Seattle SuperSonics & Storm Chairman Clayton I. Bennett made the following statement on Friday regarding the future of the franchise. "We notified Commissioner Stern that we intend to relocate the Sonics to Oklahoma City if we succeed in the pending litigation with the City, or are able to negotiate an early lease termination, or at the end of the lease term. "We have not made a decision regarding the future location of the Seattle Storm. We appreciate the deep local interest and support for the Storm and have begun to evaluate a future course of action for the team. "Notwithstanding the uncertainty and difficulty of this challenging time, we remain completely committed to the success of our basketball teams. We will continue to provide our players, coaches and staff the tools and support they need to be competitive."</p>
In the Pac NW, if you want to watch the NHL, you go to Vancouver. If you want to watch the MLB, you go to Seattle. If you want to watch the NFL, you go to Seattle and soon, if you want to watch the NBA you go to Portland.</p>
That sucks for the fans, since they support the team.</p> Will they get another another one after a couple of years? Like the Bobcats?</p>
I am absolutely ticked off about this. This is terrible news for basketball and terrible news for Seattle natives. This organization has been competitive, they have made runs in the playoffs, they have won championships, they have had some of the all-time greats play in Sonics uniforms, and they truly have a terrific fan base that love their Seattle teams. I sympathize for the fans of Seattle, who are behind their team 100%, but just haven't been given a great product over these past two seasons. As soon as things start looking good for the Sonics, as far as the future is concerned, this happens. Did you not listen to those fans at KeyArena last night, chanting "Save our Sonics! Save our Sonics!?" After that touching moment, the owners turn around and slap them in face with this statement.</p> Taking this franchise away from Seattle is just terrible.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> I never understood why Vancouver moved?</p> </div></p> </p> Stu Jackson was in charge and the ownership turned off the entire city.</p>
That sucks, we should have more teams in Canada. (like montreal for example)</p> They're better choices than Oklahoma.</p>
I don't understand the move, there is a much bigger market in Seattle than Oklahoma CIty. THey are just hot on the fact that the Hornets did well there when they had to play games there. I don't expect the fan base to last for the Sonics there. Bad move.
Facing the inevitable now I guess. I hope that the team is forced to stay as long as possible just to piss off Clay Bennett. When they move though I can't see myself continuing to support the team that is nothing like the one I grew up loving. I'll be a Portland fan before I support Clay Bennett in OKC.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Casual)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> linky</p> </div></p> Exactly. It's just official confirmation of what we already knew anyway. Maybe Bennett is running a bit scared and felt the need to try and play his hand publicly.</p> </p> </p>
I can see moving from Seattle but to Oklahoma? Move to Canada atleast and give it a try because another American team isn't going to make that big of a splash.</p>
I already hate this owner, the Sonics have a great history in Seattle, and this idiot just come in and take all that away! I hope they never win a championship in OKC!</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Universe)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> I can see moving from Seattle but to Oklahoma? Move to Canada atleast and give it a try because another American team isn't going to make that big of a splash.</p> </div></p> It has nothing to do with the country, it's the market. I doubt many Canadian cities would do that much better than Seattle.</p> </p>
