Does any one care that there is a trial going on that will determine the future of NBA basketball in Seattle? The national media isn't covering it all and the only information that I am able to get is coming from the local papers. From all indications it seems as if Judge Pechman is trying to find an equitable number for the Sonics to buy their way out of the lease. Obviously the city of Seattle has all the legal standing in the world in terms of the terms of the lease. No matter how much the Sonics try to argue that the city impeded the Sonics from getting an arena deal done and providing hurdles for relocation the fact is that by law there is a contract that is specific in saying that the Sonics are contractually obligated be a tenant in Key Arena until 2010. Due to the fact that there is no precedent for a dollar figure to be put on the relocation of a franchise before an arena lease is up she is trying to gauge what would be an equitable solution to have the Sonics leave early and be fully compensated. I hope that whatever number that she comes up with is so high that Bennett is reluctant to pay the amount -- because I do not envision her forcing the Sonics to remain a tenant in Key Arena when she and everyone else knows that the ownership group will not do anything to make the team enticing to the Seattle market. This ownership group has so deep of pockets and have invested so much in bringing this team to Oklahoma I can't envision any buyout figure being too much for them to be able to pay. Aubrey McClendon is a billionnaire. You don't think he has the means to put in hundreds of millions of dollars to bring a sports franchise to his home state? The city of Seattle is putting together a tough fight and I commend them for it. But at the end of the day money talks and it seems as if PBC has more money to spend than the city of Seattle has the resources to spend. And as honorable as people claim Judge Pechman is I think that there is far more pressure on her to make sure that the city of Seattle is compensated for the impending loss of their longest standing professional franchise. There are too many undetermined factors that would make it unrealistic to assume that having the Sonics forced into staying two lame duck seasons in Seattle would be enough to force Bennett into selling to local ownership. We should have some form of resolution next week. Thoughts?
I think you covered it. My take is that Al Davis set the precedent that cities can't force teams to stay based upon laws like eminent domain. They can stick it to ownership on contracts like the lease, and even then, the new owners have the deep pockets to just pay that off. It sure seems weird that Seattle isn't considered a strong enough basketball city to make the decision to move really tough.
I've looked at this topic in-depth (i.e. edited the relevant Wikipedia article quite a bit), and I think that there's no way the Sonics will be moving out by next season. However, I do definitely think that they'll be gone in two seasons. Which is really too bad for Seattle.
How much money has Bennett lost on the team already? I don't think they'll be playing in Oklahoma next season either, but we're going to go through this again this time next year. The owners and Stern are all behind Bennett and I don't see him pulling out this far in with the chance to be a hometown hero on the line.
The Sonics vs. Seattle... [video=youtube;sAp2OLQYVfI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAp2OLQYVfI"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAp2OLQYVfI[/video] Federal Marshalls estimated between 2,500 and 3,000 people at this rally at the close of the first day of the trial. Current and former NBA players were in attendance in support of Seattle fans.
This is ridiculous. Why can't they just listen to the fans and keep the Sonics in Seattle? Screw the owners...get rid of them.
What bothers me is why won't the league act and do something. Why won't Stern tell the owners they have to stay.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing @ Jun 24 2008, 10:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Did Payton attend the rally? I feel for the city of Seattle and its fans.</div> Payton and the X-Man were the big names. Sacramentos (and former UW player) Spencer Hawes showed up unannounced in an old school Sonics jersey.
It is amazing that people who have made a fortune managing businesses with far more value than the Sonics would show far less business savvy in regards to the relocation efforts of the Sonics. Those people would be Clay Bennett, Aubrey McClendon, and David Stern. Where is Ed Evans when you need him? Edit: For anyone who thinks that Clay Bennett is the muscle and money behind this operation you are sadly mistaken. Aubrey McClendon is the richest part owners in sports and one of the richest men in America. He'd be the majority owner if he had the time, experience, and knowledge of what it takes to be a successful NBA owner. And believe me, if for whatever reason, the Sonics are forced to play in Key Arena until 2010 it will be Aubrey McClendon who will be named the owner of the Sonics well before it is Steve Ballmer or anyone else in the Seattle region. If Clay Bennett is believed to be not capable of leading the Sonics to Oklahoma don't be surprised if Aubrey assumes the role.
