Editing Climate Pledge Arena (section)

===Seattle Center Coliseum===
[[File:Seattle World's Fair Coliseum under construction, 1961.jpg|thumb|left|The structure under construction in 1961]]
The arena opened in 1962 as the '''Washington State Pavilion''' for the [[Century 21 Exposition]], the work of architect [[Paul Thiry (architect)|Paul Thiry]]. After the close of the Exposition, the Pavilion was purchased by the city of Seattle for $2.9 million and underwent an 18-month conversion into the '''Washington State Coliseum''', one of the centerpieces of the new [[Seattle Center]] on the former Exposition grounds. When the newly renovated Coliseum opened, the Seattle University men's basketball team became the arena's first major tenant. In 1964, the facility was renamed the '''Seattle Center Coliseum'''. That same year, the [[Seattle Totems]] moved into the Coliseum.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Baker|first=Geoff|date=2 December 2018|title=More than the Metropolitans: Before NHL arrives, a comprehensive Seattle hockey history|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/hockey/more-than-the-metropolitans-ahead-of-nhl-vote-a-comprehensive-seattle-hockey-history/|access-date=11 July 2020}}</ref> The Coliseum became home to its most famous resident, the [[Seattle SuperSonics]], beginning with their inaugural season in 1967 and remaining as host throughout most of the team's lifetime.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buyselltix.com/nba/stadium/supersonicsStadium.php|title=KeyArena – Seattle Supersonics Stadium|publisher=Buyselltix.com|access-date=July 13, 2008|archive-date=July 4, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704135032/http://www.buyselltix.com/nba/stadium/supersonicsStadium.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Seattle Center Coliseum at night, circa 1963 (44058938905).jpg|thumb|left|Seattle Center Coliseum at night, circa 1963]]
The Coliseum in this incarnation hosted two [[NBA Finals]], in [[1978 NBA Finals|1978]] and [[1979 NBA Finals|1979]], both between the [[Washington Bullets]] and SuperSonics. The Bullets won in 1978, prevailing in {{nowrap|game 7}} in Seattle. The Sonics retaliated the following year, winning in Game 5 on the Bullets' home court, thus capturing the franchise's only championship<!-- to date-->. Upon the opening of the new [[Kingdome]] in 1976, which first hosted the [[NFL]]'s [[Seattle Seahawks|Seahawks]] and [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|NASL]]'s [[Seattle Sounders (NASL)|Sounders]] followed by [[MLB]]'s expansion [[Seattle Mariners|Mariners]] in 1977, the Sonics would begin playing a small number of home games at the stadium. For the championship [[1978-79 NBA season|1978-79 season]], the basketball club moved into the Kingdome full-time. They would call it home through the 1984–85 season, after which the team returned to the Coliseum. During those 7 years, the Sonics would occasionally play home playoff games at the Coliseum or [[Hec Edmundson Pavilion]] so as to not interfere with the Mariners' regular season home schedule. They would continue to play occasional games at the Kingdome through the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The arena hosted the [[NBA All-Star Game]] once, in<!--on January 15,--> [[1974 NBA All-Star Game|1974]]; the [[1987 NBA All-Star Game|1987]] game had included [[NBA All-Star Weekend|NBA All-Star Saturday]] festivities on February 7, where former Sonics star [[Fred Brown (basketball)|"Downtown Freddie" Brown]] was the MVP of the [[NBA All-Star Legends Game|legends game]], [[1986–87 Boston Celtics season|Boston Celtics]] star [[Larry Bird]] won the [[Three-Point Contest|three-point contest]], and [[1986–87 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago Bulls]] star [[Michael Jordan]] won the [[Slam Dunk Contest|slam-dunk competition]].<ref name=nothunus>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Aa1QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fOEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4040%2C1685875 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |title=Nothing unusual in NBA: Bird, Jordan still the best |last=Edes |first=Gordon |date=February 8, 1987 |page=7B}}</ref> The NBA All-Star Game itself for 1987 in Seattle was held at the [[Kingdome]].

The arena hosted the basketball competitions of the [[Goodwill Games]] in [[1990 Goodwill Games|1990]].<ref name=WSdot>{{cite web|url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/research/reports/fullreports/232.1.pdf|title=Traffic Impacts During the Goodwill Games|publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation}}</ref>

In 1983, [[Barry Ackerley]], head of the Washington, D.C.–based television, radio, and billboard company [[Ackerley Communications Inc.]], purchased the Sonics from long-time owner [[Sam Schulman]]. In the mid-to-late 1980s, the team's on-court success would decline. This was coupled with a sub-par home court experience at the Coliseum, which included the NBA's lone [[Rainout (sports)|rain delayed]] game on January 5, 1986, when rain water leaked from the roof onto the court as the Sonics played the [[Phoenix Suns]].<ref name=srev>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AHUzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=T-8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3637%2C2777131 |work=The Spokesman-Review |title=NBA |date=January 6, 1986 |page=C2}}</ref><ref name=sdc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4LESAAAAIBAJ&sjid=t_kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5101%2C804686|work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |title=Fiddled roof springs leak in Coliseum |date=January 6, 1986 |page=C3}}</ref> Timeouts were called so [[ball boy]]s armed with towels could do their best to wipe up the puddles, but even so, two players slipped and fell on the wet surface. Early in the second quarter, referee [[Mike Mathis]] called the game with the Suns up by eleven points.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=7860|title=Leaky Coliseum roof halts Seattle SuperSonics-Phoenix Suns game, the first National Basketball Association contest called on account of rain, on January 6, 1986|publisher=Historylink|access-date=July 13, 2008}}</ref> The game was resumed from that point the following night, and Phoenix won {{nowrap|by seventeen}}.<ref name=toosuns>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4bESAAAAIBAJ&sjid=t_kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3234%2C978806 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |title=It took the Suns two days to shoot down the Sonics |date=January 7, 1986 |page=B3}}</ref>

Ackerley began exploring new options for an arena. Heavy relocation rumors began to circulate, amongst them a potential move to San Diego<ref>{{cite news|last=Granberry |first=Michael |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-02-03-sp-1821-story.html |title=Sonics' Owner Taking a Look at Sports Arena |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=February 3, 1989 |access-date=January 27, 2019}}</ref> or possible sales to groups in other markets like Milwaukee or Toronto. In 2018, Ackerley's son Chris would say that the family was always committed to keeping the team in Seattle, and that "[...] in each case, we stood on our principles that this is a Seattle community asset."<ref>{{cite web|last=Daniels |first=Chris |url=https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/arena/seattles-arena-saga-top-officials-reflect-on-sonics-history-regrets/281-619132800 |title=Seattle's arena saga: Top officials reflect on Sonics history, regrets |publisher=KING5.com |date=November 30, 2018 |access-date=January 27, 2019}}</ref>

====Potential replacement by arena in SoDo====
In 1990, the Ackerleys talked about building an arena east of Lake Washington near [[Bellevue Square]].<ref name="AckerleySuite">{{cite news|last=Newnham |first=Blaine |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19900531/1074608/what-about-ackerleys-arena-how-suite-it-is |title=What About Ackerley'S Arena? How Suite It Is! |newspaper=The Seattle Times |date=May 31, 1990 |access-date=January 27, 2019}}</ref> They would eventually purchase land in the [[SoDo, Seattle|SoDo]] district near the Kingdome, some of which includes the site that would later become the Mariners' home, [[T-Mobile Park]]. Ackerley approached the city about a public contribution to the new arena, but the city was reluctant over fears the city-owned Coliseum would become obsolete. They offered to help finance a renovation of the Coliseum, but the team owner declined. To sweeten the offer, Ackerley sold city leaders on the idea that the new arena in SoDo could also attract a National Hockey League club. The city, along with Denver, had been conditionally granted an expansion NHL franchise in 1974 to begin play in the 1976–77 season. The NHL [[1974-75 NHL season#League business|briefly flirted]] with relocating the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] to Seattle (and the [[California Golden Seals]] to Denver) to address a troubled market and fill the expansion commitment, but ultimately kept the team there. Eventually, the Seattle franchise award was rescinded altogether when the potential ownership group was unable to secure the funds for the expansion fee.

In July 1990, the city council approved a deal for a privately owned $100 million facility to be built on the Ackerley land in SoDo, despite objections over traffic and parking by the Seahawks and Mariners in the neighboring Kingdome.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/07/25/City-of-Seattle-approves-contract-for-basketball-arena/8380648878400/ |title=City of Seattle approves contract for basketball arena |publisher=UPI (Archive) |date=July 25, 1990 |access-date=January 27, 2019}}</ref> The city's contribution would be to waive about $31 million in tax revenues (about $1 million per year) to potentially be collected on admissions fees at the new arena. It would also pay $2 million for street improvements around the proposed site, including a pedestrian walkway over South Royal Brougham Way. Ackerley also agreed to sign a 30-year lease for the Sonics and to build an 1,800-stall parking garage. Ackerley appeased the Seahawks' concerns, noting the arena would be empty during any NFL games. The Mariners unsuccessfully continued to object, even enlisting then-Major League Baseball commissioner [[Fay Vincent]] and then-American League president [[Bobby Brown (third baseman)|Bobby Brown]] to speak before the council ahead of their final vote.<ref>{{cite news|last=Nelson |first=Robert T. |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19900725/1084120/baseball-official-here-to-fight-ackerley-arena-deal----concessions-to-sonics-owner-concern-citys-other-pro-sports |title=Baseball Official Here To Fight Ackerley Arena Deal - Concessions To Sonics Owner Concern City's Other Pro Sports |newspaper=The Seattle Times |date=July 25, 1990 |access-date=January 27, 2019}}</ref>

During negotiations, Ackerley had asked for a provision to reduce the seating at the Coliseum by 9,000 seats so the older arena could not compete with the new building, but the city would not agree. Another selling point of the new arena were luxury suites, a means to attract corporate money and sponsorship that was then an emerging new revenue stream for sports team owners. Ackerley's financing and agreement with the city hinged on the ability to sell the 70 proposed luxury suites.<ref name="AckDomeDead">{{cite web|last=Lilly |first=Dick |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19910626/1291209/new-sonics-arena-dead----financing-troubles-sideline-ackerley |title=New Sonics Arena Dead - Financing Troubles Sideline Ackerley |publisher=NW Hockey Report, SeattleHockey.net |date=June 26, 1991 |access-date=January 27, 2019}}</ref>

Ackerley also committed to submitting an expansion application to the NHL by a September 15, 1990, deadline as part of the arena deal. His son Bill would head the expansion effort, while a competing group led by Microsoft executive Chris Larson and former Seattle Totems player then coach [[Bill MacFarland]] was preparing their own application. With the Ackerley application already submitted, the two groups would merge with Larson and MacFarland being primary points of contact with the NHL. Then owner of the Seattle Thunderbirds, Bill Yuill, also joined the group. Larson and MacFarland, along with Barry Ackerley and Bill Lear, Ackerley's financial advisor, were set to make a presentation to the NHL's Board of Governors on December 5, 1990. At the meeting, Ackerley and Lear asked to meet with the board first, promptly withdrew their application, and left. Larson and MacFarland were stunned to learn of the development but were unable to pursue any recourse as their names were never on the submitted application.<ref>{{cite web |last=Obermeyer |first=Jeff |url=http://www.seattlehockey.net/Seattle_Hockey_Homepage/Seattle_and_the_NHL.html |title=Seattle and the NHL: So Close Yet So Far Away. |publisher=NW Hockey Report, SeattleHockey.net |date=Mar–Apr 2006 |access-date=January 27, 2019 |archive-date=March 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190303145414/http://www.seattlehockey.net/Seattle_Hockey_Homepage/Seattle_and_the_NHL.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Eskenazi |first1=David |last2=Rudman |first2=Steve |url=http://sportspressnw.com/2155236/2013/wayback-machine-seattles-long-wait-for-nhl |title=WAYBACK MACHINE: SEATTLE'S LONG WAIT FOR NHL |publisher=Sportspress NW |date=July 9, 2013 |access-date=January 27, 2019}}</ref>

Thought to play a factor in Ackerley's decision were the significant demands by the NHL for an expansion team: a $50 million expansion fee that was more than any NHL club was valued at the time; a $5 million down payment that would be forfeited if 10,000 season tickets were not sold in the first year – the Sonics had never sold more than 9,000 season tickets; season tickets needed to produce at least $9 million annually, which would've made the tickets the second most expensive for a team in the area at the time; a 20-year lease with a "substantial" share of arena revenues from concessions, parking, and ad signage; priority status for postseason arena dates; and a secured $5 million line of credit in case the league had to take over ownership of the team at any point. Ackerley would not sacrifice Sonics revenues for a hockey team in which he would be a minority investor.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rudman |first=Steve |url=http://sportspressnw.com/2205914/2015/seattle-and-the-nhl-land-mines-on-the-horizon |title=SEATTLE AND THE NHL — LAND MINES ON HORIZON |publisher=Sportspress NW |date=July 11, 2015 |access-date=January 27, 2019}}</ref>

In June 1991, nearly a year after the city agreed to the arena deal, Ackerley announced that the project would not move forward. Increasing project costs, legal disputes, and inability to secure construction financing were cited as reasons to drop the project. Only around 30 of the 70 luxury suites were sold and the Ackerleys were unable to find a corporate buyer for naming rights. Ackerley Communications profits were down, which also contributed to the financing difficulties. A state Supreme Court case brought by Seattle Center employees challenged the constitutionality of the arena deal, while potential lawsuits from the Mariners and trade show organizers and possible legal challenges to environmental review of the project loomed.<ref name="AckDomeDead" />