RLB Holdings Founder & Managing Partner Ray Bartoszek yesterday confirmed that he is "proposing to build a multi-purpose sports arena" in Tukwila, Wash., on land "situated just off Interstate 405 and within walking distance of an existing Sounder train station," according to Geoff Baker of the SEATTLE TIMES. Bartoszek is "partnering on the project" with Basketball HOFer Bill Russell, former NBAer Fred Brown and Washington-based architectural firm MulvannyG2 CEO Jerry Lee. The venture, which is "privately funded, on just less than five acres of land would clearly be done with an eye toward the region being granted an NHL expansion franchise," though Bartoszek yesterday "cautioned that his only goal for now is getting arena approval." Bartoszek, a former energy trader, "tried unsuccessfully to buy and relocate" the Coyotes to Seattle in '13 and has "lobbied the NHL for a Seattle expansion franchise ever since." By choosing Tukwila as his arena site, Bartoszek "appears to be trying to fast-track approval so he can vault ahead of another project proposed for Seattle’s Sodo District" by hedge fund manager Chris Hansen. Also, the presence of Brown and Russell in the Bartoszek group "suggests a future NBA bid would be in the works once that league is prepared to expand." Bartoszek is "expected to submit a request" for a State Environmental Protection Act review of his group’s project by Friday (SEATTLE TIMES, 4/28).
IN THE BUDDING STAGES: ESPN.com's Craig Custance reported fall '17 is the "early target date" to open the arena in Tukwila, which is just south of Seattle. Bartoszek said of filing a zoning code request for the arena site, "This is the very early stage. It's a routine request in the early stages of a potential real estate project." Custance cited a source as saying that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has "met with the Bartoszek group multiple times about landing an NHL team." Bettman said, "There's no doubt (Bartoszek) is a substantial, smart person who is passionate about the game. We're having conversations to the extent that the interested parties want to talk to us. It hasn't gotten beyond that" (ESPN.com, 4/27).
