Sonics to OKC: Presser in 20

[cordobes]

(...) Until the taxpayers across America get it, some franchises in basketball will be nomadic.

Great post and, although I don't even pay taxes in America so I don't really care, you nailed it in that last sentence. But I can't criticize the owners. One can conjecture a moral obligation to refuse public funds, I guess. But that's far-fetched and, in any case, unrealistic. As long as taxpayers - particularly those who are not fond of pro sports - keep allowing their money to be wasted financing sports franchises, this rent-seeking market will continue to prosper. And owners will continue to look for the best ways of increasing their returns. And rightly so.

[LarBrd33]

i have nothing to say that hasn't already said, but I live in Seattle and this is crap.  Definitely disappointing.  That team has a history here.  It's bull...

I wonder if the Seattle fans can at least get a discount on NBA League Pass so they don't have to dish out 150 bucks to watch the Oklahoma feed of the team they have been following for 41 years.

Fun...

[SamuelAdams]

"In Boston, the $160 million Fleet Center received no public funding save a commitment by the state and local governments to improve parking and mass transit service around the complex. "

http://www.taemag.com/issues/articleid.16109/article_detail.asp

[nickagneta]

"In Boston, the $160 million Fleet Center received no public funding save a commitment by the state and local governments to improve parking and mass transit service around the complex. "

http://www.taemag.com/issues/articleid.16109/article_detail.asp

Let's also not forget that the state was ready to let the Pats go to St. Louis and Hartford before the Krafts stepped up and bought the team and built their own stadium. They may now be the model American sports franchise. Three SB championships, 4 SB appearances, one of the best facilities in the league, a new hotel and mall going up. All huge profit making ventures.

I wonder if the Krafts decided to sell the Pats the stadium and the land what they would get? $750 million to a $1 billion? Not bad return on the initial investment, considering they own the facility.

There are tons of advantages to owning your own facility. The NBA may not work that way but it will learn sooner or later that property ownership in large metro areas while owning the sports franchise has huge benefits and can enhance bottom line long term profitability.

[lunchtable]

"In Boston, the $160 million Fleet Center received no public funding save a commitment by the state and local governments to improve parking and mass transit service around the complex. "

http://www.taemag.com/issues/articleid.16109/article_detail.asp

Right...now compare that to the 500 million dollar arena clay wanted...i still say he should have offered to pay some if he really wanted a 500 million dollar arena in Renton, 15 minutes in good traffic away from Seattle.

[houlana]

whats the avrg cost of an NBA arena.
cuz 500 mil sounds crazy, would that make it the most expensive.

[dlpin]

whats the avrg cost of an NBA arena.
cuz 500 mil sounds crazy, would that make it the most expensive.

The Atl and Miami arenas, which were built 8-10 years ago, cost about 213 million. Currently the most expensive is the Staples center, which cost 375 million, but over 300 million were private money. Orlando's new arena will be the most expensive when its done, at 480. But the magic agreed to pay 50 million upfront, renovate public gyms, cover any cost overruns, pay leases in advance and offer about 114 million dollars of its own, plus collateral for public bonds.  The deal the sonics wanted from seattle was just outrageous, as it would make it the most expensive nba arena, one of the most expensive venues in sports, and all that while being the one with the least amount of private money.

[Redz]

i have nothing to say that hasn't already said, but I live in Seattle and this is crap.  Definitely disappointing.  That team has a history here.  It's bull...

I wonder if the Seattle fans can at least get a discount on NBA League Pass so they don't have to dish out 150 bucks to watch the Oklahoma feed of the team they have been following for 41 years.

Fun...

What this all means.

EXPANSION

Yup.  One more watered down team will be added to the league in a few years to undo the injustice of a team packing up and leaving Seattle.

See: Charlotte NBA

See: Cleveland NFL

[LarBrd33]

DOes this mean they have to extend the Durant commercial with him removing the Sonics jersey with an Oklahoma jersey underneath?

[Redz]

DOes this mean they have to extend the Durant commercial with him removing the Sonics jersey with an Oklahoma jersey underneath?

Excellent point.  You know its already in production.

[fairweatherfan]

i have nothing to say that hasn't already said, but I live in Seattle and this is crap.  Definitely disappointing.  That team has a history here.  It's bull...

I wonder if the Seattle fans can at least get a discount on NBA League Pass so they don't have to dish out 150 bucks to watch the Oklahoma feed of the team they have been following for 41 years.

Fun...

What this all means.

EXPANSION

Yup.  One more watered down team will be added to the league in a few years to undo the injustice of a team packing up and leaving Seattle.

See: Charlotte NBA

See: Cleveland NFL

Stern did say pretty sternly (I guess he would have to) that Seattle was under no circumstances in any expansion plans the league might develop.  It'll be interesting to see if that was just posturing to push for the renovation or not.  I personally don't think they'll get one for awhile (10+ years) because I don't think the league wants to be seen as a pushover that will replace any team that moves away.  But I hope Seattle gets basketball again sooner than later.

[nickagneta]

i have nothing to say that hasn't already said, but I live in Seattle and this is crap.  Definitely disappointing.  That team has a history here.  It's bull...

I wonder if the Seattle fans can at least get a discount on NBA League Pass so they don't have to dish out 150 bucks to watch the Oklahoma feed of the team they have been following for 41 years.

Fun...

What this all means.

EXPANSION

Yup.  One more watered down team will be added to the league in a few years to undo the injustice of a team packing up and leaving Seattle.

See: Charlotte NBA

See: Cleveland NFL

Stern did say pretty sternly (I guess he would have to) that Seattle was under no circumstances in any expansion plans the league might develop.  It'll be interesting to see if that was just posturing to push for the renovation or not.  I personally don't think they'll get one for awhile (10+ years) because I don't think the league wants to be seen as a pushover that will replace any team that moves away.  But I hope Seattle gets basketball again sooner than later.

Yeah, because the city of Charlotte had to wait forever for a new franchise!

Sorry, don't take that the wrong way fairweather, but Stern talks out of both sides of his mouth so often that he was the leading candidate to play Two Face in the upcoming Batman movie for a while.

If Seattle ponies up big dinero then they'll get another franchise fast. If they say they aren't building a new arena for a new franchise anytime soon, they don't get a franchise, and finally if some ridiculously free spending multi trillionaire wants to pay the NBA a quarter of a trillion dollars to buy into the league and build their own arena for the opportunity to put a team in Seattle, then Seattle will get a franchise.

Money talks and Stern listens, to money anyway.

[orrzor]

Oh please, Stern and Bennett are the biggest crooks in the NBA. That they get away with SCREWING Seattle fans, whose team has a rich tradition, is beyond incomprehensible. Just remember if it can happen in one place, it can happen anywhere (Boston). This to me is far worse than the ref scandals and the Artest fight. It's total disregard by the team and owners for the fans, and the fans are the reasons these teams exist to begin with. Bennett was hell bent on moving to OKC and lied to the fans about his intentions.

Also I pray we don't get another franchise. It will dilute talent even further. Also can you imagine what will happen to the OKC Sonics in 3 or 4 years when Durant gets the hell out of there and joins a real team? They WILL be the new Grizzlies for sure.

[SShoreFan 2.0]

Seattle gets hosed - plain and simple.  The problem is, there's only two ways of rectifying this: 1) expansion which waters down the leauge even further or 2) Seattle hoses another city.

Everyone loses.


I am still bitter about the Colts leaving Baltimore and Cleveland getting screwed to make up for it.

[ydna62386]

A bit off topic, but I think the Blazers should pay a handful of home games in Key Arena next year and try to convert the ex-Sonics fans.  Considering how young/exciting/good/not in jail the new Blazers are going to be next year, I think they could sell some jerseys.  Good idea?