Anyone who follows the team closely, or has read the Raible/Sando book on the Seahawks, knows that the sun is setting on the sweltering stories of summer training camp in Cheney.

What fans might not have realized, until reading the latest blog entry from Sando, is that you'll have to wait until the Summer of 2008 before you can watch your favorite football team practice at training camp.

The reason? The new training facilities in Renton will not be completed until 2008, and the additional pre-season game in China is forcing the Seahawks to hold training camp in Kirkland this year, which is too cramped to provide access to the fans.

As Seahawks fans, I guess we now know how Steve McNair felt last summer when he was barred from the Titan's training facility! On one hand, I can understand this, as it doesn't make sense to shuttle back and forth between Eastern and Western Washington when you have to make a trip to the other side of the globe to play an exhibition game. On the other hand, plain and simply, it sucks!

Other than historic mediocrity, the face of this franchise since its inception has always been the blind and loyal support of its fanbase, and to exclude the 12th man from the advantages of training camp may come back to haunt the club in the regular season. I can see it now, as folks are spilling beers, dropping hot dogs and straining vocal chords, all because they didn't have 6 - 8 weeks in the summer to get themselves back into cheering shape.

And who knows, in a tight home game against a formidable opponent, the crowd might not be able to muster up that all important false start penalty, as they're icing their throats or checking the game program to see who all these new guys are in the defensive backfield, or why Grant Wistrom is now playing linebacker.

But true to form, the ever faithful members of Seahawk Nation will "take one for the team," and continue to support the club regardless of their limited access to their favorite players during the off season.

Let's just hope this move proves to be as inspiring and fortunate for the 12th Man, as it did for new Ravens QB!

[Comments taken in SeahawkBlue Forums]

Seattle Seahawks are moving westward for 2007 mini-camps. The team will commence training in Kirkland a year early due to the travel implications to China for a pre-season match with the New England Patriots.

The Hawks will bide their time in Kirkland for one year. while waiting for their state of the art training center in Renton to spring to life. The site location resides on the shores of Lake Washington near Newcastle, bounded by 44th street and I-405. The main 3 story building will have administrative offices, a cafeteria, weight room, locker room, an auditorium, team meeting rooms and media production studios. In addition to the indoor turf field, there will be 4 outdoor practice fields. Three of them grass and one of them will be field turf. This jewel will be the 2nd largest training facility in the NFL.

Such lavish training facilities, prime location near SeaTac Airport and major metropolitan area of Seattle, will certainly entice free agents to want to join the Seahawk family. Why would Robbie Tobeck want to retire, if he could just wait it out awhile longer, he could go angling for Sockeye salmon right off the edge of the practice field.

Ground breaking has already begun and will be complete in time for the team to begin camp in June of 2008. Team authorities plan to officially announce the groundbreaking later this month. Such a good neighbor, officials from the team opted to shift the building 62 feet to satisfy concerns of local homeowners had with obstructed views.

Public access will be available, however there will only be room for 3000 spectators per day. This location will attract souvenir shoppers with the largest Seahawk Pro Shop yet. I see a business venture for one Gladiator here. Hey Charles Grant, would you like me to take you out fishing on my boat for a fee (and signed jersey).

Gladiator Hawk

[Comments taken in SeahawkBlue Forums]