Sorta OT: The Seattle Situation/Milwaukee's Situation

[WEFFPIM]

We all know the situation in Seattle regarding the Sonics and their apparent move to Oklahoma City this offseason. Earlier, emails from owner Clay Bennett have surfaced showing that he has had the plan to move the team all along, contrary to what he told Sonics' fans and David Stern. Now a huge tug-of-war is about to begin in terms of the remaining lease the Sonics have in KeyArena.

I'm posting this not to inform all of us about what's going on there, because most of us know already. I'm posting this to remind all of us how eerily similar of a situation the Bucks are in, minus the selling of the team to a business man from a city dying for an NBA franchise. A lease that keeps hesitantly extending in an old building, city officials that don't seem to care about the future of the team in Milwaukee, a basketball history that exceeds 40 years, and a fan base much larger than people realize who aren't being fooled by reassurances from the team saying everything will be okay. Herb Kohl has publicly stated he is looking to sell, but is determined to sell the team to someone devoted to keeping the team in Milwaukee. But as Clay Bennett's emails have shown, it's not that hard to lie.

We know people close to and in the organization, as well as people in the Milwaukee media, read this board. Only one man, Michael Hunt, has been the only person in the Milwaukee media to talk about the not-so-distant future of this team. Everyone else is hoping that we fans kindly forget about the situation, and look at what's happening in Seattle as an isolated incident. But let's face it, the lease for the Bucks in the Bradley Center is nearing its end, and there hasn't been even a mention of a major overhaul of the BC whatsoever, and no preliminary plans have been drawn up for a new arena.

A columnist in Memphis has taken notice of this as well (http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/apr/14/editorials-a-bad-call-for-nba-owners/), and the Grizzlies have a sparkling, basketball-only arena already at their disposal. The Grizzlies are further along in their process of keeping the team in Tennessee than the Bucks are in keeping the team in Wisconsin, and yet even they are worried. But what is it in Memphis, a smaller fan base without the history or tradition as the Bucks, that is causing people to notice this issue already, yet Milwaukee is ignoring what's right in front of them?

The situation in Seattle should be a wake-up call for this city and this team, a wake-up call that has been ringing for months now but has been ignored. Now that it's becoming reality, it will have to take a lot of pride and arrogance on the part of this city and this team to keep ignoring this. This team isn't safe and sound, and we fans know this. This team means a lot to us here. If it means anything to this city, then start talking and negotiating to prevent this Seattle debacle from moving to the Midwest.

Sorry for the rant, it's probably poorly constructed and worded, but hey, I'm not MBBOT.

[MickeyDavis]

Yup it should be a wakeup call for Milwaukee but it won't be. Kohl will live forever and not sell the team. The "leaders" in this city have NEVER EVER been proactive. They wait until something bad happens and then point fingers at everyone but themselves. For the most part I like living in the Milwaukee metro area and the state but our state motto of "Forward" is so funny it's not funny.

[Bucks_Revenge]

The difference between the Seattle situation and ours, is that our owner loves Wisconsin and will do what ever it takes to keep the team in Milwaukee...the new owner for the sonics wanted to move the team the day he bought the team...I feel comfortable with our situation....if by 2013 there is still no talk of a new arena then we should be paying a close attention to this.

[LUKE23]

I will not feel completely comfortable until an new arena plan is signed on the dotted line.

[jokeboy86]

The difference is Kohl is a politician who cares about public perception about him and votes. Kohl will not sell the Bucks to anyone who might move them because he thinks he'll become unpopular enough that he could lose his job as senator. He also doesn't want to be thought of as a villain(see Schultz). I think he's mistaken if he thinks people in Wisconsin care enough about the Bucks to vote him out of office.

That being said, as of right now its looking like Kohl will be the LAST owner of the Bucks in Milwaukee for these reasons:

1. Kohl says he won't sell the bucks to anyone who wants to move them. The new owner would have to keep them here and figure out how to get them a new arena. Kohl knows that his days as senator would be numbered if he asked for a new arena so he willl never ask for one. The problem with this is #2

2. There isn't anybody dumb enough out there that would buy the Bucks under those circumstances. I don't care if its a local group, ex-player, or local businessman. It wouldn't make sense from a business perspective Why would a new owner keep the team here knowing the public would vote a resounding NO to a new arena? Once Miller Park was built, the Bucks fate was sealed. It would be easier moving the team to St. Louis, Seattle, or Vegas(yes even Vegas).


The most likely scenario is Kohl keeps the team till his death and whatever happens after that is up in the air. I can't predict when it will happen but I say it every year: the Seattle situation will happen in Milwaukee its just a matter of when not if.

[MickeyDavis]

If if Kohl runs for another term he runs with token opposition and a huge cash advantage. A few thousand disgruntled Bucks fans will not make a difference in his reelection.

Kohl always works behind the scenes, not in the media (see John Hammond). Certainly he won't get public money for a new place after the Miller Park debacle. A new owner will work with Kohl and the local "leaders" to hammer out a deal before the sale is announced.

Kohl only bought the Bucks because he knew the Bradley Center was going up (although he actually wanted to build his own place). Jim Fitzgerald has said he never would have sold had he known there would be a new building.

It looks like Kohl wants to give it "one more chance". If we get a couple of good seasons under Hammond building a new place becomes a whole lot easier.

[Mags FTW]

The faster Hammond can turn this thing around, the better the chances a new arena will be built.

[skitch815]

I hear that Gary Payton will refuse the request to have his number retired if the Bucks leave Milwaukee.