In a poll of registered voters of Seattle, 78 percent of those polled said they were "more inclined (to) let the Sonics leave Seattle" than to pay for renovation with "use taxes," according to the survey conducted June 1-5 by independent pollster Stuart Elway.

"When you frame it that way, 'Do you want to pay taxes to build an arena or have them leave Seattle?' I think that's a pretty crude way," Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis said. "That much ambiguity isn't going to elicit a very positive response no matter what."