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Arena Mastermind Chris Hansen Wants to Buy You a Beer

Allecia Vermillion
Author: Allecia Vermillion
Less than 1 min.read

 

 It’s been a good week for Chris Hansen. Now that its game on for his Seattle arena proposal (approved by City Council on Tuesday night), Hansen, a Seattle-born hedge fund manager now based in San Francisco, wants to show his appreciation. Hence he’s making a gesture that should resonate with local sports fans: He’s buying the city a round.

Over at pro-arena site sonicsarena.com, Hansen posted a letter of thanks to supporters, concluding with these magical words: “I would personally like to buy you all a beer at F.X. McRory’s this Thursday from 5-7. First beer for everyone is on me.” Those open to unsportsmanlike conduct might even some Hanna Raskin-esque disguises in hopes of finagling second, or even a third beer.

Hansen’s offer ricocheted around news blogs yesterday; F.X. McRory’s owner Mick McHugh says his Occidental Avenue bar, yards from the soon-to-expand stadium district, is bracing for “quite a celebration” on Thursday. Why his bar in particular? McHugh says Hansen worked for him as a dishwasher when he was 17 years old, at his Leschi Lake Café, now the location for Leschi’s BluWater Bistro.




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Allecia Vermillion
Allecia Vermillion
Allecia Vermillion has spent a decade at Seattle Met, arriving as food and drink editor, and expanding her role over the years. She served as the magazine’s editor in chief until moving into a newly created executive editor role in 2021. She spearheads Seattle Met’s food and drink coverage and oversees home design content. Allecia’s writing has earned her multiple journalism awards and two James Beard Award nominations over the years. A native of Portland, Oregon, Allecia began her writing life as a newspaper reporter in the Chicago suburbs before making a grateful return to the Pacific Northwest. She has an English degree from Washington University (no, the one in St. Louis) and a masters in journalism from Northwestern University. She lives in Seattle with her husband and two children.