Latest NBA News=Ok City Again?

[Rowdy]

I read this article and wonder if it is the start towards a team for Oklahoma now. It doesn't say really much of anything but it does point to a possible departure for the team.

Bennett: Arena lease won't be deciding factor

Posted: 11 hours ago         
   
SEATTLE (AP) - SuperSonics majority owner Clay Bennett says the NBA team likely will not play in Seattle beyond the 2007-08 season.

Bennett said Tuesday that Gov. Chris Gregoire won't call lawmakers into special session so the team can continue to push for taxpayer money for a new $500 million arena. And he said the Sonics will honor their KeyArena lease that runs through 2010 — but most likely only through "a legal exercise."

"That may or may not mean the team will play there," Bennett said during a conference call.

Seattle's NBA team for the last 40 years is obligated to stay in the city only for one more season.

"I'm not sure it makes sense to play there if relocation (is imminent)."

Bennett, whose investor group bought the team last year from a local group headed by Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz, is a prominent Oklahoma City businessman, and the sale prompted widespread fear among Sonics fans the team would be moved to Oklahoma. Bennett promised to keep the team in the Seattle area if a deal could be struck for a new arena.

On Monday, legislative leaders decided not to consider the plan for a new arena in suburban Renton during the regular session, which is due to end by Sunday, saying it lacks enough support to pass.

Bennett said he had no hope Gregoire would call lawmakers back.

"I have asked her opinion of that and she said the special session is not (going to) happen," Bennett said.

Asked by The Associated Press on Tuesday morning about a special session, Gregoire replied: "No discussion about that." Her spokeswoman later disputed Bennett's account of his conversation with Gregoire.

"The governor has no recollection of any mention of a special session during her phone call with Clay Bennett," said Holly Armstrong, Gregoire's spokeswoman.

Bennett also said he would not bring the arena plan before lawmakers when the next regular session begins in January because he will by then be exploring his contractual right to move the Sonics and the WNBA's Storm. That right, from his $350 million purchase of the teams last summer, takes effect after Oct. 31.

The Sonics did not file a relocation application with the NBA before a March 1 deadline, so they must play in Seattle next season.

Asked about lawmakers' claims Monday night the proposal to use $278 million in King County tax revenues toward a new arena did not have enough support in the Legislature, Bennett scoffed and said, "That sounds like politics to me."

[cannon_fodder]

The next question is, if the Sonics did move to OKC how many years before they blackmail our state for a new arena?

The Ford Center is nice, but its no $400,000,000 state of the art facility like they are demanding.  Screw him.  Screw the NBA for that matter.

[grahambino]

100% correct.
I'd give 5-7 seasons, b/c the Ford Center is utilitarian.  Built Ford Cheap© compared to some NBA arenas.

[Rowdy]

Just the latest on this news.  Take it for what its worth...


Billionaire wants Sonics in Oklahoma City  


An Oklahoma billionaire who is part of the eight-member ownership group that bought the Seattle SuperSonics isn't bashful about his hope to bring the team to Oklahoma City.

In an extensive feature in Oklahoma City's Journal Record, Aubrey McClendon, CEO of Chesapeake Energy, gushed about the team and prospect of a move.
While admitting that Seattle provided a better financial opportunity and insisting the city still had a fair chance to keep the team, some of his words gave a different impression.

"We didn't buy the team to keep it in Seattle. We hoped to come here. We know it's a little more difficult financially here in Oklahoma City, but we think it's great for the community and if we could break even, we'd be thrilled," he told the paper.

Clay Bennett, who leads the ownership group, has set an Oct. 31 deadline to get a new facility agreement in place, promising to file for relocation if a deal isn't met.

Said McClendon: "They've got 60 days to make some decisions they haven't been willing to make in the past year and if they make them in a way that satisfies Clay, then the team will stay there. If they don't meet the requirements he's laid out, the team will move, and Clay has indicated they'll come to Oklahoma City."

[OKC_Shane]

Aubrey made a bad little slip of the tongue... "We didn't buy the team to keep it in Seattle..."

I mean, at least Mr. Bennett was doing a good job of LOOKING like he was making an effort to keep it in Seattle...

[YoungTulsan]

Looks like they bought the team with the intention to move to OKC.

The whole $500 million arena thing looks to me like they are just asking for something ridiculously unattainable on the way out.  I mean, if by some slim chance Seattle agrees to buy them a $500 million arena, then that would be a great deal for them too.

[waterboy]

It was reported on one of the local radio sports stations Friday that up to 20 more NBA refs may be implicated in the referee scandal. Anyone heard if that was just speculation? It could mean serious damage to the NBA.

[cannon_fodder]

An interesting take on the Sonics from a Seattle perspective:
http://caffeinatedsports.blogspot.com/2007/04/this-is-nbas-chewbacca-defense.html

The owner wants a $550 million dollar arena or he cannot stay in Seattle.  But he will move the team to a city with half the population and an average income that is $20K less per year to play in an arena that cost $90 million?  Certainly this man is not playing on the up and up...

Doesnt matter to me really.  If it was in OKC I'd probably catch a game every other year or something.  Wonder what the team would be renamed to?  The Boomers?

[USRufnex]

Why would OKC need to change the name at all?
All they need to do is change the logo... []

[Johnboy976]

The "We Stole this Land from the Red Man" team. A little long, but at least it's historically accurate.

[sgrizzle]

Kansas City is still an option and maybe a better one. They have an arena more expensive than ours with less tenants.

We can always hope for them to come here. I'm sure the chamber has been sending flowers, chocolates, and wine for awhile now.

[Rowdy]

2009 Oklahoma City Phonics playing in Quick Trip Arena or QT Arena.

[sgrizzle]

There are no QT's in Oklahoma City.

[cannon_fodder]

There are no 7-11's in Tulsa.

[bokworker]

There are no Love's in Tulsa.... think that was an agreement reached at some point in the past... Love's got OKC and west... QT got Tulsa and east