The fierce regional competition facing the Port of Seattle these days is daunting. But if a proposed sports stadium plan moves beyond the “Arena Advisory Panel,” and on to a referendum, things could become much worse.
As reported in this column recently, Tacoma and other PNW cargo gateways are waging an aggressive campaign for market share. Fortunately, for them, voters in their regions are not being wooed to approve the conversion of critical industrial property for a basketball and hockey coliseum
BNSF Railway, the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association and the Manufacturing Industrial Council have joined the Port of Seattle in resisting this idea, and beneficial cargo owners should step up, too.
Not only will such a scheme divert cargo from Seattle, it would also likely keep the port from moving ahead with its growth agenda, and would jeopardize that prize so valued by all in our industry…JOBS.