Sonics Update

by bocious on Mar 6, 2008 8:59 AM PST Comment 11 comments

There's some big news today up here in Sonic-land. A group of rich Seattle-ites is offering to buy the team from Clay Bennett as well pay $150 million to renovate Key Arena. They're asking the state to also pay $150 million, and it looks like the legislature is ready to pass this bill despite the legislative session ending next week. The group has also stated that if Bennett decides not to take them up on their offer, they will pursue another NBA team.

Link: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sonics/2004264013_sonics06m.html

Also, Washington residents should call 1-800-562-6000 to tell your legislator that you support funding the arena.

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Wow

I hope it's not too little, too late, but... I would much prefer the Sonics to stay and let Bennett get another team.

"If the Blazers are going to have any chance of making the playoffs, they're going to have to make every game a physical one." - Casey H., March 3.

by jorga on Mar 6, 2008 9:19 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

And if Bennett moves the Sonics anyway...

...I hope Seattle can retain the name and records.

by bocious on Mar 6, 2008 9:26 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

hmm a Microsoft connection

by Blazermaniac77 on Mar 6, 2008 9:22 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Just like with the Storm

Lisa Brummel (head of HR at Microsoft) was part of the group that bought the Storm from Bennett.

by DonkeyShins on Mar 6, 2008 1:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

If true, interesting to see how this plays out

This would force Stern's hand. Is it all about Seattle retaining the Sonics or is it all about his buddy Bennett. I hope this is true so we can see Stern's true colors (if we haven't already).

by blazermaniac32 on Mar 6, 2008 12:44 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I wish they had Sonics in Hawaii

I always watch the commercials from the Southern California FSN's and really want to eat there. They look like they have some tasty food.

We have Popeye's though. Man I love fried chicken.

"Last night in my dreams, I saw your face again, We were there in the sun, on a white, sandy beach of Hawaii" - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

by tominhawaii on Mar 6, 2008 1:53 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

I wish there were more Popeye's in Seattle. Actually, there aren't many Sonics drive-ins either (seems like it would be a natural place for them), but we have Burgermaster so it works out okay.

by bocious on Mar 6, 2008 3:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Somehow I don't see this working out in

Seattle's favor. Because I don't see why Bennett would agree to sell. It might put some heat on Stern, but in the end, he and the other owners are unlikely to set a precident that limits the ability of future teams or owners from relocating.

A better scenario involves moving another team here. (Or trading teams, ala the Colts and the Rams from a couple decades ago.) Supposedly Memphis is a potential relocation team and I recall talk about Hensley thinking about selling the team. New Orleans is certainly a possibility, although I haven't seen anything to indicate Shinn wants to sell the team.

One way out there possibility is that Shinn and Bennett agree to swap teams. Bennett gets a Hornets team that is playoff ready and which has already established an identity in OKC. Shinn gets a young team (read inexpensive) that's stockpiling talent, a refurbished arena in a market much larger than NO and supposedly a bunch of good will for saving the Sonics. As a bonus, he sells a share of the team to local investors, earning a tidy sum.

Do I think this will happen? Not really. But it is thinking outside the box and right now, that's what it will take to keep the Sonic's in Seattle.

A more likely scenario is Stern arranging a deal with the Seattle group to buy the Grizzlies.

by timg56 on Mar 6, 2008 4:55 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

That last sentence...

...is how I see this playing out. I would like it to play out better, but ultimately I think this is about demonstrating a desire to have a basketball team and putting pressure on Stern so that they can have a team brought back after Bennett moves the Sonics. Of course, if the courts decide to hold Bennett to the KeyArena lease, he may be more interested in entertaining one of the other scenarios mentioned above.

by bocious on Mar 6, 2008 8:03 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

oops

this was intended as a reply to timg56.

by bocious on Mar 6, 2008 8:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Stern seems to have orchastrated this move

when he got OKC to host the Hornets by promising them their own team and not an expansion team. Given that there is no way to stop it. (He admitted this in an interview at the time).

Contrast this effort with Stern's effort to keep the Kings in Sac-town. Those folks actually voted down an arena tax levy and of course the Maloofs would apparently prefer to be in Vegas but Stern has decreed that the league go to Sacramento and work on getting the arena built there anyway.

by lee3022 on Mar 7, 2008 1:50 AM PST reply actions 0 recs