Seattle deal with Ballmer group falls through

[Det the Threat]

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels announced this morning that the city is going to be unable to close a deal with a local investment group that recently came forward with a proposal to revamp KeyArena.

He made the announcement at a press conference at City Hall.

He emphasized, however, that the city still intends to pursue its lawsuit against the current Seattle SuperSonics ownership. The suit seeks to enforce the team's lease at the arena through September 2010. A trial date has been set for June 16 in U.S. District Court.

A group of private investors led by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced last month a $300 million proposal to rebuild KeyArena, with the hopes of keeping the Sonics in town or perhaps securing another NBA team or expansion franchise.

The private investment group was to commit $150 million to the project, along with a commitment to put up enough money to purchase an NBA team. The city was to commit $75 million to the project and hoped that the state Legislature would commit another $75 million from King County restaurant and car-rental tax revenue that is currently paying off Safeco Field and is due to expire in 2016.

During this year

[Sonics3408]

<cry>

[Ex-hippie]

It's over. You know where to find me... on the Seahawks and Mariners boards.

[D5150]

not over yet. but still.............not looking real good.

however, some doors remain open, the court case is still the trump card, the equalizer. hang on guys, don't give up.

[SnoBrdrRob]

http://www.petitiononline.com/gov08wa/petition.html

Hey guys I made a petition to send to Governor Gregoire showing her who she is losing as supporters in her re-election bid this year. Please go to the link and show your disapproval. Pass the word on to your friends and family!

[jenn_gp]

^Signed it.

[LarBrd33]

I really hope the team is forced to stay for another two years. Assuming they don't try to purposely put a loser out there (like when they traded Ray Allen) and actually make use of their expiring contracts in trades... and draft a guy like Rose... this team could be pretty darn exciting the next couple years. Maybe it would be enough to wake up the fairweather Seattle fans and they'll want to keep the team.

I also expect Durant and Green to be much better next year.

[Hiphophead101]

I lost my Expos... Now my Sonics. Why do I even follow sports anymore? Its like the leauge is trying to strip me of my sports fan makeup and identity. Do they expect me to change loyalty to my teams every few years when my favorite teams move citys? NBA, the sonics were such a big part of my life now with the Balmer group going down, its over, done, no shot. My favorite form of nightly entertainment is gone. Too depressing for words...

[Dick Tate]

I think Bennett and Stern will now try to negotiate a buyout to avoid going to court. Though, the only way the city is going to OK this, is if there's a team coming to Seattle within a year or so.

I wouldn't count on that.

"There is always a number somewhere that the mayor or council would say, 'We have to take that,' " Carr said. But he added, "We haven't thought about what it might be."

I predict the City accepts a buyout by the end of this month.

[Det the Threat]

-= original quote snipped =-


I predict the City accepts a buyout by the end of this month.

Yeah, but you're also not one of the most optimistic guys around here.

But, we'll see what happens.

[Dick Tate]

Yeah, but you're also not one of the most optimistic guys around here.

So i've been told. At least I didn't quote an Art Thiel article this time.

[Ex-hippie]

I don't think the city will let the team off the lease (if only because there'd be hell to pay politically), but I'm now past the point of caring. The team is just going to leave in two years, so what's the point of rooting for them anymore?

Remember that guy who auctioned off his sports allegiance on ebay? I should do that.

[Det the Threat]

-= original quote snipped =-


So i've been told. At least I didn't quote an Art Thiel article this time.

Who's telling you that stuff?

I'm with Hippie. I doubt that there'll be a replacement team coming to Seattle, after that Ballmer deal fell through, so why cave in and accept a buyout?
Just keep them here two more years and let Bennett bleed some more money.

[CatchNShoot]

We need a modern day Braveheart to break this thing open, somebody to lead Sonic fans in kilts running across the land with spears and clubs exacting justice at every turn, shouting "They may take away our Sonics, but they'll never take...OUR FREEDOM!"

[djthesonicsfan]

Again, it's a matter of basics. Ultimately...
- Bennett wants an NBA team in OKC & timing (sooner) is more important than the team.
- The NBA, despite Stern's comments, wants a team in 14th largest market.
- Seattle wants the Sonics & there's more than enough $ to make lots of deals work.
- There are other teams not doing well the NBA would be much better served moving.
- The court's specific use clause ruling will chain the Sonics to Seattle for 2 more years.
- Two more years of lame duck will cost Bennett too much money.
It's not over. Seattle leadership knows it. My belief is that the players in this game are just waiting for the last card to be dealt (eg specific use ruling) before making their final bets.

[D5150]

i agree with that dj.
add to that, the league wants NO part of this trial.

[Det the Threat]

Again, it's a matter of basics. Ultimately...
- Bennett wants an NBA team in OKC & timing (sooner) is more important than the team.
- The NBA, despite Stern's comments, wants a team in 14th largest market.
- Seattle wants the Sonics & there's more than enough $ to make lots of deals work.
- There are other teams not doing well the NBA would be much better served moving.
- The court's specific use clause ruling will chain the Sonics to Seattle for 2 more years.
- Two more years of lame duck will cost Bennett too much money.
It's not over. Seattle leadership knows it. My belief is that the players in this game are just waiting for the last card to be dealt (eg specific use ruling) before making their final bets.

You're right, it's not over, but i hardly see any chance of us being able to see Durant, Green and all those picks develop. The only thing that i could see happening is a replacement team(Grizzlies are for sale), but i'm not really into that.

[NateMustGo]

http://www.petitiononline.com/gov08wa/petition.html

Hey guys I made a petition to send to Governor Gregoire showing her who she is losing as supporters in her re-election bid this year. Please go to the link and show your disapproval. Pass the word on to your friends and family!

I want the Sonics to stay in Seattle ,but no way do I sign a bill supporting a right wing loon . We don't need in this state whats happening to rest of the country!

[D5150]

then e-mail the league and the blazers instead mo. do whatever you can and get the word out man. let the powers that be know that you as a fan of nba basketball do not approve of this.

[jenn_gp]

-= original quote snipped =-

I want the Sonics to stay in Seattle ,but no way do I sign a bill supporting a right wing loon . We don't need in this state whats happening to rest of the country!

I signed it. I'd consider myself a 100% devoted Democrat.

Until this year. Gregiore has had ZERO leadership on this topic. She talks an excellent talk, but she never lives up to her promises. Instead she passes the buck to others or makes excuses such as "there's not enough time, or the Speaker of the House is on vacation--we can't get a special session going." How hard is it to pick up a damn phone? Who cares where Frank Chopp is? If I could find out, I'd grab him by the ear and bring his ass down in his seat at the state Capitol if needed be.

Speak of which, there's another state leader who has showed ZERO committment and leadership.

Honestly it makes me question their leadership in other topics. In order for Gregoire to get my vote this year, she has to step up to the plate. This is huge, we would have never gotten to this point if she hadn't stepped up in the past--even up to last month, she could have stepped up and lead by getting the Key remodel into legislation. She didn't do that. She continues to sit on her @ss and twiddle her thumbs, and continues to give out empty promises.

She needs to be a LEADER.