SEATTLE — Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn offered KeyArena to investor Chris Hansen for free, prior to Hansen opting to buy up property in the city’s SoDo neighborhood and attempting to build a stadium there, King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer said Monday.
The revelation came during a County Council meeting.
The mayor’s office said Hansen was offered the arena at a “nominal fee” for a new NBA team. Officials said the KeyArena rarely breaks even financially.
Ultimately, the offer was rejected because of transportation concerns.
It isn’t clear what, if any, bearing the rejected offer might have on plans for a new arena in SoDo.