NBA in OKC timeline

Published: July 3, 2008

A look at the key moments that led to the Sonics' relocation to Oklahoma City.

July 2 — Clay Bennett announces that the city of Seattle and the team had reached a settlement of up to $75 million and that the team would relocate to Oklahoma City this fall.

June 26 — Day 6 of the Trial: In the final day of closing arguments, Judge Marsha Pechman says she is concerned with the "dysfunctional relationship” between the city and the team. "What I'm worried about,” she says, "is are we going to have an ongoing allegation about the city undermining its tenant by plotting to have someone else buy them out, forcing them to increase loss, going to the NBA and undermining their business position or leaking their secrets?”

June 20 — Day 5 of the Trial: The Sonics present a bombshell document called "The Sonics Challenge, Why a Poisoned Well Affords a Unique Opportunity,” during the testimony of former Sonics president Wally Walker. Walker said that he had worked with potential owners on a strategy to force a sale.

June 19 — Day 4 of the Trial: Dueling sports economists testify as to the economic impact of the team on the city. The city's economist says that economic "multipliers” show the value of the team to the locl economy. The Sonics' witness says there would be no economic impact, since entertainment dollars would be spent elsewhere.

June 18 — Day 3 of the Trial: Sonics owner Clay Bennett finishes his testimony, saying that he had made mistakes in dealing with Seattle. Sonics lawyers continue to press Bennett on whether the intention all along was to move. Sonics president Danny Barth outlines the team's declining attendance and revenue.

June 17 — Day 2 of the Trial: In trying to explain his "man possessed” e-mail, Bennett says he was "a man possessed” in finding a local arena for the Sonics. On the same day, the Sonics attorneys take apart economist Andrew Zimbalist.

June 16 — Day 1 of the Trial: With fans outside the courthouse holding a rally, the Sonics cross examine Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels about how the city tried to undermine arena plans in Renton, Wash.

April 18 — The Sonics' relocation to Oklahoma City is approved by a 28-2 vote of the NBA Board of Governors. Voting against the move were the Dallas Mavericks, owned by Mark Cuban, and Portland Trail Blazers, owned by Paul Allen, who also owns the NFL Seattle Seahawks.

April 16 — Attorneys for the Sonics' owners tell a federal judge they have proof that Seattle city leaders are scheming with a potential purchaser to force them to sell.

April 14 — An attorney for former Sonics owner Howard Schultz said Shultz plans to sue the Oklahoma City-based ownership group to get the team back and prevent them from moving the franchise. Schultz's attorney claims Bennett violated the contract by failing to make a good-faith effort to keep the team in Seattle.

April 9 — E-mails obtained by lawyers for the city of Seattle show Sonics owners exchanged e-mails last April suggesting their desire to move the team to Oklahoma City. The exchange began on April 17, one day after the Washington state legislature declined to vote on a $500 million, taxpayer-funded arena plan.

March 25 — Members of the NBA's relocation subcommittee end a one-day visit to Oklahoma City be recommending approval of the Sonics' relocation application. Said New Jersey Nets co-owner Lewis Katz: "There's no question in my mind that they're coming. It's just a question of when.”

March 14 — Oklahoma City officials sign a letter of intent with the Sonics ownership group, outlining preliminary terms of a 15-year lease agreement for the use of the Ford Center.

March 5 — A Seattle-based ownership group announces it is willing to buy the franchise and contribute $150 million toward a $300 million renovation with the city of Seattle and state, each contributing $75 million in public funds.

March 4 — Oklahoma City voters approve a 1-cent sales tax to pay for about $121 million in improvements to the Ford Center and an NBA practice facility. The vote passes with a 61.9 percent majority.

Feb. 16 — NBA commissioner David Stern says the Sonics leaving Seattle is an "inevitability.” Stern also says Seattle turned down an offer of about $30 million to buy the team out of its lease with KeyArena.

Nov. 2, 2007 — Sonics owners file a relocation application with the NBA seeking to move the franchise to Oklahoma City.

Sept. 21, 2007 — Sonics owners file an arbitration demand seeking a ruling that would prevent Seattle officials from forcing the Sonics to remain at KeyArena through 2010. A judge later denies the request.

Sept. 17, 2007 — A Washington Indian tribe offers the Sonics a 26.5-acre parcel of land as a future site for an arena. Bennett later rejects the offer, saying its suburban location is too far away from the team's largest segment of fans.

Aug. 23, 2007 — The NBA confirms ownership group member Aubrey McClendon has been fined $250,000 for telling an Oklahoma City newspaper: "We didn't buy the team to keep it in Seattle; we hoped to come here. We know it's a little more difficult financially here in Oklahoma City, but we think it's great for the community and if we could break even, we'd be thrilled.”

Nov. 7, 2006 — Seattle voters, by nearly 75 percent, pass Initiative 91, which prohibits Seattle from using tax dollars to subsidize a pro team unless the subsidy generates a significant profit for the city.

July 18, 2006 — An eight-member group of Oklahoma City-based businessmen led by Clay Bennett join to form the Professional Basketball Club, LLC and agree to purchase the Seattle SuperSonics and WNBA's Storm for $350 million. The new owners promise to negotiate for one year for a new arena that would keep the team in Seattle.

April 13, 2006 — NBA commissioner David Stern warns the Sonics might leave Seattle and says the city is "not interested in having the NBA there.”

April 5, 2006 — After the Washington state legislature rejects a $220 million plan for KeyArena expansion, the Sonics ownership group led by Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz announces the Sonics and WNBA Storm are for sale.

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