Sodo arena deal reached; 'Sonics fans have reason to smile'

[ACF]

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/komo/article/McGinn-Arena-deal-reached-Sonics-fans-have-3854965.php


Great news for Sonics fans. They deserve an NBA team.


http://sonicsgate.com/

[Q_FBE]

YAHOOSKI!!!! Don't have to take Southwest and Alaska Airline flights to see NBA basketball (Or that obnoxious 4 hour drive to the Rose City).

I wonder if Stern is contemplating expanding the league two cities (Kansas City would get the other franchise I assume) or if Seattle would pick up an existing franchise like New Orleans or Charlotte.

Extra opportunities to chafe the teams I don't like (Fakers and Cheat are prime examples).

Having the Sonics would seriously motivate me to stay with Boeing past 55. 

I think Seattle wants an NHL franchise too. That works for me!

[Chris]

YAHOOSKI!!!! Don't have to take Southwest and Alaska Airline flights to see NBA basketball (Or that obnoxious 4 hour drive to the Rose City).

I wonder if Stern is contemplating expanding the league two cities (Kansas City would get the other franchise I assume) or if Seattle would pick up an existing franchise like New Orleans or Charlotte.

Extra opportunities to chafe the teams I don't like (Fakers and Cheat are prime examples).

Having the Sonics would seriously motivate me to stay with Boeing past 55. 

I think Seattle wants an NHL franchise too. That works for me!

I have a feeling the Kings will be the first domino to fall.  I would really be surprised if they expand anymore (at least in the US). 

[Eja117]

This is just me but I don't ever really buy this whole thing where leagues cry they are losing money. I buy that they aren't making anywhere near as much as they want or in their minds not enough to justify their investment.  But when you think about it they want to say certain areas can't support certain teams, but I'm not sure I believe them.  The NYC area supports 3 hockey teams. San Fran supports two football teams (and also two college teams). Montreal Quebec of all places supported a baseball team for a long time. The DC/Baltimore area supports 2 baseball, 2 football, and some college.  The state of Tennessee has two pro teams.  I think an issue with a team like the Kings isn't so much that Sacramento can't support them but that other places support teams better. But they moved there in the first place and did well for a long time. Seems like an odd move in the first place. But there are tons of cities that can have NBA teams. I mean OKC has one. Pittsburgh, St Louis, and Seattle all come to mind.

The biggest cities with no obvious team affiliation are San Diego, Jacksonville, and El Paso. Before you laugh at El Paso keep in mind it's bigger than the next three cities...Memphis, Boston, and Seattle.

Sacramento is bigger than Atlanta, Miami, Cleveland, Minneapolos, New Orleans, Salt Lake, and Orlando.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_cities_by_population

[Chris]

This is just me but I don't ever really buy this whole thing where leagues cry they are losing money. I buy that they aren't making anywhere near as much as they want or in their minds not enough to justify their investment.  But when you think about it they want to say certain areas can't support certain teams, but I'm not sure I believe them.  The NYC area supports 3 hockey teams. San Fran supports two football teams (and also two college teams). Montreal Quebec of all places supported a baseball team for a long time. The DC/Baltimore area supports 2 baseball, 2 football, and some college.  The state of Tennessee has two pro teams.  I think an issue with a team like the Kings isn't so much that Sacramento can't support them but that other places support teams better. But they moved there in the first place and did well for a long time. Seems like an odd move in the first place. But there are tons of cities that can have NBA teams. I mean OKC has one. Pittsburgh, St Louis, and Seattle all come to mind.

The biggest cities with no obvious team affiliation are San Diego, Jacksonville, and El Paso. Before you laugh at El Paso keep in mind it's bigger than the next three cities...Memphis, Boston, and Seattle.

Sacramento is bigger than Atlanta, Miami, Cleveland, Minneapolos, New Orleans, Salt Lake, and Orlando.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_cities_by_population

No, the problem with Sacramento is that they won't pay for an Arena.  While the market may not help the argument much, it is all about the arena.

As far as teams losing money, I absolutely think it happens...or at least there are teams that are not MAKING money.  And a business that is not making money is not a good business.

[kevbo]

This is just me but I don't ever really buy this whole thing where leagues cry they are losing money. I buy that they aren't making anywhere near as much as they want or in their minds not enough to justify their investment.  But when you think about it they want to say certain areas can't support certain teams, but I'm not sure I believe them.  The NYC area supports 3 hockey teams. San Fran supports two football teams (and also two college teams). Montreal Quebec of all places supported a baseball team for a long time. The DC/Baltimore area supports 2 baseball, 2 football, and some college.  The state of Tennessee has two pro teams.  I think an issue with a team like the Kings isn't so much that Sacramento can't support them but that other places support teams better. But they moved there in the first place and did well for a long time. Seems like an odd move in the first place. But there are tons of cities that can have NBA teams. I mean OKC has one. Pittsburgh, St Louis, and Seattle all come to mind.

The biggest cities with no obvious team affiliation are San Diego, Jacksonville, and El Paso. Before you laugh at El Paso keep in mind it's bigger than the next three cities...Memphis, Boston, and Seattle.

Sacramento is bigger than Atlanta, Miami, Cleveland, Minneapolos, New Orleans, Salt Lake, and Orlando.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_cities_by_population

That's not a very meaningful list for comparison, considering that El Paso is 255 sq miles, while Boston is 48 sq miles for starters; comparing metropolitan statistical areas is far better quick comparison, though still not perfect. For the record, using MSA's, Boston is 10th while El Paso is 65th. In El Paso's defense though, the MSA doesn't include Juarez, Mexico.

Probably the best rough market comparison though is media market size. Here's a PDF link to Nielsen's list: http://www.nielsen.com/content/dam/corporate/us/en/public%20factsheets/tv/nielsen-2012-local-DMA-TV-penetration.pdf
To save a download, Boston is 7, El Paso is 97.

Not picking on El Paso, but Sacramento is 20, and Seattle 13, and since regional TV revenue is pro sports cash cow, it's ONE better metric to look at potential markets that can support pro sports than simply city population.

[AshyLarry]

BOOM BABY. I just hope Sactown don't lose their Kings, just as Seattle lost the Sonics. That's be disheartening. I used to think that any team that's won a championship was safe from eviction, but I guess not.

We should all feel grateful to have our franchise be THE BEST FRANCHISE FREAKING EVER. WOO!

It'll be a cold day in hell, the day the Celtics leave Boston.

[pearljammer10]

Great news for Seattle fans but how soon, in the realm of reality, will the sonics be back playing.

[LarBrd33]

Great news for Seattle fans but how soon, in the realm of reality, will the sonics be back playing.

I'm not as tapped into it as I should be, but from what I understand... the absolute earliest would be the 2013-14 season (obviously not this upcoming season) if they find a team to take over.  I believe they can play in Key Arena (still a functional arena) until the new one is complete.

As a resident of Seattle... I really hope it happens.  Seems like it is inevitable at this point.  I miss seeing the Celtics come to town once a year and miss going to Sonics games in general.  When I was younger, I use to go to the hotel the Celtics stayed at a couple hours before tip-off and catch them boarding the team bus on the way to the arena... got a ton of autographs from the players (Pierce, Toine, etc) and met Mike and Tommy.  I just turned 30 over the weekend... I'm probably too old to get autographs at this point.  Still... I miss having an NBA team out here and having experiences like that.

[AshyLarry]

Great news for Seattle fans but how soon, in the realm of reality, will the sonics be back playing.

I'm wondering this, also. They are technically OKC now, and one would think fans would be p---ed if just a few years later, they get their Sonics back, minus their 3(+/-?) all-star caliber players, and dynamite all around franchise.

But then I pictured myself in their position; I just wouldn't care because pro-ball is back. That'd be satisfaction, enough for me.

I'd prefer the Supersonics be back though, due to the history. There'd just be a blank in history from 2008-2013.

Edit: Woop, didn't see the "how soon"/ I thought you asked, will the Sonics (specifically) be back playing, as in the team itself, with the old name. It's early.