Seattle Channel

The proposed Sodo basketball/arena project and the challenges of local K-12 education were topics for the first “Civic Cocktail,” a new televised community forum and networking event sponsored by Crosscut.com, CityClub and the Seattle Channel.

Panelists included Sportspress NW’s Art Thiel, Highline School District Superintendent Susan Enfield, Crosscut editor Berit Anderson and Dominic Holden, news editor at the Stranger.

“Civic Cocktail” will be a monthly feature presented by the organizations with rotating panelists on topics of major interest in the Seattle market.

Host was Seattle Channel’s Brian Callanan, and the sold-out event was recorded Wednesday at the Palace Ballroom in downtown Seattle. Presenting sponsor was the Whitman Institute.  Seattle Channel  (ch. 21 on Comcast) provides a link at:

http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=3431301&file=1

Clarification: In Thiel’s response to a question on the fate of KeyArena if a new arena is built, Hansen’s original proposal said that the Key had to be non-competitive in terms of event bookings. The amended MOU signed in October has language that is less definitive:

“During the 12 months following approval of the MOU, the city will lead a planning effort to evaluate options for the future of Key Arena or the Key Arena site. The process will draw upon input from the Seattle Center Advisory Commission, professional from the real estate and entertainment fields, local stakeholders, and other with relevant expertise and interest.

“The goal of this process will be to identify options that are financially sustainable and that significantly contribute to the vitality of Seattle Center . . . the city will consider the interests of KeyArena’s current tenants and their role in ensuring the future success of KeyAren and the KeyArena site and the new arena.”