Reply from the Parks Chair

Tom Rasmussen, the Chair of the Parks and Seattle Center Committee, also offered a positive response:

Hello,

Thank you for writing to me regarding the proposed contract between the Seattle Storm and the City of Seattle. In February 2008, the Council adopted a resolution requesting Seattle Center staff to work collaboratively with the new local owners of the Storm to negotiate a long-term lease to enable the Storm to continue playing at KeyArena.

A contract has now been developed and has been presented to the City Council for approval. The proposed contract would authorize the execution of a ten year agreement with the Women’s Basketball Club of Seattle, LLC, for use and occupancy of KeyArena and adjacent areas at the Seattle Center.

Seattle Center staff and a Seattle Storm representative reviewed the proposed contract with the Parks and Seattle Center Committee on January 13th. I anticipate we will discuss and possibly vote on the proposed contract on January 27th.

The Storm’s presence at KeyArena provides number of a public benefits and creates vitality for Seattle Center. The women of the Seattle Storm are role models for girls in our community and I hope to be able to approve the contract soon.

Thanks again for writing.

Regards,

Tom Rasmussen
Chair, Parks and Seattle Center Committee

As someone pointed out on http://www.stormfans.org, the interesting tidbit all the response have ignored is that the Storm are likely the main signature tenant in the facility. If they don't negotiate a deal, who WILL use Key Arena?