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Report: Developers file intent to build arena in Seattle suburb

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From ESPN’s Craig Custance, who’s been closely covering the Seattle arena situation:

A new path to bring an arena -- and potentially the NHL -- to the Seattle area is opening.

RLB Holdings Sports and Entertainment filed a code interpretation request Wednesday with the City of Tukwila, stating its intention to build a multi-purpose arena, a source told ESPN.com. ...

If progress continues, the early target date to open the privately funded arena in Tukwila, a city just south of Seattle, is the fall of 2017.

RLB Holdings is headed up by Ray Bartoszek, the former energy trader who was reportedly close to moving the Coyotes to Seattle.

We first wrote about the Tukwila alternative in February. Apparently, this is a different parcel of land than the one owned by businessman David Sabey, who had doubts that an arena was the “highest and best use” for his property.

The NHL has made it no secret that it’s interested in placing a team in the Seattle area. The missing piece has always been an arena.

Tukwila mayor Jim Haggerton has bragged about his city’s ability to get big projects done quickly.

“I think I can make a safe statement that this city could do any major project as fast or faster than anybody else,” he told ESPN.com. “We have a track record of doing that.”

We may see now if that boast holds true.