WNBA franchise committed to Seattle, but will businesses on Queen Anne feel impact?
Vacant tables are at a premium in local bars and restaurants on game night. On an off-night, the chances of finding a table are much simpler, as Queen Anne watering holes keep busy with both regulars and drifters seeking a drink or two after work or dinner.
When Key Arena at the Seattle Center is occupied, local bars like Floyd's Place, Moxie and Tini Bigs on First Avenue in lower Queen Anne play temporary home to local sports fans seeking a social space to congregate and watch the game. When the Sonics played host to the Western Division's first place Dallas Mavericks, barstools and tables were at capacity before, during and after the 90-70 Sonics loss.
"Basically, if there's anything going on in the Key [Arena], there's going to be business in here," said Randy Emberante, a bartender at Floyd's Place, a destination point for Uptown sports fans.
While the entryway and walls of Floyd's Place are plastered with the words "Save Our Sonics," a group of four local women saved Seattle's other basketball franchise from a possible Oklahoma City shuffle last week. The group is led by former Deputy Mayor Anne Levinson, making it just one of seven WNBA franchises that is independently owned.
Levinson's group, Force 10 Hoops LLC, is comprised of Ginny Gilder, a former Olympian-turned-investor; Dawn Trudeau, a former Microsoft employee; and Lisa Brummel, Microsoft's senior vice-president for human resources. The three season ticket holders last week purchased the Storm for $10 million from owner Clayton Bennett, the same man whose ownership group likely will move the Sonics to Oklahoma City within the next few years.
"We are pleased to be able to step forward to ensure that Seattle will be the Storm's home," Levinson said during the group's press conference on Jan. 8. "This is something we wanted to be able to do for Storm fans and the community. I want to thank Clay Bennett for working with us on this."
Before the sale closes at the end of February, the new owners must demonstrate to the WNBA board of governors their ability to sustain as a "stand alone" franchise by gathering support from the public, the local business community and government officials, as detailed in the terms of the sale.
Last summer, the Storm averaged just shy of 8,000 in attendance for the entire season. While the team was competitive-losing to the Phoenix Mercury in the first round of the playoffs-there is disparity among local bars and restaurants on how much the Storm impacts their nightly business.
"They do affect business, but not to a great degree," said Alan Chapman, who has worked at Moxie as a bartender for the past two years. "Their fan base isn't as large as the Sonics, but it will certainly grow now. We're so happy they're going to be staying."
According to Chapman, Moxie typically sees a rush of business before Sonics and Storm games, but it is neighboring Floyd's Place that appears to do most of the in-game and post-game business. Though they are without televisions, the two-year-old restaurant and wine bar does see quite a bit of business from coaches, players and team personnel after the game.
At Floyd's Place, employees say you would be hard-pressed to find a spot during the Sonics season, but the Storm's impact remains to be seen. Though when the Storm found themselves on top of the WNBA in 2004, the crew at Floyd's felt the heat.
"I remember every table being filled that summer," said Phyllis Wang, a former employee who worked as a cocktail server at Floyd's Place during the team's championship year. "Though in comparison to the Sonics season it wasn't nearly as busy, but when the team was competitive, there was always a jump in business."
Bartenders at nearby establishments such as the Mecca Café claim the impact of the Storm staying in the area is minimal, mainly because of the businesses' proximity to the arena.
In a statement made following the announcement, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels expressed enthusiasm for the sale.
"This is a bright day for Storm fans!" Nickels enthused. "The tradition of women's basketball in Seattle will continue," Nickels said. "I'm particularly pleased that committed local ownership has stepped forward to keep the team playing in KeyArena. This is a good model for the Sonics as well."
Governor Christine Gregoire seemed to share in Nickels' excitement, also expressing her desire for the Sonics to follow the Storm's lead.
"As governor and as a Storm fan, I think today's news that the team will stay in Seattle is simply terrific," Gregoire said in a statement. "The ownership group of accomplished women has made this possible because of their strong commitment to the community. They also know first-hand that being able to compete in the top echelon of sports provides women with opportunities generations who came before us never had."
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