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Ballmer's Sonics offer runs out soon |
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Location: Blogs News Articles |
| Posted by:Media |
3/11/2008 10:07 AM |
| Ratcheting up the pressure on the Legislature, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer on Monday put an April 10 expiration date on his group's offer to pay $150 million toward a $300 million KeyArena expansion.
But Gov. Christine Gregoire and Democratic legislative leaders insisted that because the Legislature is scheduled to adjourn Thursday, it's too late to approve a taxpayer contribution to the arena project. They suggested if Seattle leaders think Ballmer's offer is so great, the city could front the public's $150 million share while the state appoints a task force to study the issue.
In a letter to Gregoire and top lawmakers, Ballmer's group said the arena plan needs to come together before the NBA Board of Governors meets April 17-18 to vote on Sonics owner Clay Bennett's request to move the team to Oklahoma City.
If no plan is in place by April 10, "we will need to go back to our other responsibilities and our offer will expire," said the letter signed by Ballmer, wireless entrepreneur John Stanton, Seattle developer Matt Griffin and Costco CEO Jim Sinegal.
Ballmer's group is offering to split the cost of a $300 million KeyArena renovation with the public. The group, backed by Ballmer's estimated $15 billion net worth, is also willing to buy the Sonics or another NBA franchise to play there. Bennett has said the Sonics are not for sale.
In an interview, Griffin said he understands lawmakers have a lot of other issues to worry about. "But in business or government, opportunities come along and they rarely come along with exactly the right timing. Great leaders figure out how to make sense out of those and take advantage of the opportunities," he said.Read Entire Article |
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