One of the 10 most-emailed stories on nytimes.com Monday told how Seattle voters gladly chased away the Sonics by refusing to pay for a new arena. In the photo, the head of the group that sponsored the vote, Citizens for More Important Things, stands in the rain in front of a billboard adverizing a Death Cab for Cutie show.
Clearly Seattleites are tired of subsidizing millionaire owners who won't even invest in winning teams. In an era when the city can't properly fund its schools, clinics or roads, there's no reason to spend another $200 million to rebuild an arena. (Here's a summary of events so far.)
But it's also true that the vote missed the importance of major-league sports to the Seattle area.
“I’m not saying it’s the most important thing or the only thing, but I think professional sports are an important component to the overall economy and quality of life in any marketplace,” the new Sonics owner told the New York Times. “It’s about flying the flag of the city nationally and globally.”
Maybe the best outcome would be a privately funded stadium (that could also house a pro hockey team) in Bellevue, right next to the future light rail lines. The state legislature will be under pressure in January to help at least with area infrastructure. That seems reasonable if the funding also covers arts groups and other entertainment that make the area attractive.