Slog - Comments on Yupdating Key Arena http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/02/yupdating_key_a NBA Commissioner David Stern testified in Olympia today for SB 6849, which would extend the Qwest Field and Safeco taxes (including a .5 percent restaurant and bar tax) to fund a $200 million KeyArena remodel for the Sonics. Stern was asked how adding more luxury box suites was going to solve the problem if the current problem is that luxury box suites aren't selling. (Indeed, revenues from luxury suites are supposed to be paying off the $130 million 1995 KeyArena remodel—debt service included—but the city is paying out about $2.2 million a year to cover the Sonics' shortfall.) Stern's answer... Copyright 2007 Thu, 23 Feb 2006 15:56:33 -0800 Tue, 28 Feb 2006 07:11:18 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by keshmeshi Um, my apartment is about 700 square feet. Did you forget a few digits there?

]]> keshmeshi http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/02/yupdating_key_a#c024482 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/02/yupdating_key_a#c024482 Politics Thu, 23 Feb 2006 16:25:32 -0800 Comment by Josh Feit I did. That's 350,000 square feet to 700,000 square feet.

]]> Josh Feit http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/02/yupdating_key_a#c024485 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/02/yupdating_key_a#c024485 Politics Thu, 23 Feb 2006 16:51:29 -0800 Comment by Seth What happens if the state extends the tax with the intent of funding Key Arena construction, and the city (which owns Key Arena, right?) refuses to remodel it? Can they do that?

]]> Seth http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/02/yupdating_key_a#c024491 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/02/yupdating_key_a#c024491 Politics Thu, 23 Feb 2006 17:53:48 -0800 Comment by stockmeyer Can they do that? Two words:

Let's monorail!

]]> stockmeyer http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/02/yupdating_key_a#c024492 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/02/yupdating_key_a#c024492 Politics Thu, 23 Feb 2006 18:08:22 -0800 Comment by Meinert Check this out in the times today: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sonics/2002825554_nbanotes24.html

bottom line is that the NBA economic system is broken. Which means players get paid too much and a team's income doesn't justify it. The Sonic's answer to this is to ask for taxpayer dollars. My answer to it is that the NBA does what the NHL did - slash player's salaries across the board by 25% and lower ticket prices.

]]> Meinert http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/02/yupdating_key_a#c024880 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/02/yupdating_key_a#c024880 Politics Fri, 24 Feb 2006 11:28:35 -0800 Comment by Moltov Cocktail I think $200 million would be way better spent helping to keep the public schools open that Seattle is talkin about closing and giving kids an education so they don't have to go sell hot dogs at some sports arena when they grow up.

]]> Moltov Cocktail http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/02/yupdating_key_a#c028037 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/02/yupdating_key_a#c028037 Politics Tue, 28 Feb 2006 07:11:18 -0800