Bob Santos on with
Mitch, 7 June 2006
Santos is a community activist in the International District who primarily follows sports on television.
He feels that the Puget Sound shouldn't lose a sports franchise. Sports is an uplifting escape that brings communities together. It captures the competitive spirit that we have to get things done in the community. Most of our players are role models, people the kids can look up to as someone good.
He is proposing that the
Muckleshoot tribe and the Sonics work together to build an arena down by Emerald Downs. He and Bill Russell arranged a meeting between the leaders of the Muckleshoot tribe and Clay Bennett.
The proposed site is 24 miles from Seattle and has relatively easy access from the Sounder Commuter trains.
At the time of the meeting Bennett still felt that the state would provide funding for a stadium down in Renton. Clay has since refused to review this proposal, not looking at the site, but claiming the "door is still open."
The proposal is that the land would be leased by the Muckleshoots to the team, a partner in ownership of the arena and that a substantial amount of money, and the state would provide some infrastructure improvements only. The Muckleshoots would then look to expand hotel, restaurant and retail in the area.
He has come public at this time to try and force Bennett to meet with the CFO of the Muckleshoot tribe.
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This sounds like a great idea. The biggest issue would be transit, but that's true for any location in this market. But the minimal investment of public funds would be a selling point to the state, that would only need to further improve 167, the 18 to I-5 leg, and the mass transit optoins.