GA Russell Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 The demand for a new ballpark/arena never stops, does it? Now it is Seattle. I can understand why so many people prefer college sports. Of course, the colleges are tax funded; but they're not threatening to move all the time! http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...Basketball/home Sonics owner losing hope of keeping team in Seattle Associated Press OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City businessman who owns the SuperSonics says he is losing hope that a way will be found to keep the NBA team in Seattle. "I'm probably as pessimistic as I've been," Clay Bennett told The Oklahoman Tuesday. "Not to say I've lost complete hope. We'll evaluate thoroughly any potential lead, but we're out of ideas." Bennett said he has begun preliminary discussions with Oklahoma City and Kansas City about possible relocation. "My expectation and my belief is that if we leave Seattle, we're quite likely headed to Oklahoma City," Bennett said. "But that decision has to be made with appropriate due diligence. We have to do that work. Just can't proclaim we're moving here." He said that when he and his partners first bought the Seattle SuperSonics last summer, he would drive around the Puget Sound area marveling. "I couldn't get my hands around what good fortune, to have a team in that marketplace with a new facility," said Bennett. "I really thought we would get a deal done. An extraordinary opportunity. "But lately, I don't have those same feelings." Bennett said despite last week's news that the Sonics will pick second in the NBA draft, giving them either Greg Oden or Kevin Durant, there has been no momentum on finding a way to build a new arena, which is the key to keeping the team in Seattle. "For now, without a building solution, it's our intent to play in Seattle and apply for relocation immediately after the (Oct. 31) deadline," Bennett said. The Oklahoma City group agreed to give Seattle until Oct. 31 to produce an arena deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 Boy, this is really disturbing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 ...after all, we all know to make pilgrimages to Salt Lake City to hear jazz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 Guess Paul Allen will have to step in and buy the Sonics now...since that's what it took to keep the Seahawks in Seattle. What is the friggin' problem with Key Arena anyway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald byrd 4 EVA Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 because kansas city and Oklahoma are the bustling metropolises that seattle isnt? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald byrd 4 EVA Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 professional sports is one giant mafia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quincy Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 because kansas city and Oklahoma are the bustling metropolises that seattle isnt? When the New Orleans...(not Jazz, they moved to Utah) Hornets! (who moved from Charlotte, since replaced by the Bobcats) played in Oklahoma City due to Hurricane Katrina fans bought lots of tickets. The Hornets have returned to N.O., but now you have a city that has fresh meat...I mean proven supportive fans. Any city that doesn't show proper appreciation (build me a stadium & you pay!) will threaten to go there. The NBA is the only game in Sacramento, Portland, Salt Lake, San Antonio to name 4. It works well for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny E Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 Good riddance. The ownership of the Sonics had the city pay for a remodel of (what is now known as) Key Arena about 10 years ago. They gutted the old arena and intentionaly made the new playing surface slightly smaller than what would accomadate a NHL hockey rink. In this way they made sure that no NHL competition entered the market. Now, because the remodel ain't good enough for them they are gonna move. Fuck them! Because of them, now Seattle will never have a hockey team (I was a big Flyers fan growing up in Philly). They can take their ball and go home (Oklahoma City apparently) as far as I'm concerned. Good bye. Don't let Mt. Rainier hit you on the ass on your way out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost of miles Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 Right on! Seriously, in complete agreement with you, Johnny. I'm fed up with pro sports franchises holding cities hostage, demanding tax break after tax break, municipal funding, etc., subjecting them to the same process every 10 years or so... and boy, Oklahoma City ain't no Seattle. See ya, wouldn't wanna be ya! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soulstation1 Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 i thought the glove would return to seattle to finish his career Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Ptah Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 Kansas City built a publicly funded new arena downtown, the centerpiece of a multi-billion dollar downtown revitalization project, but has no team to put in it. It can be expected that every owner of a professional basketball or hockey team will use Kansas City as a bargaining chip to get what he wants from the city where his team is presently located--until one city calls an owner's bluff and he ends up actually moving his team to Kansas City (probably to his own astonishment). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 Kansas City built a publicly funded new arena downtown, the centerpiece of a multi-billion dollar downtown revitalization project, but has no team to put in it. It can be expected that every owner of a professional basketball or hockey team will use Kansas City as a bargaining chip to get what he wants from the city where his team is presently located--until one city calls an owner's bluff and he ends up actually moving his team to Kansas City (probably to his own astonishment). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 Jerry Reinsdorf used to do this with the White Sox and Chicago. Kept threatening to move to Tampa Bay, and got "New Comiskey" built for the club. Sad thing is MLB has since expanded into TB, but can't get any fans to show up (so the D-Rays are playing at places like DisneyWorld). ...Just dust off the strategy and insert the next best teamless town into your threat to the current metropolis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 Kansas City built a publicly funded new arena downtown, the centerpiece of a multi-billion dollar downtown revitalization project, but has no team to put in it. It can be expected that every owner of a professional basketball or hockey team will use Kansas City as a bargaining chip to get what he wants from the city where his team is presently located--until one city calls an owner's bluff and he ends up actually moving his team to Kansas City (probably to his own astonishment). KC needs a B-Ball team, if you ask me. Always wanted one there when I was a kid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 (edited) Kansas City built a publicly funded new arena downtown, the centerpiece of a multi-billion dollar downtown revitalization project, but has no team to put in it. It can be expected that every owner of a professional basketball or hockey team will use Kansas City as a bargaining chip to get what he wants from the city where his team is presently located--until one city calls an owner's bluff and he ends up actually moving his team to Kansas City (probably to his own astonishment). KC needs a B-Ball team, if you ask me. Always wanted one there when I was a kid. Yes, although Big 12 basketball does a pretty good job filling the hole. I have KU season tickets and given the price tag and the "optional mandatory donation", I don't think I'll be springing for NBA tickets. Edited May 31, 2007 by Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quincy Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 KC needs a B-Ball team, if you ask me. Always wanted one there when I was a kid. You must still be a kid, as they used to have one. The KC/Omaha Kings. Then again, they were kinda forgettable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spontooneous Posted June 1, 2007 Report Share Posted June 1, 2007 You must still be a kid, as they used to have one. wink.gif The KC/Omaha Kings. Then again, they were kinda forgettable. laugh.gif Hey, Nate Archibald was NOT forgettable. OK, everybody else on the team was. But Tiny was the coolest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quincy Posted June 1, 2007 Report Share Posted June 1, 2007 You must still be a kid, as they used to have one. wink.gif The KC/Omaha Kings. Then again, they were kinda forgettable. laugh.gif Hey, Nate Archibald was NOT forgettable. OK, everybody else on the team was. But Tiny was the coolest. Oh he was amazing! (Note to self - see if any highlights on youtube) And Sam Lacey a strong long time guy for ya (as I remember, though truth is I didn't see many King games on TV.) It's just the playoff habit (now broken) didn't take off until they moved. As you have the arena, I'd think eventually you'll have a team whether you want it or not. Hey, maybe University of Florida will move, now that 4 players & a coach left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tjazz Posted June 2, 2007 Report Share Posted June 2, 2007 (edited) Maybe Seattle will take Kobe with them. Edited June 3, 2007 by Tjazz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GARussell Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 The city filed suit today to prevent the move. I was taught in school that you either kept your contracts or paid damages. I don't see how the city can keep them from playing in OKC; they just will have to be satified with payment of any expected revenue from the contract. Anyone want to disagree? http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...Basketball/home Seattle files lawsuit against Sonics' attempt to move Associated Press September 24, 2007 at 3:28 PM EDT SEATTLE — Seattle city officials filed a lawsuit Monday to keep the SuperSonics from leaving town. The lawsuit filed in King County Superior Court was a counter move to a Sonics' attempt to be released from their lease on KeyArena. According to the complaint, "The Sonics promised to 'play all home games ... exclusively"' at the arena at the Seattle Center through Sept. 30, 2010. "The city, with the help of some fine lawyers, is standing up to a pro sports team," city attorney Tom Carr said at a news conference. "Too often, pro sports teams have run over local governments." Sonics chairman Clay Bennett said Friday the club has requested an arbitration panel to rule that the NBA franchise does not have to play the final two seasons of its lease at KeyArena, arguing that the contract allows a negotiated buyout. Such a ruling would allow the Sonics to relocate after this coming season unless the club secures a new arena in the Seattle area by Oct. 31. Carr disputed claims by Bennett that the Sonics are losing money because of the arena lease, described by NBA commissioner David Stern as the worst for any team in the league. "The issues with the Sonics' profitability at KeyArena have less to do with KeyArena than with the Sonics' ability to defend the high pick and roll," Carr said. Former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton, a lawyer who was instrumental in preventing the departure of the Seattle Seahawks under former owner Ken Behring, said at the news conference that while many disputes that could arise under the lease are subject to arbitration, the duration of the lease is clearly excluded. The ultimate goal of the latest legal maneuver is to keep the Sonics in town permanently, whether under Bennett or a new, local owner, Gorton said The lease makes it clear that the Sonics agreed to play all their home games in KeyArena for the duration of the agreement, and Bennett seems to have planned from the outset to move the club to Oklahoma City, Gorton said. "They made the kind of demands that, from my perspective, were almost designed not to be met," Gorton said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 (edited) Supposedly, the contract that the Sonics have with Key Arena specifies the numbers of NBA games that the Sonics have to play there for the duration of the contract, and that is seen by the city as the key (pun alert!!) provision that insures the Sonics staying. Seattle is hoping to make it messy enough that Stern has to step in, which Stern might do, there is a huge market drop off from Seattle to OKC. Edited September 25, 2007 by Matthew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim McG Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 Seattle Supersonics threatening to move to OK City or KC You make bucket loads of money off of a loyal fan base then you threaten to move? Then I say go...the bastards. Fuck 'em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoGrubb Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 If they don't move to either OK or Kansas Cities maybe they'll consider Spring Lake(?). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 I know this has nothing to do with me, but I can't help being both nosey and ignorant. How can a team move? The notion, over here, that Sussex County Cricket Club could move to Kent is a contradiction in terms. Likewise, Manchester United couldn't move to Newcastle. If a firm can't make a profit out of getting bums on seats in the market where they're located, and flogging fan stuff more widely, then like any other firm, they just have to close. That happens. MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.D. Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 (edited) No geographic ties in US pro sports. Clubs can freely move, although it's a somewhat cumbersome process and can engender a certain amount of ill will. Much of the dance re. possible franchise relocations is based on clubs' desire to get municipalities to foot the bill for new arenas. Notwithstanding the fact that all objective economic studies have concluded that public money spent for such purposes brings no real economic benefit to the spending cities, many communities without major pro franchises are eager to shell out bucks to attract teams. In turn, teams "shop" such bids in order to extract economic concessions from their home municipalities. As a result, surprising numbers of cities dole out taxpayer revenues to build lavish arenas so as to "retain" their home teams. In the current case, (IIRC) Seattle and the state of Washington seem (bully for them!) unwilling to spend taxpayer money to build a new basketball arena, so the dance has gone on longer than it often does... Edited September 25, 2007 by T.D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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