Gov. Chris Gregoire, shown above, plans to reach out to Sonics chairman Clay Bennett to discuss plans for a new arena in the Seattle area, according to a state senator.

Those plans took a turn for the worse on Thursday, when Bennett and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels traded jabs through the media.

The verbal sparring came a day after Nickels said if the Sonics ownership group committed $100 million to building a new arena or remodeling KeyArena, he would find public resources to help get the project done.

Bennett, seizing on the remodeling aspect of Nickels’ statement, said a discussion on remodeling KeyArena would not be productive or necessary.

Nickels essentially said if Bennett wanted to limit the discussion to a buyout of the KeyArena lease, then he shouldn’t bother coming to Seattle.

Gregoire, according to spokesperson Holly Armstrong, reiterated her support for keeping the Seattle SuperSonics and the Storm, but did not comment specifically on the arena situation.

However, Sen. Margarita Prentice said she spoke with Gregoire at a fundraiser in Renton on Thursday, and that Gregoire said she planned to set up a conference call with Bennett in the next few days in order to discuss the possibility of building a new arena in the Seattle area.

“This will be conversation involving people who are serious about addressing the arena situation,” Prentice said. “I just feel she’s got her heart and soul in this. She really wants to keep them here.”

Prentice, who championed Bennett’s failed attempt in Olympia last session to secure $300 million in public funds for a $500 million new arena in Renton, still believes that Bennett wants to keep the Sonics in Seattle.

She said Bennett made an error in thinking Nickels could be the point man in putting an arena package together.

“He assumed that Mayor Nickels is some kind of regional leader who would bring local leaders together and include other communities,” Prentice said. “That was a serious misperception.

“This is the second owner who has made it very clear that KeyArena is not only not suitable, but it is impossible. Clay Bennett has been very direct. And so has Howard Schultz. And people get angry when they get told the truth. But I very much want to see basketball remain here.”

State auditor Brian Sonntag said he’s still willing to act as a facilitator in bringing groups together to discuss putting together an arena deal.

And he would like to see the war of words end.

“I guess what’s so disappointing to me is to listen to these guys talk at each other from 1,000 miles apart rather than talk with each other in the same room,” Sonntag said. “I don’t know whose fault it is and I don’t care whose fault it is. I would rather see them working toward a solution.”

Also on Friday the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe released a progress report on a feasibility study to look at a potential new arena in Auburn next to Emerald Downs.

Brailsford and Dunlavey, a Washington, D.C. firm that specializes in facility planning and program management, is performing the study.

According to the report, a preliminary analysis indicates that Seattle is a strong NBA market. Also, a drive-time analysis shows little difference between customers who would drive to KeyArena and a potential new facility in Auburn, according to the report.

“They are continuing the work, the progress is ongoing and we expect a full report by the end of August,” said Rollin Fatland, spokesperson for the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe.