Seattle another step closer to getting NHL team after arena plan approved

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle City Council unanimously approved plans for a privately funded $700-million renovation of KeyArena on Monday, clearing one of the last major hurdles in the city’s bid for an expansion NHL franchise.

The 8-0 vote was the last step needed to strengthen Seattle’s expansion application and it means a team could be playing in the new building during the 2020-21 season.

“This is just a great deal for the city. This is world class. This is a legacy project,” said City Council President Bruce Harrell.

The next phase in the arena/franchise process comes next week when Seattle Hockey Partners — the ownership group attempting to land the expansion team — presents before the NHL Board of Governors’ Executive Committee on Tuesday, Oct. 2.

“It’s a good moment. I think it’s the beginning of the journey. It’s not the end of the journey,” said Tim Leiweke, CEO of the Oak View Group, which is undertaking the renovation of the building that opened in 1962. “We have a lot of work to do, but at least now we get to go do the work.”

The pitch to the Executive Committee should be mostly straightforward.

The local economy is booming and season-ticket deposits for the prospective team were cut off at 33,000 earlier this year after a swell of interest.

“I don’t think we have to say much,” said Tod Leiweke, President and CEO of Seattle Hockey Partners. “I think it speaks for itself. An 8-0 vote . . . we said we were going to put our best forward and today the city helps us do that.”