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This Afternoon
64°
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50°
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Sunrise 5:10am · Sunset 9:06pm
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Tides: Next: Low 1.3 ft at 4:19 PM
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AQI 30 — Good
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No quakes M4.5+ in last 24h
Seattle Sports
8th in Western Conference Division
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PubliCola
5 days
Wilson Proposes Doubling Transit Sales Tax to Fund Local Bus Service Expansion
By Erica C. Barnett Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has proposed doubling a sales tax that funds transit service in… The post Wilson Proposes Doubling Transit Sales Tax to Fund Local Bus Service Expansion appeared first on PubliCola.
Davy Jones Locker Room
5 days
Melinda French Gates Becomes Minority Owner of the Seattle Kraken
Melinda French Gates is becoming a minority owner of the Seattle Kraken, the team’s parent company said Monday, pending approval from the NHL. The size of her stake and the terms were not disclosed. French Gates, 61, the philanthropist and ex-wife of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, is buying into One Roof Sports and Entertainment, the company that owns the Kraken. ESPN’s Emily Kaplan first reported the deal. French Gates is worth about $30 billion, according to Forbes, and the investment is her first ownership stake in a major professional sports team. She joins a group led by majority owner Samantha Holloway that includes minority investors David Wright, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, and producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Holloway became majority owner in December 2024 after the death of her father, David Bonderman, the TPG co-founder whose group, Seattle Hockey Partners, won the expansion franchise. “As a longtime Seattle resident, it means a lot to me to have the chance to make this investment in our city and its future,” French Gates said in a statement. “I’m a big believer in the power of sports, and after many years of cheering on Seattle from the sidelines, I’m excited to have an even deeper connection to the Seattle sports community. Seattle is an engine of innovation in so many ways, and Samantha Holloway’s leadership of the Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena reflects that.” Holloway said in the statement, “Melinda is an impressive business leader, philanthropist and importantly, a Seattle sports fan. We share many of the same values, including a deep commitment to Seattle and a belief in building organizations that create lasting impact.” “It’s just time,” French Gates told ESPN. “What you’re seeing is a generation of women coming into their full power. I’ve walked into tough rooms, and being one of the few is very hard. Once we can create enough that we’re one of many, it just gets easier.” Though originally from Dallas, French Gates has lived in the Seattle area for nearly 40 years. She joined Microsoft in 1987, where she met Bill Gates, and worked on multimedia products before leaving in 1996. She co-chaired the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation from 2000 until 2024 and now runs Pivotal, a Kirkland-based organization she founded in 2015 to support women and young people in the United States and abroad. One Roof Sports and Entertainment, created in March, owns the Kraken and controls Climate Pledge Arena, along with the Kraken Community Iceplex, the rebuilt Memorial Stadium, and the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds. The group is pursuing an NBA expansion team for Seattle. What this means for the Kraken Nothing changes from a hockey operations standpoint. Jason Botterill will continue to be the GM, they are conducting an audit, they will pursue free agents and make draft picks and attempt trades and it will be business as usual there. The addition brings financial security. Though the NHL has a hard salary cap, Scouting, front office salaries, player development, analytics, facilities, and support staff are not subject to an NHL salary cap and can vary from organization to organization, depending on the owners’ willingness and ability to spend money. A group with French Gates’s money can cover all of that through a rebuild without needing the team to turn a profit, and won’t be forced to cut costs or tear the team down in a bad year. There is also a very expensive NBA bid going on. In March, the NBA’s Board of Governors voted to explore expansion in Seattle and Las Vegas, and Holloway’s group, advised by JPMorgan Chase and Moelis, is the only public Seattle bidder. The NBA hired PJT Partners to evaluate the markets, ownership groups, and arenas and the expansion fees is projected to be somewhere in the $6 to $10 billion range. French Gates is now an owner in One Roof, the group pursuing the NBA team, so her money is already behind that effort. Though we don’t know the extent of her stake, her fortune is several times the projected fee, and because the NBA weighs the strength of each ownership group, her name helps the Seattle bid. Her most visible impact will probably be in the community. The One Roof Foundation has focused on getting more kids into sports, and French Gates has spent her career working on opportunities for women and families. Holloway said, “We’re really aligned on that.” For the Kraken, the deal leaves them with a richer, steadier ownership group. For One Roof, it adds another prominent name as it tries to bring the NBA back to Seattle.
PubliCola
6 days
Aide to Councilmember Saka Sought Restraining Order Against Constituent
Saka called Police Chief Shon Barnes to ask what to do about a resident who contacted his office repeatedly about… The post Aide to Councilmember Saka Sought Restraining Order Against Constituent appeared first on PubliCola.
PubliCola
6 days
Seattle Nice: How Badly Did Sound Transit Screw Seattle Over?
By Erica C. Barnett On this week’s episode of the Seattle Nice podcast, we did a deep dive on the… The post Seattle Nice: How Badly Did Sound Transit Screw Seattle Over? appeared first on PubliCola.
PubliCola
8 days
This Week on PubliCola: May 30, 2026
Sound Transit stiffs Ballard, Councilmembers Push Police Cameras, Top Wilson Aid Resigns, and More By Erica C. Barnett Monday, May… The post This Week on PubliCola: May 30, 2026 appeared first on PubliCola.
PubliCola
9 days
Sound Transit Sacrifices Light Rail to Ballard, Moves Long-Deferred Graham Station Forward, in Latest “Realignment” Plan
By Erica C. Barnett The Sound Transit board voted to approve a new “affordable” light rail plan on Thursday afternoon… The post Sound Transit Sacrifices Light Rail to Ballard, Moves Long-Deferred Graham Station Forward, in Latest “Realignment” Plan appeared first on PubliCola.
PubliCola
10 days
How We Can Save Ballard Light Rail
By Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss Ballard Light Rail is facing its biggest threat yet. Despite the fact the Ballard… The post How We Can Save Ballard Light Rail appeared first on PubliCola.
PubliCola
11 days
Another Shakeup on Team Wilson as Mayor’s Homelessness Advisor, Jon Grant, Steps Down
By Erica C. Barnett Jon Grant, Mayor Katie Wilson’s chief advisor on homelessness and housing, resigned Wednesday morning after being… The post Another Shakeup on Team Wilson as Mayor’s Homelessness Advisor, Jon Grant, Steps Down appeared first on PubliCola.
PubliCola
12 days
“There’s a Quick Fix”: Councilmembers Pressures Mayor to Activate Police Cameras for World Cup
By Erica C. Barnett On Tuesday, Seattle City Councilmembers Rob Saka and Bob Kettle trashed Mayor Katie Wilson’s decision, announced… The post “There’s a Quick Fix”: Councilmembers Pressures Mayor to Activate Police Cameras for World Cup appeared first on PubliCola.
PubliCola
13 days
KCRHA Lays Out Plan to Address Audit Findings, But Says Many Issues Need “Joint Correction” With City and County
By Erica C. Barnett In a “corrective action plan” issued last Friday, the King County Regional Homelessness Authority laid… The post KCRHA Lays Out Plan to Address Audit Findings, But Says Many Issues Need “Joint Correction” With City and County appeared first on PubliCola.
Davy Jones Locker Room
17 days
Firebirds season ends in 4 games in AHL Pacific Division Final
Just not to be. The Coachella Valley Firebirds faced Colorado in Game 4 last night, and unfortunately, with their season on the line, couldn’t stymie the advance of the Eagles in the AHL Postseason, losing a heartbreaker 3-2 hot off the heels of a 4-1 beatdown. Colorado can be a scary place to play hockey. Let’s Give a Hand To… Oscar Fisker Mølgaard: Even in defeat, for these brief few weeks while Colorado’s Ivan Ivan can’t accrue any more points, he leads the AHL playoffs in points with 11 in 12 games played, and is tied for the playoff lead in goals with 7. This young man found another gear in the playoffs, and went from a solid two-way center to a cornerstone of the Firebirds success. This young man already proved, at least in limited engagements in the NHL that he’s already good enough to hang, but this series proved that he may not need the AHL anymore. A properly motivated Mølgaard seems to be a game changer. J.R. Avon: While an otherwise decent but ultimately pedestrian regular season in the AHL may have allowed Avon to skate by unnoticed by the larger hockey world, this second ever playoff appearance in pro hockey may have turned some heads. JR Avon loves postseason hockey; to the point he became the Firebirds leading scorer and the AHL’s leading playoff scorer alongside Mølgaard. Jagger Firkus: While 3rd on the team in points through these playoffs, Firkus’ postseason was an extension of the kind of player he became throughout the regular season; while very adept at goalscoring, he showed a lot of adept playmaking ability that made up for taking a backseat to the Mølgaard/Avon tour (though at 3rd in goals, his performance was more like a solid opening act). He wasn’t the uber-playmaker however, as that honor went to… Jani Nyman: A player whose howitzer shot only found twine thrice this postseason found that his hands could also be useful in getting assists, as he walks away with the most on the team this postseason with 6. One can hope he manages to start utilizing that skillset a little more, as he was a major part of Coachella’s scoring attack this year, and adding a developing playmaking sense to that already strong resume of goals would be a major value add. What’s next for Coachella Valley? Defensive Adjustment Required The Firebirds scored twice, and then Colorado won this game by scoring the next three unanswered. One was the same kind of bizarre bounce that side of the ice was creating all night, but the other two were just the same kind of breakdown they’d been dealing with all regular season. For Coach Laxdal, that has to change next season. A Full Season of Jake O’Brien? While the Kraken are skittish at trusting their young talent, their AHL team is under no such aspersions; allowing young talent to flourish as much as possible. With center wunderkind Jake O’Brien finishing off a 93 point-in-53 game regular season/23 point in 15 game playoffs with the Brantford Bulldogs where he finished top 3 in the entire league, there’s plenty to like about his game that, if it still needs a little seasoning, he could be a dynamite player for the desert. Wanna fly your flag? A number of players could be asked to join their national teams for the IIHF World Championships, of which Philipp Grubauer and Ryan Lindgren are already competing. There’s a non-zero chance these baby Squids could find themselves making auditions for future roles on Team USA or Canada. While it’s obviously not what we’d want to see, we’re just glad the Firebirds remain so strong, and applaud them on another successful AHL season! We’ll see them next year! LET’S GO FIREBIRDS!
Davy Jones Locker Room
19 days
Four Options for the Kraken at Pick 7
The NHL Draft Lottery has come and gone, and luck continues to not be on the Seattle Kraken’s side. The Hockey Gods are clearly prepared to drag this team – and fanbase – through years of developing instead of having nice things. The Kraken were one number away from moving up to the 2nd overall pick. Instead, they moved down to the #7 pick after San Jose saw their number drawn. So, now that we know when the Kraken will pick, it is time to look at who is likely to be available – and who the Kraken should select. Keaton Verhoeff, D, North Dakota (NCAA) At 6’4”, 212 lbs, Verhoeff is built to play in the NHL. He is a large defenseman that would undoubtedly help the Kraken’s blueline, which clearly needs a facelift. With the likelihood of Jamie Oleksiak being on the move this offseason or at some point next year, the Kraken will need someone with size and grit to defend the blue line. After a successful 2024-25 season playing for Victoria Royals of the WHL, where he netted 21 goals, he followed it up with an equally impressive season in the NCAA, scoring 20 points in 39 games. In addition to his play on the ice, it is his leadership potential off the ice that makes him that much more desirable. Having represented Canada as team captain at the U18 Men’s International tournament, it is clear he has the potential to lead a team and be a quarterback of the blueline. He was named to Team Canada’s U20 World Junior Championship roster last year, which as a 17-year-old is typically unheard of. Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert (WHL) At 6’2”, 206 lbs, Rudolph possesses the same build as the majority of NHL defenders. While a good majority of draft eligible defenders need an extra year to put muscle and size on, Rudolph has the size and weight to compete immediately. He is coming off a very successful campaign for the Raiders, having scored 78 points in 68 games, while adding 27 points in 18 playoff games so far. Prince Albert has made it to the WHL finals, providing him with playoff experience – a skill the Kraken clearly lack on their roster. Rudolph is not afraid to use his size – having watched numerous games this year, particularly in the playoffs, he makes it very difficult on opponents by wearing them down after taking numerous body checks. He did serve a 1-game suspension for a cross-check to the head of an opponent in the WHL finals, which he will undoubtedly learn from. It is difficult as a teenager to find that line between assertive and overly aggressive, and that typically comes with time and experience. If he can learn to walk the line and stay out of the penalty box, he could be the bodyguard many teams look for in the NHL. This also would provide the Kraken another player who is not afraid to get dirty in the corners – which they lack outside of Jacob Melanson. Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor (WHL) A former 1st-overall pick in the OHL draft, Belchetz has the size that every NHL team wants and needs – 6’5”, 228 lbs – and unafraid to use his size. The power in his shot makes him a threat in many situations – the 34 goals in 57 games this season speak for themselves. He is known for his shot and quick feet in tight situations, which generates more possession in the offensive zone – a category the Kraken desperately need help with. The fact he is a winger is a category the Kraken need to upgrade – after Jared McCann and Kaapo Kakko, there is a clear drop in talent level in the rest of the lineup. Belchetz is committed to Michigan State University for the 2026-27 season, which provides a year of development before any Entry Level Contract kicks in. This also gives another year for Belchetz to continue finding his game, battling against opponents with more size and grit in their game. One point worth noting is that Belchetz’s 2025-26 season was cut short, having suffered a broken left clavicle in March, causing him to miss the remaining 11 games plus the entire post season. Windsor made it to the Conference Finals – needless to say, his presence in the playoffs was sorely missed. It will be interesting to see how he finds his game upon his return to skating after such an intense injury at a young age. Brooks Rogowski, C, Oshawa (WHL) Like Belchetz, Rogowski bears size and height that every NHL player wishes they could have – at 6’6”, 236 lbs, he would instantly tower over many players. This is something that coaches cannot teach – and he is not afraid to use his size to his advantage. His height gives him an extended reach, allowing him to deke and maneuver around defenders easier, while also acting as a defensive forward with an extended reach for poke checks. He is known for his puck handling skills, which is a desirable skill to have as a forward. He is an asset on the penalty kill due to his defensive abilities, and his skill on the powerplay stems from his size and net-front presence – he is great at screening the goalie and unafraid of getting into the danger zone. The Kraken desperately need help with their special teams, so having a player of this stature would be a welcome addition. With the fact the Kraken have depth at the center position, this is a great time to develop a young player with these intangible skills – like Belchetz, he is committed to Michigan State University next year, which will provide the Kraken a year of watching him develop before deciding whether to have him spend a year in the AHL or bring him immediately up to compete with the “big boys”. He is currently known first and foremost for his defensive skills – while the Kraken are lacking in the offensive category, the old saying is “defense wins championships” – this pick would be an investment into the defensive style that coach Lambert loves to play.