(Images: Suzi Pratt)

Monday night, the debate over a new proposed Seattle sports arena in SoDo came to E Olive Way. The event took place just hours after the King County Council agreed to contribute $80 million toward investor Chris Hansen’s proposal that would put a new sports arena in SoDo for not only NBA play, but NHL hockey as well. Current talks also pose the possibility of the Seattle Storm utilizing the arena. The plan is not a done deal yet — the proposal will have to get through the Seattle City Council who have already called for substantial alterations to the plan.

The forum left every available seat in EVO on Capitol Hill taken — the crowd was made up of sports fans donning Sonics gear and older adults with obvious interest in the debate.

The forum was moderated by Josh Feit and Eric Barnett of Seattle Met, and they put local figures on the hot seat including 710 ESPN sports radio host Mike Salk, Seattle Port Commissioner Tom Albro, Seattle City Council member Mike O’Brien, and former Seattle City Council president Peter Steinbrueck. Publicola promises audio from the event to be posted soon.