OKC voters approved this.

Lots of teams have been "stolen" from other cities over the years.
Some NBA "thefts" include:

1957: Detroit stole the Pistons from Fort Wayne.
1960: Los Angeles stole the Lakers from Minneapolis.
1962: San Francisco stole the Warriors from Philadelphia.
1963: Philadelphia stole the 76ers from Syracuse (Nationals).
1968: Atlanta stole the Hawks from St. Louis who stole them from Milwaukee in 1955 who stole them from the “Quad Cities” in 1951.
1971: Houston stole the Rockets from San Diego.
1973: Landover, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C., stole the Bullets from Baltimore who stole them from Chicago (Zephyrs) in 1963. In 1997, they moved to Washington proper and became the Washington Wizards.
1973: San Antonio stole the Spurs from Dallas (Chaparrals).
1977: New Jersey stole the Nets from New York one year after the ABA/NBA merger.
1979: Salt Lake City (Utah) stole the Jazz from New Orleans.
1984: Los Angeles stole the Clippers from San Diego who stole them from Buffalo (Braves) in 1978.

or if football is more your thing, other "stolen" teams include:

1921: Chicago stole the Bears from Decatur (Staleys).
1934: Detroit stole the Lions from Portsmouth (Ohio Spartans).
1937: Washington stole the Redskins from Boston.
1984: Indianapolis stole the Colts from Baltimore.
1988: Phoenix (actually Tempe, then later Glendale) stole the Cardinals from St. Louis who stole them from Chicago in 1960.
1995: St. Louis stole the Rams from Los Angeles who stole them from Cleveland in 1946.
1995: Oakland stole the Raiders from Los Angeles who stole them from Oakland in 1982.
1996: Baltimore stole the Ravens from Cleveland (Browns).
1998: Nashville stole the Titans from Memphis whole stole them from Houston (Oilers) in 1997.

or is baseball more up your alley, other "thefts" include:

1903: New York stole the Yankees from Baltimore (Orioles).
1954: Baltimore stole the Orioles from St. Louis (Browns) who stole them from Milwaukee (Brewers) in 1902.
1958: Los Angeles stole the Dodgers from Brooklyn.
1958: San Francisco stole the Giants from New York.
1961: Twin Cities area stole the Twins from Washington (Senators).
1966: Atlanta stole the Braves from Milwaukee who stole them from Boston in 1953.
1968: Oakland stole the Athletics from Kansas City who stole them from Philadelphia in 1955.
1970: Milwaukee stole the Brewers from Seattle (Pilots).
1972: Arlington, TX stole the Rangers from Washington (2nd expansion Senators)
2005: Washington D.C. stole the Nationals from Montreal (Expos).

Teams switch cities. That is a fact of the business and has been for a century. Clay Bennet is not the first, nor will he be the last.

Larry.. do you work at being stupid or does it just come naturally. Please tell me that you do know that economy relates to money .. monetary. And you do know that region and city are not synonymous. You can assume whatever you want to assume, but that the attorneys knew exactly the words to use is quite evident. The whiners and losers will try to skew it to assuage their hurt feelings.. but get over it. You don't know the future or who will ask who for what or when. Just keep trying to stir the pot and I'm sure you will keep on buying lots of Mylanta. Let it go. It is what it is. Call people liars if it makes you feel good. For the rest of us, it was just a business deal among astute business men and governmental organizations, and the result is what it is. The NBA is in OKC. and...I'm not even and NBA fan. I have no dog in this hunt. The future will bring whatever it brings. And you will have zero impact on it. So spew your vile comments and keep the gastric juices flowing. The rest of us are gonna have a beer and watch a little t.v.

Please check out a Jersey and logo I came up with. It is just done with Microsoft Paint so don't be too harsh

http://www.box.net/files#0:f:0:1:f_175159906

'Bout time for Roger to jump in here and start spewing his "only 10 dollars" crap....

But G, people like you and I just "don't see the big picture". Find it a little odd that the Hornets could make a decent profit here without all of the improvements that Bennett and Co say are needed to be profitable. The City had a profit sharing agreement, that after the Hornets made their guaranteed amount, they would split the rest (as a result, the City made over a $1 million NET profit) yet under the lease with Bennett we are only looking to "break even" for the next 15 to 30 years. And actually losing millions every year (besides the roughly $90 million in naming rights money that was given away), because we are on the hook to keep upgrading the Ford to meet whatever the changing NBA standards are with no way to pay for it (again, for the next 15 to 30 years). The last time NBA standards changed (between when the Ford was designed and built, just 5 years) the cost was $100 million. Based on that time frame we are going to be $300 to $600 million behind!

With so many other real issues to address, Mick and Clay laugh it up as the taxpayers get soaked. Bennett will be laughing even harder when he asks us to pay even more for a new arena. I'm sure all of the same folks will vote for another tax increase to support more "growth". They convinced enough people to believe OKC isn't good enough unless we have a pro-sports team. I grew up here and it was good enough then, why the rush to pay Clay Bennett to kidnap a team and saddle us with the albatross of higher taes and a perennial loser.

sense = since

Notice too that it says "on a region" doesn't say anything about a zero impact on Seattle verses OKC. As I said, both Seattle and Bennett argued both sides of the impact question, it depended on who they were trying to convince at the time.

Mike, talk about my reading level, try again there guy, it says : "Bennett's PBC attorneys then began calling their witnesses, leading with an economics professor who testified that a pro sports team has ZERO ECONOMIC IMPACT on a region" NOT "monetary impact" and sense you added the "macro-ECONOMICS" post right above your question, you are talking about "ECONOMIC" impact right?????

your

Larry.. you reading level is the same as Paul's. He said that the Seattle franchise has no monetary impact. It is diluted because of the number of viable alternatives for the "entertainment dollar".

Mike, sure sounds like he did during the trial: "Bennett's PBC attorneys then began calling their witnesses, leading with an economics professor who testified that a pro sports team has ZERO ECONOMIC IMPACT on a region" Of course both Seattle and Bennett argued both sides of this depending on who they were trying to convince at the time.

and your macro-economics class said you never attended

Paul.. Did Clay say that the OKC NBA team would not have any impact on the city of Oklahoma City?

Just think back Larry, to the people on here who were laughing at Seattle because they were paying on an arena/stadium that had already been torn down. The Ford will take 200 years to pay off, the new "Ford" replacement will be long gone, and the way this city is doing things, they'll still be paying off the first(current) Ford center while the 12th one is being built. It's a shame that people don't realize this while they're voting their money away, due in part to the lies of the city/legislature, but mainly in just not being a well enough informed voter BEFORE they hit the voting booth. Since the state of Oklahoma is in bad enough shape now, and the city is struggling to find a way to cope with their rising fuel costs ( a well known fact and published here in at least 3 different stories), what other services that really can make a difference in an OKC residents life will suffer as a result?? The worn out old story about the poor receiving their tax money back, so it doesn't affect them is just that, old and worn out. While they may get their money back, it's coming back from the state, and that means the state will suffer a lack of funds to provide the services necessary for a better quality of life to Oklahomans. Rogers argument about the "poor" not being affected is just more spin on a complete set of lies and deception by the city and state in order to give welfare to millionaires...while the truly deserving suffer as usual....

hmmm....if the tax numbers are wrong...economic impact studies are wrong...number of employees told the Legislature were wrong...profit projections are wrong ("lucky to break even" to a conservative $9 million a year)...what else has been a lie?? City and Chamber claim that MAPS cost $309 million but generated $3 billion in private investment (how much of that is a fabrication)? How much of the Core-to Shore (just part of MAPS 3) will be a fabrication as well? The Core-to-Shore component cost has been put at $3 billion, over a 30 year period. Other components of MAPS 3 are very expensive as well (mass transit, lite rail etc). In order to claim they aren't raising taxes, it can't be more than a penny tax, so how many years is that "temporary" tax going to last? Will take over 8 years to reach the 1st billion needed, so around 30 years or more? Doesn't sound to temporary.

"Or, in this case, are you going to agree with the city and not refute their numbers like you did the tax numbers?"...Pretty much

"Ignoring all of the revenue, employment and investment outside of the Ford of course
ROGER, MOORE - Jul 4, 2008 9:48 PM"...I guess thats all dependent, Roger, on what day you would ask some upstanding businessman like, lets say, Clay, who states there's no impact one day and then raves about how much there is the next..you do recall him stating both sides, correct? Or, in this case, are you going to agree with the city and not refute their numbers like you did the tax numbers? I'm just curious....

Thanks Chris...you must have a fulfilling life if you have nothing better to do than to keep track of when I post, but thanks for your concern anyway....

No, actually I was surprised that you posted on a day off. As frequently as you post in these forums, most days you're either shorting the government of work or yourself of sleep.

Chris...correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't today Saturday? Wasn't yesterday a national holiday? Perhaps you overlooked those 2 little points by chance....

Paul, don't you work - or are stationed at Tinker? From all the time you spend posting, you're not really earning that paycheck, are you?

Todd wrote: "...don't let them give away the farm when Mr. Bennett inevitably comes back asking for more money." Too late for that, although Seattle was under no obligation to keep shoveling the money to the team, OKC is...it's in the lease.

The current owners are equal monetary partners (each put up the same amount), Bennett is the spokesman/front man/the one running the show of the group (as we learned from Aubrey's slip), he may be 3rd on the list in personal wealth, but his stake in the team is equal to the others...Not "Ignoring all of the revenue, employment and investment outside of the Ford of course" as those were there when the Hornets were here too...the City made over a $1M NET profit off the Hornets yet we are looking at "breaking even" for the next 15 to 30 years (even though the City is on the hook for the continual upgrades to the Ford with no way of paying for it since the tax ends in 15 months).

"Clay paid 100 million more than the team was worth, lost money last year(supposedly) and now has to pay what could amount to 75 million more, PLUS relocation expenses, PLUS court fees and MORE court fees, and you say you "snookered" Seattle?"...And here I thought there were 7 other owners with Bennett being like 3rd in the money train..."An increased tax to pay for the Ford, of whgich the city will not break even on this 100 million investment for nearly 200 YEARS"...Ignoring all of the revenue, employment and investment outside of the Ford of course

Agness, "you know how to deal with windbags" sounds pretty much as though you ARE the straw man of your own creation.

Agness, "you know how to deal with windbags" sounds pretty much as though you ARE the straw man of your own creation.

Congratulations to OKC Basketball fans. I hope the team makes an immediate impact - both in the league and upon the city's economy. One bit of advice though...keep your city and state govts. honest and don't let them give away the farm when Mr. Bennett inevitably comes back asking for more money.

Bennett wiped the floor with himself. He paid off Seattle with what could amount to nearly TRIPLE what he offered a couple months ago, the worst aprt of that is Seattle accepted it, but still Clay Boy paid his way out..typical. Snookered? Clay paid 100 million more than the team was worth, lost money last year(supposedly) and now has to pay what could amount to 75 million more, PLUS relocation expenses, PLUS court fees and MORE court fees, and you say you "snookered" Seattle? Now, let's talk about snookered, Agness.....An increased tax to pay for the Ford, of whgich the city will not break even on this 100 million investment for nearly 200 YEARS...the practice facility that will take 200 plus years to pay off. 60 million paid to Clay and company for a lousy 25 or 30 jobs for Oklahomans. Naming rights the city gave away for peanuts that could have meant millions for the city coffers, who by the way are screaming about lack of money due to rising fuel costs...let's not forget the sweet deal Clay Boy gets for a lease, once again leaving OKC out in the cold, even though Mayor Mick stated a while back how much more "experienced" the city would be in relation to the lease they had with the Hornets...you want to talk about snookered? 8.5 % of the eligible voting population opened the wallets of 100% of the people spending money in OKC, and in 5 years, when the Ford renovations are 1/20th paid off, you'll be asked for another arena. Snookered? How about the fact that no money for Ford renovations is even being collected yet, but the city is already spending money? Can you say "interest charges" Aggness? Worse still, is that Mayor Mick and OKC lied when they said the money would not have to be borrowed, but it already has been borrowed. Your assessment of "dumb,stupid redneck" is very appropriate in this case Agness...........

The cry babies from Seattle. You call us dumb stupid rednecks. All through this process you have shoved you over blown arrogance down our throats.You have claimed how the city's lawyers will wipe the floor with Bennett. You huffed and puffed, and in the end all you did was show that Your nothing but a big bag of wind.
Does it hurt that the dumb redneck snookered you out of your team?
A world class city with an inept govt. Shine Seattle. SHINE!!!!!
We know how to deal with windbags.

I am from Seattle but am sitting in an Okalhoma City hotel room right now. I am in town for my charity. I congratulate you on your new team. I had 4 tickets center court row 9 for 20 games a year for many years. I enjoyed so much watching Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton and the rest, so close you could see the sweat spray. I think you will be stunned how expensive your tickets will be. I wish you all the luck. Just leave those dogs alone! http://newsok.com/article/keyword/3265772/

"Mr. Bennett comes to town and imeadiately demands 500 million from us!"...Actually only 400 mil but that was only after the city and state had turned down a much less costly proposal from Schultzy and Stern...They played hardball and got stung is all

"So what's in it for OKC (other than the tax bill and "bragging rights")?"...Oh I don't know...Maybe rooting for and following the city's first ever major league team....Not sure if you have noticed or not but sports are kind of a big deal to us Okies and will now be even a bigger deal...A team that all Sooner and Cowboy fans can pull for...Pretty sweet deal

Stephen, they city and the team will work together and develop an updated/remodeled/or new arena. It's called progress and it happens.

What happens in ten or fifteen years when the team ownership decides the current facility isn't up to their standards? will they do to OKC what owners of other sports franchises have done - leave? Think about Baltimore, Charlotte, Seattle and other places who lost a sports franchise because they wouldn't succumb to the franchise's blackmail demands for new facilities, better tax breaks, more perks or whatever else they wanted. What's OKC's backup plan when Bennett and Company decide they've had enough of OKC and move to greener pastures? Most studies (Univ of Washington, Pew Research, others) show the economic impact of pro sports franchises to be negligable. So what's in it for OKC (other than the tax bill and "bragging rights")?

C'mon guys, be fair, it is only a sports team -- we're not talking about electing a president or anything.

At what cost did Oklahoma acquire the Sonics?
It wasn't just monetary the price Bennett and his comrades paid, that have them being rightfully villified from Seattle to New York for their lack of integrity in regards to there obvious 'not-so-hidden ' agenda; and by extension so have the other fine folks of Oklahoma.

Clay Bennett was transparent from day one; everyone knew from day one that he and his pack of lying hyenas had no intention of keeping basketball in Seattle. From his first press conference - to his last he has been dishonest. It's a shame that the entire state of Oklahoma is now being linked with these kinds of morals. Southern hospitality, integrity and graciousness must be reserved to those south of Oklahoma, because even up hear in the far reaches of the Northwest a man's word means a lot. Obviously not the case in Oklahoma. Even the Dallas Mavericks owner, from the great state of Texas was the only owner not swayed by Clay's buddy David Stern, and voted to have the Sonics stay in their rightful place. By the way why did David Stern not have to testify?

Our politicians were skeptical of Clay's efforts from the beginning, and made working with him almost impossible. He demanded a half billion dollar building be built for him, the most expensive basketball arena in the USA, but was unwilling to contribute to the cause. Very noble of him; would have gone a long way to show his sincere commitment to the region if he had.

Seattle is very progressive, but things don't get done overnight. It took some time but we built a brand new baseball stadium, one of the finest, at a very high price tag - but it was a joint public & private partnership. Seattle built a tremendous football stadium, state of the art, but yet it too was a private -public subsidized venture. When the Sonics wanted to completely remodel / rebuild Key Arena 12 years ago it got done and was also a private - public partnership. These buildings were all built with public and private monies - where as Clay Bennett would not offer any contribution to the cause to get the ball rolling.

Seattle will get a new basketball arena with Ballmer's future ownership group coming forward and offering to pay half the cost of the building, Bennett never offered to pay a dime because he never wanted to keep the team in Seattle as the emails so aptly point out.
The Oklahoma hero whose lies and deceiving must make you all very proud.

Lets put it this way, in straight talk - which might be foreign to Oklahoman's alike, Seattle is still paying off the new Qwest Stadium, Safeco Field, and the newly remodeled Key Arena (144 months old); it would be like a home owner having not one, but three mortgages at the same time, and then be asked to tear down one of those homes and rebuild it again, at an even far greater cost; and then given a small window to accomplish this feat. We have a proven record of getting projects like this done – but his timetable was unrealistic – and his motives transparent and insincere. Hard to work with someone when you don’t believe a word out of his mouth.

David Stern spoke highly of Key Arena upon his first visit in 1995, but then deemed it unsuitable for his product less than 10 years later. 10 years is all a Arena gets these days. How long will the Ford Center be good in the eyes of Stern & Bennett.

Now Key Arena is not the Taj Majal but it is no dump; but unless you are a wealthy luxury box owner it is a fabulous place to watch basketball, intimate with great sight lines. It is a terrific basketball arena - but it is NOT a large shopping mall with 100 high priced luxury suites, & 75 restaurants, that is demanded these days. Its a basketball arena - home of the Seattle Sonics for a better part of 41 years.

Now a days we have congressional inquiries and trials into whether a player uses steroids or not; and then there are ongoing trials into the ensuing perjury that occurred from those events. Should Clay Bennett not be held to the same standards? The senate inquired on behalf of the people, against players cheating; should they not do the same when a owner steals a 41 year old franchise from a community and then perjures himself repeatedly on the stand.
The community of Seattle has 'always' supported this team. Even when Clay Bennett stripped it of all its marquee players, and traded away any player that could make them competitive - Seattle fans still showed up in the stands. Would Oklahoma show up at Oklahoma football games and support a man who was trying to take that football program to - say Montana? Well -Seattle did. Even when Clay Bennett managed to put the worst product Seattle has ever seen in its 41-year history - they did not play in front of 7,000 fans. Though he tried in vain, he never could completely disengage the Seattle Sonic fan base; while getting rid of all fan favorites, even coaches with long ties to Seattle basketball and the community - just the opposite thing you would do if you were trying to build fan support for a new arena.

Seattle will get another franchise - but we won't rip one out of somebody else's community. We have had polls in Seattle - and overwhelmingly people voted up here that we would not want to be granted a team if it meant stealing one, and all its history from another city. I guess you can say that is where people from Oklahoma and Seattle differ - its called morals; look it up in the dictionary if you don't understand what it truly means.

Though you successfully stole our team - you cannot buy a team's history - it is not something you purchase - it is something you live; something that is woven into the community, into the people that shared the fond memories - not purchased. Make your own history and then rightfully celebrate it. Don't make mock NBA Championship trophies and banners that have absolutely no meaning to you. Remember a NBA team does not make you a big city, any more than Los Angeles losing the Rams made them a small city. Oklahoma will still be Oklahoma – with just another entertainment value available.
I was in Oklahoma for the first time a week ago, and met many nice people when I was there; and came away with the feeling they were happy to get a team but they did not agree with how they were getting one. From what I saw of the area - I have no idea how Oklahoma plans on supporting an NBA team - past the 3-5 year novelty phase, at which point your hero will be asking for a new arena to be able to compete - even though Ford Center looked adequate.
Most of you from Oklahoma know an injustice was done - and for you to stand for this injustice and not voice your opinion - makes you no better then Clay Bennett. For any of you to consider him a hero - only shows your lack of good values - for he has painted your state, your region with a brush of dishonesty, and unscrupulous behavior that will far outlive your short NBA lives.

LOL at John, Yukon...If you have been around as long as I have, then you MUST remember the T-Birds and Little Ralphie?

Congratulations Oklahoma. I congratulate the citizens of Seattle for confronting Mr. Bennett and Mr. Stern for being the liars they are. We had to put up with ten years of HORRIBLE teams, including last years worst in 41 years. Mr. Bennett comes to town and imeadiately demands 500 million from us! What a jerk. Shouldn't you first create a product worth watching before leaving the town because we were not supportive? And if anyone ever really believed Mr. Bennett ever intended on keeping the team here, do you think he would have ever bought the team if the Ford Center did not exist? Of course not. I am just glad he is gone.

Seattle guys Shutlz tried and tried again to get an deal done there. What made you think Bennet would get one done he obviously knew there was a risk hence his "sweet flip email". Come on Shultz sold out Seattle. Bennett took a risk and spent mega bux to get a team. Had a deal got done in Seattle under Shultz or Bennett all would be moot. I hope this jump starts Seattle it will be matter of time for before Memphis will move. As for OKC being smallest market true however as the NBA commitee learned Tulsa another top 65 market is close and as I recall has as much as 20% of ticket sales. I think combining the markets puts the OKC-Tulsa whatever in a good situation as a market. I just hope Bennett and Co doesn't look past Tulsa's assets. I have my name on Seanson ticket list can't wait til November. Congrats to OKC !!

Seattle got a great settlement. They were losing a team in two years anyway. I doubt the judge would have been so generous.

The Seattle Sonics are headed to OKC. New owner Clay Bennett gave his assurances that he would make a "Good Faith" effort to keep the team in Seattle. His "Good Faith" efforts turned out to be a demand for a new, one-half billion dollar arena or move the team. He flatly refused to consider refurbishing the existing Key Arena as an acceptable venue. He said it was not an acceptable option.

The NBA agreed with Bennett's position, and voted to allow him to move the team to OKC.

Then in an announcement late yesterday the NBA issued a statement that if renovations were made to Seattle's Key Arena that it would be an acceptable venue, and Seattle would be eligible to get another team. WTF??? Clay Bennett has been disingenous at best, and the whole thing smells of collusion.

I grew up with this team. I remember sitting in my room, lights dimmed, listening to the games on my transistor radio when I was 11 years old. I've been a fan ever since. I'm not a happy camper today.

I think we should start a contest in this discussion thread to find the most appropriate nickname for the team; forget the thing that the sports department ran a few weeks ago.

Any great ideas out there? (PLEASE don't say Barons!)

Congrats and a big round of applause to Clay Bennett. He never waivered and in the end brought this team home through shear determination. He has forever earned his place in history as the man who brought major league sports to Oklahoma. Great job, Clay.....thank you very, very much.

I am happy for my hometown where I have lived all but 9 of my 56 years. However, if there is one city in the NBA I would not have wanted to get a franchise from, it would have to be Seattle. My parents live there, and I love visiting that beautiful city and its progressive people. But I rejoice in my city's move to the big leagues.

I was hoping for a professional roller derby team... but I guess an NBA franchise is almost as good.

It's always difficult to relocate your home and family. But given time, the players will come to love OKC and the surrounding areas, much as the Hornets did. If someone told me I was going to have to live, in Phoenix, for example, I would probably hate to move there too going from one climate to another, especially one in the middle of a Desert. But having been to Phoenix, it's beautiful. The same will happen moving from a coastal forest area to a plains state. That's all it is.

Also, how do you base OKC's market size off of 1 season of pro basketball? Wait a couple of years and see what the market size looks like. The Hornets players raved about Oklahoma City as a good place to play and raise a family, which alot of players do.

OKC is a mid-sized marked but I think the fervor of the fans makes up for that. OKC has been growing like crazy and this will continue to fuel that. It's a great day for OKC and for the Seattle fans, it may do something good for you too! It may fuel some much-needed interest in the Sonics in Seattle and all the verbage about the requirements for a Key Arena replacement are there so that Seattle will gear up for a new team (if one is available). So..Cheers everyone, and I can't wait to see the new color scheme. I hope it's cool.

First of all, as a resident of the greater Seattle area, I'm ashamed of the people from Seattle that are posting racist comments on here about OKC " rednecks " and " hillbillies ". That's just plain embarrassing.

To the people of OKC:
Considering the fact that you've now become a " big league city " (oooo wow, whoopee!!) because you've now got a professional sports team of your own, I think that you should all be ashamed of the man who brought you your new team considering the fact that it's been proven through his emails to his business partners that he's a lying bastard who, I believe, committed perjury last week on the witness stand during the trial in Seattle.

I also suggest that you enjoy the play of the current players of the team that you're getting while you can because if they have ANY business sense at all, they will (especially budding superstar Kevin Durant) leave OKC as soon as their current contracts expire.
They would be absolutely stupid to choose to continue playing in the nations 46th largest market instead of a much larger market such as Chicago, New York, LA, or even............. Seattle (nations 13th largest market)?

My dream is that Clay Bennett's comment of " Boo Hoo " when asked what he thought about some of the current Sonics players not wishing to play in OKC will come back to haunt him a couple years from now by prized star player Kevin Durant mentioning publicly that that comment by Bennett weighed heavily on his mind when he decided to sign a new contract with a team in another city.

This is a VERY SAD DAY for me and once the shock has subsided (I'm guessing in a week or so), I'm sure it will be replaced early next Nov. by depression. The people that I REALLY feel sorry for in the near future are the personal secretaries of Clay Bennett and Howard Schultz since they are the ones that will get to sort through all the hate mail that both men will soon be receiving (and it's probably a pretty safe guess on my part that neither of them will ever see any of those letters)!!

I am consoling myself by keeping in mind the fact that Kevin Calabro, the play-by-play announcer of the Sonics for the last 22 years or so, will be showing great loyalty by NOT migrating to OKC. I'm very glad that, unlike the players, he is in control over whether or not he moves to OKC or stays in Seattle.
I feel for the current players who have to move against their will, and like I said, hope that they will sign with other teams as soon as they possibly can.

This is awesome, I am elated to finally have a have a true professional hometeam. Now dont back down fans with the rebuilding project that has to happen, the wins that will be few and far as the team bulds a nucleous around Durant and Green. Also if you can do not bail out when you have to pay the ticket prices that will be substanially more than what was paid to attend a Hornets game. Its finally come true and FINALLY OKLAHOMA has become a MAJOR LEAGUE SPORTS CITY.

I think people must understand that OKC's economy is booming right now. Not just from oil either, although that is a big contributor. Also, being the only team in town, or the state for that matter, it should have no problems with support. OU can fill 85,000+ every game, this is a huge sports driven area and not just football. This is not a collegiate town either, OU is about 30 miles south. I wish all the negative people that said we wouldn't stand a chance getting the team, that are now saying we can't support them financially... go away. We have our share of rich and corporate sponsors to help maintain the support. To the guy in N.O., Shinn tried and would have loved to stay here! He actually made a pretty damn good profit here, which helped them be as successful as they are now. N.O. will never have the population it once had and even then it wasn't any bigger than OKC. Plus we are looking at the bigger picture here and Tulsa will be included... and with a little over an hour drive away, they will be a big factor in support as well. And we've already proven we'll put up the money time and time again, did it with MAPS, the recent Ford Center vote, the vote for the GM plant... Whatever will better the community seems to pass here. Stay in N.O. and maybe you can solve the crime infestation and poor quality of life.

Odd that a city would get an NBA team and think it's actually a good thing...have fun paying those taxes to support millionaire athlete salaries! Have fun keeping that arena up to NBA standards!

This is great news. Congratulations Oklahoma City. Call the team the Oklahoma City Tornado's.

Yippee! MORE congested parking at Bricktown!!! No, seriously, I'm happy for basketball fans...the ones who supported the Hornets. This is a happy day for them

As a professional balloon artist, I hope to get a contract for balloon services for the team. But moer importantly, I am most joyful that Oklahoma City is now a Big League City. Thank you, Clay Bannett.

The NBA business model is not sustainable for these mid-market cities. Additionally, the ownership group substantially overpaid for this franchise, making it more difficult to sustain ongoing cash flow to sustain the franchise and keep it competitive. Of course, the government can assist with subsidized rents, tax-breaks, etc... which once again comes back to the fans and tax payers. Welcome to the big-leagues OKC, get used to the whining and crying of arrogant owners, overpaid athletes, and government beaurocrats!

As a born and raised Seattleite, it is truly a sad day in local sports history. Who is to blame? Everyone involved. Howard Schultz should/ve known that by selling the team to an out of town buyer he was risking the future of the franchise in Seattle as previous experiences with the Mariners and Seahawks have highlighted. The NBA is culpable as well and proves there is no loyalty in professional sports. The city settled for $45 million, hmm, what if they woul've taken Clay's money and used that to build a new stadium. Clay Bennett, dont get me started, as it is obvious he had no intention of keeping the team in Seattle. While the NBA is a business it also has a civic duty to to the cities it operates in, and until someone, somewhere, says enough is enough they will continue to use cities against each other for the best deal. I remember going to Sonic games almost before I could walk and I thank the Lord above that I took my seven year old son to a game this season, as those memories will last forever.

I am glad that OKC has landed a professional team. I personally love baseball but I am also a basketball fan. The NBA, it's FANNNNNNTASTIC! Do the Mariners come with it.

Just because we have not had a pro team in the past doesn't mean we can't handle one. 20 years or so ago Charlotte had no pro teams either now look at them. OKC has a growing economy and is making strides just like any other young city coming of age.

My thoughts are on Stern's comments. He said not one word about OKC or the idea that the NBA is glad to be in OKC. LOL. The entire statement was about Seattle. This team will not survive in OKC. OKC paid half price to see the Hornets. How many on here are ready to shell out an extra $300 to $500 a week to properly support an NBA team with tickets and concessions? Raise your hands. OKC cannot afford this team. I spend $250.00 a game on tickets and concessions for two people. You all ready to seperate yourselves from this kind of money?? Can you afford to live without $10,000.00 a year (and that is leaning towards the low end of being a proper supporter of your new team).

The NBA, it's FANNNNNNTASTIC! So are the unsubsidized ticket costs, the continual demands of owners for public funds, and the business structure of the league. $75 million is just the jumping off point - lots more to come for future arena upgrades and other "requirements" to be "competitive".

I care.... I want an NBA team here soo bad, I can taste it.....

really who cares about the sonics? its all about a buck.

Pechman left it to the parties to disclose the terms but a source said the two sides have been discussing a deal that would involve the Sonics leaving town for Oklahoma City in exchange for up to a $75 million payment to the city.

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Schultz will NOT drop his lawsuit

Pechman left it to the parties to disclose the terms but a source said the two sides have been discussing a deal that would involve the Sonics leaving town for Oklahoma City in exchange for up to a $75 million payment to the city.


Former Sonics owner and Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz will not drop his lawsuit against Bennett as part of the settlement, said two sources familiar with the deal.

Schultz' suit alleges that Bennett broke a promise to try to keep the Sonics in Seattle.

Schultz wants a court to transfer the Sonics to local ownership.

Lets not start down this path again until the details are released........

At least SOS isnt here to tell us that there was no settlement.

What are the details? This question is a bit premature...

Do you think that the Sonics will pay the settlement? I bet we Okies get that little honor. But it's only a penny right?

Why ask us to answer a question whose answer is a secret?

Really who wants a settlement lol

Why?? It hasn't been announced yet!!

I want to be on the good side, so it is the best resolution, it is the worst resolution, or it is totally fair. I think I covered all the bases.

Depends on what the settlement is.

personally, (and this may just be me), i think we need to hear the terms of the settlement before we can really weigh in on them. :)

It sounds like a good settlement. Although, I'm going to wait until I actually know what's involved in the settlement before I comment further.