Sonics are moving to Oklahoma next season.

Shishnizzle · Post #1 » by **Shishnizzle** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 12:13 am

I know it was expected but I thought some may be interested.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/8286654?MSNHPHMA

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

horrible...

Shishnizzle · Post #3 » by **Shishnizzle** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 12:19 am

I think once the excitement wears off that Oklahoma won't have been a good idea. I just don't think that market can support a team. I also don't think Seattle will get another team like Charlotte did. It's sad to say but Seattle did this to themselves by not building a new arena.

Post #4 » by **UCFJayBird** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 12:22 am

a little surprised they weren't forced to serve out their lease, but i don't know the details.

I think it's a bad move. I think Oklahoma City will be interested for a few years like all new cities, but after a few years of mediocrity, they'll struggle to draw a crowd. I mean I don't know for sure, but I've always thought of that area as football country, and nothing else.

On ESPN they were talking about it, and the guy said that in a few years the NBA could decide to go to 32 teams and put a team in Seattle again, and then maybe in Las Vegas (saying a team would pay $600-700 mil to put a team there).

Post #5 » by **UCFJayBird** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 12:22 am

BigCityCat wrote:I think once the excitement wears off that Oklahoma won't have been a good idea. I just don't think that market can support a team. I also don't think Seattle will get another team like Charlotte did. It's sad to say but Seattle did this to themselves by not building a new arena.

the problem is Seattle had three major league teams, and they had to give the Seahawks a new stadium, and the Mariners a new stadium as well (unless they play where the Seahawks play, i don't know their situation, but i think that's what i remember happening).

TheRevTy · Post #6 » by **TheRevTy** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 12:56 am

I was in Oklahoma City recently. They have made a huge effort to clean it up, but man, there is no life there. It was 5 PM on a Saturday, and there was nothing.

I'm curious if they already have a new team name, logo, uniforms, etc picked out.

darthcheech2000 · Post #7 » by **darthcheech2000** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 1:02 am

theTHIEF wrote:horrible...

I second that

Post #8 » by **UCF** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 1:20 am

Moment of silence.... that could have easily been us had we not gotten lucky with our new arena

Post #9 » by **FFBlitzace** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 1:38 am

UCF wrote:Moment of silence.... that could have easily been us had we not gotten lucky with our new arena

Yes, very scary thinking about that. I really feel bad for Sonics fans. I know I'd be absolutely devastated if the Magic left.

taruky1 · Post #10 » by **taruky1** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 2:02 am

Bennett is a scum bag. The other thing I don't get is this. When there are already 3 NBA teams in Texas, why in earth do you need a 4th in Oklahoma? In the the more densely populated east coast I can understand it, but this is just ridiculous. The guy had his first lay in daddy's pig stye and wants to give something back to the community.

ivDT · Post #11 » by **ivDT** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 2:03 am

here's to hoping the sonics tank in OKC and there's a dispersal draft.

we could snatch up some pretty good talent.

richboy · Post #12 » by **richboy** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 2:07 am

UCFJayBird wrote:
BigCityCat wrote:I think once the excitement wears off that Oklahoma won't have been a good idea. I just don't think that market can support a team. I also don't think Seattle will get another team like Charlotte did. It's sad to say but Seattle did this to themselves by not building a new arena.

the problem is Seattle had three major league teams, and they had to give the Seahawks a new stadium, and the Mariners a new stadium as well (unless they play where the Seahawks play, i don't know their situation, but i think that's what i remember happening).

Well I'm part Sonic fan since I lived there off and on for 20 years.

Safeco Field and Quest Field are the 2 places your referring. They cost about 1 billion dollars combined. Safeco field was worth it. 81 dates of atleast 30,000 fans can really help the economy. A half a billion on Quest field was a joke. 10 dates and 2 of them exhibition games for half a billion dollars. If they made it a dome they were guaranteed a few NCAA final fours and a possible superbowl but the Seahawks wanted an outdoor facility. The funny thing is the basketball arenas are the most used of the 3 and that's the one that cost them a team. The city did just renovate Key Arena 15 years ago so it kind of shows how fast these Arenas are now going out of style.

Reportedly Clay Bennet tried to by the Magic to do the same thing before he bought the Sonics.

TheRevTy · Post #13 » by **TheRevTy** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 2:08 am

I wish St. Louis would get a team... I need someone to watch for the next 4 years (apart from the frikken Cardinals).

Post #14 » by **UCFJayBird** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 2:13 am

good points richboy. My father lived in Seattle for about 15 years before he moved back to Florida a year and a half ago. And he expresses the same sentiments. Even though he's not a fan of basketball, he felt they wasted money on Quest Field. He said that while it was nice, it wasn't needed.

That's why I laugh when people in Orlando get so upset about the new arena. They're like "what for? just so the Magic have a new place to play?" I hate having to inform them the Magic use the arena 41 days out of the year, and no more than 60 during the year and it could bring in so many events that it would help the economy so much. NCAA Tournaments, All-Star Games (at least 1), many artists have passed over us because of the poor arena, etc.

Seattle should've thought it through a little before handing out a billion dollars between those two, expecting the Sonics to be happy with a Key Arena that hadn't been renovated in 15 years (not that bad, but when every team in the league is upgrading or getting new arenas, it's a big issue).

edit: just saw that the Sonics name stays in Seattle. Interesting. I wonder what they're going to be called. Should be interesting. Tornados, Twisters, Cyclones? Maybe something to do with some kind of livestock? The Oklahoma City Cows? lol. Maybe the Mountain Lions (are their mountains in OK?)? Maybe something to do with mining, the Oklahoma City Miners? (sounds gay, but whatever).

TheRevTy · Post #15 » by **TheRevTy** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 2:28 am

Bandits? Tumbleweeds? Barons? Moneymongers? Anti-Baristas?

Post #16 » by **UCFJayBird** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 2:31 am

TheRevTy wrote:Bandits? Tumbleweeds? Barons? Moneymongers? Anti-Baristas?

Bandits doesn't sound too bad, lol. I can just picture their mascot with the black bandana covering his mouth and nose.

lovehoops01 · Post #17 » by **lovehoops01** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 3:24 am

UCFJayBird wrote: I think Oklahoma City will be interested for a few years like all new cities, but after a few years of mediocrity, they'll struggle to draw a crowd. I mean I don't know for sure, but I've always thought of that area as football country, and nothing else.

They said that about Orlando, too.

It's a tough economic time to be starting up in a new town, though.

I feel sick for Seattle fans, though. I mean, just imagine. . . . This only will be the 20th year of Magic basketball coming up. Can you imagine what it would be like not to have them here now? The Sonics have been in Seattle for 41 years! They won an NBA championship. It's a sad day.

It truly could have been the Magic. I figured Bennett probably was one of the outsiders trying to buy the Magic. Everyone needs to keep that in mind when they go on these rants sometimes. Ain't it great to have a team? (Of course, we still want it to win a title.)

I do have one important question for our board, though. Devin....Now that OKC has a team, are we going to lose you to the board of the new team -- whatever they will be called?

Post #18 » by **craig01** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 3:40 am

This is a sad day for a great NBA city.

It is a shame that this can happen.

Post #19 » by **Devin 1L** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 3:45 am

lovehoops01 wrote:
UCFJayBird wrote: I think Oklahoma City will be interested for a few years like all new cities, but after a few years of mediocrity, they'll struggle to draw a crowd. I mean I don't know for sure, but I've always thought of that area as football country, and nothing else.

They said that about Orlando, too.

It's a tough economic time to be starting up in a new town, though.

I feel sick for Seattle fans, though. I mean, just imagine. . . . This only will be the 20th year of Magic basketball coming up. Can you imagine what it would be like not to have them here now? The Sonics have been in Seattle for 41 years! They won an NBA championship. It's a sad day.

It truly could have been the Magic. I figured Bennett probably was one of the outsiders trying to buy the Magic. Everyone needs to keep that in mind when they go on these rants sometimes. Ain't it great to have a team? (Of course, we still want it to win a title.)

I do have one important question for our board, though. Devin....Now that OKC has a team, are we going to lose you to the board of the new team -- whatever they will be called?

No, not until they hire me.

Post #20 » by **UCFJayBird** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 3:51 am

lovehoops I wouldn't get too worried. I'd be surprised if Seattle doesn't have another team by 2015. They'll probably be at a point where the public craves a team again and they vote to fund a new arena.