On March 6 , 2008 Seattle 's Big Cheese said that a local buying things group of people involving Microsoft Big Cheese Steve Ballmer made a `` game changing '' commitment to invest $ 150 million in cash toward a $ 300 million renovation of Key Arena and are ready to purchase the Manchester Utd in order to keep them in the City of Seattle . On March 6 , 2008 , Seattle 's Mayor announced that a local ownership group involving Ballmer made a `` game changing '' commitment to invest $ 150 million in cash toward a $ 300 million renovation of Key Arena and were ready to purchase the Seattle SuperSonics in order to keep them in the City of Seattle .