And so, the Sonics' saga in Seattle ends and the NBA era in OKC begins.
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About darn time.
Our fair state has been poised to party ever since Clay Bennett and his partners bought the Sonics, but instead, we've endured one false start after another. These past couple years have been just as frustrating as they have been exciting.
The frustration is over.
The fun is just beginning.
The NBA is coming this fall.
The Sonics reached an agreement with the City of Seattle on Wednesday afternoon, only hours before a ruling was due in the federal lawsuit between the two. The team can leave Seattle for Oklahoma City immediately in exchange for up to $75 million.
Seattle keeps the team's name, colors and history.
Oklahoma City gets the rest.
"The NBA will be in Oklahoma City next season,” Bennett said during a Wednesday night press conference. "The relocation of the operation of this team begins tomorrow morning.”
Break out the party hats and the noisemakers, my friends. Heck, this is so big, a glass of the bubbly would be good, too.
The NBA is on its way.
Time to celebrate.
Just be sure to dust off the party gear first.
Remember back when Bennett stood next to Howard Schultz and announced an Oklahoma-based group had bought the Sonics? Remember when politicians and voters in Washington refused to build a new arena? Remember when Bennett said the team wanted to move and a new lawsuit seemed to spring up every other day?
Those benchmarks occurred within the past 24 months, and yet, they seem distant memories now.
Even though the idea of having an NBA team in town has been fun to envision and cool to ponder, we've all been cautious over the past two years. No need to get too excited. No reason to get too worried.
We've been in wait-and-see mode.
Even if a settlement hadn't been reached, Wednesday would've been a good day; we'd have gone to bed knowing more about the future of the NBA in OKC. We'd have known if the team formerly known as the Sonics were going to be bound to the last two years on their arena lease, or we'd have known if they might be in Oklahoma by the time football season starts.
Knowing something even slightly more definitive would've been grand.
Instead, we went from a blurry, fuzzy picture to crystal-clear focus in a few hours Wednesday.
It feels good.
No more wondering. No more guessing.
At times these past few months, it felt like we were stuck in purgatory. Either that, or the longest coaching search ever. We knew there eventually would be resolution, but there were times when a decision seemed far away.
Bennett and Co. bought the team two years ago this summer. From the beginning, the owners made it clear they wanted a new arena and that the good folks in the Pacific Northwest had a year to figure out how to get it done.
Fail to do so, and the owners would consider moving the team.
Considering the lack of cooperation from government officials and the apathy from many voters in that neck of the woods, a move seemed possible and Oklahoma City seemed likely.
We waited.
Over the next year, it became obvious that a new arena in Seattle was about as likely as the eviction of Starbucks or Microsoft.
Wasn't gonna happen.
Still, we waited.
In early October, the City of Seattle sued the Sonics to force the team to stay the remaining years on the lease. The team had yet to say it was leaving.
But less than a month later, Bennett informed the NBA that the Sonics intended to relocate to Oklahoma City. They wanted out soon. That required buying out of the final two seasons of their arena lease, and that required negotiating with the city.
The two sides weren't exactly meeting for lattes.
So, we waited.
Even when Oklahoma City residents overwhelmingly passed a $121.6 million penny sales tax for Ford Center renovations, the celebration was muted that March evening.
Ditto for the April afternoon when the NBA's Board of Governors approved the Seattle franchise's relocation.
We waited.
No more.
Remember the gal who yodeled during free throws at Hornets' games? Remember the guy who wore the brick on his head? Remember watching Shaq and Kobe and CP3? Remember the energy inside the Ford Center?
We're about to have all of that and more.
"We made it,” Bennett said.
It's time to celebrate. Why not have a welcome party in Bricktown? Why not do a parade through the streets of downtown Oklahoma City?
The looming questions have been answered. The daunting uncertainties have been squashed.
The NBA is coming to OKC.
Where's that party hat?
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Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.
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Phil, I agree with your point about city leaders SHOULD be guarding taxpayer funds, while Bennett has shown his willingness to be less than a man of his word (trying to break contracts, apparently lying under oath etc), he and our leaders have already taken care of "screwing over a city" (this may just be the starting point with lots more to come over the years). The lease with OKC is definitely lucrative for the team, but the City? Not so much. Even though the Mayor said a few months ago we were "sophisticated" when it came to lease negotiations (due to OKC's success with the Hornets, where the City shared in the profits and received for a million in NET profit). Both Mayor Mick and the City Manager approached this one with a "break even philosophy". The City MIGHT eek out a small profit of $150,000 (big difference from a $1 million profit). A sweetheart lease where it takes 193.8 years to "break even" on the Ford improvements and 210 years to "break even" on the practice facility. Can't forget the giving away of the naming rights, which if handled correctly could have paid for the improvements (Memphis, a slightly smaller market got $90 million). Add to that OKC is required to keep upgrading the Ford to whatever the changing NBA standards are (unlike the Key, there was no requirement). We have no way to pay for it but are contractually bound to do so for the next 15 to 30 years. We don't even get to keep the $400+ thousand we currently get under the naming rights. The team was so "gracious" to let us have after the renegotiated rights went to them (to a building they don't own). The City is required to put that money back into the fund to pay for further NBA improvements! Won't even come close since after 5 years the Ford needed $100 million to be current again.
"Your leaders just signed a lucrative deal with a millionaire who just demonstrated he could care less about the leases that he holds."...Only in Seattle...Can't judge the man yet by what he has done 2,000 miles away..."You may be patting yourselves on the back, but from where I sit it looks like YOUR government is far more irresponsible than Seattle's is."...Thankfully
I'm not sure jumping for joy is wise over this situation. Your leaders just signed a lucrative deal with a millionaire who just demonstrated he could care less about the leases that he holds. It's like jumping for joy for signing loan docs with a client with very bad credit. Not too smart on your part Oklahoma, especially when the only way this guy would make good in Seattle is when the city sued it out him.
Your leaders are not doing their jobs. Their jobs is to protect taxpayer funds in the same way a bank is supposed to protect shareholder funds. If banks make huge million dollar loans to people with terrible credit, normally shareholders would demand the head of the CEO. In this case, your leaders just signed loan docs with clients who have a track record of screwing over a city. You may be patting yourselves on the back, but from where I sit it looks like YOUR government is far more irresponsible than Seattle's is.
THANKS TO THE PBC FOR PAYING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OKKLAHOMANS TO HAVE NBA BASKETBALL. ALL OF THESE MEN AND WOMEN COULD HAVE DONE OTHER THINGS BUT THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO HELP ELEVATE THE ENTIRE STATE VIA PRO SPORT. I FOR ONE AM APPRECIATIVE OF THEIR COMMITMENT TO OUR CITY AND STATE AND WILL SUPPORT THEM ALL THAT I CAN TO HELP THEM MAKE A RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT. I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE MY OWN OKLAHOMA TEAM TAKE THE FLOOR
Keith wrote: "Thanks Clay! I think we should all dig deep and donate $100 each to a fund to help pay the additional costs Clay incurred to bring he NBA to OKC. We will all benefit from his efforts!" Feel free to write him and the other millionaire and billionaire owners a check...am sure they need it!
The victim mentality that these Seattle posters toss out is pathetic. I'm sure it sucks that you are losing a team but it is not because it was STOLEN from you.
Paying 350million for a team is not stealing it. Seattle posters quit with the lies and come back to reality. Bennett bought a team with his own money that was dwindling and is trying to make it profitable. End of story. Nobody got anything "stolen" from them.
Will the players still feel loyal when they drive by one of the 869 Sonic Drive-ins? I'm guessing not! Time to put them all on waivers and look up Heinsohn, Cousy, and Havlicek.
sam, San francisco: In the printed paper the Oklahoma DID print a column by Jerry Brewer from the Seattle Times addressing your concerns...am sure there is a link to it on this site somewhere but haven't run across it yet. Not everyone here in Oklahoma is thrilled with the way this went down. There are a few that don't care how they got a team, as long as they get one. Unfortunately many of those same people are proficient posters on this site so you are getting a slanted view (just as many of the posters on these threads from Seattle often give very negative opinions of Oklahoman's in general based on Bennett and Co's actions).
Nathan, it is in the lease that the team name MUST include "Oklahoma City" (not just "Oklahoma"). Doesn't seem to bother your Mayor. Didn't seem to bother the 20% of season ticket holders from Tulsa that were here for the Oklahoma City/New Orleans Hornets. Why does this bother you so much? If the team was in Tulsa, am sure they would be calling them the "Tulsa _______". Your NBA Development league team is called the "Tulsa 66ers". Never fear though, Bennett has said repeatedly that the team will be marketed to the whole state. You are NOT being excluded.
As an NBA fan in the New York area (yeah, I'm a Knicks fan, but admitting you have a problem is a step towards curing it), I don't really have a dog in this fight. But I do have to shake my head a little at all this celebrating in OKC. Look, I get being happy that you finally have a major professional sports team in your state. You should be happy. But let's not pretend here like you got this team because Seattle didn't want the team bad enough. The Sonics were a MAJOR part of Seattle's scene and it was clear Clay Bennett had no interest in keeping the team in Seattle. The whole arena thing was a sham and just an excuse to cover his true motives: to get his basketball team to Oklahoma as soon as possible.
While you Oklahomans should be happy to have NBA basketball, take a moment to understand the frustration and sadness happening in the Northwest right now. Thankfully, I've never had one of my teams leave my hometown, but being from Brooklyn, I still hear about how older Brooklynites were hurt when the Dodgers packed up for L.A.
I was wrong totally. I am bitter. I hope I am able to move on. I am too devastated to put together anything coherant. I will miss Durant. Green. Collison. Petro. Wilcox. Watson. Wilkens. Ridnour. Since there are good people in your city, to those I offer best wishes. Peace.
Jess, maybe the players will pump some money into the local strip clubs, but that will be it. That's how bored and desperate for worthy entertainment they will be. I guess that is an attraction after all! Oh, I lived there for a year, so no research needed!
Congrads Clay, from the bottom of my heart you have made OKC the butt of all cities in America. You have made me proud to be from this city. I will never set foot in the Ford Center again until you are out of the picture. And good luck on a new arena.
It is pathetic to read the boasting of this town, based on something that all Oklahomans now openly admit was a plan to deceit from day One. I have nothing against the people of OK, but this shows lack of integrity and maturity. Yes, you will watch basketball this year, but it is like getting a high grade cheating on a test, or backstabbing someone to get your way. Your hero Bennett is a liar, and he knows it. The end should never justify the means. You got yourself a team, and you got yourself some really bad karma along with it. Enjoy! But remember, what goes around, comes around. May your fair city not suffer a disaster of its own to reward your heartlessness.
I was raised in the Seattle area. I grew up watching the sonics. To say they were simply a part of my life would be a drastic understatement. For me, today is filled with equal parts rage and despair.
I wanted to come here, to see the view from the other side, hoping to find ONE article addressed to the mourning fans in Seattle, ONE article that promised that while the people of Oklahoma may not understand the pain being felt in Washington state, that the fans in the Midwest would do their best to be passionate caretakers of something that had serendipitously fallen in their laps.
Predictably, no one here wrote that article.
The only mention of Seattle in today's Oklahoman articles typically centers on how Seattle had a chance to save the sonics, but didn't. Many articles on this site today use varying versions of that statement, which basically amounts to your best defense against the silent guilt that you feel for stealing a 41 year old civic tradition from a group of people that loved it very much. It's an illogical defense, though - it does not address Clay Bennett's transparent agenda, but rather tries to change the subject. As professional writers, I want to believe that you can do better than that.
Jenni, you bring up the fact that Bennett made a proposal for a new arena in Seattle. Many oklahomans also point to this, as if it is remarkable due diligence on Bennett's part. Sure, asking for what would have been the most expensive basketball arena ever built is a great good faith effort. Not. But that's what you like to claim, or at least intone.
In your hearts, you know that Bennett and his partners wanted to bring the team to Oklahoma from day one. You know it. You don't need the email evidence. But you (Jenni) still write an article that bends that reality and suggests that Bennett legitimately wanted to keep the team in Seattle when he bought it. That's dishonest, and I think a ploy to try and keep in a hole the guilt you know you'll feel, every now and then, from enjoying a stolen team.
I would ask that you take a look at yourself as a journalist (and as a human being). I would ask that you consider the suffering being felt in another part of the country. I don't think that's a lot to ask. But you are too busy celebrating.
"From the beginning, the owners made it clear they wanted a new arena and that the good folks in the Pacific Northwest had a year to figure out how to get it done." -- No, from the begining the owners clearly wanted to move the team to Oklahoma and were willing to lose millions of dollars to do that. A new arena was the last thing they wanted.
Congrats to OKC---However--"Bennett is too bloodied to raise his arms in triumph. Like all owners who try to move franchises out of longtime homes, Bennett took a beating in Seattle. SOME OF IT DESERVED, some of it not."-Berry Tramel.....I don't think you will ever get specific Berry and elaborate on what you think is deserved...
Don't be stupid OKC...name the team the Oklahoma "something". Give the whole state a sense of ownership, and they'll show up and support more. You'll need it after the newness wares off. You'll get the city sales tax and all that, no problem...so don't get in a tiff over "well we paid for it", "we did the Ford Center", yada yada yada. Ditch the "City" in the name, and it will be so much better long term. I'm telling ya... Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies/Avalanche, Florida Marlins, Texas Rangers, Indiana Pacers, New Jersey Nets, Carolina Panthers...no one thinks those teams made a bad decision. And they have their full states support. Don't ostracize Tulsa, or you'll lose them (1 million+ in their metroplex, fyi). Makes the $250 in gas/tolls/food/parking/tickets easier to pay for a game for Tulsa folks if they feel ownership in the team.
Jenni, let me know when you've organized that big celebration downtown. You couldn't get 100 people... other than Mick, your fellow sportswriters and Chesapeake execs.....
Thanks Clay! I think we should all dig deep and donate $100 each to a fund to help pay the additional costs Clay incurred to bring he NBA to OKC. We will all benefit from his efforts!
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.
Here it comes, although the Mayor’s office said the seating in the Ford was “adequate” (in response as to why we aren’t adding any seats to the Ford and actually decreasing seating by 500 after the “improvements”...dropping us from #14 to #24). The Mayor said the following:
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http://www.newsok.com/article/3265341
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Now that Seattle lawsuit has been settled, the NBA is on its way here to stay (July 3, 2008)
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“I think somebody is going to have to pinch me to think this day is really here,” Cornett said. “If I had a concern — and my tongue is not in my cheek — I’m concerned WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH SEATS in that arena. I think the season ticket sales are going to blow the roof off the building.”
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They are already gearing up for the demands for a new arena (due to inadequate seating) and we haven’t even started making the improvements or collected one penny of the $100 million yet. Maybe they can alter the plans and increase seating somehow. Otherwise, we are flushing $100 million down the improved Ford toilets.
Oooohhhh, all that alleged Seattle money was going to take Clayboy and Aubrey down. The big Microsoft Behemoth would kick the Okies back to the southwest. Howard Starbucks could do the same. Today, Starbucks shuts down 600 stores, the Ballmer boy is going to have put up real money and convince the NBA owners Seattle should not remain in purgatory, and Clayboy and his lawyers gave the Seattle minor leaguers a lesson. The big west coasters and their mouths ran a lot and lost. Of course west coasters have always talked the big game. Enjoy the WNBA. About Seattle's speed.
Wow, you folks in Oklahoma City are sure living a lie. Go party and celebrate hopefully you can fulfill your dreams of fitting in with the other cool citys of America with their fancy NBA teams. Too bad you guys stole this team.
From the top of my lungs----WHERE ARE YOU??? You know who you are a couple of posters from the area and all you puget sound folk. Where are all you bold predictions? C,Mon Paul you talked way too much to now avoid posting.
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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Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.
Your leaders are not doing their jobs. Their jobs is to protect taxpayer funds in the same way a bank is supposed to protect shareholder funds. If banks make huge million dollar loans to people with terrible credit, normally shareholders would demand the head of the CEO. In this case, your leaders just signed loan docs with clients who have a track record of screwing over a city. You may be patting yourselves on the back, but from where I sit it looks like YOUR government is far more irresponsible than Seattle's is.
While you Oklahomans should be happy to have NBA basketball, take a moment to understand the frustration and sadness happening in the Northwest right now. Thankfully, I've never had one of my teams leave my hometown, but being from Brooklyn, I still hear about how older Brooklynites were hurt when the Dodgers packed up for L.A.
I wanted to come here, to see the view from the other side, hoping to find ONE article addressed to the mourning fans in Seattle, ONE article that promised that while the people of Oklahoma may not understand the pain being felt in Washington state, that the fans in the Midwest would do their best to be passionate caretakers of something that had serendipitously fallen in their laps.
Predictably, no one here wrote that article.
The only mention of Seattle in today's Oklahoman articles typically centers on how Seattle had a chance to save the sonics, but didn't. Many articles on this site today use varying versions of that statement, which basically amounts to your best defense against the silent guilt that you feel for stealing a 41 year old civic tradition from a group of people that loved it very much. It's an illogical defense, though - it does not address Clay Bennett's transparent agenda, but rather tries to change the subject. As professional writers, I want to believe that you can do better than that.
Jenni, you bring up the fact that Bennett made a proposal for a new arena in Seattle. Many oklahomans also point to this, as if it is remarkable due diligence on Bennett's part. Sure, asking for what would have been the most expensive basketball arena ever built is a great good faith effort. Not. But that's what you like to claim, or at least intone.
In your hearts, you know that Bennett and his partners wanted to bring the team to Oklahoma from day one. You know it. You don't need the email evidence. But you (Jenni) still write an article that bends that reality and suggests that Bennett legitimately wanted to keep the team in Seattle when he bought it. That's dishonest, and I think a ploy to try and keep in a hole the guilt you know you'll feel, every now and then, from enjoying a stolen team.
I would ask that you take a look at yourself as a journalist (and as a human being). I would ask that you consider the suffering being felt in another part of the country. I don't think that's a lot to ask. But you are too busy celebrating.
_________________________________________________________________
http://www.newsok.com/article/3265341
_________________________________________________________________
Now that Seattle lawsuit has been settled, the NBA is on its way here to stay (July 3, 2008)
_________________________________________________________________
“I think somebody is going to have to pinch me to think this day is really here,” Cornett said. “If I had a concern — and my tongue is not in my cheek — I’m concerned WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH SEATS in that arena. I think the season ticket sales are going to blow the roof off the building.”
_________________________________________________________________
They are already gearing up for the demands for a new arena (due to inadequate seating) and we haven’t even started making the improvements or collected one penny of the $100 million yet. Maybe they can alter the plans and increase seating somehow. Otherwise, we are flushing $100 million down the improved Ford toilets.