Pechman ordered a six-day trail to begin June 16 on Tuesday morning during a scheduling conference between the two parties in a Washington court. The date is a halfway point between the requested trial dates sought by the two sides.
At the heart of the legal dispute is the question of whether the Oklahoma-based ownership group of the Sonics should be allowed to buy out the remaining two years of their arena contact and leave Seattle or can only fulfill the use agreement by playing in KeyArena until 2010.
Sonics chairman Clay Bennett formally applied with the NBA in November to move the franchise to Oklahoma City for the 2008-09 season.
After Tuesday's ruling, that goal appears alive.
That wouldn't be the case if the city of Seattle's legal team was granted an Oct. 27 trial date as it requested, arguing for more time to prepare and present its case. With the 2008-09 NBA season likely starting on or around Halloween, and the NBA preseason beginning in early October, it would have been nearly impossible for the Sonics to move in time for next season.
Attorneys for the Sonics, on the other hand, had requested a March 24 trial date, which likely would have enabled the case's conclusion in time for the Sonics to relocate to Oklahoma City for the start of next season.
Pechman, however, scoffed at both the city of Seattle's request for such a distant start date and the Sonics' request to begin trial so soon despite the team's arguments of the timeliness involved in the NBA's scheduling process.
The NBA typically compiles the league-wide schedule from the end of February through its announcement in August, attempting to provide teams the most sensible road trips and back-to-back games according to location.
"We respect and appreciate the judge's decision,” said Sonics attorney Brad Keller in a statement. "We will be fully prepared to present our case on June 16.”
Seattle City Attorney Tom Carr was unavailable for comment Tuesday, but a spokeswoman for Carr referred to the June 16 trial date as a "compromise” that is satisfactory.
With the trial scheduled for completion June 22, Pechman could make an immediate ruling or take up to a few weeks to decide the outcome. Either way, a decision likely would be known sometime by July. Both sides, however, would have the opportunity to appeal the ruling, which would further delay the franchise's relocation plans.
The NBA board of governors is scheduled to vote on the move in April at league meetings in New York. Although the city of Seattle, according to legal documents, has threatened to add the NBA to its current suit against the Sonics if a move is approved before the court case is determined, the NBA will carry out the relocation process as outlined in its bylaws.
"The relocation committee will proceed with its deliberations and will make a recommendation to the Board of Governors when it meets in April,” said NBA spokesman Tim Frank. "If the board votes to approve the relocation, that approval will, of course, be subject to a legal determination that the team is free to relocate.”
If the Sonics receive a favorable ruling in July, and no appeals are made, that likely would leave the franchise enough time to relocate in time for next season. The NBA board of governors approved the relocation of the Memphis Grizzlies from Vancouver on July 3, 2001 for the Grizzlies to begin the 2001-02 season in Tennessee.
The New Orleans Hornets, the only other NBA franchise to relocate since 1985, received approval from the league on May 10, 2002 to move from Charlotte, N.C. and play the 2002-03 season in Louisiana.
Thank you for joining our conversations on newsok. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
"Ted has more posts on this site almost everyday than all the the Oklahoma posters combined on every site in Seattle on just about any given day."
Yeah, I sort of thought of Ted as a category onto himself though. I have to admire his determination. Many in Seattle wish there were political types that had same fire for this issue as Ted. However my position it would not matter at this point. Bennett will never keep that franchise in Seattle and making a deal with him at this stage will be close to impossible. Tough to make a deal with someone who really does not have any real interest. He made the one hard pitch to the state and city he had to do to appease the other owners then basically stopped returning calls as I understand it. He had one meeting with a city counselman which ended basically being a Bennett speech and was cut short according to reports. Yes, all this talk about the Key is relevant. It is too small. However the Bennett my way or the highway approach was hardly fair either.
Bug my question was:
_________________________________________________________________ 1). What makes Key Arena the “worst arena in the NBA”? Is it the number of seats? Key does have the lowest seating at 17,072, #33 (with Detroit at the high end with 22,076, #1). Did the Key always have the lowest seating or did their ranking gradually decrease over the years?
_________________________________________________________________
Other than agreeing with the lowest number of seats figure (it makes sense a facility with roughly 2,000 fewer seats would also have less square footage) I didn't get an swer to the rest of question #1
_________________________________________________________________
Did the Key always have the lowest seating or did their ranking gradually decrease over the years?
_________________________________________________________________
If their ranking gradually decreased what is stopping the Ford from doing the same? We are going to be dropping in rank from #14 to #21 and we are doing it to ourselves (by making the improvements).
_________________________________________________________________
You sort of had an answer for #3. Anticipating your answers for #2, #4, #5 and #6.
Bug wrote: "...no interest in being accurate or truthful for that matter." Sounds like you have been describing all of the glowing statements about the Ford since MAPS began (City leaders, the NBA, ESPN etc have all described the Ford as being "State of the Art", "Crown Jewel" etc)...now it is "adequate". What a quick fall in just a year or two (and the Ford is only 5 years old). How long are the improvemnets that will supposedly return the Ford to "State of the Art" again (the Mayors words, not mine) going to last? Within 5 years after completion, the Sonics owners will be demanding the same thing here that they are demanding in Seattle...a new Arena that by then will probably cost $750 million or more. If they don't get it they have proven they have no problem with not only threatening to leave, but actually doing it.
I will say that some guy named "Hot Rod" logs into the P-I with a fake Seattle address. Also, I believe you'll find that "Hot Rod" is associate of the Patrick guy who made up the now famous "95% in favor" survey. That same Patrick, who coincidently is "well respected" by Bug. Bird of a feather or something like that.
"No, "Troll City" is the SeattleTimes.com Sonics forum, alot of Okie trolls quietly (or not so quietly"...Not really...Only like 3 or 4 Okie regulars on that forum and only one throws it in their faces...Even then it's not just identical posts over and over and over again...Think many people don't post on these stories cause they just get drowned out with all the studies that have nothing to do with the Ford Center
Leonard, Ted has more posts on this site almost everyday than all the the Oklahoma posters combined on every site in Seattle on just about any given day.
Bug knows nothing about Seattle or its support for the NBA. He just wants an NBA team in OKC and is willing to trash anyone and any city that he hopes will provide the means to this end. He is long since been discredited by Oklahomans and outsiders. Ted, on the other hand, brings facts and an unusually strong grasp on the inner workings of the Sonics' situation. While I don't agree with his particular point of view on public financing, I definately understand and appreciate his insights. Bug, please cease with the useless attacks that distract from the issues for which you provide no relevant information other than misleading statements and manipulation of facts that would make the producers of Fox News proud.
No, "Troll City" is the SeattleTimes.com Sonics forum, alot of Okie trolls quietly (or not so quietly) gloating about how they they are about to "one up" dem big city folks up der! So repeating the "favor" on here is the least we can do!
Did Ted just admit that he got confused about the difference between paid attendance and turnstile attendance? He must not be very good with numbers. Ted has written...."just admit you're a patsy for the NBA and you will give hundreds of millions in tax money to billionaires"....and...."By OKC "wants" the Sonics, what you mean to say is "OKC will tax ourselves silly to have a team."...typical Ted remarks. Ted has no interest in being accurate or truthful for that matter. As far as me decribing Seattle's attendance, dismal may be a little harsh, but they have been in the bottom third in the league in attendance every year in this decade and that includes the year they were in the playoffs just a couple of years ago.
I would never intentionally post something inaccurate. And, when I realized I had made a mistake, I corrected it. Anyway, no one is surprised that you are not man enough to admit your post is wrong. The only reason you think the percentage is stupid is because it proves you wrong. ESPN certainly thinks it's important enough to list it. I also like your kicking, crying, baby response that they should move to a "high school gym". The phrase you were looking for was "I was wrong. Attendance in Seattle has not been dismal." ___ But you have no integrity at all, so you wont. You are Chump Change.
Ted is a liar and knew exactly what he was doing when he compared the two numbers. He has been exposed time and time again misrepresenting facts in an attempt to mislead people. The capacity arguement is even more stupid. Using his logic, all a team has to do to lead the league in attendance is build a smaller arena. Better yet, the Sonics could just move to a highscool arena and lead the league in attendance every year. What an idiot.
Ok, that's fair. It was not an "apples - to - apples" comparison. I should have looked at the numbers more closely before posting. Honest mistake, I retract that previous statement. However, I do not retract that you are posting misinformation. Key Arena's capacity is only 17,072 - so of course it has never more than that in it. Your assertion that "attendance has been dismal for years" is totally false. :::: Since the two arenas in question are not the same size, the scientific method to look at attendance is the percentage of capacity - ESPN agrees, which is why they post that information. (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/attendance?sort=home_pct&year=2007&seasonType=2) Hey, what do you know. Seattle is in front of the Hornets (Note - you may eek a few percentage points higher by removing the 6 games they played in NOLA - but the point is made.):::: Also, the last time the Sonics made the playoffs, they ranked #8 in the league (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/attendance?sort=home_pct&year=2005&seasonType=2) :::: So there you have it - I made an honest mistake, but since my point is accurate and valid, there are numerous other data sources to verify my statements. Bug is posting completely inaccurate information, I wonder if he'll be man enough to post a retraction.
To show how big a fraud Ted is, he just posted a link to show Seattles attendance. The number shown was average paid attendance. He compared that to turnstile count for OKC. Use his link and compare the attendance records for the two citys. Ted can't be trusted and anyone who would take anything he writes as truth at this point is complete fool.
The Hornets average paid attendance in OKC in year 1 was 18,168 and in year 2 was 17,830. http://www.basketballreference.com/teams/teamatt.htm?tm=noo&lg=n. Seattle has not had that high a number in 25 years. http://www.basketballreference.com/teams/teamatt.htm?tm=noo&lg=n. If you are unable to make the links work, go to basketballreference.com and pick the city. Average paid attendance is by far the most commonly used number and to suggest otherwise is ridiculous. Ted is a competely obsessed troll from Seattle who has been proven to be a liar, numerous times.
This Bug guy is such a joke: Look at this- "The average attendance for the two years the Hornets were here was a higher number than the Sonics have drawn in the last 25 years." ___ Now, let's look at the facts. From the City's economic impact survey that's posted on BigLeagueCity.com: "Based on actual ‘turnstile’ attendance, the Hornets averaged 13,213 per game attendance... at the Ford Center during the 2006-07 season"; Got that 13,213 :::::: Now, let's go to this years attendance (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/attendance) Seattle avg: 13,525 ____ That's the same Sonic team that has a 10-35 record AND has filed for relocation. Seattle 13,525 OKC 13,213 : " attendance here was a higher number than the Sonics have drawn in the last 25 years" ::::: So there you have it - Bug is a liar and a chump. I wonder if he'll come back to post a retraction and an apology for his misinformation.
Key arena is the worst arena in the NBA because it pales in comparison to the other arenas in the league. It is the smallest arena with the fewest seats in the NBA. To give you an idea of just how small it is, the Ford Center is almost 600,000 sf, where as Key arena is only 400,000. Because of the arena and lease, the team has lost money there every year in this decade. Rather than admit that the arena was a mistake and do something about it. The city is about to lose their team. It really isn't hard to understand why they won't do something about the situation. Seattle has done such a poor job of building and financing sports complexes that they are almost a billion dollars in debt, financed long term and are still paying on a stadium that's already been torn down. The lease with the Sonics is over in 2010 and yet the arena won't be paid off until 2015. The reason the owners bought the Sonics was because they were for sale, the team had the lease that had the least time left on it and if Seattle wouldn't address the arena situation, the team would be able to move in a relatively short amount of time. It was a no lose situation for them. The truth is most people in Seattle don't care about the Sonics. In a city of over 3.5 million people attendance has been dismal for years. The average attendance for the two years the Hornets were here was a higher number than the Sonics have drawn in the last 25 years.
6). How does spending $100 million for improvements that make things worse make any sense? --- Again, "worse" is subjective. The NBA does not care about a few seats when they get $100M of facilities/revenue posts dedicated to them for free. Voters might think it is "worse". I dont know, I'm not an OKC voter, so that's not for me to say.
4 & 5) The Ford Center upgrade is not about the number of seats in the facility. According to the city contract, it's about adding amenities and revenue streams for an NBA team. That's why you see so many bars, restaurants, bunker suites, VIP clubs, suite level club, etc (Note- there is no lease agreement in place at this time. But based on the fact that the Sonics are leaving Seattle because of the "worst" lease that makes them split revenue, and the fact that your city leaders are in favor of taxing you to build these amenities for the team, it stands to reason, the lease will direct the revenues from these new amenities - that you're paying for - to the team.) Making you attractive to the NBA Board of Governors is using tax money to build team facilities (30,000 sq ft of team offices, NBA Locker Room, NBA Video Room, $20M Practice court) and revenue streams (restaurants, bars, clubs, bunker suites, club seats) Then giving the team a lease that allows them to capture all the revenues while paying a minimum rent. It has nothing to do with the number of seats.
3) Yes, the Sonics new owners knew before they purchased the team the Key’s condition and the lease terms. They signed the transfer agreement with full knowledge. :::: Any guess as to why they did it is speculation.
Good Morning: 1) What makes Key Arena the "worst arena in the NBA" ::::: First off, let's clarify that is a subjective statement. Depending on who you are -or- what you have to gain, Key may be the best or worst arena in the NBA - it's all opinion. ::: Background: A- Key Arena is part of Seattle Center - as such the arena is not built out like a 'mall'. There are dozens of entertainment/shopping/dining options all around the Key - therefore the arena itself does not require such amenities (of course the arena has normal concession options.) B- The lease at Key Arena sets aside a portion of suite, club seat and naming rights to make bond payments for the 1995 remodel of the arena. ::::: The NBA Angle: The NBA calls Key the "worst" for two basic reasons. 1- They have to split revenues. The NBA model suggests that public pay for the arena, and the team gets the profits. The Key Lease requires what can only be called a fair division of revenues in order to pay off the remodel requested by the team in 1995. 2- Key does not include a "mall" of purchase opportunities. The NBA model suggests the arena include not only the game, but extended amenities that will induce additional spending (clubs, restaurants, bars-grill, multiple merchandise venues, etc) Then, as per item 1, the NBA would capture all revenues from these extended amenities. :::::: The Public Angle: Fans call Key Arena the best venue in the league. It is comfortable, has great site lines, and provides a very enjoyable game experience. Fans don't generally care about how much money the team is making - and since all the amenities are right there in Seattle Center, it makes for a great experience to visit any event at the Key. ::::: In conclusion, the NBA calls Key the worst because they cannot derive additional revenues from "mall" features, and they have to split the revenues the do earn in order to pay off their requested remodel of the arena.
Am curious and maybe someone can clarify....
_________________________________________________________________
1). What makes Key Arena the “worst arena in the NBA”? Is it the number of seats? Key does have the lowest seating at 17,072, #33 (with Detroit at the high end with 22,076, #1). Did the Key always have the lowest seating or did their ranking gradually decrease over the years?
_________________________________________________________________
2). What about their lease makes it the “worst lease in the NBA?” This happened 12 years ago, was it always the worst arena and lease or did it gradually become the worst?
_________________________________________________________________
3). Didn’t the Sonics new owners know before they purchased the team the Key’s condition and the lease that was in place? Why would a business person buy something in a bad building and with a lease agreement that was unacceptable? Seems the prudent course of action would be to address those issues BEFORE purchasing, not after the fact.
_________________________________________________________________
4). The Ford Center currently seats 19,163 for basketball (#14 in seating capacity). Under the proposed renovations, seating will actually DECREASE by about 300 seats (according to an earlier article). Doesn’t sound like a lot but it brings us to 18,863, DROPPING us from #14 to #21. Does this sound like we are improving things?
_________________________________________________________________
5). How does DECREASING our seating capacity from #14 to #21 make us MORE attractive to the NBA’s Board of Governors in approving the relocation (the stated goal of the renovation)?
_________________________________________________________________
6). How does spending $100 million for improvements that make things worse make any sense?
So moving on...My thinking is if there is a yes vote on the move by the BOG it will force the judges hand somewhat...After that vote they are officially 100% lame ducks so there will be a much better case for breaking the lease...My prediction is if they approve in April the team will be playing ball in cold OKC 9 months from now
Fourth of July Page
Share your July 4th photos with NewsOK and view other stories and videos.
Related to this story
Articles
Conference Divisions 01/30/2008 WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division W L Pct GB L10 Str Home Away Conf New Orleans 32 12 .
Tuesday in the NBA 01/30/2008 Detroit 110, at Indiana 104 •Rasheed Wallace had 24 points and 10 rebounds as the Pistons won their fourth straight. Indiana has lost four in a row. at...
Tuesday's Games 01/30/2008 Tuesday's Games PISTONS 110, PACERS 104 Detroit…23362427 — 110 Indiana…32252126 — 104 Detroit — Prince 6-13 5-6 17, McDyess 4-8 2-4 10,...
NBA notebook 01/30/2008 Kidd says he wants Nets to trade him Jason Kidd says he wants to be traded from the New Jersey Nets. "We tried to make this work. We've found out it...
Remember this 01/30/2008 Important dates ahead for the Seattle SuperSonics: •March 4: Ford Center sales tax vote in Oklahoma City. • April 17-18: Board of Governors meeting...
52
Prev
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
Thank you for joining our conversations on newsok. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Log in below or sign up (it's free).
Yeah, I sort of thought of Ted as a category onto himself though. I have to admire his determination. Many in Seattle wish there were political types that had same fire for this issue as Ted. However my position it would not matter at this point. Bennett will never keep that franchise in Seattle and making a deal with him at this stage will be close to impossible. Tough to make a deal with someone who really does not have any real interest. He made the one hard pitch to the state and city he had to do to appease the other owners then basically stopped returning calls as I understand it. He had one meeting with a city counselman which ended basically being a Bennett speech and was cut short according to reports. Yes, all this talk about the Key is relevant. It is too small. However the Bennett my way or the highway approach was hardly fair either.
_________________________________________________________________ 1). What makes Key Arena the “worst arena in the NBA”? Is it the number of seats? Key does have the lowest seating at 17,072, #33 (with Detroit at the high end with 22,076, #1). Did the Key always have the lowest seating or did their ranking gradually decrease over the years?
_________________________________________________________________
Other than agreeing with the lowest number of seats figure (it makes sense a facility with roughly 2,000 fewer seats would also have less square footage) I didn't get an swer to the rest of question #1
_________________________________________________________________
Did the Key always have the lowest seating or did their ranking gradually decrease over the years?
_________________________________________________________________
If their ranking gradually decreased what is stopping the Ford from doing the same? We are going to be dropping in rank from #14 to #21 and we are doing it to ourselves (by making the improvements).
_________________________________________________________________
You sort of had an answer for #3. Anticipating your answers for #2, #4, #5 and #6.
_________________________________________________________________
1). What makes Key Arena the “worst arena in the NBA”? Is it the number of seats? Key does have the lowest seating at 17,072, #33 (with Detroit at the high end with 22,076, #1). Did the Key always have the lowest seating or did their ranking gradually decrease over the years?
_________________________________________________________________
2). What about their lease makes it the “worst lease in the NBA?” This happened 12 years ago, was it always the worst arena and lease or did it gradually become the worst?
_________________________________________________________________
3). Didn’t the Sonics new owners know before they purchased the team the Key’s condition and the lease that was in place? Why would a business person buy something in a bad building and with a lease agreement that was unacceptable? Seems the prudent course of action would be to address those issues BEFORE purchasing, not after the fact.
_________________________________________________________________
4). The Ford Center currently seats 19,163 for basketball (#14 in seating capacity). Under the proposed renovations, seating will actually DECREASE by about 300 seats (according to an earlier article). Doesn’t sound like a lot but it brings us to 18,863, DROPPING us from #14 to #21. Does this sound like we are improving things?
_________________________________________________________________
5). How does DECREASING our seating capacity from #14 to #21 make us MORE attractive to the NBA’s Board of Governors in approving the relocation (the stated goal of the renovation)?
_________________________________________________________________
6). How does spending $100 million for improvements that make things worse make any sense?