Despite being one of the larger cities in the country, Seattle has just two professional sports teams among the four-major sports. While the Mariners and Seahawks have strong fan bases, potentially bringing in a new NHL and/or NBA team would certainly be a change of pace across the region. According to this latest update from Mariners Spring Training Camp, the club would welcome in a new franchise with arms wide open.
A proposal for a new $500 million arena that could house NBA and NHL teams in Seattle was met with approval Thursday by the Mariners, who say they'd welcome another sporting neighbor in the city.
The plan was unveiled by Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and King County Executive Dow Constantine, who said the facility has been proposed by a private investment group headed by Seattle native Christopher Hansen, a hedge fund manager in San Francisco.
"The Seattle Mariners are excited about this afternoon's announcement and the possibility of having NBA and NHL teams coming to the Seattle area," the team said in a release. "From our perspective, it is all about the fans and the community.
The proposed new area would be built just south of Safeco Field and would undoubtably bring new restaurants, bars, shops and night clubs to the area. It's tough to imagine why any professional sports team would object a new franchise coming to town, but this seems like a win-win situation for everyone involved.