By Christopher Duclos

Amid the excitement over the recent playoff success from the Seattle Seahawks, Seattle sports fans have had something new to marvel: The talk about the eventual return of an NBA franchise to the Emerald City.

Due to the access of information from social media, rumors began to run rapid about a potential move of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings to Seattle. Seattle arena investor Chris Hansen was reportedly close to a deal with the owners of the Sacramento Kings to purchase the struggling NBA team for approximately $500 million, according to Yahoo! Sports. But there are conflicting reports that warn a deal may not be final quite yet.

Nevertheless, the hearsay caused an uproar of excitement throughout Seattle. In a recent outing at the Ballard Station and The Matador, which has become a haven for sports fans since it opened in August, people shared their enthusiasm with the Ballard News-Tribune.

Bri Wilds, a bartender at Ballard Station has had a lifelong dream of being on the Supersonic’s dance team. "I’m so excited,” She offered. “Everyone's been talking about it. With (the deal) being one step from being official we are getting really excited. My friends and I got really happy when we first heard the news; I think it'd be good for the city of Seattle”.

Matt Novack, a patron, had his own thoughts to offer. "I wish we can get our own team rather than take someone else's. Sacramento is going to feel the same thing we did when the Sonics first left. I don’t think we should steal a team from another city but what has to be done has to be done, go hawks."

Another Ballard Station patron, Raleigh Rockwell, said, "I feel so grateful for a guy like Christopher Hansen. His efforts to make this happen are astonishing. I feel lucky. When a city loses a team you often lose them for some time, but now, in about six months from now, we will get our team back. The fact that the local kid Isaiah Thomas will be playing at the Key in 10 months blows my mind!”

"It's really good to have a team to root for during a time when Seattle sports are having such a success,” Raleigh’s friend Sean Conlon added. “Seattle winter is dark and gloomy and the coming of the Sonics is a bright spot. It's just adding to the excitement."

“Finally, I can live in a city with a complete sports package. It's hard not to feel bad for Sacramento being a native Californian, but anything for the cause! Let’s go SUPS! (Super Sonics)” said Ballard’s Matador customer and Seattle Pacific University Student Sam Sandquist

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