between your ears is to put four-letter words together.
Have a good weekend. : )
Posted by: NW Denizen on July 5, 2008 08:52 AMDid I hear your worrying about the fact that "the viaduct is sinking into the bay"? Another reason to vote for Rossi. We had the largest gas tax increase in Washington state history a couple years ago because of this exact issue. We have been paying the tax, they have been taking the money, just out of curiosity, why is the viaduct still sinking? They have done exactly nothing to fix it. They don't even have a plan yet. Forget the Sonics, forget professional sports, you just made the case for a change in leadership in Olympia.
Thanks.
Posted by: Calvin A on July 5, 2008 09:20 AMYeah, I know. I WILL be voting for him, but his position on pro sports has nothing to do with it. I voted for him the last time and, in my opinion, he should have won then.
I read an article in one of the papers last week that the government has finally put forth four options for the via duct...a rehash of the same crap they couldn't agree on the last time around. What a joke. The current crop of clowns has to go.
I'm a lifelong Democrat who just decided Rossi might be better than Gregoire because of pro sports.
All of you might make up 10% of the electorate around here, I guarantee you theres more of guys like me than there are guys like you.
Resume bickering.
Please remember this: Sound government (as opposed to Sound Politics) is often based on a public/private partnership to get the most things done the area needs. That used to be called "building consensus" and "managing competently."
If Rossi is capable of that, he deserves to be put in Neil Munro, Dan Evans territory.
In fact, the way he's annoying you hard right idiots is more proof he might just be worth voting for, if it makes the dead enders here not support him, maybe he isn't a hard right whack job like you guys are, maybe he's actually a moderate, and actually worth voting.
Oh hey, in 2004? Those 137 votes? One of them was mine.
Posted by: DaveD on July 8, 2008 06:23 AMThats good enough for Citizens for Everything I Like And Nothing Else.
Posted by: DaveD on July 8, 2008 08:01 AM
There have been numerous studies done on the economic impact of sports teams on the local economy. Not just one done in 1989. Almost every one of these studies come to the same conclusion: There are no differences in retail or total taxable sales that could be clearly related to team presence. And there is negligible net gain in jobs.
As far as attracting businesses and recruiting by businesses, having a sports team has less impact on their decisions than does the local crime rate, quality of schools, and the quality of police and fire protection. If all those are rated poorly, having a sports team will not overcome it.
It is unlikely there will be a net loss of jobs or taxable income by the Sonics moving. Jobs are created by the demand for goods and services. If a sports team does not account for a significant increase in net new spending, jobs will not be created. Ironically, a study done by King County on the Mariners showed that the county had a NET increase of 685 jobs, and the city had a net increase of 577. Hardly a huge impact.
Given the low attendance at Sonic games, it's reasonable to assume people found other sources for entertainment:movies, plays, restaurants. So, again, a negligible net loss by the Sonics moving.
Thus, there is merely negligible impact on jobs and the economy by having a sports team in your city.
Posted by: Dave on July 9, 2008 11:06 PM