Arena or Amazon: Does Seattle know what's important? - Page 2

JiminyCricket II · #21 Posted **Feb 25, 2012, 9:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10023

Just to play devil's advocate... if those 4.2 million people are whiter, better educated and more affluent than the average metro area, it would probably bunch below its weight in terms of interest in NBA basketball.

Then again, Portland has a team.

Absolutely untrue, as already been mentioned, the Sonics had some of the best fans in the league.

In addition, Seattle produces the 7th most NBA players out of every metro in the US, easily the most per capita. It's a huge basketball town.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10023

I go to Knicks games from time to time when I get invited to a friend's company's box at MSG, but I don't think anyone I know ever watches them on TV or owns a hat. And that's exactly my point...

If you're a Knicks fan then you know a couple recent Knicks that are Seattlites: Crawford and Robinson.

fflint · #22 Posted **Feb 25, 2012, 9:55 PM**

The Amazon investment is way bigger news, at least from a bread-and-butter perspective. I only wish SF could add that many new downtown jobs.

By the way, how is the Denny Triangle defined?

Fiat Lux · #23 Posted **Feb 25, 2012, 9:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fflint

By the way, how is the Denny Triangle defined?

Denny to the north, Stewart (or Olive) to the southeast, Monorail to the southwest.

J. Will · #24 Posted **Feb 25, 2012, 9:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiat Lux

That's not true either! The Mariners and the future NBA/NHL teams stand to make hundreds of millions of dollars partnering or forming their own regional sports network. That's where the big money is. A regional sports network in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, and Western Montana would serve over 13,000,000 people, and that doesn't include another 4,000,000 people in southern BC.

Does the Pac NW not already have a regional sports network? That's surprising.

Fiat Lux · #25 Posted **Feb 25, 2012, 10:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Will

Does the Pac NW not already have a regional sports network? That's surprising.

There are two. DirecTV's Root Sports NW and Comcast's and the Portland Trail Blazers Comcast Sportsnet NW.

The Mariners will soon have a lot of leverage when their Root deal is up. They could re-up with Root, sign a deal with Belo or Comcast, or partner up with and form their own regional sports network with Comcast or Belo.

The Seattle NBA and NHL teams will likely be under the same umbrella corp. and would have the sports assets necessary to form their own RSN as well.

Doady · #26 Posted **Feb 25, 2012, 10:07 PM**

10023 is right. Basketball is a black sport. An NBA team cannot survive in a city with so few black people.

mSeattle · #27 Posted **Feb 25, 2012, 10:08 PM**

Even the responses here are lopsidedly focused on the scam that is the NBA. We don't need no stinking NBA distraction... we already have two other pro sports venues (MLB/NFL) that leave the area nearly dead as a doorknob when not in season.

Real business/commerce, helping people who create and want to sell real products for improving life domestically and globally (all year) is the FAR bigger news and that's the news from the Denny Triangle.

Fiat Lux · #28 Posted **Feb 25, 2012, 10:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mSeattle

Even the responses here are lopsidedly focused on the scam that is the NBA. We don't need no stinking NBA distraction...

Speak for yourself. This whole topic is silly since this is not an either or decision. Seattle is great enough for both. It's an exciting time in Seattle

The arena will be for the NHL and concerts too, so it is not just about the NBA.

Fiat Lux · #29 Posted **Feb 25, 2012, 10:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doady

10023 is right. Basketball is a black sport. An NBA team cannot survive in a city with so few black people.

You are a racist. Closed minded and ignorant too!

Basketball is becoming the world's sport. It is huge among many groups of people. Visit China for a clue.

The legendary college programs are located in Kansas, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Bel-Air of all places!

Plus the NBA already has been a smashing success in Seattle, which further torpedoes your ignorant opinion.

westak · #30 Posted **Feb 25, 2012, 10:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doady

10023 is right. Basketball is a black sport. An NBA team cannot survive in a city with so few black people.

I can't tell if this sarcasm or not but Utah and Portland disagree.

mSeattle · #31 Posted **Feb 25, 2012, 10:30 PM**

Will other cities in the metro be helping to finance this and the city services that will be required?

Fiat Lux · #32 Posted **Feb 25, 2012, 10:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mSeattle

Will other cities in the metro be helping to finance this and the city services that will be required?

King County is also involved. The arena itself is privately financed. The city of Seattle's biggest involvement will be to shut down a segment of Occidental and a few other traffic revisions.

Companies like Microsoft and Amazon.com are very excited about the possibility of a Seattle arena. Having a world class sports district will help them with recruitment. With Seattle's awful winter weather, it is essential to have NBA or NHL, or both.

mSeattle · #33 Posted **Feb 26, 2012, 12:08 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiat Lux

Having a world class sports district will help them with recruitment.

Maybe. Other things could do it too, like city center-to-mountains rail or world class observatory or world class aquarium or world class indoor park.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiat Lux

With Seattle's awful winter weather, it is essential to have NBA or NHL, or both.

Essential talking point for NBA/NHL marketing? Yes, but not necessarily fact. See above.

This is the moment to differentiate or die (be just like most of the others).

10023 · #34 Posted **Feb 26, 2012, 12:20 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JiminyCricket II

If you're a Knicks fan then you know a couple recent Knicks that are Seattlites: Crawford and Robinson.

I'm not a Knicks fan, I go when I get free corporate tickets. That was my point (i.e., I think that's why half of the fans at MSG are there). But I think the discussion has run its course...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiat Lux

The legendary college programs are located in Kansas, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Bel-Air of all places!

Ok, one more point... college basketball fans and NBA basketball fans are totally different. I know many, many people who are avid college fans, especially during March Madness, who couldn't give a rat's ass about the NBA (I'm one of them). This is in contrast to football, anecdotally.

Fiat Lux · #35 Posted **Feb 26, 2012, 12:40 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mSeattle

Maybe. Other things could do it too, like city center-to-mountains rail or world class observatory or world class aquarium or world class indoor park.

I disagree. Seattle already has a major natural advantage in outdoor splendor.

What Seattle lacks that many major cities have is the NBA and NHL. A significant population follows either of these sports. Having them both would be a mega asset to Seattle, especially in corporate recruiting. Major employers in the area themselves have said so.

Having the NBA and NHL could help us grow Amazon or even help attract or retain the talent to start the next one.

Fiat Lux · #36 Posted **Feb 26, 2012, 12:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10023

Ok, one more point... college basketball fans and NBA basketball fans are totally different.

You are talking to a current and former season ticket holder of both. I am well aware of both the college and NBA game. Stupid ignorant stereotypes do not trump reality. In Seattle, the college and NBA fan bases are very similar. I am sure it is different in NY, where the Knicks have the NBA's most expensive ticket. In the old days, the Sonics would play the bigger games (Bulls, Blazers) in front of 30,000 people in the Kingdome, so more of the average Joes could attend.

Seattle was one of the best NBA cities when it had a team. It led the NBA in total attendance multiple times. It sold out every single game in a season many times despite top 5 ticket prices. It was the first franchise to average over 20,000 fans a game over an entire season.

NBA in Seattle has been and would be a slam dunk success.

mSeattle · #37 Posted **Feb 26, 2012, 1:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiat Lux

I disagree. Seattle already has a major natural advantage in outdoor splendor.

Being surrounded by natural splendor and being able to access it to experience it are totally different things.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiat Lux

What Seattle lacks that many major cities have is the NBA and NHL. A significant population follows either of these sports. Having them both would be a mega asset to Seattle, especially in corporate recruiting. Major employers in the area themselves have said so.

Having the NBA and NHL could help us grow Amazon or even help attract or retain the talent to start the next one.

So could a world class indoor park during winter months and easy transit to the ski slopes (winter) or other outdoor stuff during warm months.

memememe76 · #38 Posted **Feb 26, 2012, 2:23 AM**

Who are these people who move to cities based on the number of pro sports teams that city contains? I would think something like that is wayyyyy down on a person's list of factors to consider when deciding to move.

Fiat Lux · #39 Posted **Feb 26, 2012, 2:29 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mSeattle

Being surrounded by natural splendor and being able to access it to experience it are totally different things.

So could a world class indoor park during winter months and easy transit to the ski slopes (winter) or other outdoor stuff during warm months.

Seattle has easy access to outdoor splendor, hence its huge natural advantage in the department. Seattle currently does not have a problem attracting that type of person since other major cities can never do anything to match what Seattle already has in this department. Meanwhile others cities have the NBA and NHL while Seattle doesn't. Unlike mountain ranges and inland seas, Seattle can affordably acquire either, especially since the arena and teams will be privately acquired. All Seattle has to do is close a block of Occidental and make a few other transportation fixes. What would your suggestions cost?

An indoor park would be very expensive, unless of course there is a used building with a large roof available. Build the new arena and Key Arena could become your indoor park.

Fiat Lux · #40 Posted **Feb 26, 2012, 2:35 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by memememe76

Who are these people who move to cities based on the number of pro sports teams that city contains?

If you are a big sports fans, and have multiple quality job opportunities, the presence of a nearby franchise might be the deciding factor tipping the decision to one city over another.

The more diverse range of events, opportunities, and entertainment, the wider the potential talent pool you can attract from outside becomes.