We should welcome the Seattle fans

BlazerFanDan · Post #1 » by **BlazerFanDan** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 12:35 am

I honestly can't believe the Sonics aren't going to be there anymore... We should really make the fans that even want anything to do with the NBA feel welcome here.

Post #2 » by **Spykes** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 12:47 am

I don't expect a ton of Sonic fans to become Blazer fans. I'm sure a few will, but I bet most of them will be way to disgusted with the NBA to support a different franchise.

But I agree with your post. I'm willing to welcome anyone who wants to become a Blazer fan.

Post #3 » by **mojomarc** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 1:01 am

I think most of the die-hard fans are going to be too hurt by this whole situation to consider switching allegiances. I think most of the Seattlites we'll get are people who never cared much about the Sonics and just want to jump on the bandwagon for an up-and-coming team.

Norm2953 · Post #4 » by **Norm2953** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 1:01 am

I'm wondering if the Blazers would think about playing a couple of their exhibition games
in Seattle as a measure of goodwill to the Seattle fans. Would it enrage the Seattle
area fans if OKC and Portland played a home/home regular season game in Seattle?

Post #5 » by **PhilipNelsonFan** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 1:04 am

Most Seattle fans will probably quit supporting the NBA altogether, and it's hard to argue with them. The three board mods will likely resign from their positions, as that board will fail to exist.

I can see a few Sonics fans keeping tabs on the Blazers like many Portland residents do the Seahawks and the Mariners, but the sting is just too great right now.

I hate the new OKC team already.

TBpup · Post #6 » by **TBpup** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 1:05 am

I think those who say Sonics fans will be too bitter to want to latch on to any other team any time soon are correct. However, it may help that there are Seattle ties with Paul Allen owning the Seahawks, Mr. Sonic Nate McMillan, Brandon Roy and Martell Webster.

I feel bad about what happened to them as fans.

:starwars

Post #7 » by **Spykes** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 1:05 am

Norm2953 wrote:I'm wondering if the Blazers would think about playing a couple of their exhibition games
in Seattle as a measure of goodwill to the Seattle fans. Would it enrage the Seattle
area fans if OKC and Portland played a home/home regular season game in Seattle?

It's an interesting thought, but I think it's just too soon for that.

Post #8 » by **mojomarc** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 1:07 am

Norm2953 wrote:I'm wondering if the Blazers would think about playing a couple of their exhibition games
in Seattle as a measure of goodwill to the Seattle fans. Would it enrage the Seattle
area fans if OKC and Portland played a home/home regular season game in Seattle?

Playing Portland-OKC games in Seattle so the fans could come out in droves and boo the OKC team (The Oilers???) and root for Portland would be a great move for Paul Allen in the short term. It also might help Steve Ballmer, if he's serious about getting the second Microsoft franchise into the NBA, convince the NBA that Seattle really does deserve a team.

Probably can't happen with the financials of the Key, though....

Norm2953 · Post #9 » by **Norm2953** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 1:22 am

They could do it if they held the game at Safeco. What if they played the game
in the early spring before the baseball season? I would imagine the game would
draw up to 50,000 fans

I think much of a projected Portland/OKC crowd would cheer for the players
on the OKC team for it's not the players fault.

BigSkyBlazerFan · Post #10 » by **BigSkyBlazerFan** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 1:23 am

Yes we have Seattle native Brandon Roy!! Portland will be happy to hopefully lessen the sorrows of the fans. I talked to a sports store clerk in Spokane who told me he would try to find hope in a drive to Portland to see the Blazers. The Sonics will make stops in Portland each season to don’t abandon your love for the Sonics just come down and have some fun too!!! I’m sorry to see the Sonics go.

TradeMachine · Post #11 » by **TradeMachine** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 1:26 am

Honestly, if my team moved, jumping on my neighboring rival's bandwagon is the last thing I would do.

blazersforlyfe · Post #12 » by **blazersforlyfe** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 2:15 am

i wish i could change my name to blazersforlyfe

but my team is gone :waaa:

might as well support the 2012 nba champs right?

can i come aboard?

TBpup · Post #13 » by **TBpup** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 2:26 am

can i come aboard?

blazersforlyfe...you are knighted with your new name and very welcome here. :clap:

wjun15 · Post #14 » by **wjun15** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 2:29 am

heck no. i live in seattle, and these fans hate on portland all the time. so sick of it. damn juust for this reason i wanted seattle to stay..

why dont they keep rooting for oklahoma if they love their team so much

TBpup · Post #15 » by **TBpup** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 2:36 am

Blazer TV and radio will now go further into Washington and Idaho....there will be some that become fans. For those that want to root for OKC, that is fine to. It stinks for them and hopefully they can find a team to identify with.

:starwars

Post #16 » by **mojomarc** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 2:40 am

sonics4lyfe wrote:i wish i could change my name to blazersforlyfe

but my team is gone

might as well support the 2012 nba champs right?

can i come aboard?

If you are serious, PM me and I will help you change your name. It's a neat moderator power that I haven't been able to exercise before, so I'd love a chance to learn. But only if you're serious.

Regardless, we love anyone who wants to root for the Blazers, so welcome aboard!

Red Robot · Post #17 » by **Red Robot** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 3:27 am

We're thinking in the short term. If Stern is serious and Seattle won't be getting a new team anytime soon (hard to believe, given it's now easily the best market without a team), Seattle fans will come eventually.

Geography is more important than anything else in determining which teams fans will root for. The Blazers are going to be the team on Seattle TV, and the team in the paper. It's going to be easier for Seattlites to follow the Blazers than to follow any other team. I think a lot of casual fans will become Blazer fans.

I don't think a lot of casual Sonics fans will become Oklahoma fans. The Sonic identity will stay in Seattle, and the roster was in transition anyway. They don't have a lot of beloved long-time players who will draw fans.

I don't know what's going to happen to the hardcore fans. They aren't the sorts to become Blazer fans just because it's easy, and they probably aren't very happy with the league as a whole.

blazersforlyfe · Post #18 » by **blazersforlyfe** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 3:39 am

mojomarc wrote:
sonics4lyfe wrote:i wish i could change my name to blazersforlyfe

but my team is gone

might as well support the 2012 nba champs right?

can i come aboard?

If you are serious, PM me and I will help you change your name. It's a neat moderator power that I haven't been able to exercise before, so I'd love a chance to learn. But only if you're serious.

Regardless, we love anyone who wants to root for the Blazers, so welcome aboard!

it says im not authorised to send a pm, but if u can message me and see if it will let me respond. but id love to change my name to blazers4lyfe

Post #19 » by **mojomarc** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 3:51 am

I PM'd you, but not sure if the functionality is working right for non-mods yet. I can put the request in for you, but I want to make sure this is what you want to do. Are you sure?

Post #20 » by **Mr Odd** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 3:58 am

Billy & I had PM problems aswell. I couldnt send or respond, only read his.
-
One thing I thought was cool, Seattle was able to keep the name Sonics.
They said the NBA told them pretty much the next time a team moves or a new
team is created that Seattle would get first shot at it, so hopefully some day
soon the Sonics will be back and the Blazers can get the I-5 fights back!!

I feel bad for all the die-hard Sonic fans, you guys got shafted by your city & the NBA.