Team name, logo and history could help settle OKC relocation dispute
Sonics chairman Clay Bennett said he's willing to leave the team's name, logo, colors and history in Seattle to settle a dispute with the city, allowing him to relocate the NBA team to Oklahoma City, according to the Seattle Times.
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During a breakfast meeting for team sponsors last week in Southern California, Bennett told several sponsors that he wants to negotiate a settlement in which the city retains nearly everything associated with the Sonics except the players and coaches, the newspaper reported.
Sonics spokesman Dan Mahoney confirmed Bennett's statement on Monday.
"That's an accurate assessment," Mahoney told the Seattle Times. Mahoney said the ownership group told the city last month it was willing to leave behind the Sonics name, logo and history.
The NBA commissioner David Stern and representatives from the league's relocation committee are in Oklahoma City Tuesday. The group will tour the Ford Center and hear presentations from local business and government leaders. The Sonics relocation application must be approved by the NBA Board of Governors and will be considered at the April 17-18 meetings in New York.
In its $26.5 million settlement offer, which was rejected and panned by city officials, the ownership group sent a letter to city attorney Tom Carr that read: "We understand the city's desire to reserve the Sonics name for a future franchise and will support the city's effort with the NBA on this issue."
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Lindsey, that would all be great IF it retains the Ford name...have you noticed it's the Cadillac Dealers Group that is sponsoring the video stories on this site (esp the ones about the Ford Center)? It would be a brilliant marketing move if the Cadillac Dealers win the re-negotiated naming rights. Can see the Mayor at the news conference now... "When we built the Arena it was good enough to be given the Ford brand (nothing wrong with Ford, the make fine cars and trucks). But now with the improvements, the Arena is worthy of the Cadillac brand. Welcome to the new 'Cadillac Center'"
The Oklahoma City Mustangs. Oklahoma's land was claimed by people on horseback. The OSU Cowboy's, OU Sooners, and UCO Bronco's are affiliated with horses and the founding of Oklahoma. The new team would play at the Ford Center. The Mustang car is made by Ford. The mascot could be a mustang horse and could also be used as a promotional tool for Ford.
How about name them the "Oklahoma City White Trash Danny the Tranny's." Whatever you name your team Texas will always be better than Joke-lahoma!
"Bennett will have so much invested in the team when he gets to Okie city he'll never live long enough to sell at a profit." Not to worry about Bennett, the lease here is helping him out a LOT (roughly 200 years to break even on the Ford improvements and 210 years for the Practice facility). Don't forget the $4 million a year he gets to keep for the naming rights. And he only is obligated to stay in Seattle forthru 2010, so when he does eventually sell the team, most likely he will make 10s of millions of dollars (if not more) just like the previous owners did.
I think that if the Sonics end up moving the people in Seattle will be happy with another 50 million in losses. If they stay two more years you will see what an empty arena really looks like. Bennett will still have to pay the bills and the 7 million a year rent on the Key. Bennett will have so much invested in the team when he gets to Okie city he'll never live long enough to sell at a profit.
Let’s not start a Texas/Oklahoma feud. Truth is, the two states are very similar. Really, the only differences are Texas is much bigger and in Oklahoma English is still our primary language.
"Oklahoma has nothing to offer unless you enjoy driving for hours to get somewhere or love the CONSTANT WIND."...Umm Bob...You live in Welston dude...Might be why you have to drive for hours to get anwyhere my friend
Paris: I agree with you.I was born in Brooklyn,moved to Philly and,then San Fran....All those places are nice and I love my home state but,I like having a house that,I can afford,and there is no traffic here.
The people are nice and, there are alot of things to do in the downtown area.Im very proud to say I live in OKC and,I have had friends and family visit and they had nothing but great things to say about it.I love living in Oklahoma City
how about the Oklahoma City Sonicstealers. Still don't understand how a backwards state like Oklahoma (yes I was born there and became Texan as soon as I could) could even get an NBA franchise. Trust me, they won't fill the arena consistently and they'll just have to move again.
I lived in Washington State for a while. Rain, rain and some more rain. High prices and rain, clouds and more rain. I'll take the wind. I'm not native to Oklahoma either. I have lived in California, Missouri, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington. I'll take Oklahoma.
Thoughtful, Oklahoma City - Mar 26, 2008 at 12:09 pm
I lived in the Seattle area before coming to Oklahoma in 1993. I cannot wait for the day I can leave Oklahoma and return to Washington State (I grew up in Illinois, so it's not my native state). Oklahoma has nothing to offer unless you enjoy driving for hours to get somewhere or love the CONSTANT WIND.
I lived in the Seattle area before coming to Oklahoma in 1993. Suffice to say, I am counting the days I leave Oklahoma and return to Washington. Oklahoma has ZERO to offer unless you absolutely LOVE driving for hours on end to do anything and enjoy constant wind. You can have this hellhole.
Opps, I ment to say one Gaylord besides Louise, wife of Clay. Strange how all of you love to hate the Gaylords and other places love them. Let's just have anyone who makes a lot of money move because, you don't like it. Life is about decisions. Anyone can be rich if they are smart or lucky.
Thoughtful, Oklahoma City - Mar 26, 2008 at 10:39 am
I love the informed people that comment here. How many Gaylords do you think are left in this state? One and she is an Everest. The rest have died or moved away.
Thoughtful, Oklahoma City - Mar 26, 2008 at 10:29 am
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The people are nice and, there are alot of things to do in the downtown area.Im very proud to say I live in OKC and,I have had friends and family visit and they had nothing but great things to say about it.I love living in Oklahoma City
I lived in the Seattle area before coming to Oklahoma in 1993. I cannot wait for the day I can leave Oklahoma and return to Washington State (I grew up in Illinois, so it's not my native state). Oklahoma has nothing to offer unless you enjoy driving for hours to get somewhere or love the CONSTANT WIND.
I lived in the Seattle area before coming to Oklahoma in 1993. Suffice to say, I am counting the days I leave Oklahoma and return to Washington. Oklahoma has ZERO to offer unless you absolutely LOVE driving for hours on end to do anything and enjoy constant wind. You can have this hellhole.