The Sonics/ Should They Stay or Go Back To Oklahoma

[Marc Martyn]

The owner of the Sonics says if he doesn't get a new arena, he is going to take his ball and go home:bball:
What do you think?

[A9]

He just notified the NBA that he plans to officially take them back to OK city...

[A9]

Here's a link to the ESPN article:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3091416

I think they should stay.. I wanna see this Durant guy a few times in person and I don't think they will prosper well as a team in Oklahoma...

[shawn]

I really don't Basketball,so I really don't care.But from what I've read and seen on T.V. I know I don't like that liar Clay Bennett(the new owner).I know there is not a big market for basketball in Oklahoma,I lived there for about 7 years.It's all about Cowboys football,and NASCAR.If he does move the Sonics I hope he falls flat on his face for how he double talked everyone in Washington.

[michaelunbewust]

i went to the opener, courtesy of UPS, andsat 8th row behind the players. i was very impressed with this young team!!! but, the arena is outdated. we were sitting in $158 seats, and our knees were in our chest, and the smoke was not venting from the fireworks and noisemakers. on the other hand, clay bennett is a chump, who wants nothing to do with this great city of ours, and that is his bad! the emerald city will always have the nba, so, even if he leaves, we would be put at the front of the line for en expansion, or, someone else moving. bennett took the wrong road with voters, because he never intended for the team to stay here, but, what he failed to realize was seattle is passionate about thier sports, and, we will not be threatened. bennett needs to talk to mr. ken behring (seahawks), to get an idea what can happen when some rabid fans get mad, over threats of thier team leaving town. WE RALLY THE TROOPS, AND KICK THESE OUT-OF-TOWNERS BACK IN THE HOLES WHERE THEY CAME FROM!!!! we really love our guys!!!!!!!!!!!! i hope they stay!

[EastsideRedneck]

It absolutely blows my mind that Clay Bennet has the moxy to demand a new arena from the taxpayers when the team can't fill the seats in their current one. This city has far too many infrastructure problems to fix that are more pressing than a succumbing to the desires of a group of charlatans who own a ball club. I'll move out of King County if my tax dollars go towards building a new arena. I am still appalled that this city built Quest Field before it was even close to paying off the King Dome. Just like the monorail, Seattle focuses far too much on flights of fancy in the vile name of tourism than it does to improve life for its own citizens. What about the broken school system, roads, and transit?
Why should we as taxpayers pay for an arena for millionaires to play in? The NBA comissioner, Mr. Stern, may be the biggest loser of them all. His comments about our cities lack of financial support for the NBA is nonsense. For once, our elected officials may finally show some business-sense. The fundamentals simply do not show a worthwhile return on our investment.

Hey Eastside, this is iPodrodder editing your post. Keep it G rated.

[cavdad45]

I really don't Basketball,so I really don't care.But from what I've read and seen on T.V. I know I don't like that liar Clay Bennett(the new owner).I know there is not a big market for basketball in Oklahoma,I lived there for about 7 years.It's all about Cowboys football,and NASCAR.If he does move the Sonics I hope he falls flat on his face for how he double talked everyone in Washington.

I couldn't believe that Texas had a market for basketball, either, but they have three teams and a hockey team. As I am not much of a basketball fan I could care less, by the way take the Jailblazers too. Their off the court antics are an embarassment to the community.

[iPodrodder]

Newsflash: Oklahoma City finally gets second person to live there!!! Seriously, what market is there? It's all about marketing. That's why we have the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and the New York Giants and Jets (both play in the same stadium in New Jersey).

[Derrick-k]

They realy belong in seattle I have been going to games ever since I was a wee lad. But they don't need the city to pay for a new arena no team needs to use taxpayer dollors to build them an arena THERE RICH!!!! they have enough money to pay for the arena themselfs. Beside's WHATS WRONG WITH THE KEY-ARENA, it's perfectly fine we don't need a new arena in the first place.

[michaelunbewust]

I AM DEFINENTLY NOT FOR CLY BENNETT, BUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE SAID ABOUT BAD INFO. FIRST, TO EASTSIDE REDNECK, UNLESS YOU FLEW INTO SEATAC, RENTED A MOTEL, OR RENTED A RENTAL CAR, YOU HAVE NEVER PAID A DIME FOR QWEST FIELD. THE TAX IS A LUXERY TAX TAKEN FROM MOTELS, CAR RENTAL AGENCY'S AND THE SMALLEST PART FROM THE AIRPORT. SECONDLY, DERRICK K, YOU SAID YOU HAD BEEN TO MANY GAMES, WELL, I GO REGULARLY AS PART OF THE PERKS OF MY JOB, AND, THE SEATS FROM THE FLOOR UP HAVE LESS SPACE THAN AN AIRLINE HAS IN ITS AISLES, WHICH PUTS YOUR KNEES INTO YOUR CHEST, ALSO THE VENTILATION SYSTEM IS WAY OUTDATED, WHICH, YOU WOULD NOTICE AT THE GAMES. SMOKE OF ANY KIND DOES NOT CLEAR OUT, SOMETIMES FOR THE WHOLE GAME. IVE TOURED THE ARENA WITH UPS, AND THE LOCKER ROOMS ARE NOT AS GOOD AS SOME OF THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS. SMALL, WITH HARDLY ANY SPACE FOR A TRAINING/WEIGHT ROOM. SMALLEST IN THE LEAGUE, AND IVE BEEN TO 8 DIFFERENT ARENAS AROUND THE U.S., AND OURS IS THE SMALLEST. WE NEED TO ALL GET ON THE SAME PAGE HERE WITH THE CORRECT INFO. IT IS SO EASY TO BELLY-ACHE ABOUT THE OKLAHOMAN, BUT WE ARE BETTER THAN THAT. IF A PERSON HAS A COMPLAINT, LET IT BE A TRUTHFUL ONE, OR A CORRECTLY STATED FACT. WHAT PEOPLE HERE IN SEATTLE NEED TO REALIZE IS THE SONICS MAY LEAVE, BUT WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE AN NBA TEAM. IF THEY DO LEAVE, WE WILL BUILD A NEW ARENA FOR ANOTHER INCOMING TEAM, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BIG A MARKET FOR THE NBA TO STAY OUT OF. THIS IS MY OPINION HERE, EXCEPT FOR THE CORRECTED FACTS. SHIPPERMIKE

[A9]

SMALLEST IN THE LEAGUE, AND IVE BEEN TO 8 DIFFERENT ARENAS AROUND THE U.S., AND OURS IS THE SMALLEST. WHAT PEOPLE HERE IN SEATTLE NEED TO REALIZE IS THE SONICS MAY LEAVE, BUT WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE AN NBA TEAM. IF THEY DO LEAVE, WE WILL BUILD A NEW ARENA FOR ANOTHER INCOMING TEAM, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BIG A MARKET FOR THE NBA TO STAY OUT OF. THIS IS MY OPINION HERE, EXCEPT FOR THE CORRECTED FACTS. SHIPPERMIKE

We can't even fill the Key Arena with people now...

Also, if we can't get a new arena for the sonics, what makes you think it will be any easier to build an arena for another team? Plus, it's not that easy to get an expansion team like you seem to think it is...

[michaelunbewust]

fans fill the seats of winners. the question has never been about how many people show up, it is what is spent whenthey do. the sonics have said they cant make money at the arena because of the lease, but it is much more than the lease. the 2nd rate restuarants, no real side attractions for kids, shoot, bill gates couldnt make money in this barn. the new all-purpose arena would be for everyone's use, not just the sonics, kind of like qwest, which, has other events all the time. and as far as, my take on the expansion teams sam k., here is some history for ya. toronto, charlotte, miami memphis and new orleans in the last 10 years. charlotte had been given one, they left for new orleans, and actually got a 2nd franchise in front of a number of other cities, due to a bigger market. washington was sold, and then bought by someone else who renamed the team, after they got a new arena. seattle is a top 10 as far as market strength, and would automatically go to the front of the line, when a new arena is built. and yes, one will be built, due to all the business's and employees of said business's needing income, plus the tax revenue is to big to give to another city permanently. again, only my opinion, except which is fact. besides sam, how long will the muckleshoots stay out of the sport teams business? they are standing tall, and patiently waiting, and also, have the 1 thing that can change the whole situation, and that is money$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[A9]

the new all-purpose arena would be for everyone's use, not just the sonics, kind of like qwest, which, has other events all the time.

Key Arena is used for the Storm, the Thunderbirds, and concerts. It's not just the Sonic's home...

[T Dot]

there are alot of people you can point the finger at

:king:

if you lose one team you lose them both. he is now the owner of both teams.

bidding / getting a nba franchise to come to your city is very hard. it is much easier to move an existing team. look @ vancouver for example, next on the list is seattle and nj. nj is a good move, as it isnt far away, and i believe its moving to a prime location.

political people and urban planning are the first people to blame. they ultimately started the snowball effect. the previous owner is a business person. he had made comments long before about adequate facilities. a middle ground should have been met, but it wasnt. strike one and probably the most important strike.

lets take the mariners for example, they have only been here since 1977 and they have already gotten a new facility. what does that facility do during off season? personally i think it collects dust. why wasnt a dual facility made for both baseball and basketball, atleast for a bandaid fix.

team personnel / city media. i have yet to hear any big talk on the radio / media about really keeping the team here. die hard fans should have already had some type of rally or something. now onto personnel, where did they get these ppl? they are the brains and heart of the team, without them you are pretty much nothing. i can clearly remember when the sonics were having a record year, and were leading the nba in wins for most of the season. not only that, they didnt make any improvements to the team during that season, atleast ones i thought where good. one would think, personnel would have pulled some strings and made some trades.

now after that record season, who is left? pretty much no one. their biggest mistake is letting the coach leave. your coach is the bloodline of the team, same goes with the gm. seattles fan base should have made a ruckus about that. fans have alot of influence on a team. without fans there is no money. ... and now one is left, and i clearly see the team moving. it has all snowballed from the denied facility / facility improvements. the team has already let go of their 2 biggest superstars, allen and lewis. thats strike two and three for me already.

even though they signed the 2nd round draft pick, that is not much. he still has to prove he can play at the nba level. for one, he has no support. for him to carry the team is impossible, especially in the west. seattle doesnt even have a big man. if you seriously think he is going to carry the team for 4 years, you are just going to wear him out. not good for long term goals. there are underlying reasons why allen and lewis left. do you think he will stay if management doesnt make any improvements after this year. without any significate improvements this year, i see he leaving after his contract is done. it always happens. seattle will regret letting go of allen, he will get his ring in boston. well atleast if the raptors dont stop them. go raps!

fan base / radio stations. ultimately if people wanted the sonics to stay, there would be a huge crowd influencing this every game, from here on in. the longer you wait, the less chance you have of keeping them here. that late bid to buy the team to keep there here, is kinda late dont you think? where was it when the owner wanted to sell the team in the first place? better late than never i guess.

[T Dot]

fans fill the seats of winners.

to me those arent fans. i call them bandwagon jumpers

:king:

win or lose you should support your team. ima die hard raptors fan, win or lose. look @ us now, we are on top of the world, well atleast the east.

[A9]

Howard Schultz or Clay Bennett, either one I can't stand and have turned the Sonics franchise upside down, and we are now on the verge of losing basketball in Seattle...

[A9]

fans fill the seats of winners.

to me those arent fans. i call them bandwagon jumpers

:king:

win or lose you should support your team. ima die hard raptors fan, win or lose. look @ us now, we are on top of the world, well atleast the east.

UNfortunately a winning team is always going to sell out over a sub .500 team. No one wants to see a horrible team lose all the time, but a title contending team? Of course those games are well attended. All I know that if the Sonics were a major power in the NBA, I think getting a new arena would be easier..

[bassackwards]

Oklahoma can have 'em....SEE YA!!!!

Use the arena for a hockey team.

I'm not much of a Basketball fan, more or less just a "March Madness" guy.

[T Dot]

UNfortunately a winning team is always going to sell out over a sub .500 team. No one wants to see a horrible team lose all the time, but a title contending team? Of course those games are well attended. All I know that if the Sonics were a major power in the NBA, I think getting a new arena would be easier..

sonics 2k4. many thought they were built to go all the way. at one point they were pretty much unbeatable.

a building doesnt get old over three years. someone should have done something then.

they way i see it, they have their foot half way out the door already. if the sonic fans what to say something, this is their year to say it. what better place to say it, is on national tv and @ a game. you couldnt ask for a better stage.

[EastsideRedneck]

For the record Michael I do travel by air and utilize rental cars & hotels in the Seattle area.

I have lived in/visited many, many cities across this great nation and can honestly say that the seats are not discernably different anywhere else- even in the larger markets. The seats are just as close together and uncomfortable at Quest Field as they are at Key Arena and nobody is complaining about it. The new/remodeled arena isn't about making the seats more comfortable for the average joe's- it is about increasing the number of and luxury of the suites/owners boxes. Don't kid yourself for moment that they are going to sacrifice the number of seats in the name of ticketholder comfort. Bigger arena, more seats. Small locker rooms- who gives a $%^&! With their inflated salaries they can afford a gym membership and a conference room. Of all professional sports, Basketball is the only one that I will pay to watch. That said, let 'em go to Oklahoma City; I am not going to miss them one bit. If the Sonics had been consistent performers, making a strong showing every year we wouldn't be having this discussion. Owners don't usually sell teams that are good investments (relative term since most teams don't directly make money for their owners).

If your kid was a "D" student would you reward his efforts with a new Corvette? I didn't think so. Why should the "Sub"-Sonics be any different.

I sincerely doubt Seattle will find itself hosting another NBA team for some time. Mr. Stern's current disdain for our market makes it even less likely in the near term. Besides, our local uber-wealthy have been focusing their funds elsewhere these days...