The Sonics filed for arbitration to escape their lease...</p> http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/soni...ebsonics21.html</p> Unfortunately for them, the lease states under what cases arbitration would be approved and they don't meet any of the conditions.</p> Mayor Nickels responded...</p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE ("Mayor Nickels)</div><div class='quotemain'>There have always been sensible options available to Mr. Bennett if he wanted to keep the Sonics and Storm at KeyArena. Today’s actions make it clear that has never been his intention.</div></p> SOS's lawyers have the following to say...</p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE ("Law Offices of Paul Schneideman, Esq.)</div><div class='quotemain'>The City of Seattle has a strong Occupancy Agreement with an enforcement clause on page 59 of this agreement. The City is in a strong legal position to enforce the terms and conditions of this agreement through 2010. It is the goal and intention of Save Our Sonics and Storm to ensure that our franchises stay in the Seattle region through 2010 and beyond.</div></p>
City of Seattle Sues the Seattle Sonics In response to Friday's arbitration demand by PBC, the owners of the Seattle Sonics, the City of Seattle filed a lawsuit in KingCounty, WAagainst the team and its owners today.</p> The suit points out...</p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE ("Complaint for Declatory Relief)</div><div class='quotemain'>The Sonics agreed that its "obligations are unique in nature" and that the Lease "may be specifically enforced by either party." Lease, p. 59. The Sonics and City agreed to arbitrate many disputes, but specfically excluded from abritration any "claim, duspute or matter in question [that] relates to the provisions of Article II ("Term; Use Period").</div></p> This means arbitration is NOT an option.</p> It also points out that the complaints regarding the profitability of the existing facility and its poor attendance is due more to the NBA Lockout of 1998 and the subsequent poor performance of the team than it is to the lease of the facility. It indicates that the arrangement was profitable in the years prior to the lockout when "the Sonics consistently fielded a competitive team."</p>
