New teams in Seattle

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2012/02/22/kings-hornets-coyotes-proving.html

I just read the article above in the Puget Sound Business Journal (@PSBJ) about the current NHL/NBA possibilities for Seattle. Unfortunately, after a wave of optimism surrounding the idea that potentially the Sacramento Kings or the New Orleans Hornets of the NBA would relocate to Seattle in addition to the Phoenix Coyotes of the NHL, there has now been a negative turn.

Seattle still yearns for an NBA team but were these teams the best solution? As much as the city longs for the reincarnation of the beloved Sonics franchise, do we want to be the city that takes another town's team away? Ideally, an NBA expansion would be the best manner to acquire a team but how likely is that?

Over the past weekend the Sacramento Kings were able to nearly finalize an agreement with the city and the owners to keep the team in Sacramento. The difference between this situation and the Sonics' situation several years ago was the level of commitment from the owners as well as the city's mayor. Both sides were dedicated to making the situation work.

Seattle fans might have to wait a little bit longer to see NBA games in the Emerald City again. NBA Commissioner David Stern has mentioned that he is not looking to expand the league anytime soon, unless it's international. The most promising solution would be to complete all of the legwork and infrastructure to make Seattle the ideal next candidate in case of a team relocation. By constructing a new arena and building up the surrounding neighborhood with adequate transportation and attractions, Seattle can establish itself as a frontrunner among the cities looking to land a team by being a step ahead and a step better than the others. The community should not lose focus or stray from the plan to finance and build a new arena just because there are no teams available immediately. A long term mentality will bring a basketball team back to the city.