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Key Arena renovation could synchronize with NHL expansion

By Derek Helling

March 20, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; March 20, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; General exterior view of Key Arena with the Space Needle as North Dakota State Bison play against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at KeyArena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
March 20, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; March 20, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; General exterior view of Key Arena with the Space Needle as North Dakota State Bison play against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at KeyArena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tim Leiweke, the Chief Executive Officer of the Oak View Group, has explained in a Seattle Times interview how renovations of the Key Arena could be very timely for the next round of NHL expansion.

The renovation of Key Arena, the former home of the now Oklahoma City Thunder and current home of the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, is the subject of deliberation in the business and political community in the city of Seattle. Bidding for the project has been open since December and is open through April.

One of the bidders is the Oak View Group, an investment company headed by former member of the board of governors of both the NBA and NHL Tim Leiweke. Leiweke gave an interview to the Times editorial board, explaining his vision for the time frame of the renovation, the introduction of the NHL to Seattle, and the return of the NBA to the venue as well.

Among the biggest takeaways from the interview is Leiweke’s opinion that the public has been misled on how long renovating Key Arena would take.

"“We believe it’s going to take three or four years, preferably three,” Leiweke said. “We’re prepared to do it in three, but we understand that entitlement may take longer than a year."

That timing is crucial according to Leiweke, because he believes that will be exactly when the NHL will be ready to break into Seattle.

"“We believe that there is no franchise today in the National Hockey League or in the National Basketball Association that is in danger of being lost as an opportunity over the next few years. And we believe that should Gary Bettman make a decision to expand, that if you look at the last process they just went through, it was a three- to four-year process to get that building built and to get that team up and running this next season.”"

If Leiweke is right, and his group wins the bidding, then it’s possible that the NHL could expand to 32 teams with a Seattle franchise for the 2021-22 or 2022-23 season. Leiweke stated that he further believes an NBA franchise could follow to join that team in Key Arena, ending Seattle’s NBA absence that has endured since the end of the 2007-08 season.

There are caveats to be noted, however. Not only does Leiweke’s group have competition to renovate Key Arena, but Key Arena itself may face some competition. There’s a second stadium project in the works, as there is a proposal for a brand-new facility in the Sodo district of Seattle led by entrepreneur Chris Hansen.

That proposal was dealt a major setback last May, when the city council voted not to sell Hansen’s group real estate necessary for the stadium’s construction. Nonetheless, the project remains viable as a proposal, and represents some competition for the Key Arena renovation.

Leiweke’s connections to both the NBA and NHL might set his group’s bid apart, though. Not only was Leiweke formerly part of the board of governors of both leagues, he served as the CEO of the corporation which owns both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors. He also was the CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Corporation, which is a minority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers along with being the primary owner of the Los Angeles Kings.

It was these connections that Leiweke touted, along with his understanding of the current thinking of both leagues.

"“I know where Adam Silver is on Seattle,” Leiweke said. “I was on the board of governors for the Sacramento debacle….I don’t think that was a good day for Seattle, and I’m speaking just as a member of the board of governors at the time and watching that.”"

The “Sacramento debacle” that Leiweke referred to took place in 2013, when Hansen attempted to get the Kings to relocate to Seattle. It came out that Hansen donated $100,000 to a group that was acquiring signatures for a petition to get the Kings out of Sacramento, California. The NBA blocked the Kings’ relocation and Hansen was fined $50,000 by the state of California.

Ultimately, it may be Leiweke’s presence and connections to both leagues that not only win the Key Arena bidding for the Oak View Group, but also keep the Sodo stadium project from ever moving forward.

"“Trying to build a second arena in a marketplace where you’re going to compete for the music and fight over that is probably not the best use of assets,” Leiweke said. “I would hope that’s not what happens. But at the end of the day, we are focused on our project.”"

Leiweke hasn’t guaranteed that his group or Key Arena renovations would bring both/either an NBA franchise and/or a NHL franchise to Seattle. There is some personal motivation for him to work toward that end, however. The Times article says that he plans to be a minority owner of any franchise that comes to Seattle.

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What’s certain is that Seattle politicians and business people are working to bring the NBA back and the NHL to the city. Leiweke seems best poised to make that happen, and it may happen sooner rather than later.

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