Barry Allan Ackerley was an American businessman.
14 Facts About Barry Ackerley
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Barry Ackerley was the former chairman and CEO of the Ackerley Group media company.
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Barry Ackerley was the owner of the Seattle SuperSonics basketball franchise from 1983 to 2001 and the Seattle Storm basketball franchise from 2000 to 2001.
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The family agreed and, as a minority shareholder in the venture, Ackerley purchased billboards in Fresno and Bakersfield, California.
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Barry Ackerley sold his interest in the venture back to his benefactors and, with a new partner, parlayed the proceeds toward the establishment of an outdoor advertising company, Golden West Outdoor Advertising.
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Golden West, had billboards in Sacramento, California, and Colorado until 1974, when Barry Ackerley purchased his partner's share in the company and then sold the company to Gannett Company.
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In 1983 Barry Ackerley purchased the Seattle SuperSonics of the National Basketball Association from original owner Sam Schulman.
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Barry Ackerley approached the city about a public contribution to the new arena, but the city was reluctant over fears the city-owned Coliseum would become obsolete.
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Barry Ackerley agreed to sign a 30-year lease for the Sonics and to build a 1,800-stall parking garage.
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Barry Ackerley appeased the Seahawks' concerns, noting the arena would be empty during any NFL games.
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Barry Ackerley committed to submitting an expansion application to the NHL by a September 15,1990 deadline as part of the arena deal.
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In June 1991, nearly a year after the city agreed to the arena deal, Barry Ackerley announced that the project would not move forward.
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Barry Ackerley died on March 21,2011, two days after suffering a stroke.
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Contrary to Adam Sandler's implication in "The Chanukah Song," Barry Ackerley was not Jewish.