Just as he helped bring Seattle soccer back to the top division, Sounders majority owner Adrian Hanauer has now successfully done something similar with hockey, as the NHL formally approved its 32nd team on Tuesday. The still unnamed Seattle team will begin play in 2021-22 when Key Arena will be fully refurbished and ready to host games.
Unlike his role with the Sounders, though, Hanauer will likely be more of a silent partner. Hanauer has a minority stake in a group that also includes Tod Leiweke and Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer.
In a conversation with Sounder at Heart in September, Hanauer said his NHL ownership responsibilities would likely be limited to a dozen or so hours’ worth of meetings a year and that the Sounders would remain his main focus.