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BDA to host arena discussion

Published 9:58 am Monday, February 13, 2012

As talks continue about a possible new arena in Seattle, Bellevue officials are eager to enter the conversation.

The potential of a new NBA or NHL arena will be the subject of the Bellevue Downtown Association’s February Forum on Feb. 28.

In recent weeks, reports have surfaced that Seattle-born, San Francisco hedge fund manager Christopher Hansen is leading a charge to acquire land south of Safeco Field to build a new arena.

The discussion will focus on how this opportunity could affect Bellevue, and the Puget Sound region as a whole.

Bellevue has long been rumored as a potential destination for an arena, with its growing downtown and future public transportation improvements through the coming of light-rail. But most of these discussions ended when the question of a financier could not be answered.

The discussion will be led by Brian Robinson, president of ArenaSolution.org, a coalition of fans, business leaders and former Seattle Supersonic personalities working to bring the team back, and Craig Kinzer, principal at Kinzer Real Estate Services.

The forum begins at 7:30 a.m., Feb. 28 at the Westin Bellevue, 600 Bellevue Way Northeast. The cost is $30 for BDA members, and $40 for non-members. Seating is limited, and those who plan to attend are encouraged to register online by Feb. 23.