The team wanted a new arena and designed the specifications. The taxpayers spent a lot of money on it, dump or not. Then the team wanted big additions or another new one. The government couldn't afford it. Politicians who had put their careers on the line, barely getting it approved against great voter opposition, now felt betrayed, so the team lost its allies.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.so...goal-big-step-forward-nate-mcmillan-team-soon Seattle NBA goal takes big step forward; McMillan thinks NBA will “put a team there soon” With an arena deal in hand and an NHL club on the horizon, it’s “legitimate” to consider a Sonics return now.
McMillan's just being kind. There won't be a Seattle NBA team for many years. As for a new NHL team there, the reason for why that requires a new hockey arena is...The Sonics owner who designed the specs of Key Arena made it too small for hockey, because he didn't want to share.
So you are calling very crappy repairs to a completely run down arena a new stadium? If that is what Seattle thinks constitutes a new arena then it's no wonder they left.
Portland isn’t the same Portland it use to be. This city is a booming market that actually is looking to draw MORE sports here. With the tech scene, food and beverage industry, shit I think it’s like number 3 in the country with the crane count, and ppl moving here like crazy the Blazers will never leave their market
Just like when Seattle got the kings right? Oh right small ass Sacramento somehow kept their team but Portland couldn’t? Stop it lol
Things change all the time. I've learned you can Never Say Never, because that's when one can end up getting screwed.
Well, despite the "Rose Garden" being what like 23 years old now, it is still a really nice arena and has held up well over time. Portland has always been considered to have some of the best NBA fans and we've supported the team for decades. Why would the NBA want to piss off a good fan base? The value of the team being in Seattle compared to Portland isn't enough in my opinion business wise to warrant losing a whole cities worth of fans of your sport.
Well if your looking at it like that then yes anything can happen like us getting the Seahawks one day... sure
It goes back to Stern and Paul. Paul wouldn't allow the Blazers to be moved. Stern got pissed at him and held a grudge the rest of his years as commisioner. The NBA wanted to move the Blazers.
I agree with him. I used to think that some fan bases were above reproach, but then the NFL took Chargers away from San Diego. Oh sorry, Alex Spanos took the Chargers away from SD and the league did nothing. San Diego literally is responsible for changng NFL history, offensively, and not even NFL fans gave much of a shit. I could easily see the same thing happening here. "Sorry Portland brahs, just drive up I-5. So sorry." And as long as they have at least one team in the NW, the NBA wouldn't care.
When the hell was this? If anything it's the exact opposite. I even remember Stern saying that the NBA will always be in Portland and that those fans don't have to worry about them moving because he wouldn't allow it. The commissioners aren't stupid, they aren't going to rip a team from a city that consistently sells out games and supports their team. The Chargers moved because of stadium issues. The NFL gave them plenty of chances to keep them. It's not even close to a comparable situation and you guys are making up some kind of grudge against Portland that doesn't exist.
No. The Chargers moved because they would be worth a lot more money in LA. But even with a new stadium nobody will see their sorry ass.
