When is the team moving?
Immediately. Clay Bennett said the transition from Seattle to Oklahoma City begins today. Players, coaches and the business staff will move as soon as possible.
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Could Howard Schultz's pending lawsuit force the team to move back to Seattle?
Only if Shultz were to win the suit. Bennett said he and his partners and the group's legal team are confident the lawsuit is baseless and they will fight it aggressively.
What will be the team nickname?
It won't be Sonics. Bennett said his group will unveil a new nickname and new colors in the next few weeks after considering all the suggestions they've received.
What are the basics of the deal?
Team owners agreed to pay Seattle $45 million now to break its lease. The team will pay another $30 million to Seattle if the Washington Legislature by the end of 2009 approves funding for a new building for a NBA team or for renovation of the KeyArena but Seattle fails to get a team in five years.
When will tickets go on sale?
Soon. In the meantime, fans can get their name on a list. It's not a first-come, first-serve situation. Fans and corporations can get on the list by visiting supersonics.com or calling 1-888-618-HOOP.
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"Now hopefully Clay doesn't hold you folks hostage when it comes time for the new arena to be built and you say NO to it."...If we say no to a business for several years and they move to a place that said yes there really isn't much to whine about
Garrett: Unfortunately Bennett has all of that covered in the lease with OKC, unlike Seattle which wasn't required to keep upgrading the arena to meet whatever the changing NBA standards are, OKC is on the hook for it for the next 15 to 30 years...and no way to pay for it either. The tax to make the $100 million in improvements lasts only 15 months
Now hopefully Clay doesn't hold you folks hostage when it comes time for the new arena to be built and you say NO to it. Hopefully Mr. Stern doesn't come out and tell your town that it doesn't support basketball or your arena is inadaquate, and Clay has to sell to a outsider, who promises to keep the team in town, but who could move the team out without public money. Oh the irony in it. Hopefully you never have to experience what happened in Seattle, but I will give you folks 5 years max, then the true Clay will come out to haunt you folks, while we in Seattle are supporting a new team, in a new building. Best to you all.
Kelly wrote: "I agree that Bennet will likely ask for another new arena. My question to you is this: WHY IS THAT A BAD THING?" It's flushing $100 million down the improved Ford toilets" The Mayor has finally admitted we don't have enough seats (and we are taking out 500 AFTER the improvements), doesn't sound like a lot but when you don't have enough seats to begin with and your seating capacity drops from #14 down to #24 it is a huge waste of the taxpayers money. Besides the fact that millionaire and billionaire owners can easily afford to pay for their own buildings (other businesses do this all the time), they don't ask the city (taxpayers) to pay for it do they? Some of the supporters here keep saying "it's just a business", fine then, treat them just like you would any other business.
I am a native Okie -- we have come VERY far in the last 15 years -- we have more Cracker Barrels than Dallas and no one can beat the government school system here. Mostly though, it is that amazing Oklahoma River that keeps me weepy-eyed and proud to be an Okie from Shaktoolik. Semper Fi fellahs!
tu, its obvious you are not a native Oklahoman, We have come very far in the last 15 years. We are number one in the nation in cities for economic growth and top 5 in recession proof cities. tu it is obvious you are here just to instigate people, It is obvious that you must be at least 12 or 13 years old.
Phillip - I agree that Bennet will likely ask for another new arena. My question to you is this: WHY IS THAT A BAD THING? The 1-cent tax has been nothing but beneficial to the citizens of central Oklahoma; I'll keep paying it from now on if it keeps getting me improvments like Bricktown, the Ford center (how 'bout that Big XII bball tourney!), and other stuff that MAPS has delivered. Not all taxes are evil, Philly-boy!
James, sorry but you are off track. I'm not saying that they would not want to move to OKC, just that yours are the concerns of the working class. Some rich young men do like all night downtown strip clubs. Cost of living means nothing to pro athletes. You recall some gambling problem stories by ex-players in recent news? You've heard that these fellas like to drink Cristal champagne? And drive really expensive vehicles? Some with rims and tires that cost as much as your car? The price of a gallon of milk is the last thing on their mind. They are young rich studs living the high life, flashing money and looking for action. Young men with money raise the bar on conspicuous consumption. Whether they are "supposed to be" doing some of these things is really a quaint notion and gave me a good chuckle.
Tell me if I'm wrong. The cost of living is half as much in OKC as it is in Seattle or any other major city. Forbes Magazine just listed OKC as the MOST AFFORDABLE place in the country. We have the second lowest (and I know I'm not saying much) gas prices in the country. With the salary that a minimum level NBA player makes in OKC, an NBA player can live in Nichols Hills or at Oak Tree. So, tell me why an NBA player would NOT want to come here. About the only thing that we don't have is allnight downtown strip clubs, and these young men are not supposed to be involved in those kind of activities anyway.
I agree Brandon, but I just can't stand this small town mentality a lot of Oklahomans still have. It has to stop!! We are becoming a Big Time City. Maybe in 10 to 15 years a NFL team might come. Look whats happening in Char N.C. There NBA team was followed by the NFL.
Kim, I'm well aware Chris loved it his house was down the street from mine in Bristol Park (Edmond) so was JR Smiths...I'm just saying that I have not heard any of the players or quotes from them saying how excited they are to be coming here yet...I just hope we welcome them with open arms and they give us a chance and we treat them as well as we did with the hornets
Enjoy it now while it is new.....within 10 to 15 years, Clay will come to OKC with a demand to build a new arena (just like he did in Seattle) or the team will leave. The new arena will be built just south of the Ford Center once I-40 is moved further south...of course, the citizens will be told to pay for this corporate welfare through....you guessed it....another MAPS tax that will take over for the latest MAPS project.....it will be the 1% sales tax that will NEVER end.
Brandon, How do you know this. Chris Paul loved it here, Durant loved it here. Byron Scott has a house here. These players will be owning private jets instead of lambo's. Cost of living is cheap in OKC!!!
The part that really sucks about it is that most of the players don't even wanna come here? I hope they give Oklahoma a chance before just making it up in their mind that they don't want to be here. Oklahomans are gonna have to show the players a lot of love and appreciation.
Eat A, did you have a little laugh out loud while sitting in front of your computer at the creativity when you thought up GoFYourself as the city? By the way, I don't think Clay is Italian so he won't be getting "made" anywhere.
NBA player or not. They're not above the law so really, there's no sense in law enforcement changing their ways just for a few NBA players.
I really hope this doesn't hurt local sports because I can see the writing on the wall for the Blazers. Either GOOD BYE or Hey, you can always skate at the old Myriad. Pretty sad since the Fraud Center was supposed to be for hockey from day one.
ScottsWifeBlowsMe, DeepThroats - Jul 3, 2008 9:17 AM
The Hornets were billeted in temporary housing on the O.C. campus. This yet-to-be-named-team will be finding rather nice housing probably in N.H. and Edmond. There is one thing our city has not had or seen in all its history. Resident players with significant wealth. You see it in Dallas. So OKCPD, OHP, County SD and local small departments will need to re-train and adjust their philosophies a bit. I'm trying not to be negative here but it will become a fact that the players are not your ordinary lot. Dallas PD had to get used to a Mercedes G500 (Schwarzenegger has 3) driving rather fast on Dallas interstates. The tag read Emmitt-1. It passed me on 121 one time going rather fast. Its the most expensive SUV made. Police in most cities with professional teams get used to saying, "Oh, that's just Michael." I wish them all the best and we will see how well it does against OU football. Maybe it will dilute the OU support base and get OU tickets within reach again.
Poll: What should the team in OKC be called? 07/02/2008
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What fans are saying 07/02/2008
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NBA in Oklahoma City Q&A: What you need to know 07/03/2008 Q: When is the team moving? A: Immediately. Clay Bennett said the transition from Seattle to Oklahoma City begins today. Players, coaches and the business...
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Seattle to OKC: By the millions 07/03/2008 From Seattle to Oklahoma City, the dollars-and-sense look at the deal that brought an NBA team here: $350 million: Amount the owners paid to purchase the...
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Here comes NBA team, and there's plenty to do 07/03/2008 Clay Bennett strode to the podium, grinning from ear to ear as he climbed each of the stage's steps. He cleared his throat and delivered what will go down as...
Pop the corks and celebrate! 07/03/2008 And so, the Sonics saga in Seattle ends and the NBA era in OKC begins. About darn time. Our fair state has been poised to party ever since Clay Bennett and...
Achieving major-league dream comes without thrill of... 07/03/2008 Clay Bennett looked like a hero, in a dark blue suit that wasn't bought off the rack, standing in front of a matching NBA/OKC backdrop. He was received like...
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I might just become a fan with this new team in OKC!!! again Yeah to Clay Bennett!!!! and for OKC!!!
I really hope this doesn't hurt local sports because I can see the writing on the wall for the Blazers. Either GOOD BYE or Hey, you can always skate at the old Myriad. Pretty sad since the Fraud Center was supposed to be for hockey from day one.