R.I.P. Seattle Supersonics 1967-2008

Its pretty much official - the NBA has approved the relocation of the Seattle Supersonics to Oklahoma City for next season, barring any legal challenges.


Seattle is also expected to lobby the NBA for another franchise.

Oklahoma City Sonics Roundup

Lots of little news as they back up the moving trucks to Key Arena.

The Oklahoma House passed the package of financial incentives needed to make Sonics owner clay Bennett a happy and wealthy man, but not without pissing off some legislators who have the gall to suggest that rich sports owners don't need public subsidies.

Emails surfaced revealing the shocking news that Clay Bennett intended to move the Sonics all along. Really?!?!? Commissioner Stern is not concerned.

Washington Governor Christine Gregoire asks the NBA Board of Governors to delay their vote on relocation. Because after two years of hand-wringing, now Seattle is super serious about keeping the Sonics! Bring on the lawyers!

In this case, however, there are several referees given the growing number of potential lawsuits. The judge in the class-action fan suit ruled Monday that at least part of the case is valid regardless of the outcome of the city's lease litigation and thus opened the door for further discovery.

The Sonics' lawyers had requested a stay pending the city's June trial, but Jones ruled that the fans have at least one claim -- that they would not have bought season tickets for this season but for the "false representation that the Sonics would remain in Seattle through 2009-10."

The judge noted that the fans said that even if the team is forced to stay in Seattle the next two years, they wouldn't have wanted to buy season tickets because to do so would be "analogous to spending Valentine's Day with a spouse who has filed for divorce and professed love for someone else."

Mike Myers, an attorney representing the fan group, said "the Sonics lied to the season ticket holders in a number of respects. Then they lied about making their best efforts to keep the team in Seattle."

The former owner of the Sonics who sold his team to Clay Bennett, now wants them back. He is shocked, SHOCKED, I tell you, that this fast-talking Oklahoman swindled him out of his team with the intention of moving the club to Oklahoma City. What's a naive billionaire to do? Hope he kept the receipt.

Nextround.net reveals the real reasons the Sonics are leaving Seattle.

And finally, because Seattle is the hot chick you work really hard to keep happy, while Oklahoma City is the fat girl who’s just ecstatic you’re sticking around. After years of trying to make things work in a relationship, there’s something to be said for waking up to BJs and blueberry waffles every morning

Hornets talk long-term lease with NOLA

The Hornets have begun conversations with New Orleans about a long-term lease. Currently, they can break their lease after next year if they fail to draw more than 14,375 fans a game.

Shinn said the state would not be required to build a training center as long as the Hornets get exclusive use of a nearly completed gym at the Alario Center in Westwego.

"It's in the best interest of the state and the Hornets, so everybody knows they will be in town for the next 15 to 20 years or more, and we're in the process of getting that right now," Forman said. "It's time to sit down, dot the I's and cross the T's and get specific on a long-term agreement. I think the public is excited about it. Let's make this happen.

"The New Orleans Hornets is a cornerstone of our city when you look at quality of life for our citizens. They pick up newspapers, they watch them on TV, they come to the games; it is an exciting time for everyone."

Shinn wants a deal that gives the Hornets more state subsidy within the next ten weeks. The Superdome Commissioner seemed uncertain if a deal could be made that quickly and it is also uncertain if the state can afford more subsidies for the Hornets after already subsidizing them and the NFL's Saints.

Meanwhile, attendance in New Orleans continues to improve, although they are still averaging just 13,815 fans a game for the year with just four home dates remaining.

NBA Subcommittee Approves Sonics Move to OKC

The Sonics moved one step closer to relocating to Oklahoma City, getting the thumbs up from an NBA subcommittee.

"I think Seattle is actually a terrific market. It just doesn't have an NBA-ready arena of the future that's been agreed to by all parties for many years," Stern said. "It's a very strong market that has in fact supported NBA basketball well over the years. When you come to a place like Oklahoma, you look for the single-team market as opposed to, for example, a market that has three or more professional sports leagues in it."

When asked about a group of Seattle businessmen who have offered to fund half of a $300 million renovation at KeyArena, the Sonics' current home, Stern rejected the option.

"The reason that this journey began was because KeyArena was not an adequate arena going forward and there were a lot of recommendations made for another arena ... but the tax revenues and the various contributions weren't forthcoming," Stern said.

If they do move, the Sonics name, logo and history may stay behind in Seattle, much like when the Browns originally left Cleveland in the NFL. What would an OKC franchise be called? The Tornadoes? The Indian Reservations? Boy, I really don't know much about Oklahoma.

(hat tip to wvpv)

OKC and Sonics reach lease agreement

Well Oklahoma City isn't messing around! Already they have reached preliminary agreement on a lease with the Supersonics, a team that hasn't officially left Seattle yet.

The 15-year deal calls for the SuperSonics to pay the city $1.6 million annually for use of the building and reimburse $409,000 per year to replace revenue from naming rights for the arena currently paid by local Ford car dealerships.

"I'm very pleased with the deal," City Manager Jim Couch said. "I believe that this is the right decision for the city to go forward with this deal. ... We think that this is a very solid deal for the city of Oklahoma City."

Couch said the city had to make some concessions to the SuperSonics that wouldn't have been included in leases with larger cities, but the agreement should be a "break even proposition or a slightly increased cash position" for Oklahoma City. The city projects an annual profit of $149,000 from the lease, but Couch said that number is based on many moving parts....

The agreement contains an exit clause that would allow the SuperSonics to leave any time after their sixth season in Oklahoma City if there is a significant drop in the team's revenues.

The Oklahoma Legislature is also working on a package of state tax breaks to lure the Sonics. Because Clay Bennett can't possibly be expected to turn a profit without government subsidies.

Washington Legislature sits on its hands

The Washington Legislature adjourned yesterday, failing to act on a proposed renovation to Key Arena to keep the Supersonics in Seattle. A local investment group had proposed buying the team and contributing private money towards a renovation project if the legislature had authorized an extension of King County rental car and restaurant taxes.

But Gov. Chris Gregoire said Thursday afternoon there were simply not enough votes to push the proposal through so late in the session. She reiterated there is interest in looking at the proposal next year.

“That’s not to say they don’t want to move forward, that is not to say they don’t agree with the proposal that’s being suggested,” Gregoire said. “They want bridge funding by the city, come back next year, come back and do it right. But there are not enough votes to get it done now.”

The local investment group, headed by Microsoft exec Steve Ballmer, had set April 10 as a deadline for the legislature to act on their offer. The NBA Board of Governors meet April 17 to discuss the fate of the Supersonics.

It doesn't appear as if the Washington Legislature will have much to decide "next year."

(hat tip to Adam)

OKC Approves Ford Center Renovation

Oklahoma City overwhelmingly showed its desire to land an NBA franchise by approving $121 million in renovations to the Ford Center and an NBA practice facility, through a 1 cent sales tax.
With Oklahoma City voters giving their approval, the next vote will be in the hands of NBA owners, who are scheduled to meet April 17-18 to vote on a request by the Seattle SuperSonics' owners to relocate to Oklahoma City.

Clay Bennett, an Oklahoma City businessman who leads the Sonics ownership group, thanked city leaders and citizens Tuesday night.

"Congratulations to Mayor Cornett and the City Council for their visionary leadership,” Bennett said. "Thanks to the Oklahoma City chamber and the business community for their unwavering support and guidance. Above all, we are grateful to the citizens of Oklahoma City for their continued commitment to excellence.”

He followed that up by saying "cha-ching" while making the gesture of pulling a slot machine lever.

(hat tip to reader David)

New Orleans Attendance Watch

The Hornets have one of the best records in basketball, and an arguable MVP candidate in point guard Chris Paul and it looks like New Orleans residents are finally taking notice. Three of the last five games have been sellouts, although the team is still far short of the attendance requirements needed to prevent their opt-out clause.

Reid projects the Hornets need to average 15,174 tickets sold in the remaining 52 home games before the deadline. Assuming there will be some empty seats to begin next season, it makes plenty o' sellouts during this stretch run as a top Western contender this season valuable and necessary. For those non-crucial games -- such as visits from Atlanta and New Jersey this week -- it makes promotional work all the more vital

(hat tip to reader wvpv)

OKC Plans 2008-09 Without Sonics

Oklahoma City is moving ahead with their arena schedule for 2008-2009 without the Sonics.

Based on the all the recent legal wrangling between the Sonics and the city of Seattle, it appears Oklahoma City has resolved to waiting another year for their own shiny NBA team. The Oklahoman reports the staff of the Ford Center -- OKC's arena -- have started booking events for later this year and early 2009 under the assumption there will be no NBA basketball to work around.

It might not be anything -- an official says the schedule can be reworked to fit in, I don't know, visits from LeBron James and Kevin Garnett. But still, it's an important boost for those fans in Seattle who'd love to have 41 more nights with Kevin Durant.

Wichita lands NBA Exhibition game

Wichita will host an NBA exhibition game next year between the Hornets and Magic October 16 at Koch Arena.

As far as I can tell, Kansas City hasn't hosted an NBA exhibition game since 2001.

Why is this? Where is the Kansas City Sports Commission? Why are they seemingly putting all their eggs in one basket and banking on the NHL when the Hornets are in such a precarious position?

Stern: Sonics Done in Seattle

Could be posturing, but Commissioner Stern says the Sonics days in Seattle are soon going to be over.

"It's apparent to all who are watching that the Sonics are heading out of Seattle," Stern said during his annual All-Star weekend press conference. "I accept that inevitability at this point. There is no miracle here."

Obviously Oklahoma City is the overwhelming favorite to land the Sonics, although things could get interesting if they don't approve the renovations to the Ford Center. Stern had a different tone when it came to talk about relocating the Hornets.

Stern spoke more hopefully about the future of the Hornets' here. The franchise will have the right to opt out of its lease at New Orleans Arena if it doesn't average 14,735 fans at the end of the 2008-09 season.

The Hornets average only 12,645 currently, 29th in the 30-team league. But Stern hopes All-Star weekend helped turn over some new fans.

"When I leave here after the All-Star game, I'm much more optimistic about the prospects of the team meeting the goals that have been set," Stern said. "The people I hear interviewed, the businessmen I speak to, the fans, the government officials, I think there is going to be a unique, unified effort to make sure that New Orleans is very much a basketball town."