Seattle Mayor Ed Murray yesterday "made his strongest statement to date about the future of the Seattle Arena proposal and the future of the NBA and NHL" in the city, according to Chris Daniels of Seattle-based KING-NBC. Murray said that he expects an environmental review "to be completed on the project by May 7." The proposal, first approved by the Seattle City Council and King County Council in '12, has "languished in delays surrounding the environmental review ever since." Hedge fund manager and prospective investor Chris Hansen "paid for the work, which has been done by a third party on behalf of the city." Murray also revealed that he is "willing to go to the Seattle City Council to modify the existing Memorandum of Understanding for an NHL team to prompt construction of a new facility." The MOU "currently allows for public financing and construction to begin only after an NBA team is acquired." Murray: "Should folks in the NHL or potential owners come to us with a different financial plan that pencils out for the city and for our partners at the county, I would be willing to go back to the council and ask them to open that process. I believe there could be an adjustment for an NHL team first if there if a financial plan that pencils out for the city." Murray said that "if everything goes according to plan ... the Master Use Permit for the Arena could be issued" at the beginning of '16. Murray also "dismissed suggestions that a rival plan, in either Tukwila or Bellevue, could jeopardize his new timeline." Daniels noted both cities "were mentioned specifically" by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman in an interview last month (KING5.com, 2/25).
