Chris Hansen, former Sonics players speak at arena rally
By Bob Condotta, Seattle Times
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...narally15.html
By Bob Condotta, Seattle Times
Several thousand supporters of an effort to build an arena in Sodo and bring the NBA back to Seattle gathered for a rally this afternoon at Occidental Park.
The 90-minute event included appearances by former Sonics Slick Watts, Detlef Schrempf and Gary Payton, as well as Chris Hansen, the man who heads the group hoping to buy an NBA team and move it to Seattle.
Hansen took the stage wearing an old Sonics warm-up jacked with "Payton" on the back and was greeted by chants of "Thank you, Chris; thank you, Chris."
Organizers of the event estimated the crowd at 6,000.
"This is why I'm doing this, right here," Hansen told the crowd.
Later, backstage, Hansen told reporters seeing all the fans made him want to "tear up."
"Actually, it was inspiring," he said.
Hansen also told reporters he thinks the event is showing politicians and others the increasing support for the arena proposal.
Payton told reporters backstage the turnout is "making a big statement. It's telling everybody the team was stolen and we need to get another one, and we need to get this arena built."
The 90-minute event included appearances by former Sonics Slick Watts, Detlef Schrempf and Gary Payton, as well as Chris Hansen, the man who heads the group hoping to buy an NBA team and move it to Seattle.
Hansen took the stage wearing an old Sonics warm-up jacked with "Payton" on the back and was greeted by chants of "Thank you, Chris; thank you, Chris."
Organizers of the event estimated the crowd at 6,000.
"This is why I'm doing this, right here," Hansen told the crowd.
Later, backstage, Hansen told reporters seeing all the fans made him want to "tear up."
"Actually, it was inspiring," he said.
Hansen also told reporters he thinks the event is showing politicians and others the increasing support for the arena proposal.
Payton told reporters backstage the turnout is "making a big statement. It's telling everybody the team was stolen and we need to get another one, and we need to get this arena built."
Comment