Sonics Owners Willing To Leave Behind Team Name If Franchise

[wizkid27]

The sonics/supersonics name doesn't exactly suit an OKC team in any case...

[bennith13]

A lot of your buddies disagree with you.

[jenn_gp]

Give us 350 million ... the name ... guartee from stern to start a franchise

Why should we have to start another franchise?

It really bothers me that Bennett and Stern demand a $500 million arena here when it's okay for the city to put about $90 million into a remodel of the Ford Center. Then Stern proceeds to mock our attempts at pumping $300 million into a Key Arena remodel with legit investors. How is that okay on any level? I'd really love to hear Stern's attempt to explain an answer to that.
I haven't heard Stern 'soften his stance' when it comes to us getting a team...in fact, he basically said that the city's latest moves appeared to be a publicity stunt and it was too little too late. Has he said something different since then?

April 10th is coming down the road very soon, looks like the city is going to have to let Ballmer & Co.'s offer expire. I wish the city could work something out.

[D5150]

a couple of weeks ago stern was talking to the media in sacramento i think and said something to the effect that "you never know" or something like that when asked about seattle getting another team in the future. so yes, he seems to have backed off of his never again statement he made earlier. however, he seems determined to move this team to okc, just read the comments he made that are quoted in todays seattle times.

[betta1]

I really hope Seattle keeps the Sonics. I know a lot of other NBA fans are behind you guys. The Sonics are an important part of NBA history and belong in Seattle.

What Stern said regarding the Key Arena proposal smells of total BS. I'm still puzzled why he's so determined to help facilitate a move of a franchise to a smaller market city. Add to that the fact that players will avoid playing (and perhaps living) in OKC like the plague. Just makes no sense.

Stay strong Sonics fans. We're behind you.

[nwsports253]

Anyone know what owners where in OKC yesterday with Stern?

[Det the Threat]

-= original quote snipped =-


Why should we have to start another franchise?

It really bothers me that Bennett and Stern demand a $500 million arena here when it's okay for the city to put about $90 million into a remodel of the Ford Center. Then Stern proceeds to mock our attempts at pumping $300 million into a Key Arena remodel with legit investors. How is that okay on any level? I'd really love to hear Stern's attempt to explain an answer to that.
I haven't heard Stern 'soften his stance' when it comes to us getting a team...in fact, he basically said that the city's latest moves appeared to be a publicity stunt and it was too little too late. Has he said something different since then?

April 10th is coming down the road very soon, looks like the city is going to have to let Ballmer & Co.'s offer expire. I wish the city could work something out.

Stern already stated, when he was in Portland, that you never know.

Also, here's something the Nets owner, who's on the relocation comittee, stated.

"My hope is that we'll find a settlement with Seattle that will give them the opportunity to have a replacement team. Seattle should have an NBA team and I think David expressed that in the meetings. We all feel that way. My guess is you haven't heard the end of the Seattle story."

Stern: Owners want Sonics move

To me it looks more and more like Brian Robinson described it over at the sonicscentral quite some time ago. The league wants both the OK City and Seattle markets and at the end of the day, there'll be a franchise in both of those cities, which would most likely come at the cost of New Orleans or Memphis.

Anyone know what owners where in OKC yesterday with Stern?

I think it was Clay's buddy Peter Hold, from the Spurs, Lakers owner daughter Jeannie Buss and the Nets owner.

[nwsports253]

I would have thought that the Lakers would have been on our side in this.

[Det the Threat]

I would have thought that the Lakers would have been on our side in this.

I think no one really is on our side, as they're just doing what Stern wants the to do and we all know which side that guy choose to be on.

Though, i've read that Mark Cuban wrote an e-mail that said, that he'll vote in favour of Seattle.

[Dr. Evil]

As a fan of the Dallas Mavericks, I don't see the city of Seattle accepting the proposal from Clay Bennett that he's willing to leave the colors, the history, the logo and the nickname behind unless the city of Seattle gets assurances from the NBA that they would expand again and there is no guarantee that would happen. If the Hornets or Grizzlies decided to move, Seattle would not be the first choice, as Kansas City (with a shiny new arena) would be ahead of Seattle. The best option would be expansion, and like I said earlier there is no guarantee that would happen.

Clay Bennett is saying this to get out of his lease this summer.

It would be a little bit different then the Cleveland Browns situation. Cleveland would only accept Art Modell moving his team to Baltimore if there was going to be a guarantee from the NFL that the Browns would return to the NFL and the NFL said that would happen. The NBA has not said that they would return to Seattle if Clay Bennett moves Kevin Durant and crew to Oklahoma City leaving behind the name "Seattle Supersonics."

[Det the Threat]

As a fan of the Dallas Mavericks, I don't see the city of Seattle accepting the proposal from Clay Bennett that he's willing to leave the colors, the history, the logo and the nickname behind unless the city of Seattle gets assurances from the NBA that they would expand again and there is no guarantee that would happen. If the Hornets or Grizzlies decided to move, Seattle would not be the first choice, as Kansas City (with a shiny new arena) would be ahead of Seattle. The best option would be expansion, and like I said earlier there is no guarantee that would happen.

Clay Bennett is saying this to get out of his lease this summer.

It would be a little bit different then the Cleveland Browns situation. Cleveland would only accept Art Modell moving his team to Baltimore if there was going to be a guarantee from the NFL that the Browns would return to the NFL and the NFL said that would happen. The NBA has not said that they would return to Seattle if Clay Bennett moves Kevin Durant and crew to Oklahoma City leaving behind the name "Seattle Supersonics."

1) You're right, the City of Seattle will not accept a buyout, at least not without a guarantee of an NBA team(not just in a couple of years).

2) There's a new potential ownership group, including Steve Ballmer(worth about $15 billion) that would renovate the KeyArena. That renovation would be the same one David Stern supported in 2005 and sided with then owner Howard Schultz, to try and convince the politicians of Seattle to work this out. Unfortunatly, Schultz was only willing to pay $18 million of the cost, which wasn't enough to get it done.

3) Stern has now gone from there'll never be a team in Seattle again to Seattle is a great market and supported the nba well. One of the relocation committee's owners also is stated that there should be a replacement team for Seattle and that David Stern wants that as well and made that clear to them. And those conversations and negotiations will be between the city of Seattle and Bennett/the NBA, which means that Kansas City and it's new shiny arena do not matter at all, as Stern isn't hell bend to move a team there.

All things considered, it really looks to me like the Bennett and the league want no part of that court case in June and would do everything in their power to avoid it, while still being able to move a/the team to OK City. I believe that, when all is settled and done, there will be two teams, one in Seattle and one in OK City.

[Relientk101]

i dont hate Clay.
I HATE HOWARD SHULTZ.

[jsonic007]

i dont hate Clay.
I HATE HOWARD SHULTZ.

You know, I went to Starbucks today (they're advancing pretty fastly here in Brazil) and I simply refused to buy anything out there. Actually I always hated coffee, so maybe that doesn't mean that much...

[Sonics3408]

This is all just so depressing.

How about Bennett takes the name/colors and leaves the team?

So, now my options are limited to hoping Stern with grace the city of Seattle with another NBA team?

Why?

Do you think Stern will bring a team here with things being status quo?

If the Sonics move...I DON'T WANT ANOTHER TEAM.

The NBA obviously doesn't give much weight to 40 years of history, market size, etc.

What would prevent another team from moving?

If the Sonics move, it is setting a very dangerous precedent. One that would really ruin the NBA for me (and all of profession sports to a lesser degree).

I don't hold much hope for many owners to vote against Bennett either. Why wouldn't they all want to hold their respective cities hostage for a new arena?

If I was an owner with no soul (I'm talking to you: Katz, Simon and Buss), wouldn't that sound pretty good?

Bennett is a liar.
Bennett never intended to keep the team here.
Bennett is in the process of raping our city and getting away with it.

The worst part? In my eyes, he's the least of the 3 evils that make up the triumvirate that's responsible for our current situation.

In my eyes Shultz and Stern hold more blame.

For all of Bennett's sneaky and underhanded business moves, his INTENT is at least understandable. He wants his NBA team too.

There are no such [slightly] redeeming motives for Shultz and Stern.

Is it too much to ask for the national media to pick up on what Stern is doing and really analyze what he has done to forsake our city along the way (including his relationship with Bennett)?

[D5150]

here is what i dont understand, you have one of the owners saying he thinks seattle could get a replacement team as part of some settlement, and stern is saying that seattle is a good market and blah, blah. but on the other hand, stern has flat out said that even an massively refurbished key arena is not acceptable. so if seattle wants a replacement team, the city, state, etc. will have to pony up for a new arena, right? so that puts us right back to square one.

im sorry, but i lay most of the blame at the feet of the city and the state. i think the nba model is broken and i think the way they hold cities hostage for new arenas is total bull sh*t. but you know what? it is what it is. if you want to play in this league, you play by their rules. everyone knows that. the nba has said to seattle "oh, you dont like the way we do things? ok, F.U."

i will say this though, the team and stern want no part of this trial. so this is what i would do if i was the city, i would say F.U. right back to the league and bennett. no settlement, no nothing. go to court, win the damn thing, and hold them to the lease. bennett and co. can suffer through two years of playing in front of 13,000 fans dressed as empty seats. stern will not look kindly on that and will likely do everything in his power to prevent seattle from having another team. and i am ok with that. i dont want a replacement team. i want my SEATTLE SUPERSONICS. and if i cant have them, then i say to all of these clowns, F.U. too.

[Patches Pal]

This situation will turn out like the Pilots. Any new team will want to distance itself from the former teams history. A new team will get to start with a list of former season ticket holders who are really just disgruntled customers. This is a tough sell. The team will then have years of poor performance at the box office and on the field as they will need to continually sell off their best players to make ends meet. Just check out how Charlotte is doing. The best fans don't come back. It will take a championship race to rekindle fan interest.

[Sweezo]

But with the Sonics...there's a good history they'd want to lay claim to, as opposed to the Pilots. I doubt they distance themselves because they want to market to that audience that remembers 1979 and Kemp/GP.

[yearsago]

Imagine if we get the Memphis Grizzilies..formerly the Vancouver Grizzilies.

How awkward would that be?

Ugh.

[DoctorEvil]

I think if the Supes go, I'd want the team with the best owner. But I wouldn't want to be that $hitty to our buds in Portland. They don't deserve to lose their team either...

[Soundbite]

Plain and simple, I hope we keep the name and history, but I will not support a retread/ expansion team . . . it screams as punishment for ever going against Queen Stern and his desires.

So the name and history stay and get layed to rest. My hope is that the leaugue will follow...