Seattle does not plan to let the NBA SuperSonics go without a fight. Mayor Greg Nickels announced Thursday a $300 million renovation proposal for beleaguered KeyArena and introduced a group of local businessmen interested in buying the franchise from Clay Bennett's ownership group.
But Washington political leaders expressed little optimism that the legislature would fund the $75 million required from taxpayers under the plan.
Even more problematic for Seattle, the team is not for sale.
Bennett declined comment Thursday but has repeatedly said he has no desire to sell, particularly after Oklahoma City voters Tuesday approved a $121 million package to renovate the Ford Center. The Sonics have filed a relocation application to move to OKC, which NBA owners will vote on April 17-18.
"Mr. Bennett has stated that he is not selling the team,” said Tim Frank, the NBA's vice president of communications.
And NBA commissioner David Stern this week issued even more pointed comments about the Sonics' future in Seattle.
Speaking to Portland television stations KATU and KGW, Stern noted that Bennett had offered a buyout of the Sonics' KeyArena lease that runs through 2010.
"If the expressed desire to bleed current ownership for three more years is acted upon, then we'll take the bleeding with them and the chances of there ever being a franchise in Seattle again are not very good,” Stern said.
The Seattle plan presented Thursday could help lure a replacement franchise for the Sonics, should they leave their home of 41 years.
The group claiming interest in buying the Sonics or owning another NBA franchise includes Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer, Costco chief executive Jim Sinegal, wireless entrepreneur John Stanton and Seattle developer Matt Griffin.
Mayor Nickels' plan calls for the ownership group to pay $150 million of the KeyArena renovation, with taxpayers supplying the other $150 million, split evenly between the city of Seattle and the state of Washington.
State Rep. Jeff Morris, D-Anacortes, speaking for the Democratic caucus, told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer "there is absolutely no chance of us considering it this legislative session.” The session ends Thursday, and Seattle officials hope to have an agreement established by the time the NBA owners vote on the Sonics' relocation application in April.
The plan calls for Washington state to extend the same hotel-motel and car rental taxes currently paying off two recently constructed stadiums, Qwest (NFL) and Safeco (baseball).
The Washington legislature repeatedly has declined to consider such a tax extension for a new Sonics arena.
"I have no problem with that choice,” Stern told the Portland reporters. "But don't say the NBA is moving out. We understand the push theory, and we've been pushed out.”
The Associated Press
contributed to this report
