[Gh0stRider]

Seattle named as a possible NHL city for relocated Coyotes

SEATTLE — Could the National Hockey League be on its way to Seattle?

That's the chatter just south of the border, after an article appeared in the Seattle Times (and online at seattletimes.nwsource.com) over the weekend, stating there was speculation the struggling Phoenix Coyotes franchise could land in the Emerald City.

Citing ESPN.com as the source, the Times quoted NHL commissioner Gary Bettman as saying: "There are a lot of people who think Seattle would be a great place to have a team. The Pacific Northwest, the natural rivalry with Vancouver, another team in the Pacific time zone ... but there's no building."

Seattle in recent years has been considered a possible destination for the NHL, as have Kansas City and Quebec City.

The Times also reported that talks to build a brand new sports arena in Seattle had begun as early as June 16 between city officials and San Francisco multimillionaire Christopher Hansen.

Hansen is a native of Seattle, and has expressed interest in building an arena south of Safeco Field with the desire to bring an NBA franchise back to the Pacific Northwest, after the Super Sonics left for Oklahoma City in 2008, according to the Times.

At the beginning of June, the TV station KIRO 7 reported that sources indicated Chicago businessman Don Levin had visited Seattle to meet with "various stakeholders about the new arena," adding initial speculation that a new venue could house both an NHL and NBA franchise.

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

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