The following editorial appeared Friday in the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin.

The Seattle Mariners baseball team plays its games in one of the finest Major League stadiums, Safeco Field. It was largely financed by the public.

The Seattle Seahawks football team plays next door at a state-of-the-art facility, Qwest Field. It, too, was largely financed by the public.

So, it’s not surprising that Seattle’s pro basketball team, the SuperSonics, want new digs.

And, of course, the Sonics’ owners also want the taxpayers to fund a new and/or improved arena.

On Tuesday, the Sonics’ owners sent a letter to Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels wanting to know whether city officials will back a $220 million Key Arena expansion.

If not, the team might leave Seattle for the suburbs or even move out of the state.

A threat? Absolutely. That’s the reality of big-time pro sports in America.

Major League Baseball, the NFL, the NBA and NASCAR generate billions of dollars of revenue annually.

When a major sporting event is held in a city, it attracts thousands of fans, all of whom are eager to spend cash.

Restaurants, shops and hotels make big bucks because of these games and, as a result, tax revenue increases.

Funding sports venues can sometimes be a good deal for taxpayers.

Nevertheless, we have shunned the idea of taxpayers across the state funding facilities for baseball, football and NASCAR racing.

While there is no doubt the state benefits somewhat financially from hosting major sporting events, it is relatively small compared to the gains of the city or county where the event takes place.

Downtown Seattle, where Safeco Field and Qwest Field are located, has boomed as a result of the influence of pro sports.

And that’s why we have no problem with the deal the local governments cut in the Seattle area to build the baseball and football stadiums.

The taxpayers there foot the bill, and they benefit the most. It’s a good deal all the way around.

But the city of Seattle is playing hardball with the Sonics. It is making it clear that it doesn’t want to fund the bulk of the project. The city and the team are in negotiations.

Gov. Chris Gregoire has stepped in to suggest that both sides sit down with a counselor to work out their differences.

Advice is about the only thing the state – or its taxpayers – should add to this deal. If Seattle or King County can’t find a way to keep the Sonics from moving, the state should not come to the rescue.

The team is, after all, the Seattle SuperSonics.