6:31 PM Tue, Jul 18, 2006 | Permalink |
Despite the repeated assurances from Howard Schultz and new owner Clayton Bennett, are we really to believe that Seattle's basketball franchise is staying more than a year?
"Certainly, ultimately we hope for basketball in Oklahoma City," Bennett said today. "But it's unrelated to this transaction." But Bennett is only obligated to keep the Sonics and Storm in Seattle for the next 12 months. He's on record trying to lure a NBA team to Oklahoma. And the New Orleans Hornets -- which have been playing in Oklahoma City -- are expected to return home after next season.
"The Hornets will go back to New Orleans. The Sonics will come to Oklahoma City," predicts The Oklahoman newspaper. "Could be in a year. Could be two. But eventually, the moving vans will arrive in Oklahoma City." So what do you think? Do you really believe the Sonics are staying for longer than a year?
Yes, I do believe that the Sonics are on their way out...it's a sad day in Seattle. It's too bad that a "local" owner could not come up with a better solution. He may know coffee but he doesn't know basketball. I can't say I'll miss Wally Walker! In my opinion he's been the sole reason for all the bad decisions that have been made by that team. Nate was smart to leave when he did. Goodbye Sonics, thanks for the memories of the good ol days.
Field of basketball arenas. If you build it they will stay, Clay Bennett will eventually sell and go away.If the arena stays the same, Seattle is no longer home to any more nba games.
Who Cares?
They're gone. Good riddance. Howard, please leave with them. Go back to Brooklyn.
Howard is lying to us, thinks the public should give him $220 million for a new arena while putting up nothing - for what? A second rate basketball team owned by multi millionaires who overpay their players and expect us to pick up the bill for him. The Sonics are irrelevant. The Okie owners will demand the same thing, then pick up and leave when they don't get what they demand. What big liars.
Boycott Starbucks, buy Tully's.
It's a shame to see them go, I have always loved basketball but I don't think blackmail is the way to get what you want.
Every sports team that has had a new stadium built has made profit, yet none of them have given any part of that profit directly back to the citizens who built their stadiums.
With the average NBA annual salary at $300,000 and the top salaries in the millions, why should a city with homeless and hungry pay for these greedy organizations to make more profit? Let them go.
What a shame to loose our only championship team. What really fries me is that the city who assisted Howard and his company to the pinnacle of corporate success repays the town with the need for that extra 100 million. Business is Business but Family is Family. I will miss the Sonics greatly, thanks for the memories.
Let the SONICs move! Seattle doesn't need to be held at "gun point" by a ball team.
SONICS, goodbye! Don't let the door hit you in the hindend on your way out.
Yes, if the city doesn't work out a new deal for the new owner, the team most likely will be leaving to Oklahoma City. Its time for taxpayers and communities letting sports teams hold them hostage by threatening to leave if we don't give them a great deal! I say let them go. I wish I could do the same with my business and tell the community if you don't build me a new building (almost rent free) I will leave and take my business elsewhere - They would tell me don't let the door hit you on the way out! We need to do the same with these sports franchises. They should honor their leases if they don't we should smack a big penalty if they do leave early!
Weren't the Sonics playing in a newly renovated venue for years before the Mariners and Seahawks got their new stadiums? The Key Arena isn't that old anyways. Maybe if they do leave they won't have to send so many music concerts down to Tacoma Aroma.
jeeze some of you sound like Mayor Nickels, wanting to make downtown as boring as possible, no strip clubs, bars or nightclubs. Whats next SeaFair beause its too much fun? I knew the only people happy about sonics might move would be the intellectual anti-sports people. god get a life, more to life then reading books all day.
The move out for the sonics would be great !!
Just think of all the fewer traffic jams that would take place in seattle and surrounding areas at times when the games take place.
I say this is a blessing to city streets. Next the football and baseball can go as well.. And boeing , they can go too. If all of these venues leave, traffic would be tollerable in king county.
Yes this may be a very blunt comment, but it is has some truth to it.
I'm dissapointed to see sonics go, but I dont see the big discussion here.. why would anybody want to "move" a resteraunt in the first place. though I will miss the french fried at least we still have Dicks. I agree with the national burger assosciation 's descisions. I for one would not support a new burger joint from portland to come in and take the place of sonics..
Mr.Bennett and his group bought the Sonics warts and all. There is still a $54 million debt left from the 1995 renovation. Who is going to pick up that? I'm really livid with the idea of some outsider demanding that my tax dollars should go to him because he bought the team.HOW DARE HE.
Going to the legislature and county for funds makes this a regional problem,not just the city of Seattle. It is a sure thing that he WILL move the team at his earliest opportunity. Why go through the quagmire, only to be left holding a huge tax debt with nothing to show for it?
Remember that Seattle is closing schools because of insuffient funding.
I know this is not a forum, but just wanted to write that Hartmen proved my point. So you would have no problem with Boeing cutting jobs and forcing thousands of workers in Everett and Seattle to find work and possibly have to move just for your comfort in driving through the city? Thats pretty heartless. Why don't you move to a smaller city if you are not so crazy about Seattle.
Nobody is saying that Seattle shouldn't have sports teams. The fact is, these pro teams are an equity investment for the owners. Everytime an owner sells, they make millions of dollars. Given that fact, and the enormously high salaries paid to players, why should the taxpayers subsidize them?
The other objection to the Sonics plan is the idea of creating a mall withing Key Arena when it is already surrounded by restaurants and shops. Should we use tax dollars to run locals out of business?
It's not the sports we object to, its the greed and stupidity of the owners and politicians that support them.
Though I am not personally a basketball fan. It is unfortunate that professional teams continue to ask the public to pay for the stadiums they play in. I'd like to see some of these team owners foot some of the bill. Then maybe they'd have a legit arguement for saying they aren't making any money (though they always leave out how much they make off of team merchandise)
I agree that owners should foot the bill 100%. How much did Starbucks make last year? I am sure if Howard wanted to, he could provide the 200 million easily but his selfish attitude has hurt the Seattle Sonics and his reputation. I was Key Arena 2 years ago for Metallica/Godsmack concert. I really believe the building is just fine in my opinion. I was just bummed by the arrogont attitude of people who have no problem with a long time franchise leaving. I live in Bellingham but if I lived in Seattle, Mayor Nickels would get a NO Vote for things he has done in Seattle lately.
If the sonics are on the way out, get out ! First it was the mariners, and then it was the Seahawks. The tax payers of Washington state do not owe pirvate interest sqwat. Why? First, there are more important social and state wide developemental programs of higher priority than a small group of Seattle liberal yuppies piss ant idea of entertaiment. Second, not everyone's idea of entertainment is YOURS. Third, it is immoral and unscrupulous to use public tax dollars for private interest. Fourth, Seattles small interest base is in no position to threaten the voters of Washington. Why? Just take a hard look at I-695. Lastly, I am a republican and proud of it. A political ideology take wants to elimate waste, fraud, and abuse. Take that Seattle liberals :)
BB--if you read this--how dare you say that the SuperSonics were the only championship team that Seattle had.
The Seattle Storm won the WNBA championship in 2004!
By the way--I do not recall ever reading that the name of the men's basketball team got changed to the 'Sonics'. Their name is the Seattle SuperSonics.
why can't Bill gates or paul allen buy the team and keep them here in Seattle.what are we goin to do now with no basketball teams ??
Good Bye Sonics, Seattle will be a better place without a bunch of over paid cry babies!
I am sorry to see the Sonics go.....My brother and I have been fans forever. He was only ten when they won the NBA chamionship, and I was only nine when GP was drafted. Howard and Wally have honestly done nothing to this team except bring Ray Allen, losing and more losing. Nate, im not sure why we let you go?? I would love to see the Sonics stay, but in all actuallity, theyre leaving.....Clay Bennett should just take them now and get this over with.....Bye Sonics
Shree said "why can't Bill gates or paul allen buy the team and keep them here in Seattle.what are we goin to do now with no basketball teams ??"
The way they have crashed over the last years it seems perhaps they did
LOL, you people are funny. Especially the comment on how better the the traffic will be when they are gone.
I hope they go for the simple FACT that Seattle fans are some of the most UNLOYAL fans in sport and do not deserve ANY team here. When our teams loose, everyone hates them and attendance is minimal. When they win they are STILL sometimey.
Goto a hawks game and what do you see? At least one third of the stadium is cheering for the other team!!! Sad but true(I've sen it a few times).
The reason that these team owners got into the position that they could buy a sports team is called capitalism. They demand what they want HERE because they KNOW it would be OFFERED somewhere else.
You could have the greatest relationship in the world with your boss and the owners of the company that you work for but if its time to sell screw you and your family, they are going to sell. The decisions they make are based on supply and demand, not warm fuzzy feelings about their fellow mankind. Get over it.
Basketball is a waste of time and resources. Most of the players are self centered brats who don't deserve the money they're paid. I was one so I know first hand.
Wally Walker is clueless and clearly doesn't know squat about basketball. There were a number of high caliber local star players who could have helped the sonics. Anyone remember Mark Hendrickson, Scott Pollard, Donny Marshall, Mark Pope, Mike Dickerson, Jason Terry and omm'A Givens?
I for one am happy to see them go and think our state would do better to get rid of the sports teams and build new state of the art schools and finally pay teachers what they're worth.
you guys are awful!!!
even if you dont like basketball, or the traffic jams or what the eff ever else is wrong with the Sonics you shouldnt be GLAD to see them go!!!!
Thats 40 years of basketball history theyre going to uproot and take to the middle of butt**** no where AKA OKC
your all bad, Im ashamed to even call you Washintonians
I live in Oregon now and probably have more respect for what this teams has done than you guys do