In an interview with Vancouver’s Team 1040 radio host Serkes and Price, Seattle Times reporter Geoff Baker stated that the third rumored NHL owner in Seattle is billionaire Steve Ballmer. Ballmer is part of the ownership group that is trying to bring the Sonics back to Seattle, and attempted to by the Kings last year.

If Baker is correct, Ballmer would end up being one of the wealthiest owners in the league. His inclusion into the ownership group list has to make the NHL just salivate at the fact that it is unlikely his club would end up struggling financially for a long period of time.

Now that we know Ballmer is the rumored third NHL owner, it makes sense why the City was — and probably is — willing to alter the MOU so that it has an option for a NHL franchise to kick off construction of the SODO Arena. The fact that Ballmer is part of the potential NBA ownership groups, and therefore was part of the negotiation process, means that the City has already worked with him on the original agreement.

If its true, having Ballmer in on the NHL conversation is good news for Hockey fans…as well as those who want to see the new arena get built.

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