30 replies to this topic

[hockey2k]

After nearly 90 years, the final closing horn may soon sound for hockey in Seattle.

The city of Kent and the Seattle Thunderbirds have agreed to seriously explore moving the minor league team to a new $35 million, 6,500-seat arena there within a few years.

T-Birds may have home in Kent

This makes me sad that they may be moving farther south, but it will be better for the team. The situation at Key Arena is untenable and we will have a much better chance of filling an arena in Kent. The TBirds Street Team participated in a parade down there over the weekend and a lot of folks were cheering for us and calling us "Kent's team" already!

[Tomato Assasin]

Just for a second i thought they meant the county i live in, but i guess its another place that has borrowed a name from a place in England.

[Reb]

I have a few questions, H2K. I heard on a news cast today that the Sonics have been sold and could, eventually, relocate elsewhere. What impact does this have for Seattle? Will it change T-
Birds bargaining position with Seattle?

Now for the more important questions - How far south of Seattle is Kent? What will a move like this mean for you and Caduck? Especially given your recent ownership status in the southern fringe of that town that I cannot bring myself to mention?

[JasonAKADfan8]

The Kent T-Birds??? Oh well, I think it sounds like they will have a great community support there. J/K about the Kent part...I know they'll still be Seattle...or will they????

[hockey2k]

The Sonics really don't have much bearing on what the TBirds do...with or without basketball as a tenant, the Key Arena is a terrible place for hockey. When they retrofitted the stadium for the Sonics the first time, they ripped out several sections of seats. When configured for hockey, there are no seats behind one of the goals. So our seats don't even go all the way around, they are sort of a "C." The suites are aligned for basketball, so you don't even get a good veiw from the suites during hockey games. The stadium is far too big for a minor team to fill, especially in a town with so many other sports options. Not to mention that the 'Birds don't get any concession proceeds and the rent is astronomical.

If the Sonics leave Seattle, I think the future of Key Arena would be in serious doubt. The City is already losing tons of money on it as it is, losing their biggest tenant would cripple the stadium. I'd be happy to see the Sonics go personally...they've been dicking around this city for years, demanding money from the taxpayers to renovate the Key and showing no respect for the fans or City officials. And they suck.

Moving to Kent would give the 'Birds a smaller stadium to fill and better fan base. Caduck and I would have to drive an hour to get to games, but it's still closer than Vancouver! Not to mention Kent, England!

[Reb]

Moving to Kent would give them a smaller stadium to fill and better fan base. Caduck and I would have to drive an hour to get to games, but it's still closer than Vancouver! Not to mention Kent, England!

OK. I think I understand about the Sonics. Your position as well. I personally don't see what people see in pro basketball. I know I would rather take in a hockey game any day. Well, I guess I would take in a hockey game before any other sporting event. And besides, this is not a basketball board. It's a hockey board so enough with basketball already.

Now to the IMPORTANT stuff. So, only an hour away, eh? That's doable for a couple of dedicated Thunderbird fans. And I know you two are. I mean, like, if y'all can spring for the drive up to Vancouver once in a while I would expect that an hour down to Kent would almost be like a walk in the park.

[hockey2k]

A lot of the games are after work too, and in that case, we'll be halfway to Kent anyway. I don't care how much closer to the Everett Events Center we are, I could live next door to the place and still refuse to go to Silvertips games!

[Reb]

A lot of the games are after work too, and in that case, we'll be halfway to Kent anyway. I don't care how much closer to the Everett Events Center we are, I could live next door to the place and still refuse to go to Silvertips games! 

I don't blame you!!!

[JasonAKADfan8]

Of course it is more convenient for those games vs Seattle...you'll be able to support the T-Birds on the road....Shut those cowbellers up!!!

[DropThePuck]

You mentioned the Sonics h2k, so you might get a chuckle or two out of this article ...

Losing your team or living with loony owner -- does anybody win?

Which fan is better off today: the Seattle Sonics fan who has one year left with his favorite team before it bundles off to Cowboy Alley, or the New York Islanders fan who's stuck with Charles Wang, the loopiest owner on the planet?

<link>

[GLOVESAVE35]

You mentioned the Sonics h2k, so you might get a chuckle or two out of this article ...

Losing your team or living with loony owner -- does anybody win?

Which fan is better off today: the Seattle Sonics fan who has one year left with his favorite team before it bundles off to Cowboy Alley, or the New York Islanders fan who's stuck with Charles Wang, the loopiest owner on the planet?

<link>

My vote (at least for the coming year) would be the Sonics fans. Islanders fans are taking Wang's zany actions pretty hard.
Very interesting article, though.

[hockey2k]

Of course it is more convenient for those games vs Seattle...you'll be able to support the T-Birds on the road....Shut those cowbellers up!!!

You know I would, but I just can't go to the EEC...they are horrible to Tbirds fans and don't know crap about hockey. It's impossible to enjoy a game there.

[hockey2k]

You mentioned the Sonics h2k, so you might get a chuckle or two out of this article ...

Garth Snow is the GM of the Islanders?!? Ok...I missed that news! That's nutz!
Sonics fans (and most fans in the Northwest) are pretty blase' about supporting the team anyway. When they are winning, they love them, when they're losing they mock them and go hiking instead. There are very few folks around here that are truly diehard fans of any of the sports teams, really. I would venture to say that losing the Storm will be a bigger blow than losing the Sonics. The WNBA has a dedicated following, their fans seem to be more serious than most.

[cityhockeyfever]

It's really a shame what is going on in Seattle.

I remember the SuperSonics used to be THE team there while both the Mariners and Seahawks were bad.
However, 1996 was a good year as both the Sonics and Mariners did pretty well at the same time though.

If anything, for a city of its size to not have an NBA team is terrible.
I wouldn't mind at all if Seattle had an NHL team again, but with the politics and everything else surrounding
the Sonics/Storm ownership situation, I cannot see NHL hockey there in near future.

Hopefully something is resolved where the Thunderbirds can remain in Seattle and a new arena is built for all the teams.
But, if they go to Kent and it's a better deal for this WHL team, then all the power to them to relocate elsewhere.

Oh yeah, the Islanders are a joke. Just when we thought things were turning around and they had their arena situation
all but signed, sealed and delivered (still uncertain), plus getting a reputable hockey management team together,
Charles Wang (a non-hockey guy) pulls a fast one in firing Neil Smith. How do you put a guy with no GM experience
in charge of personnel transactions without doing it at the minor league level first? Just doesn't make sense with Garth Snow.

[hockey2k]

Looks like this is almost a done deal:

If the Kent City Council approves a 30-year lease agreement with the T-Birds today, one of the city's oldest sports franchises would be one step closer to moving to the suburbs with no plans to return. TBirds majority owner/GM Russ Farwell said the team began looking for a different in-state facility seven years ago, and reopened talks with Kent after the city looked into developing an events center near Kent Station and the city's Sound Transit station. Last fall, city leaders began developing an environmental impact statement for the $35 million, 6,500-seat events center, construction of which could begin as early as this summer. A general contractor was announced in January. City leaders expect the T-Birds to be the main tenant -- taking about 40 of an estimated 117 events annually -- and signed a development agreement with the team last fall.

New venue in the suburbs tempting the Thunderbirds

[hockey2k]

Yes, it is offically official...the Thunderbirds will be playing in Kent starting with the '08-'09 season and the marketing is in full swing! This past weekend was a big event for us...the Kent Cornucopia Festival. The TBirds had our puck shoot booth and information stand present at the three-day festival, and received about 600 requests for season ticket information! The people of Kent seem real excited about us coming to town. We also participated in the Kent Cornucopia Parade with our mascot high fiving the kiddies, Street Team members passing plastic pucks to each other, and our van blasting our theme song (Rock 'n' Roll Pt 2, unfortunately). We only had one heckler yell "Go Portland," and no one called Cool Bird "the Seahawk" like they usually do. It was a successful weekend but boy did it wear me out.

[DropThePuck]

So is this move good for you and Caduck? Do you think the team will find more success/support in Kent in the long run?

[hockey2k]

The move is not good for us personally, but it will be fantastic for the team. Kent is very excited to have their own team and is giving us tremendous support already. The 'Birds will have a new stadium where they are the main tenant and will no longer get ripped off by the Sonics/Key Arena. The place is more reasonably sized (and has two end zones instead of the gaping hole behind the goalie that the Key has) so it won't look half empty, and they won't get lost in the shuffle of the major league teams in Seattle. The team office, practice facility and arena will be in close proximity instead of miles away from each other in different towns. There are so many reasons this is a good move.

Caduck and I get to add a half hour to 45 minutes to our drive time to get the games though.

[JRunner024]

That kinda sucks that the T-birds are moving, even though I am a winter hawks fan(Go Portland)

[hockey2k]

That kinda sucks that the T-birds are moving, even though I am a winter hawks fan(Go Portland)

Don't worry, the TBirds will still be able to kick Portland's butt from Kent! (Really though, I love 'Hawks fans, just ask Reb or Jason! 'Hawks/'Birds is my favorite rivalry...don't even talk to me about those clowns in Everett!)

[hockey2k]

Ok...so those losers at Amiga never ponied up the dough...

The city of Kent dumped tech company Amiga as naming-rights sponsor for the city's planned hockey arena after the company failed to deliver a promised down payment Monday.

...the failure of the naming-rights deal will not delay construction of the arena, due to open next year as the new home for the Seattle Thunderbirds hockey team.

Amiga fails to deliver cash, loses naming rights to Kent arena

[BuckyHermit]

It continues to amaze me how Seattle doesn't seem to have a good hockey arena. From what I hear, KeyArena's not that suitable for hockey, and even the Sonics seem to want out.

[hockey2k]

It continues to amaze me how Seattle doesn't seem to have a good hockey arena. From what I hear, KeyArena's not that suitable for hockey, and even the Sonics seem to want out.

Key Arena is terrible for hockey because it's mainly a basketball arena. The problem with the Sonics is that since the Mariners and Seahawks got shiny new stadiums, they want one too. Nothing wrong with the Key for basketball, just the team playing there. The new ownership is just looking for an excuse to move the team to Oklahoma anyway.

[hockey2k]

Construction is under way for the Kent Events Center! It looks like the 'Birds won't be in their new nest until the middle of the '08-'09 season though, due to a delay in the shipment of steel. (I have a suspicion that the project is going to run behind so I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up bring the '09-10 season, personally.) Pictures are now available at the City of Kent website:
Pictures of dirt
Live pictures of dirt

[hockey2k]

Well, things are progressing swiftly with the new roost of the TBirds, the Kent Events Center. Here's where the rink will go!