Seahawks Reopen Old Office But Behring Emphasizes That Return To Kirkland Temporary
The Seattle Seahawks reopened their headquarters in this Seattle suburb Tuesday. But owner Ken Behring said his plans to move the team to Southern California remain unchanged.
Behring closed the Kirkland offices Feb. 2 and began moving equipment to Anaheim, Calif., two days later. He announced plans to use Rams Park in Anaheim as a training facility.
“Since renovations at Rams Park are not yet complete and we had previously scheduled a meeting with coaches, scouts and staff members, we will continue to temporarily utilize the Kirkland facility,” Behring said in a statement late Tuesday afternoon from Los Angeles.
“Once the Anaheim renovations are complete and we can shift the remainder of our operations to Southern California without interfering with our draft preparations, the move will be completed.”
And he added, “There is no change. We moved the franchise headquarters to Southern California and our plans will not be reversed.”
Behring has 10 years remaining on his Kingdome lease but contends he can break it and move to Southern California because the dome isn’t a “first-class facility” as required by the lease. He also contends the stadium could endanger occupants in an earthquake.
King County is suing Behring to prevent the Seahawks from playing games elsewhere and won a temporary restraining order in King County Superior Court. That order did not forbid him to move training equipment.
The county argues that Behring’s lease obligates the Seahawks to play in the Kingdome through 2005.
Behring filed a countersuit in neighboring Kittitas County, contending the lease can be broken because the Kingdome is unsafe and not a first-class facility.
A temporary restraining order remains in effect, ensuring that neither court will take any action until the Supreme Court decides the jurisdiction dispute.
The court put the case on an accelerated calendar and scheduled a hearing for March 27 to decide whether competing lawsuits will be heard in King or Kittitas County.
The high court set the following schedule for the two sides:
King County’s opening brief is due by Feb. 26.
The team’s response is due by March 7.
The county’s reply is due by March 13.