KJR Podcast with Ed Evans KJR Podcasts This guy gives me a MUCH better feeling about the situation. He reminded me in his interview that the new owners are BUSINESSMEN and that Seattle was the best market for basketball out of all the choices available to them. Not the teams...the market...that means if they kept them HERE. They could have bought the Blazers and moved them, no questions asked. They could have bought one of the three mysterious other teams he mentions (Orlando and who?). They could have had partial ownership of the Hornets. They picked the Sonics and Storm because this was their best chance to make money. If they can't get an arena deal THEN moving the teams to another market is the NEXT best option. Seattle is in the top 15 markets for the NBA with some of the fastest growing ticket sales in the league...and a growing fan base due to quality high school and college programs locally. Seattle is the 3rd largest market for the WNBA with the best growth of ticket sales of any team in the league. We just need to figure out how, as fans, voters, and community members we can help to make sure the teams can stay.
It isn't as bad as fans (myself with the Oklahoma City Tumbleweed comments included) and media felt like last week. The definite loss of the teams is false. I feel pretty sure of that based on some of the chats I have had with people who were VERY active last week...however, the fans and the local government need to get cracking to find a solution in Seattle (less likely at this point), Bellevue (if Seattle bails these guys look ready to step up) or Renton (sound like the last chance saloon at this point). We in the area have a LOT of work to do to make sure we keep our teams. I will keep posting as I get more info. I will be active in the efforts to keep the teams local and hopefully can keep people here tied in as well.
Basketball is getting support from around the country as fans of the WNBA are holding up signs at televised games (even those without Seattle playing) asking to keep the teams in Seattle. It is early, but the same kind of support with the NBA fan base could go even farther with the more extensive media coverage and much larger fan base. If you go to an NBA game this season, bring a KEEP THE SONICS IN SEATTLE sign. I also strongly recommend a KEEP THE HORNETS IN OKLAHOMA sign. The OKC fans have demonstrated a more devoted fan base in one season than New Orleans or Charlotte did for the Hornets in the last few years and have earned a little love from the league in return. I am a Sonics season ticket holder...and I will be carrying my signs.
How exactly do you plan to save the sonics? If Howard Schultz and his sure to be all-star team of financial advisors can't raise enough money to get them to stay- how do you plan on coming up with the 200 million they need?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ilive4ball:</div><div class="quote_post">How exactly do you plan to save the sonics? If Howard Schultz and his sure to be all-star team of financial advisors can't raise enough money to get them to stay- how do you plan on coming up with the 200 million they need?</div> It's not about Schulz's money... the city needs to fork over some cash.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ilive4ball:</div><div class="quote_post">How exactly do you plan to save the sonics? If Howard Schultz and his sure to be all-star team of financial advisors can't raise enough money to get them to stay- how do you plan on coming up with the 200 million they need?</div> The idea is not for individuals or a group of individuals to pay the $220 million requested by the former ownership to rennovate Key Arena or to raise the $400-$500 million required to build a new arena in the area. The idea is to get local fans up and active in order to garner the attention of the media, local political leaders and business owners to spur them into action. Prior to the sale of the team the passive Seattle fan base was allowing the vocal minority (actually led by a local union interested in its own desire for tax money) to make all the noise. This led local, egotistical and self serving politicians to act as if they were in the right acting like idiots with the local and national media proclaiming that basketball offers NO cultural or economic value to the city. The new ownership have said that they will keep the teams in Seattle (which actuall includes area cities like Bellevue and Renton) if the area is able to find a solution. The Seattle mayor is reopening discussions with the new ownership, but needs to see a vocal fan base actively participating in the discussion to move forward. The city of Bellevue has private investors interested in participating in the construction of a new arena. The city of Renton has openly expressed interest in exploring options for a new arena in their area. The state legislature and the governor have put forth a plan to continue an existing "tourist" tax on hotel, restaurant and rental cars (used to fund the local MLB and NFL stadiums) to contribute to stadium rennovations or construction. Local city council members actively stalled discussions on that topic until the end of the legislative session in order to maintain control of the discussions. Again, it is not so much about the money as it is about standing up and being heard.
Basically, the Sonics picked the wrong year to suck. If they had been a good team, there might be a little opposition to their leaving. The pressure will be on for them to win this year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT FIRST GATHERING OF SONICS AND STORM FANS TO BAND TOGETHER TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR OUR TEAMS Come on down to Key Arena, bring your family, bring your friends, bring everyone you know PLACE: North Courtyard outside Key Arena TIME: 5PM* Please know that if you are running late please do still come on down - tip off for tonight's game is 7PM so the fun goes till then at least - if not longer!!! *NOTE the Traffic Advisory sent out by the Seattle Storm - The 39th annual Festival of the Fountains event will take place at the Pacific Science Center on July 28. As a result, 2nd Ave. North between Thomas Street & Denny Way will be closed starting at 4 p.m. on Friday, July 28 until 2 a.m on Saturday, July 29 . Please take this into consideration as you plan for the Girls Night Out Storm game vs. Detroit at KeyArena this Friday. Please contact us with any questions we are always just an email: volunteers@saveoursonics.org Thank you everyone - LET'S DO IT!! </div> Come help if you can!
King County Council had a session today and invited guest speakers to cover the economic impacts to the region of each of the 3 professional sports organizations. Here are some notes from Steve at Sonicscentral... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">A consulting firm estimated the direct economic impact (including inter related jobs and additional sales) of the Sonics and Storm in 2004 was $160 mil and about $234 mil statewide compared to $177.4 and $270 mil respectively for the Mariners and $147.7 and $218 mil for the Seahawks. That’s a pretty far cry from Nick Licata’s estimate to Sports Illustrated earlier in the year. All in all, I thought the vibe was cautiously positive. Pete Von Reichbauer spoke rather glowingly I thought of how pro sports do bring intangible benefit to the region, not just the City of Seattle.</div> Other reports from attendees are similarly positive with an urge for larger contingent of fans to attend and be prepared to speak during the public comment section at the promised follow up meeting within 30 days. I will post the information on that meeting as soon as it is available.
Frank Hughes thinks about the business of keeping the Sonics and Storm in Seattle and why is Clay Bennett wooing so many key players in the NW if he just wants to move the teams? http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/sonic...p-5285486c.html
hoping to have some positive news to share after tonight's meeting. word of a potential arena deal is leaking all over town...even mentioned during the WNBA playoffs last night on ESPN2.
Times post the sanitized version of the rumors today. Clearest between the lines indicators... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels wants the team to stay at KeyArena, and he had lunch with Bennett during a visit earlier this month.</div> Ceiss: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">We just think the Key still makes sense.</div> Anyone else sense the whiny petulance of a spoiled child who realizes they pushed too far and aren't getting anything now?
Mark December 8th on your calendar. The NO/Oklahoma Hornets will be in town and Save Our Sonics will be hosting a pre-game event. Details to follow.
http://sonicscentral.com/blog/?p=1236 Fan Rally tomorrow night before the Dallas game. There are more details in the link provided.
Wait, so fans are holding up signs at a WNBA game to appeal to keep the team??? There's still a WNBA?!?
