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Two Seattle arena proposals, now pitted against each other

Seattle

The reported plan, nascent as it may be, to build an arena in the Seattle suburb of Tukwila has put Seattle mayor Ed Murray under increasing pressure to get his stalled arena project in the city’s Sodo neighborhood back on track.

“I’m committed to doing everything I can to get an NBA and NHL team here in Seattle,” Murray said, per King 5. “And Seattle is absolutely the only place for an NHL and NBA team here in our region.

“As I’ve said before, I stand by the [memorandum of understanding] that the city signed which requires the NBA to commit to Seattle before an arena can be built. But given what we’ve heard from the NBA, I’m open to the idea of NHL coming to Seattle first. I am ready to listen and would be willing to reconsider the MOU if there is an NHL-first proposal that pencils out for the City.”

Putting even more pressure on Murray to do whatever needs to be done to start construction is Tukwila’s reputation for, well, doing the things that need to be done, and doing them quickly.

“Unlike some councils in the area, Tukwila has a very harmonious group,” a source told the Seattle Times. “There aren’t too many disagreements on anything amongst the councilors, and it leads to things getting done very quickly.”

Related: Doubts raised about alternative Seattle arena locations