Seattle is "going forward with its arena plan whether or not the Kings become available next month,” according sources cited by David Aldridge of NBA.com. The idea is for the NBA to “have no choice the next time a team is sold or is interested in moving.” And with “a new building, Seattle folk believe their city will vault to the top of the relocation list, ahead of towns like Kansas City that already have NBA-ready arenas built.” Seattle views its “opponent as Anaheim, not Sacramento.” The idea would be to “once again renovate Key Arena, where the Sonics played, until a new building was on line.” The new arena “will not be built unless there is a commitment from an NBA team to come to Seattle.” The city is “also monitoring what happens” with the sale of the Coyotes. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman “made no secret that that league would love to have a team in Seattle -- if there is a new building constructed there” (NBA.com, 2/14). In Seattle, Jerry Brewer writes four years ago the city was “robbed” and “here we are in 2012, though, trying to get in position to do the same” to the Kings or Hornets or Coyotes “or any other team that would make us feel whole again.” Brewer asks, “Hypocritical? Perhaps. But should we feel guilty? No. Not at all” (SEATTLE TIMES, 2/14).
