OKC Sonics! (Gore, Corn, Washington: vacation, home, principal)

[toughguy]

Originally Posted by happytown

Actually many understand what is happening because of all the drama. A remodel of an old arena(key) 12-13 years ago just doesnt cut it in the NBA. Even with the upgrades to the key, the ford center is a better arena.

Built in the sixties, Key holds less than 18,000. You have to remember OKC got a great deal w/the ford center (everyone knows this). I have heard that it would be worth over 150 to build it again so it isnt a lousy venue. Also, OKC just finished renovating the Cox convention center (which has an arena 15,000) for over 60mil....so the amount Seattle spent on the Key to keep an NBA team really isnt much.

The die hard fans in Seattle are a minority and should take their frustrations out on Starbucks, Seattle politicians, Seattle philanthropists and Stern. Bennett is a Gaylord and would keep the team in Seattle if the money would pop up. The deal is that no one wants to invest in Seattle!! So what does an owner do?...With Sterns advice...You move the teams.

It sucks and OKC would rather have a team with less baggage. But that is how the cookie crumbles...

On another note if OKC does get the Sonics/Storm then it will be the first city to get two major league teams at the same time...Cheesy but true.

LOL like "Bennett is a Gaylord" is supposed to mean anything to anyone outside of OKC......Of course he will keep the team here if the money pops up. Those are his demands and we had better damn well pony up or he is going home.

It's absurd to say that no one wants to invest in Seattle. This is one of the few areas in the country where the real estate market hasn't tanked, and is still actively being developed.

The reality is you have a billionaire demanding public handouts or he'll take his toy and go home, which is the de rigeur business model of the NBA. I am a huge Sonics fan but enough is enough.

[happytown]

Originally Posted by toughguy

LOL like "Bennett is a Gaylord" is supposed to mean anything to anyone outside of OKC......Of course he will keep the team here if the money pops up. Those are his demands and we had better damn well pony up or he is going home.

It's absurd to say that no one wants to invest in Seattle. This is one of the few areas in the country where the real estate market hasn't tanked, and is still actively being developed.

The reality is you have a billionaire demanding public handouts or he'll take his toy and go home, which is the de rigeur business model of the NBA. I am a huge Sonics fan but enough is enough.

You completely got lost in my post....

1. I apologize...I should have made it clear that the Gaylord family has huge ties with Oklahoma so most Oklahomans know some minor details about the family. Basically the Gaylords have deep pockets and dont like to invest in Oklahoma and are more like mediocre philanthropists. They have chosen to invest in Nashville instead of OKC which is understandable considering the market comparison. So that gives a reason as to why they would rather make more money in seattle and keep the teams in seattle.
Fortunately Bennett is mainly the spokesperson for the team and is a minor investor. The power behind the wheel is another billionaire investor named Aubrey McClendon. He was born/raised in OKC, loves OKC and owns one of the largest oil/gas companies in the nation. He also owns most of the team. He is a major local force/die hard man for OKC who is on a mission to making OKC better.

2. I should have also been clear on the investment in seattle. I was refering to the outside investment by a local family/person/organization in seattle who would have to cough up the dough needed to build an arena to Bennetts(Aubreys) standards. This person would also have to restructure all the interstates to fit in an arena and have it done in two years. This statement wasnt about investments in seattle as a whole. It was only about the arena...Figured anyone would assume that one...seattle is the 15th largest market. So- LOL.


Reasons why the Sonics will probably move to OKC....


I-91 - the city of seattle passed this initiative which all but makes it impossible to build a new arena in Seattle unless there is a profit sharing agreement (hence new lease) in place. Bennett will NOT sign a new lease with Seattle and there is NO WAY that an arena could be otherwise built in the city; given all of the hurdles and lack of land/infrastructure.


New Initiative - I forget the number, but seattle passed a new initiative which will require ALL tax increases, whether they are passed by the leg or voted on by the people, all new tax increases will require a 2/3 majority to approve. In the past, they only required a simple majority vote or of the quorum (sp?). This all but guarantees that there will be NO NEW ARENA in Washington state. There is no way that 2/3 of the leg or populous will approve a new arena or even a portion of it. It aint gonna happen.

Seattle needs $4.4 billion to build a new 520 bridge and fast. Under the new U.S. standards. This also is in dire need to keep microsoft happy.....
State seizes 520 Bridge reins


Seattle just passed a 200 million dollar bicycle freeway system! Seattle leaders will find that other improvements are needed before people are allowed to have luxuries like a NBA team.

Deal with it...seattle is a market for only two major league teams and seattle just recieved the MLS....HMMM I wonder if this is some kind of cheap payback for taking the sonics...seattle is a huge market but all the minor teams plus NFL, MLB, MLS, WNBA. That takes a lot of fans to keep all those teams happy. Seattle is a huge market...But is it the market or the intensity of support from the fans. OKC and State is sports country and its been proven in many ways.We love our sports and actually rank as one of the states with the most golf courses. Southern Hills Golf in Tulsa to OKC being in a regular rotation with Dallas and KC for the Big 12 tournament and hosting the NBA. Sports are very important in OK.

So, we're back to square one. Private funding. And so far, NOBODY has stepped up with a funding plan for an arena in seattle. Muck's offered land, so did Sabey; but in reality those plans only served their interests.


And yes, the former minority owners would like to buy the team back and let them keep playing at Key Arena regardless of the losses; but too little (since they wont make it worth Bennett's while [see greater than $350M]), too late (since they should have stepped up when Schultz was seeking local buyers, prior to Bennett's entry). Besides, Bennett has said he will not sell the team; he's wanted the franchise forever and finally has it. There is no way I see that he'd sell to appease Seattle's ego.

So, the LAST thing that would keep the team in Seattle is if some rich person out of the goodness of his heart, built a palace for Bennett. But even then, the state/county/city would have to fund infrastructure which likely would not pass.


My opinion is that I would much rather have another NBA team with less baggage (altough local ownership and possible new name would be perfect)....Sonics are a worn out team and if they come I hope they leave the name along with all of the drama that went with it. If they dont change the name well.....Actually OKC has more to claim over the idea of the original name than seattle. Boeing had intentions of conducting supersonic transportation but they never did. OKC holds the rights to supersonic testing that was conducted at Tinker AirForce base in the sixties. Cheesy but true. Plus Sonic fries and a shake will be great at the Ford Center.

[upatnitereading]

This is what our state has needed for a looooooong time!!!

I'll be there, and will buy the t-shirt!!!

[cactus jumper]

Originally Posted by case44

The likelihood is that the franchise probably will get a new name once the team relocates; I don't expect them to retain Sonics as team name. And they'll likely, too, be realigned into the same division with the Rockets, Mavs, and (gulp!) Spurs.

Well, just be encouraged.

I think they should keep the Sonics name, after all Sonic drive inns originated in Oklahoma.....or....how about Oklahoma Storms, or Oklahoma Tornadoes?

[Nameless]

As much as I've liked names of teams dealing with storms. I think it's best we use a name that would drive away the stereotypes that are so widespread here. Then again, if you were being sarcastic, good one

[Sneaks88]

Originally Posted by case44

The likelihood is that the franchise probably will get a new name once the team relocates; I don't expect them to retain Sonics as team name. And they'll likely, too, be realigned into the same division with the Rockets, Mavs, and (gulp!) Spurs.

Well, just be encouraged.

I seriously doubt that the nba would entire realigned the entire western conference due one team moving.the only reason the nba has realigned the divisions in recent memory was due to the charlotte bobcats becoming an expansion team.

plus i would rather have them playing greg oden and Carmelo/AI several times a year than the boring spurs!

[happytown]

Possible new names for the new team...
The Oklahoma Oklahomans
The OKC Surge
The OKC Twisters
The OKC 89ers
The OKC Oilers
The Oklahoma Boomers
The OKC Redbirds
The OKC Slap Down
The OKC Renaissance
The OKC Crossroads
The Oklahoma Tomahawks
The OKC Energy
The OKC Hicks
The OKC Rednecks
The OKC Roughnecks
The Oklahoma Okies
The OKC Leaders
The OKC Warriors
The OKC Rushers
The OKC Outlaws
The OKC Highrollers
The OKC Redlanders

[PlanetMars]

I hate to feel like a troll right now, but as a Seattle native, there's a few things you OKCers need to understand from our point of view. The Sonics have been here for 46 years and the people of Seattle have supported them well throughout the years. Right now, they're 2-17, but that hasn't stopped anyone from going to the games this season. But Bennett, as owner, obviously doesn't have an interest in keeping the team in Seattle, because he bought the team for way more than it's worth and hasn't tried to reach a compromise for building a new arena. The taxpayers are currently paying for Safeco Field, our baseball stadium, Qwest Field, our football stadium, AND the Kingdome, which was blown up a few years ago but we still hadn't payed it off.

ESPN.com - 'Cash-Us Clay' tries to KO Seattle fans

That article says it all about Bennett. But Howard Schultz is also hated by everyone in Seattle. BTW, this is all just my opinion, don't flame me like you want to

[happytown]

Planet mars the problem is that Key arena seats the same as the Cox convention center that is next to the Ford Center. Sorry...But 17,000 doesnt cut it for the NBA. Try to write to Stern about your concerns.

Also Seattle needs to worry about a 4 billion dollar bridge for Microsoft...Gotta lose some lux for needs.

[happytown]

Its about darn time. The Ford Center is looking to finally get some upgrades for the NBA. The comments are mean and not worth reading....


http://newsok.com/article/3179789/1197433515