Sonics pitching arena as boon to businesses

Sonics owner Clay Bennett is wooing some of the state's largest employers in an attempt to broaden support for the team's proposed $530 million arena.

Bennett is scheduled to meet with Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer on Friday in Redmond to discuss the arena as a possible venue for the software company's employee meetings or other functions.

The Ballmer meeting is part of the Sonics' strategy to sell the new arena as a multipurpose facility that also could host concerts, conventions and other events in addition to Sonics and Storm games, said Jim Kneeland, a Seattle public-affairs consultant who has been coordinating Bennett's lobbying efforts.

"We think we need to have major business support for this building if it is going to happen," said Kneeland.

Bennett has previously spoken with Boeing Chief Executive Scott Carson to pitch the arena, which could be located on Boeing property in Renton or a stretch of Bellevue's Auto Row. Last week, Bennett spoke to a dinner hosted by the Northwest Forum, a group of influential business leaders.

It is not clear how much support Boeing, Microsoft or other businesses will lend to the Sonics' efforts.

The companies are not being asked to pay for any of the arena construction, Kneeland said.

However, the public is being asked to contribute at least $300 million through taxes on hotels, restaurants and car rentals in King County.

That prospect has many state legislators skeptical, and some key players said they haven't seen much support for the Sonics.

Rep. Ross Hunter, who chairs the House Finance Committee, said lobbyists for Boeing and Microsoft have not talked to him about the Sonics, and he doesn't think the companies will waste precious political capital on an arena when they are pushing the state to address vital issues such as improving schools and roads.

"You only have so much ability to move legislation," said Hunter, D-Medina, who worked for 17 years as a Microsoft manager. "The fact they're going to have another place to have a company meeting — it pales in comparison to their core interests."

While Microsoft's Ballmer is a longtime Sonics fan, his public speeches on state politics have urged lawmakers to improve public education and complete important transportation projects. Ballmer declined to comment when reached by e-mail Wednesday.

Boeing spokesman Peter Conte said the company has made no decision on whether to support a Sonics arena near the company's 737 plant in Renton.

Generally speaking, Conte said Boeing wants the Sonics to remain in the region, but the company has no position on the Sonics' specific arena proposal.

Kneeland said if the Sonics can show that area employers would use the proposed arena for corporate functions, it will help the building pencil out financially. Microsoft has held annual employee meetings at Safeco Field, but Kneeland said he thinks the company might like an indoor facility better.

Asked whether that would just steal business from other publicly financed buildings, Kneeland added that the new arena would be unlike anything available in the area and would also attract large-scale national events that now don't come to Washington state.

In a letter to Gov. Christine Gregoire last week, Bennett cited Denver's Pepsi Center as a model, noting that the building was recently named the site of the 2008 Democratic National Convention. But critics quickly pointed out the Pepsi Center was paid for almost entirely with private money.

Many business leaders — like state lawmakers — are awaiting more details of Bennett's proposal before deciding whether to campaign actively for it, said Steve Leahy, president of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce.

Although he released some initial cost estimates last week, Bennett has not said whether the arena would be built in Bellevue or Renton, nor has he said how much money his ownership group would contribute.

Without a detailed plan and a compelling argument for lawmakers, the Sonics' request for at least $300 million from in taxpayer money remains an enormous hurdle.

"They have a lot to overcome," said Marty Brown, Gregoire's legislative liaison. "I just haven't seen enough interest. It's not on people's radar."

Jim Brunner: 206-515-5628 or jbrunner@seattletimes.com