Seattle SuperSonics sold to an OK City group

[sammyc521]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2003135221_websonicssold18.html

The Sonics have been sold to a group from Oklahoma City led by businessman Clay Bennett, according to multiple sources. It was believed that the Storm, the WNBA franchise owned by the same group, was part of the package.

Team officials had said recently that the two teams would be considered a package and not be separated in a sale.

A news conference to announce the details of the sale is scheduled for 3 p.m. today.

I'm sad...

[SPTO]

Re: Seattle SuperSonics sold to an OK City group

Well that is sad. Seattle has been around for a good 30+ years but OKC has proven it can be a viable NBA market. It sucks how owners crying out for sweetheart deals can sulk and eventually take away the fans' pride and joy like that.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: Seattle SuperSonics sold to an OK City group

Well there goes Seattle having an NBA franchise. The city didn't want to pony up.

I'm sure the new owner will say he wants to keep the team in Seattle but he'll just be blowing smoke.

Michael "Fat Bastard" Heisley said he was committed to keeping the NBA in Vancouver when he bought the team and then moved the franchise to Memphis.

[Dregur]

Re: Seattle SuperSonics sold to an OK City group

Well there goes Seattle having an NBA franchise. The city didn't want to pony up.

I'm sure the new owner will say he wants to keep the team in Seattle but he'll just be blowing smoke.

Michael "Fat Bastard" Heisley said he was committed to keeping the NBA in Vancouver when he bought the team and then moved the franchise to Memphis.

The problem I had with the current ownership group was instead of, I don't know, ponying up half the money for a refurbished arena, it was rather insulting to go, "We'll pony up 18 of 250 million, and you guys can pay the rest." I mean, what the hell kind of deal was that? I'm also sure there were buyers in the Washington Area that wanted to buy the team too, the ownership group just doesn't care about the Seattle fans at all.

Go Seahawks!

-The Grinman

[Rasco11]

Re: Seattle SuperSonics sold to an OK City group

I'm absolutely crushed too! Heck, deep down, I thought Portland would go before them. I grew up in Seattle and still go to Sonic games when I get back in town. They had a better fan base than people think. It sucks that the arena lacked the corporate suites, modern amenities, and was somewhat difficult to get to. The truth is the Seattle Center where it is located is nowhere near the "thriving" area it used to be. It's a tough call, but asking the taxpayers to build a third new stadium in 10 years is asking a bit much! I still believe there were other options whether it was moving to Tacoma, Renton, or Bellevue...guess we'll never know. It will be extremely hard to forgive Howard Shultz for this one...no more Starbucks for me thank you. I'll stick to the Shell Station special.

[OSUG1]

Re: Seattle SuperSonics sold to an OK City group

I'm happy

Go OKC Sonics!

[sammyc521]

Re: Seattle SuperSonics sold to an OK City group

Well there goes Seattle having an NBA franchise. The city didn't want to pony up.

Well, that's a lie. Don't let Stupid Stern's comments fool you.

The City proposed 3 seperate deals that would have allowed for major renovations to the 10-year old arena. City's Proposed offer that was never responded to - Date May 2006

Option #1
City pays $50m for upgrades
Sonics made an additional $8.0m

Option #2
City pays $112m for upgrades
Sonics pay $37m for upgrades
Sonics make an additional $15-18m

Option #3
City pays $148m for upgrades
Sonics pay $49m for upgrades
Sonics make an additional $20.0m

In each option, the Sonics keep all revenues for premium seating, advertisement, naming rights, ticket sales, merchandise sales & concessions

The city would just get ticket taxes and parking fees.

The Sonics would pay less than $1.7m a year for rent.

Sounds like the City did enough but Schultz wanted to lie and get his money elsewhere.

[dieselboy]

Re: Seattle SuperSonics sold to an OK City group

Sounds like they are trying to keep the team in Seattle...

[WazzuRC]

Re: Seattle SuperSonics sold to an OK City group

First off, I absolutely cannot stand Howard Schulz even before he sold the team. The man would say one thing and then do the other. So I'm very happy that he is no longer the owner in the regard.

With the Sonics, I think that the city will rally around this now but it might be too little too late. I really hope that the Sonics stay because I have always grown up a lifelong Sonics fan and it would be crushing to see them move. One of my buddies was listening to KJR (local sports radio) today and they said that if its the case that the Sonics move there might start to be whispers of the Trailblazers moving up to Seattle. I just think that even though the fans haven't really showed it with their kind of ho-hum attitude to get a new arena, Seattle is in too big of a market to not have an NBA team.

[dieselboy]

Re: Seattle SuperSonics sold to an OK City group

Seattle is in too big of a market to not have an NBA team, but I don't think the Trail Blazers would be the answer.

I just can't believe this is a possibility...Maybe I'm a homer, but Seattle sports (Sonics, Seahawks, Mariners) have some of the best fan bases and loyalties.

[jmood88]

Re: Seattle SuperSonics sold to an OK City group

I'm happy cause now I don't have to hear that crap about the hornets anymore.

[Vince]

Re: Seattle SuperSonics sold to an OK City group

Seattle is in too big of a market to not have an NBA team, but I don't think the Trail Blazers would be the answer.

I just can't believe this is a possibility...Maybe I'm a homer, but Seattle sports (Sonics, Seahawks, Mariners) have some of the best fan bases and loyalties.

IMO, this will be a Bobcats situation all over again. The Sonics will leave, then possibly come back again in a few seasons. The state of Washington has always been a solid basketball state and with the emergence of the Huskies and the great high school talent, I can't believe the NBA would want to leave that market.

[motorcrossman1]

Re: Seattle SuperSonics sold to an OK City group

Seattle lost thanks to an dumb owner, but OKC is a good city

[Sedihawk2K5]

Re: Seattle SuperSonics sold to an OK City group

IMO, this will be a Bobcats situation all over again. The Sonics will leave, then possibly come back again in a few seasons. The state of Washington has always been a solid basketball state and with the emergence of the Huskies and the great high school talent, I can't believe the NBA would want to leave that market.

I somewhat agree. Seattle is a strong basketball market. It's the 13th ranked media market in the US, 3.8 million people between Tacoma in the South and Everett in the north. Seattle was also ranked as the most educated city in America per a recent Forbes survey in regards to college education. There is a lot of wealth in the area too. It's a great spot to have the NBA. But the city or the state will have to come up with a better arena solution, or the NBA will never be back.

I think Stern is getting what he wants now. The NBA can return to New Orleans for the 07-08 season. Meanwhile the NBA can also reward the fans of Oklahoma City by allowing the Sonics to move there for the 07-08 season, complete with Oklahoma-bred ownership that can ride in on a white horse and forever be civic heroes. Finally Stern will throw the onus completely on the Seattle City Council or more likely, the state, and just say "if you want the NBA back, build an arena that is acceptable. Then when the league expands again, you are at the top of the list." End of discussion. The league washes their hands of Key Arena, the smallest arena in the league and clearly the worst lease in the NBA, per Stern and several others who have looked at it with a microscope.

There's a lot of rumors and stuff flying around today, including some Portland speculation, but in the end it's all going to go back to the arena. No team will want to move here with a lousy arena deal and a, well, local govt that is void of effective leadership (that's a rant for another day). It's a VERY emotional time for lifelong Sonics fans. This franchise is set to celebrate a 40-year anniversary. They did win an NBA title. Some great players and coaches have come through here. They had a strong run in the 90's. It's just sad that the city, state and local ownership couldn't have come to an agreement, because in the end, once again, the fans lose.

[sammyc521]

Re: Seattle SuperSonics sold to an OK City group

It's a VERY emotional time for lifelong Sonics fans. This franchise is set to celebrate a 40-year anniversary. They did win an NBA title. Some great players and coaches have come through here. They had a strong run in the 90's. It's just sad that the city, state and local ownership couldn't have come to an agreement, because in the end, once again, the fans lose.

Not to argue, but I didn't see the Sonics' ownership really do their part at all. They did nothing but alienate fans and lie to their players. Yes, the City Council acted late, but they acted. They weren't demanding to pay a tenth of the other party like the Sonics were demanding.

Seattle Gov has a huge problem with acting but the Sonics didn't act at all, they just threw their hands up in the air and grabbed the money. The City was obvious working towards something because the options they provided are really close to what the Sonics demanded in the first place.

There's enough blame to go around for everyone but I will always look at Schultz and his snake-like business tactics as the fall of the Sonics in Seattle.