SEATTLE (AP) — Newly released documents show the city of Seattle has been working behind the scenes with a wealthy hedge-fund manager to bring an NBA team back to town — possibly as early as next fall if the Sacramento Kings fail to get a satisfactory deal for a new arena.
The Seattle Times reports (http://is.gd/PyQ06N ) that the city turned over the documents Friday under a public records request. The documents included the agenda for a meeting late last year, with topics including “Review of Basic Deal Structure” and “Financing Issues.”
The documents say a Seattle native who now lives in San Francisco, 44-year-old hedge-fund manager Christopher Hansen, approached the city about his desire to buy an NBA team and build an arena south of Safeco Field. Hansen told city officials in one email that an arena could be built with minimal impact on taxpayers.
Seattle hasn’t had an NBA team since owner Clay Bennett moved the Sonics to Oklahoma City in 2008.
