Since losing the Sonics to Oklahoma City (where they became the Thunder), sports fans in the city of Seattle have been itching to bring a professional sports team back to the northwest to fill the void left by the offseasons for the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Mariners. The hopes of potentially luring the NHL to town hit a road block on Monday with the city council voting against vacating Occidental Avenue to make way for a facility that could be used for hosting an NBA and/or NHL franchise.
Street Vacation for SODO Arena Fails by a vote of 4-5
— Seattle City Council (@SeattleCouncil) May 2, 2016
As reported by Chris Daniels and Travis Pittman for KING, the vote was to decide if arena investor Chris Hansen would be allowed to buy and then vacate a one-block section of Occidental Avenue, which was the last hurdle to clear before being able to draft a permit for a project to be used to entice the NBA or NHL to consider Seattle to bring a franchise to town, either by relocation or expansion. Prior to voting on the proposal, an amendment to restrict the land to be used only for an NBA franchise. That amendment did not pass, thus leaving the door slightly open for the NHL.
So the battle continues to find a way to bring another pro sports team to Seattle, and options are becoming fewer and farther in between making the possibility a realistic goal. Meanwhile, fans upset with the vote’s outcome took to Twitter…
@SeattleCouncil 🖕🏽🖕🏽🖕🏽🖕🏽🖕🏽🖕🏽🖕🏽🖕🏽
— Danny (@Dah_knee) May 2, 2016
Heartbroken. Disappointed in @SeattleCouncil for voting NO on Arena street vacation. What a joke. Bring the NBA and NHL to Seattle.
— Andrew (@thA_Pandabear) May 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/Rheadhunter/status/727277481351340033
Seattle: Want another arena?
Me: We don't even use the one we have!
Seattle: Don't you want NHL or NBA tho?
Me: WHATS WRONG W/ WHAT WE HAVE?— Swagamemnon (@Brendangriffin) May 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/SounderTrialist/status/727284889121222656
@SeattleCouncil you have failed this city #BringBackOurSonics pic.twitter.com/IQamuMgvTl
— McG (@MrMcG_206) May 3, 2016
Some have tried to draw some conclusions about the sexual orientation of the city council’s voting members …
https://twitter.com/ttvrdy/status/727278706620686336
@SeattleCouncil
wtf 5 women voted against while 4 men voted yes
seems shady#ArenaYes #BringBackOurSonics #SeattleSupersonics#FkThPort— RainierBear (@RainierBear81) May 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/rcjhseahawk/status/727279413553823744
@SeattleCouncil @KING5Seattle it's truly sad that you 5 women were bought like legit prostitutes by the highest bidder… #SeattleArena
— RealdealNeiman (@realdealneiman) May 2, 2016
For fans of the Arizona Coyotes, this is actually some pleasant news as it removes their team from a few rumors. For now.
https://twitter.com/PimaResMendez/status/727277709575868418
[KING 5] [Photo: Seattle PI]
