Seattle sports fans desperately want an NBA team again after the SuperSonics left following the 2007-08 season to become the Oklahoma City Thunder.
An investment group, led by businessman Chris Hansen, has tried to bring a pro basketball franchise back to Seattle for a while, and arguably the city’s most famous sports star, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, has joined the cause.
I'm excited to announce I've partnered w/ the Sonics Arena Group to help bring the @NBA & @NHL to the best fan base in the world.
Seattle.
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) November 14, 2016
Wilson released a longer statement, as well.
NEW: #Seahawks Russell Wilson statement on joining #SeattleArena investment group: #NBA #NHL pic.twitter.com/ljwjBcjb7c
— Chris Daniels (@ChrisDaniels_TV) November 14, 2016
Hansen also released a statement.
Statement from Chris Hansen on Russell Wilson joining the #SeattleArena investment group: pic.twitter.com/izM0VnlfNp
— Tim Booth (@ByTimBooth) November 14, 2016
The NBA currently has 30 teams, and adding another through expansion would create a conference imbalance. Getting a team through is another option for Seattle, but building a new arena seems to be the largest roadblock. The old KeyArena lacks many of the modern amenities current stadiums possess.
A new arena also could pave the way for an NHL franchise to come to Seattle. The Pacific Northwest has a few large markets and the NHL has no television footprint in the region, besides the Vancouver Canucks to the north in British Columbia.
The NHL announced earlier in the year it is expanding to Las Vegas, and another Western Conference team would give both conferences 16 teams apiece.
Hansen’s group still has plenty of work to do before the NBA and/or NHL come to Seattle, but having someone of Wilson’s stature join the action can’t hurt.
Thumbnail photo via Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports Images
