Russell Wilson has always been a sports fan, but it was when the Seahawks celebrated their Super Bowl XLVIII victory with a parade through downtown Seattle that it really hit home for the quarterback just how unifying sports can be for a city and a region.
And that, as well as the desire to someday own a sports franchise, explains why in the middle of football season, Wilson announced earlier this week his plans to partner with the Chris Hansen-led Sonics Arena Group that is trying to build an arena in SoDo to host and NBA and NHL teams.
"I just remember seeing all the people, seeing a million-something people out in the city and seeing how many black, white, Asian, different people, different socioeconomic statuses coming together for one cause and one great experience," Wilson said. "I think basketball does that."
Wilson grew up something of a Sonics fan thanks to the old NBA Jam video game, but living here for more than four years, he has really started to understand how much the Sonics meant to the city.
"Being a part of the city and just walking around and being around people and seeing people wearing their old-school Sonics hats and old-school throwback Sonics jackets, and just seeing the people, it's a great city to have an NBA team, and also the NHL," he said. "I think it changes hearts and changes souls and it brings people together. There's nothing better than that. I know that from my own personal experience being a professional athlete, but also being a great fan of great athletes and great individuals and organizations. I think it's a no-brainer to me for why we should fight to bring back an NBA team and an NHL team too. It starts with the arena and it starts with getting the street vacation and doing all that work. It will be a quick process, it will be a state of the art facility, that's for sure. That's the exciting part. It will be one of a kind and it will be really special."
As for how this came together, Wilson said he has known Hansen for a while, and has a good relationship with the Nordstrom family—former Seahawks owner John Nordstrom is a regular visitor at Seahawks practices and games—and Wally Walker, who are all part of the investment group trying to build a Sodo arena. And after having some conversations with Hansen and Peter and Erik Nordstrom, Wilson decided now was the time to get involved.
"We were having a great conversation, we were talking, and I told (Hansen), like I've told you guys, I've been really authentic about wanting to own a team one day and being a part of something really special and doing that," Wilson said. "Even though I'm young and all that, I definitely have a business mindset. I want to be able to help people and give back and help change this community, continue to change this community for the better. That's been the exciting part. Obviously Chris and I have connected on that, Wally too, Wally is a great individual, Pete and Erik too. There's a great synergy and it was a really authentic approach to be able to dedicate and change history. I think that's a really cool, special thing. Like I said, it starts with the arena first, we have to make that happen. I'm excited about it."
Wilson said he's more than willing to use his clout as the Pro Bowl quarterback of a Super Bowl-winning franchise to help move the arena process along if that can help the process.
"Of course," Wilson said. "I think it's just trying to encourage people and let them understand how important it is. It will open up tons of jobs for people, too. It's a state-of-the-art facility and it will give people an opportunity. The key is the street vacation, getting that to happen and then we will be ready to roll. It's an exciting time."
And Wilson plans on having a financial stake in the game as well. Early in his career, Wilson mentioned the idea of being the owner of a sports franchise someday, and he confirmed that if a team does come to Seattle, he would have an ownership stake.
"That's the plan, yeah," Wilson said. But for now, Wilson said, "My focus is bringing an arena here so we can bring an NBA team and NHL team. That's the exciting part."
The largest celebration Seattle has ever seen to honor the Super Bowl Champions Seahawks from the players' perspective.
Seattle Seahawks players and coaches celebrate as confetti falls during a rally on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos on Sunday in NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII game in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) carries the Vince Lombardi Trophy into CenturyLink Field at the start of a rally on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos on Sunday in NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII game in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Fans line the parade route for the Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl XLVIII NFL football championship in Seattle, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014. The Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos on Sunday. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider gestures to fans during the Super Bowl champions parade on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the Denver Broncos 43-8 in NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks players wave to fans during the Super Bowl champions parade on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the Denver Broncos 43-8 in NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen waves to fans as he stands near the Vince Lombardi Trophy at a rally following a parade for NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII champions on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos on Sunday. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks' Chandler Fenner (38), Richard Sherman (25), Kellen Davis (87), Christine Michael (33) and Doug Baldwin (89) celebrate next to the Vince Lombardi Trophy during a rally Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos on Sunday in NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII game in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks players wave to fans during the Super Bowl champions parade on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the Denver Broncos 43-8 in NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks' cornerback Richard Sherman, center, gestures to fans during the Super Bowl champions parade, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the Denver Broncos 43-8 in NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks players wave to fans during the Super Bowl champions parade on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the Denver Broncos 43-8 in NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson applauds fans during a parade for the NFL football Super Bowl champions Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos 43-8 on Sunday. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen lifts the Vince Lombardi Trophy during a rally on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos on Sunday in NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII game in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen, left, lifts the Vince Lombardi Trophy with Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during a rally on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos on Sunday in NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII game in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen lifts the Vince Lombardi Trophy during a rally on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos on Sunday in NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII game in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen lifts the Vince Lombardi Trophy during a rally on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos on Sunday in NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII game in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks' running back Marshawn Lynch throws pieces of candy while riding on the hood of a vehicle during the Super Bowl champions parade on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos 43-8 in NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman waves to fans at the end of a rally on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos on Sunday in NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII game in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen, third from left, waves to the crowd as quarterback Russell Wilson (3), lifts the Vince Lombardi Trophy during a rally on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos on Sunday in NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII game in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks' Richard Sherman waves to fans as he leaves the field after a rally and parade for the Super Bowl XLVIII champions in Seattle, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014. The Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos on Sunday. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll waves to fans as he leaves CenturyLink Field after a rally at for NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII champions in Seattle, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014. The Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos on Sunday. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch, left, douses Russell Sherman and the Vince Lombardi Trophy at a rally following a parade for the NFL football Super Bowl champions Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos 43-8 on Sunday. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner, right, is tackled by teammate Derrick Coleman, after Wagner jumped into the TV camera shot while Seahawks coach Pete Carroll was speaking to the crowd at a rally Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos last Sunday in NFL footbal'sl Super Bowl XLVIII in East Rutherford, N.J. At left is Christine Michael (33). (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks kicker Steven Hauschka walks on the field wearing a camera on his cap for a rally for NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII champions in Seattle on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014. The Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos on Sunday. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch enters CenturyLink Field for a rally on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos on Sunday in NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII game in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker and Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith gestures to fans during the Super Bowl champions parade on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the Denver Broncos 43-8 in NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks' running back Marshawn Lynch throws pieces of Skittles candy while riding on the hood of a vehicle during the Super Bowl champions parade on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the Denver Broncos 43-8 in NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks players wave to fans during the Super Bowl champions parade on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the Denver Broncos 43-8 in NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks' running back Marshawn Lynch throws pieces of Skittles candy while riding on the hood of a vehicle during the Super Bowl champions parade on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the Denver Broncos 43-8 in NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, right, lifts the Vince Lombardi Trophy next to Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, left, during a rally on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos on Sunday in NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII game in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) carries the Vince Lombardi Trophy into CenturyLink Field as the Seahawks Sea Gals cheerleaders perform at the start of a rally on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos on Sunday in NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII game in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman talks to the crowd during a rally on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos on Sunday in NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII game in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, right, and his wife Glena ride along the Super Bowl champions parade on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the Denver Broncos 43-8 in NFL football's Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks' Richard Sherman holds up the Vince Lombardi Trophy during a parade for the NFL football Super Bowl champions Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos 43-8 on Sunday. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
