KeyArena Renovation Proposals Range From $20M To Over $200M

Seattle City Council members heard for the first time yesterday “details of plans for renovating KeyArena,” ranging in cost from $20-200M-plus, according to Kathy Mulady of the SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER. Options, presented by the Seattle Center and consultants, went from “freshening up the place to pushing out glass walls to enlarge the concourse, adding kitchen space to concession stands, a new team store, loge seating and courtside clubrooms.” Some council members said that they “probably won't have enough information to take a funding proposal to the Legislature next year, but others held out hope.” Mulady notes it is “unlikely that the [Sonics] would make a funding proposal to the Legislature on its own since KeyArena is a city-owned building.” Sonics Senior Dir of PR Valerie O’Neil said, “It would be odd for us to go to the Legislature without our landlord” (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 12/13).

DISCOUNT TICKETS: In Seattle, Kristen Millares Bolt reports Costco has launched a ticketing service on its Web site and is selling “discounted tickets to four Sonics games in January for more than 40[%] off regular prices.” In addition to KeyArena, the Rose Garden and the Eugene O’Neill Theatre in N.Y. are also offering tickets through the Web site. Sonics VP/Sales & Marketing Brian Byrnes said, “Normally, we do not do a discount of that magnitude to the general public. This is a trial for the month of January, and the discount is exclusive to Costco.” Byrnes is hoping for a 5-8% increase in single-game tickets, and said, “If I could get another [200-300] tickets in this channel, it would more than pay dividends. [If the tickets sell well,] we’ll have a much bigger conversation with Costco” (SEATTLE P-I, 12/13). Tickets available on the Web site, www.insiteticketing.com/costco, for Sonics games are $44, while tickets for Trail Blazers games range from $38-51.50. All tickets carry a service charge of $4 each (THE DAILY).