The SuperSonics may eventually return, but the man who would help bring the NBA back to Seattle is urging fans to be patient. Tod Leiweke, CEO of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, told Aaron Levine of Fox 13 that the city is ready to welcome back professional basketball, but he’s willing to do it on the NBA’s timetable.
There was excitement last week amid rumors that the league might be preparing to announce expansion plans at preseason games in Seattle and Las Vegas. Leiweke didn’t directly address those reports, but he said everything is in place for whenever the NBA is ready to expand.
“We think the best thing that we can do is not ever get ahead of the league,” Leiweke said. “They’ve got big issues coming: They’re in a CBA discussion, and they’ve got broadcast deals coming up. In due time, they will get to this. And in due time, we’re going to be well positioned.”
The Kraken play in Climate Pledge Arena, the Sonics’ former home, which was renovated starting in December 2018 and was renamed in 2020. In addition to the hockey team, the facility also houses the WNBA’s Seattle Storm and the Seattle University men’s basketball team and will get a franchise in the American Hockey League this fall. It can hold up to 18,300 people for basketball, and Leiweke believes it’s ready for the NBA.
“The hard work is done, building a world class arena,” he said. “That’s why the team left. We now have that world class arena in place. It will stand the test of time. The building is phenomenal for basketball. And we’re super excited about the Clippers playing the Portland Trail Blazers here. And in fact, two games that are gonna play here, the first NBA game in our building will happen that first week in October – and we’re going to have a packed house and in our own Seattle way we will tell the world we are here. We are ready.”
Although Leiweke is convinced that the city is ready for the Sonics, there are many things out of his control. NBA commissioner Adam Silver has repeatedly stated that expansion isn’t an immediate priority, although Seattle is considered a very strong candidate whenever it does happen.
“We have an owner that owns part of an NBA team,” Leiweke said. “So there’s a built-in affinity there. And I would just say, Aaron, I came back to make some stuff happen. And we’re not done yet. And so, I don’t want to get ahead of the commissioner. But we’ve tried to do everything right. From privately financing a building, to saving a historic landmark, to embedding more capacitors and getting the monorail fixed, being great partners with the Storm, to building a training center. We’ve done everything right. But we’re not done. And we know this town won’t be fulfilled until we bring the NBA back. But I’ll leave it at that.”
1 of the greatest games in Seattle basketball history. Reign Man outplaying the Mailman all game, (the ever underrated) Hersey Hawkins outplaying Jeff Hornacek down the stretch & a serious home court adv at Key Arena were pretty much the difference… link to m.youtube.com
Hersey Hawkins another Sixers draft pick that got away.
All the teams he was on got better when he arrived & worse when he left. No coincidence
Just because the Kraken botched their expansion doesn’t mean any other expansion team would.
How did the Kraken ‘botch’ their expansion? Sold out on season tickets and sold out every home game despite one of the worst records in the league. They have been an unmitigated success.
Because that enthusiasm isn’t going to last with a mediocre team. Even after this past offseason they are still mediocre at best.
They’ve been in the NHL all of one season. How dare they not win the Stanley Cup yet!
The league should consider expanding to new York, they deserve a legitimate NBA team.
Buuurn!
The next city to add an NBA franchise will be Las Vegas. Seattle’s only hope is that they add 2 teams and not just 1. If the NBA ultimately adds just 1 team. That team will be Las Vegas, Nevada.
Sincerely doubt this, but ok
Barry is absolutely right. Vegas has been #1 on the NBAs list. Seattle is a close second but only because of fan interest not business incentives. The NBA wants Vegas, fans want Seattle. Add both and put NO and MIN in the East where they belong.
I am looking for Las Vegas to be added at about the exact time that LeBron retires. LeBron will then become the majority owner of the Las Vegas franchise.
I was thinking it would be NO and MEM
They would never add just one team cuz then the conferences would be uneven
Not. It’s say hello to what’s old is new again in Kansas City and Cincinnati.
I live in Vegas and the window the NBA had to get a stadium built on our dime is gone. Had they clipped onto the Raiders and Knights coming here before betting on sports was legal, the Clippers would be playing here by now.
They took the highbrow road and lost out on the deal. The talk Adam had with the city in the summer did not end well.