Centennials Table Topics

Table Topic questions are meant to stimulate family and classroom discussion. Use the questions below after reading,"Ready for the show."

Even after the success of the World's Fair, Seattle suffered from a provincial self-image. What kind of status does major league sports confer upon a region? Now that Seattle's considered a very desirable place to live, with high-profile businesses, and music, theater and dance scenes, are big league sports still necessary? How would you feel about the Mariners, Sonics or Seahawks leaving town?
Seattle's professional sports teams have endured trials and suffered low attendance at different times. How important is winning and local ownership to fan loyalty in Seattle? Are Pacific Northwesterners fair weather fans?
The Mariner's threatened to leave Seattle when they wanted a new stadium built. Prior to that, the Sonics threatened to leave or move to Bellevue over stadium issues. The Seahawks also threatened to move over a stadium issue and actually spent a few weeks training in California. Are professional team owners justified in making threats or wanting new stadiums? Were team records and performance significant factors in public support? How do you feel about public funding or subsidies to pro sports teams? Now that the Key Arena is built, are you glad we have the new facility? What should be done about a projected tab millions higher than originally proposed for the new baseball stadium?
In 1968, the Kingdom was called "the finest facility for the money in the land." Why do our professional baseball and football teams now consider it inadequate? Are there any similarities between attempts to fund the Kingdome then and funding of a new baseball stadium today? There were controversies over site-selection, then and now. What kind of impact does a stadium make on an area? What important elements must be considered? What sites do you favor and why?
The NBA was the first national sports franchise to take a chance on Seattle and the first to confer national sports status with the 1979 NBA Championship title. Were you around to experience that championship? How does it compare to excitement over the Mariner's ALW title in 1995? What does a shared winning experience mean for a community?