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EDMONTON, Alberta -- With plans for a new arena in doubt, the Edmonton Oilers say they are keeping their options open.

Oilers owner Daryl Katz, team president Patrick LaForge and president of hockey operations Kevin Lowe were in Seattle on Monday for meetings about a possible relocation to the city.

The Oilers said in a statement that they still hope to reach a deal with Edmonton on a new arena. But with talks at an impasse and the team's lease at aging Rexall Place set to expire in 2014, the Oilers have started to look elsewhere.

"As the City of Edmonton is aware, the Katz Group has been listening to proposals from a number of potential NHL markets for some time," the statement read. "After more than four years of trying to secure an arena deal and with less than 24 months remaining on the Oilers' lease at Rexall Place, this is only prudent and should come as no surprise."

The team added it would not comment on discussions with other potential markets.

The visit by Oilers brass came the same day that the Seattle City Council approved hedge-fund manager Chris Hansen's plan for a $490 million arena that both sides hope will be home to an NBA and NHL team.

Seattle's hockey market is limited to the Western Hockey League's Thunderbirds. The city hasn't had a professional team since the Metropolitans, who won a Stanley Cup in 1917, were disbanded in 1924.

89Hen wrote:Do people in Seattle who like hockey generally root for the Canucks?

Grizalltheway wrote:

89Hen wrote:Do people in Seattle who like hockey generally root for the Canucks?

For the most part, yes.

I don't know what Edmonton would do without a hockey team, the place is a God-forsaken shit hole.

89Hen wrote:

Grizalltheway wrote:
For the most part, yes.

I don't know what Edmonton would do without a hockey team, the place is a God-forsaken shit hole.

They still have the Eskimos.

DSUrocks07 wrote:Seattle and Portland should both have NHL teams.

DSUrocks07 wrote:Seattle and Portland should both have NHL teams.

89Hen wrote:

DSUrocks07 wrote:Seattle and Portland should both have NHL teams.

I really don't know much about either city, but it seems Seahawks fans are pretty rabid. I think the Trail Blazers are usually pretty high in the attendance rankings, but since the NBA and NHL are coinciding seasons, can they support both? Seattle might be hungry for a Nov-May sport, but could be that Portland is already spoken for.

Chizzang wrote:

89Hen wrote: I really don't know much about either city, but it seems Seahawks fans are pretty rabid. I think the Trail Blazers are usually pretty high in the attendance rankings, but since the NBA and NHL are coinciding seasons, can they support both? Seattle might be hungry for a Nov-May sport, but could be that Portland is already spoken for.

I do not see Hockey making it here...
Basketball YES / Hockey No
Soccer works here because of a few critical factors
we (King County) has the largest number of open quality soccer fields in America
There are Sprint turf lighted fields all over the place / probably 12 in Redmond alone and another dozen in Bellevue

So this contributes to leagues
We've got soccer leagues out the zinger / I was in one of Redmond over 40 leagues for a while and it was PACKED with old farts like me

Plus we've got foreigners / sh!tloads of 'em
You can't swing a dead cat without hitting some kind of European or Russian
So King Country is soccer crazed

Chizzang wrote:I do not see Hockey making it here...
Basketball YES / Hockey No
Soccer works here because of a few critical factors
we (King County) has the largest number of open quality soccer fields in America
There are Sprint turf lighted fields all over the place / probably 12 in Redmond alone and another dozen in Bellevue

So this contributes to leagues
We've got soccer leagues out the zinger / I was in one of Redmond over 40 leagues for a while and it was PACKED with old farts like me

89Hen wrote:

DSUrocks07 wrote:Seattle and Portland should both have NHL teams.

I really don't know much about either city, but it seems Seahawks fans are pretty rabid. I think the Trail Blazers are usually pretty high in the attendance rankings, but since the NBA and NHL are coinciding seasons, can they support both? Seattle might be hungry for a Nov-May sport, but could be that Portland is already spoken for.

Ivytalk wrote:I've never thought of Seattle as a great pro sports town, outside of football. The Mariners draw dick nowadays, and they've already lost one NBA team and one earlier MLB team. I doubt hockey can make it there.

Grizalltheway wrote:

Ivytalk wrote:I've never thought of Seattle as a great pro sports town, outside of football. The Mariners draw dick nowadays, and they've already lost one NBA team and one earlier MLB team. I doubt hockey can make it there.

Of course the Mariners draw dick now, they've been the AL West cellar dwellers for close to a decade now. Back when they were even a half-decent team, they were drawing 45K per night.

Ivytalk wrote:

Grizalltheway wrote: Of course the Mariners draw dick now, they've been the AL West cellar dwellers for close to a decade now. Back when they were even a half-decent team, they were drawing 45K per night.

Frontrunners. Hipsters. Starbucks addicts. Domestic terrorists.

Ivytalk wrote:

Grizalltheway wrote: Of course the Mariners draw dick now, they've been the AL West cellar dwellers for close to a decade now. Back when they were even a half-decent team, they were drawing 45K per night.

Frontrunners. Hipsters. Starbucks addicts. Domestic terrorists.

SDHornet wrote:Wow. Seattle could land an NHL franchise (Oilers) and an NBA franchise (Kings) in one fell swoop. That would be amazing.

Chizzang wrote:

Ivytalk wrote: Frontrunners. Hipsters. Starbucks addicts. Domestic terrorists.

Ivy you've picked up your game quite a bit..!!!

Anyway - I've cleaned up the coffee I just spit all overt the place
All Sports in the North West have to compete weekly with some other very (very) popular things
Biking Capital of America / Both street and Mountain / Lakes and Rivers that draw peoples interests / Soccer Leagues / basically outdoor stuff...
I've lived on the east coast
And I can assure you people around here do more stuff - just in general
I hear - we're all going for a hike on Rainer you wanna come
We're hitting the lake this after noon
We're doing some trail riding today
Etc. Etc.

People are more OUTDOOR active in the North West than they are on the East coast (fact)
In New England and in Baltimore when the Ravens or Patriots play EVERYBODY is watching
out here there are the season ticket holders and some Seahawks fans for sure but a huge percentage of Seattle people couldn't give a flying crap about Baseball or Football (of any kind)

SuperHornet wrote:

SDHornet wrote:Wow. Seattle could land an NHL franchise (Oilers) and an NBA franchise (Kings) in one fell swoop. That would be amazing.

I thought Anaheim had the upper hand for getting the stupid Maloofs. Seattle makes MUCH more sense given that they would be the only (pro hoops) show in town, while the Anaheim Royals would be third banana to the Lakers and the Clip Show despite being in a completely different county.

That said, I'd MUCH rather see the Kings sold to a local owner who keeps them in Sac. Get rid of the Maloofs NOW!!!!!

GannonFan wrote:If they do go to Seattle, though, look for that bright green to be added to the uniforms - seem you can't be a team in Seattle anymore without that color.