Editing Climate Pledge Arena (section)

====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 Eventually, the Seattle franchise award was rescinded altogether when the potential ownership group was unable to secure the funds for the expansion fee.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" />