David Stern: KeyArena Upgrade a ’Late PR stunt’

NBA commissioner David Stern told ESPN radio that Seattle’s newest bid to upgrade KeyArena was "a late PR stunt," but city leaders said Tuesday they’ll continue working toward a solution to keep the Sonics in Seattle.

Stern indicated to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith that Seattle’s efforts are too late in the game and that if Mayor Greg Nickels had "done this a year ago, we wouldn’t be having the conversation."

Instead, an NBA relocation committee will be touring Oklahoma City’s Ford Center next week and preparing to make a recommendation either for or against Sonics chairman Clay Bennett’s relocation request at the April 17-18 NBA Board of Governors meeting in New York.

Seattle Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis said the city continues looking into ways to come up with an additional $75 million in funding to complete Nickels’ recent $300 million plan to upgrade KeyArena after the state Legislature declined to offer late help in its session that ended last Thursday. [Seattle PI]