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Thanks for the update -- like I said, I was working from memory.
Then Portland really becomes what it's always been.
Lame. Cold. Grey.
Thanks for the update -- like I said, I was working from memory.
I would be sooo pissed off! We finally have acquired some nice young talent and will be damn good in a couple of years.
Well you better hope the Sonics get an arena deal done in Seattle.
I thought Allen was trying to SELL the Blazers.
In fact, I think they ARE for sale aren't they?
I think they are just trying to sell the Rose Garden or get out of their managment deal. I forget which one.
The problem started when Allen's management group, Vulcan Inc., advised him to have the Rose Garden Arena Corp. declare bankruptcy in order to negotiate a new lease agreement. The bondholders called their bluff and took control/ownership, thru Global Spectrum, of the arena at that point. Now Allen gets a very reduced cut of arena revenue and it makes it nearly impossible to be profitable. He needs to buy back the arena so that it can become profitable again and I think he will eventually do that. Either that, or the team will declare bankruptcy to get out of the current lease agreement and relocate to Seattle.
Kori, do you have the link for this:
Coinciding with the Seattle Supersonics pe ion to the league regarding the sale, New Orleans Hornets ownership, headed by George Shinn, has applied to the league to permanently stay in Oklahoma City.
The Hornets had previous maintained that they would return to New Orleans as soon as repairs and conditions made it possible.
Well at least if the Sonics move to OKC, they can keep the name and there will be a logical tie-in...
Oklahoma City is home to the corporate headquarters of
Just thought I'd mention it...
In related news, Oklahoma-based Boomer football support is set to drop by 55%.
I would also like to see a link to that.
A reporter in Seattle told me that (and a bunch of other stuff) over the phone when he was at the press conference.
We'll see if/when it comes out in the paper.
Thanks.
I got this letter in my emailo inbox today (I've purchase spurs vs Seatle games before so I got on their list)
The Basketball Club of Seattle (BCOS) announced today that it has signed a purchase agreement to sell its NBA Seattle SuperSonics and WNBA Seattle Storm for $350 million. The teams are being purchased by the Professional Basketball Club LLC, an Oklahoma City, Oklahoma based investment group led by Clayton I. Bennett, chairman of Dorchester Capital, a private investment company. Additional members of the group include Aubrey K. McClendon, Chairman and CEO, Chesapeake Energy Corporation; G. Jeffrey Records, Chairman of the Board and CEO, MidFirst Bank;Tom L. Ward, Chairman and CEO, Riata Energy, Inc., and G. Edward Evans, chairman, Syniverse Holding, Inc. The transaction is expected to close by the end of October of 2006.
"We have enjoyed the opportunity to own and operate the Sonics and the Storm for the past five seasons and are proud of what we've achieved both on and off the court," said Howard Schultz, chairman of the Basketball Club of Seattle. "Since the majority of the Basketball Club of Seattle's investors live and work in the Seattle community, it was extremely difficult for us to decide to sell the teams. As you may know, over the past two years, we have worked with local and state officials to seek a solution to the arena issues. However, it became more apparent that a new ownership group may be more successful in achieving the remaining goals of the Sonics and Storm."
"We are grateful to have the opportunity to combine our passion for professional basketball and our abilities to build successful business enterprises," said Bennett. "We thank the BCOS. They love this city and the Sonics and Storm. We appreciate the opportunity to lead a professional sports organization that has achieved the pinnacle of success within both the NBA and WNBA.
"The Sonics and the Storm are synonymous with Seattle, and it is our desire to have the Sonics and the Storm build upon their great legacies in the Greater Seattle area," added Bennett. "We believe with the right dynamics on the court, the right community support, the right business model and a financially committed ownership group that recognizes and respects Seattle, we can succeed here for decades to come."
"We decided that if we had to sell the team, our first preference was to identify a local buyer who resides in the Northwest, and we were committed to taking a lower price if a local buyer came forward," continued Schultz. "Unfortunately, we searched for a local buyer, but were unsuccessful. However, we are pleased that the ownership of the Sonics and the Storm will transition to the Professional Basketball Club, which is a stellar management team, with a history of proven success."
"The Basketball Club of Seattle offers a sincere thank you to our players, our coaches and all of our front office employees for their hard work and dedication over the past five years," said Wally Walker, president and CEO of the Seattle Sonics & Storm. "We also want to thank Sonics and Storm fans and business partners for their passionate support. Our employees and basketball fans around the Northwest should remain very proud of the 40-year legacy of the Sonics and the success the Storm have experienced in their seven seasons. I'm committed to working with the new owners to keep our teams in Seattle and I'm excited about the energy they will bring to the organization."
Former Seattle Seahawks great Steve Largent, who is from Oklahoma originally and knows personally several members of the new ownership group commented, "They are well-respected and successful business professionals who are sports fans. I know they truly would like to keep the Sonics and the Storm in Seattle. On a personal note, I hope they are successful."
The Basketball Club of Seattle purchased the teams in April 2001 from The Ackerley Group. During the five years of BCOS ownership, the Sonics recorded a winning percentage of 51 percent, made two playoff appearances and won the 2005 Northwest Division le. The Storm have made three playoff appearances and won the 2004 WNBA Championship – the first major professional sports championship for Seattle since the Sonics won the 1979 NBA Championship.
In addition to achievements on the court, the teams remain active in the community. The Sonics & Storm Foundation and its players donate more than $1 million per year to the region's communities.
For more information please visit SUPERSONICS.COM.
Jul 18, 2006 11:32pm ET
Mayor: Sale Doesn't Mean Sonics Coming to Oklahoma City
According to an Associated Press article on ESPN.com, "Mayor Mick Cornett cautioned Tuesday that the purchase of the Seattle SuperSonics by an Oklahoma City businessman does not necessarily mean that the NBA franchise will relocate to the city. 'I think it's presumptuous to assume that Clay Bennett and his ownership group won't own that Seattle team for a long, long time in Seattle or somewhere else. It's presumptuous to assume they're going to move that franchise to Oklahoma City,' Cornett said. 'I understand that people are going to say that seems to be a likely scenario, but that's just speculation.'"
However with that said:
SEATTLE -- Quotes on the sale of the Seattle SuperSonics and Storm to the Professional Basketball Club, LLC, headed by Oklahoma City businessman Clay Bennett:
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-- "This isn't how we wanted to go out." former Sonics and Storm majority owner Howard Schultz.
-- "If we weren't able to find a successor facility and relative lease by then, we have the option contractually to ... evaluate our position." Bennett on what happens if an improved arena agreement with local politicians can't be reached in 12 months.
-- "I don't think I can drink any more Starbucks coffee than I do." Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels on whether he could have done more for Schultz, chairman of Starbucks Corp.
-- "It's almost like telling the people of Seattle we'll keep them there for a year to see how it all works, but we might move them. That doesn't make for a good, comfortable relationship between the city and the Sonics." Seattle City Councilman David Della on Bennett saying he will spend 12 months negotiating with officials for an arena solution.
-- "It's not good news. I'd prefer the Sonics had remained in Seattle with local ownership. But the big issue for the city right now is we need to focus our attention on Seattle Center and make a proposal in the Legislature to revitalize that as a regional center. The silver lining is we have an opportunity to create an exciting venue at KeyArena." Seattle City Councilman Nick Licata.
-- "The team was not aware of it, but for me, it was a little distracting." Seattle Storm coach Anne Donovan, who was told of the sale before Tuesday afternoon's game against the Sacramento Monarchs.
-- "This market isn't just the best market for the Sonics and Storm, but the only market for the Sonics and Storm." Sonics' president Wally Walker.
-- "I think it doesn't affect us in the short term. In the long term, who knows? Who ever knows in the long term?" Sonics' general manager Rick Sund about the effect on the basketball team.
-- "I think it's presumptuous to assume that Clay Bennett and his ownership group won't own that Seattle team for a long, long time in Seattle or somewhere else. It's presumptuous to assume they're going to move that franchise to Oklahoma City." Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett.
-- "Selling the team to a group headed by a man whose stated goal is that he's 100 percent committed to bringing a team to Oklahoma City is a risky venture." 18-year-old Ben Conway, standing outside the Sonics' practice facility and holding a sign that read "Don't sell my childhood to OK City."
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nba&id=2523298
Maybe if the Spurs don't get there S...together a lot of the Spurs fan's
get on the Sonics Bandwagon in OK next year and Root for Bob Hills team
please don't mention Ray Allen.
This is going to force a couple of hands. It is going to force the Hornets to make a decision in the next few months on what they are going to do - stay or go. This is going to force Seattle's hand to get a stadium built or they will leave. The two will be racing to see which decision is made 1st. If Seattle won't build him a stadium, Bennett wants to be the 1st to say, "I'm going to play in OKC." Hornets won't want to be left out in the cold if the Sonics do indeed decide to come to OKC.
This plays into OKC's hand immensely. With the fan support n OKC, there is no doubt there will be a team there in 07-08. Which one depends on who pulls the trigger 1st. And yes, I can't imagine Sonic not being a gigandous corp sponsor there if the Sonics do come to town.
FYI, Boeing has a HUGE maintenance facility for the military located at Tinker AFB... in OKC. I don't think the historical reference would be that much of a stretch.
Pro team would lead transformation of city
By DAVE SITTLER World Sports Writer
7/19/2006
Remember when it was a hoot for Tulsans to poke fun of our neighbors in Oklahoma City? Well, we can officially turn out the lights on that long-running party.
The city we loved to jokingly call "the world's biggest truck stop" continues to write one of this country's biggest success stories.
Instead of a punch line, Oklahoma City has become a powerbroker. The latest and most significant example of this inspiring transformation came Tuesday when an Oklahoma City-based group purchased the NBA and WNBA franchises in Seattle for a cool $350 million.
In other words, Oklahoma City is going to become a permanent player in the world of professional sports. Major-league professional sports.
Clay Bennett, who heads the Professional Basketball Club LLC, said all the right things at a press conference to announce the sale. Bennett said his group intends to keep the NBA's SuperSonics and WNBA's Storm in the Pacific Northwest's largest city.
Oh, did I mention the press conference was held in Seattle?
Bennett obviously wasn't about to waltz into town and meet the local press to announce he'll move the city's 39-year-old NBA franchise to Oklahoma City just as soon as he figures out a way to get the Sonics out of a lease that runs until 2010.
It's difficult at this point to predict the future of the Sonics. What is absolutely clear, however, is that Tuesday's sale guarantees Oklahoma City will have an NBA franchise for the foreseeable future.
Bennett and his group bought a whole lot of leverage for Oklahoma City with that $350 million.
Until yesterday, Oklahoma City's movers and shakers have been forced to play footsy with New Orleans Hornets owner George Shinn. Not anymore.
The Hornets played 36 of their home games at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City last season after Hurricane Katrina ripped through New Orleans. The move proved to be a smash hit when half of the games were sold out and the average attendance of 18,717 was the 11th-highest in the NBA.
The New Orleans franchise is committed to playing 35 games at the Ford Center next season. But NBA commissioner David Stern has insisted the Hornets will return to New Orleans the following season, no matter how successful they are in Oklahoma City.
Shinn, however, has talked out of both sides of his mouth about the Hornets' long-term future. One of the goofiest owners in all of sports, Shinn has praised both cities and said no final decision will be made until next December or January.
That large gulp you heard coming out of the Big Easy late Tuesday afternoon was from Shinn. Gone is the hole card he didn't think he'd have to reveal for at least six months.
The majority of NBA fans in Oklahoma would undoubtedly like to see the Hornets remain in the state. The club has made several intriguing off-season roster moves and has one of the league's most exciting players in guard Chris Paul, the NBA's rookie of the year.
Perhaps Bennett has a plan that eventually could include some type of franchise maneuvering. Maybe his group could trade ownership of the Sonics for the rights to the Hornets.
Bennett said Tuesday he hoped to solve the problems that forced The Basketball Club of Seattle to sell the Sonics and Storm. That ownership group grew frustrated when the city failed to approve the $220 million needed to improve KeyArena, the home of the Sonics and Storm.
The now-previous owners, led by Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, said they lost $60 million in the five years they owned the teams. Stern also said the revenue-sharing lease Schultz's group had with the city was the worst in the NBA.
"It is not our intention to move or relocate the teams," Bennett said.
Of course it isn't. Not now. Not with the Hornets already in Oklahoma City for the 2006-07 season.
But let's get real, OK? When Bennett and his wealthy friends formed Professional Basketball Club LLC last year, they said their primary goal was to bring a major-league franchise to Oklahoma City.
When the 2007-08 season tips off -- or shortly thereafter -- that ambitious plan will become a reality. Whether it's the Sonics or the Hornets, some NBA team call Oklahoma City its permanent home.
Meanwhile, we sophisticated Tulsans can look down our smug noses and remind our Oklahoma City brethren that our cosmopolitan little corner of the world was once called "America's Most Beautiful City," by a national publication.
Of course that was around 1982. But who's counting?
I just said that.
Well at least if the Sonics move to OKC, they can keep the name and there will be a logical tie-in...
Oklahoma City is home to the corporate headquarters of
Just thought I'd mention it...
It would be interesting to see what happens in OKC versus the Seattle market dynamics. I know the NBA looks at television revenues, households, etc. The Seattle - Tacoma area is ranked 12th in TV households. Small TV markets such as Salt Lake City, San Antonio, New Orleans and Oklahoma City have to rely on community loyalty, higher percentages of households viewing, etc. to keep up.
*cough*Pistons*cough*
*cough*Trail Blazers*cough*
if they do move to Oka, is the team goin to be put in southwest division?
OKC would be the farthest north of any of the SW teams, therefore I'd say they stay Pac.
*cough*Pistons*cough*
few teams ??
Boston Celtics (Irish immigrants)
Vancouver Grizzlies (local ferocious beast)
Minneapolis Lakers { Land of 10,000 Lakes )
San Diego Clippers ( San Diego as port, clipper ships)
New Orleans Jazz
Utah Polygamists
Yup. Pistons, Pacers, Spurs, Jazz, Lakers, Sonics, Knickerbockers, 76ers, Hornets, Spurs, Mavericks, Rockets, and I'm sure others have names of historical importance.
please stay in Seattle, thats one of my destinations to see the Spurs play.
and the other is Portland. I really like Portland. I had a good time when I was there.
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