Yeah, I tried to watch EVERY Hornets game that was on TV here in Seattle - just so I could keep up with OKC, contribute to its ratings, and see some of the players.

I also went to some games in the city; I really think the Hornets owed it to OKC to make the playoffs this year. That would have been a very nice appreciation present - even though they would get killed in the first round; but who cares.

It just would have been a nice kudos to OKC to give them their first major league playoff games.

Oh well, we need to look forward to the Sonics. Like I said, I think the ground work is being laid for an early exit from Seattle. We'll see - it may take until after the NBA finals but the movement or lack thereof along with the bit of negatives really seems like its becoming sour grapes - time to put them out of their misery.

Since I don't live in OKC I can't buy season tickets, but I will sign up for NBA league pass on DirectTV. I can't wait.


There is no rule saying that you must live in OKC in order to purchase season tickets. I would be willing to go to the games in your place and give you a full report on each and every game.

Even though this continues to look great for OKC, I have the feeling we won't hear anything (other than rumor) for quite some time.

Bennett will continue to work behind the scenes to try and get an arena deal, as he still has about 6 months before his self-imposed deadline. At the same time, he'll be in Stern's ear telling him that if he can't get a deal soon, he'll want to move the team to OKC sooner rather than later.

Bennett has been very astute in this whole process and I bet he's willing to keep the team in Seattle one more year at a loss in order to get what he really wants: the Soncis to OKC. And waiting that extra year would not only guarantee the move would be approved (nobody in the NBA wants poor attendance) but they he'll have time to work out a sweetheart deal in OKC that will likely offset any one-year loss in Seattle... And then some.

I do think that is a highly possible option Malibu. Either that or an immediate move. I don't think there will be any alternative options at this point. While I do see the NBA wanting to wait until after the Finals PR-wise to make an announcement. I'm wondering if the media will allow them to hold out that long. It's a hot story not only here in OKC and Seattle but obviously the rumors have been going on for some time now and with the season over for the Sonic's we're only going to hear more of this. I wonder if PR-wise the NBA will be forced to announce something sooner than they would like.

Here is the latest from the WA area.......



Finding a coach, GM and Home.

From the AP wire.

AP Wire - Washington | kgw.com | News for Oregon and SW Washington (http://www.kgw.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D8ONVD200.html)

"These explorations have a twist: Whoever accepts the jobs won't know where they will be working in 12 months.

Last week, Bennett said the Sonics will likely move following the after next season, their 41st in Seattle. That's because his proposal to use public money to fund the majority of a $500 million suburban arena failed to even make it to a vote in the state Legislature.

"We're open to suggestions, but right now we don't see a way to do this here," Kneeland said Bennett told a closed-door meeting of Seattle's convention and visitors bureau on Wednesday. "We're at the point where we've got to start looking at other options."

Yet Kneeland said of the owner: "He is pretty confident he will find basketball people who are willing to relocate, even if they don't know where they will be.

"It's a lot harder on the administrative staff. But for basketball people, there are only 30 teams. There aren't many of these jobs available. He won't have a problem attracting people."

Tuesday, Bennett turned off much of the shrinking pockets of Seattle that care about the Sonics.

He fired Hill over the phone, hours after Hill had surgery for a hernia near his home in San Antonio. Then Bennett released a short, bland news release. He did not face the myriad questions surrounding his drifting franchise.

Kneeland said the owner felt a press conference in Seattle to announce Hill's firing and Sund's demotion to become a "consultant" would spiral into a heated inquiry on why the team is about to leave.

"He wanted the issue to be about them," Kneeland said of Hill and Sund and their potential replacements. "


I have thought all along that if the Sonics were to move that it would not be until after one more season in Seattle. Now I am starting to think that this could happen quickly and the the Sonics could make the announcement within the next few months.

After all we had only 6 weeks until the season began after the Hornets announced that they were coming to Okc, and that seemed to work out for everyone.

The drama never ends...................to be continued.

I think we'll see an announcement soon (within the next two months) or the Sonics will stay in WA for one more year.

Uh-oh. I hope this is just business..

Sonics | Owner floats idea of Las Vegas Sonics | Seattle Times Newspaper (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sonics/2003683358_sonics27m.html)

Forget Oklahoma. How about the Las Vegas Sonics?

Sonics owner Clay Bennett told a group of Seattle business and civic leaders this week that Las Vegas, rather than his hometown of Oklahoma City, would be a likely destination if the team winds up leaving Washington state.

Bennett made the comments at a Wednesday board meeting of Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Sonics spokesman Jim Kneeland confirmed Bennett's comments Thursday, and said that while no firm plans are in place, the team is "looking really hard right now" at Las Vegas in the wake of the Legislature's rejection of public funding for a proposed $500 million Renton arena.

"He [Bennett] said, 'I'd still like to get a deal done here, but we're at a point where we have to start looking at other options,' " Kneeland said.

It's not clear whether the NBA will allow a team in the nation's gambling capital.

Bennett's latest statements appear to contradict the widespread public perception that his plan all along has been to move the Sonics and Storm to Oklahoma City.

As a business proposition, Bennett has repeatedly said he'd rather keep the teams in the Seattle area, which is a much larger and wealthier market.

If money, rather than hometown pride, is the deciding factor, Las Vegas' glitzy casinos and millions of tourists could trump Oklahoma City as Plan B.

"What I heard him say was that if he ended up having to move the team, Vegas would likely be a more attractive market than Oklahoma City," said Steve Leahy, chief executive of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, who attended the convention bureau meeting.

Seattle City Councilwoman Jan Drago, who was also there, said "it was about money — they can't make a return on their investment in Oklahoma ... he really expected to end up in Vegas."

Regardless of Bennett's wishes, plenty of obstacles could block a Las Vegas move.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and other city leaders have been pushing for an NBA franchise, but the NBA has been cautious about associating the sport closely with gambling. Last week, NBA Commissioner David Stern announced he'd appoint a committee of team owners to study the issue.

The NBA's All-Star Game was held in Las Vegas for the first time this year. But for an NBA franchise to relocate full-time to the city, a new arena might be needed to replace the Thomas and Mack Center, which was built in 1983.

Other cities might also compete for the Sonics. Kansas City, for example, recently built a new arena in an effort to lure an NBA team.

The Sonics and Storm have a lease at Seattle's KeyArena until 2010, but Bennett recently has suggested he may try to negotiate a way out of that deal after next season. He has set an Oct. 31 deadline for getting an arena deal in Washington state.

Bennett told the convention board he'll remain open to new ideas, but indicated he's been frustrated by the lack of local political support. He also ruled out plans by previous owners to simply expand KeyArena.

"I think he feels they made their best-faith effort," Kneeland said. "If anything is going to be done now, the community is going to have to come up with something, not him."

Don Welsh, president of the convention bureau, called Wednesday's meeting with Bennett a "healthy exchange" and said business leaders hold out hope for a deal that could keep the Sonics and Storm here.

"I hope we as a community exhaust every political and private opportunity to keep them in the region as long as it makes viable economic sense," Welsh said.

But there has been no sign that political leaders will step in to save the Sonics and Storm with a taxpayer-funded arena. Gov. Christine Gregoire has said she will not call the Legislature into special session on the issue.

House Speaker Frank Chopp, speaking this week to The Seattle Times editorial board, remained unsympathetic.

"They already have a place to play. It's nice. There are no potholes in the court there. Every player has health care. They all had the opportunity to go to college. Let's get real here. If they want to do it, we're not stopping them. They can pay for it themselves," said Chopp, D-Seattle.

I guess he's a Gaylord afterall--making his money off Oklahoma and investing it elsewhere.

^^^ This news is not good for Oklahoma City!

Let's switch our focus back to the Hornets possible return once their lease runs out then :ridem:

Hey I would hope it's just a ploy of some kind, but you never know what motivates people...And he may be a big fan of the desert heat

Well Yes and NO jbrown and okclee. At first I was devastated when I read it, but we've heard the Las Vegas story before. Perhaps its a reverse psychology PR strategy. Well the NBA knows it would like the Las Vegas market but oh wait we've tried it before and we won't go there because they refuse to take the NBA off the books, etc. Kind of takes the heat off OKC should the Sonics end up relocating. "Well we were going to move to Vegas (better in Seattlites minds than OKC) but the NBA won't locate here because Vegas isn't cooperating with gambling and don't have a sufficient arena, so we're going to OKC". Well at least I hope this is the case. Bennett and the Gaylords will completely ruin their image in OKC if they move elsewhere. They can take OPUBCO with them and hopefully a new newspaper will come in place if that is the case, just leave the other investors companies and Bennett's investment firm here. This would be a devastating blow to OKC's progress if they move. I still have hope though.

I can understand that he would want to soften the blow to Seattle by appearing to attempt to stay, but why start pandering to another city you have no real intention of going to? I hope you're right metro.

I hope I'm right to. I suppose it helps I mainly do PR and marketing so I see these things perhaps in a different perspective than your average person. But like I said, I hope I'm right. Not that I have any control over it. We still have this for hope as of now:



The commissioner of the NBA, David Stern, was asked point blank on ESPN news in a one on one interview.

"if you had one choice of anywhere in the world to place a franchise, which city would you choose?"

He answered without hesitation, "Oklahoma City."


That interview took place last tuesday on ESPN news the Hot Spot. The interviewer threw out the cities of Kansas City, London, Las Vegas, and Oklahoma City.

The next team to move be it the Sonics or whoever will land in Okc. David Stern is not a man that speaks double talk. Anyone who follows the NBA knows that if David Stern says something that he sticks to it.

Well, I don't think this looks good for Oklahoma City, but, in a way, I can see that Bennett may still be working for Stern on this one. He started with trying to get Seattle to improve its facilities. As that looks dead in the water and with some time to kill, maybe they're trying to put some pressure on Vegas. No doubt, Vegas can and probably will do anything to get a team, short of restricting gambling. And, no doubt, a franchise in Vegas would be worth a lot of money. It seems to me that it's up to the NBA. If they decide to get over the gambling issue, then I would say "done deal". Whether Bennett really wants to operate in Vegas long term, I have no idea, but at the very least he seems to be working in concert with the NBA to feel out potential markets or improve current ones, as is the case with Seattle.

As much as we want a team in Oklahoma City, the reality is that he owes it to the investors to do some due diligence. If the team would be worth 500 million in Vegas and 300 in Oklahoma City, he has to show that with real research before he can go back to them as say, "look, we want a team in Oklahoma City, but here's the real opportunity cost of doing that with this team. Is that opportunity cost worth it to us to have a team in Oklahoma City". I think Bennett is the Decider, but surely he'll consult his other investors. As to what their mind set is, that is, whether or not they see their investment as a potential civic service with the benefit of positive cash flow or as an opportunity to cash in by flipping a team, I have no idea.

The other reality is, and this is why we have to temper our hopes a bit, that Vegas would provide both positive cash flow and increase in equity. The flip side to all of this is that the Hornets would most likely have a relative increase in equity and increase to positive cash flow by moving to Oklahoma City and, in that context, long term, they may actually end up being the best fit one day.

Sounds to me like a whole lot of spin from a Seattle reporter looking to inflict injured pride on OKC and to make Bennett look like a "traitor."
"What I heard him say was that if he ended up having to move the team, Vegas would likely be a more attractive market than Oklahoma City," said Steve Leahy, chief executive of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, who attended the convention bureau meeting.

That may be what you heard him say, but is that what was actually said?


Seattle City Councilwoman Jan Drago, who was also there, said "it was about money — they can't make a return on their investment in Oklahoma ... he really expected to end up in Vegas."

Again, sounds like inference and speculation to me. Without transcripts of the actual meeting, this story is meaningless.

Good point, y_h.

Sounds to me like a whole lot of spin from a Seattle reporter looking to inflict injured pride on OKC and to make Bennett look like a "traitor." Without transcripts of the actual meeting, this story is meaningless.

Or, possibly, Bennett is sending the message to OKC that he is not out to simply hand the city a team and that Oklahoma City will have to play the courting game just like everybody else. He's sending us a reality check that says "look, my team will lose value if it moves to Oklahoma City. Start thinking of ways to help me sustain the market value of my team." As he is now versed and invested in the poltical wrangling of seeking public assistance, I wouldn't put it past him to be creating some leverage against OKC, now. And, let's be realistic, that just comes with the territory of courting the majors, for better or worse.

Or, possibly, Bennett is sending the message to OKC that he is not out to simply hand the city a team and that Oklahoma City will have to play the courting game just like everybody else. He's sending us a reality check that says "look, my team will lose value if it moves to Oklahoma City. Start thinking of ways to help me sustain the market value of my team." As he is now versed and invested in the poltical wrangling of seeking public assistance, I wouldn't put it past him to be creating some leverage against OKC, now. And, let's be realistic, that just comes with the territory of courting the majors, for better or worse.

Exactly what I was thinking when I read it BDP...We can't afford to just sit back and just assume he will bring them to OKC no matter what...I'm sure on paper Vegas is much better potentially for a team's value so what he said is just plain common sense, but that's not what he will do.....Unless OKC doesn't come to the table prepared

I am certain Cornett and others won't drop the ball on this one so this story really doesn't alarm me

Or, possibly, Bennett is sending the message to OKC that he is not out to simply hand the city a team and that Oklahoma City will have to play the courting game just like everybody else.

And, let's be realistic, that just comes with the territory of courting the majors, for better or worse.

No puns intended, I'm sure. :tiphat:

I'll probably get kicked off the board for saying this, but it's my real feelings.

So Clay Bennett is considering Las Vegas? That son of a b***ch. As if we didn't catch enough flack from Seattle, he has to make us look like an ass on national television. Just like the Gaylords, he could care less about Oklahoma. His interests are obviously elsewhere, which makes him a true Gaylord. Nevermind we are getting laughed at by the naysayers, who are now joking about how not even an Oklahoman would put a team in his own state. Doesn't surprise us any, and if we had our way, we'd raid the Gaylords' homes and throw them out on their ass. They should really consider picking up some change of address forms on the way home from their cushy offices where they keep their minds in Tennessee, Colorado and elsewhere.

I find it funny that people around town whine and moan about not having a team, and when we get the chance to actually have a team, suddenly everyone is 'concerned' about the team losing value. How the hell do we know that? Would it even be a permanent decrease in value? Guess we'll never know now.

It looks like the only hope we have left is a slight glimmer that the Hornets will return. But it looks like I'm dreaming. Gaylords, get out of Oklahoma. And take Bennett with you.

Let the mudslinging begin.

Another angle to the Vegas side, is that say Clay takes the Sonics there. He beats the Maloofs into what they want/consider to be their market. I think the Kings are one of the next teams to move. Oklahoma City Kings?

More posturing by Bennett to 1) at least give the impression to the NBA that he hadn't planned to move the team to Oklahoma all along and 2) to get the best possible deal from OKC.

All owners of sports franchises play cities against each other as a negotiating point. And why Vegas rather than KC? Because he knows the NBA probably won't allow a team there... It doesn't even make sense as they don't have any type of real arena -- much worse than Key in Seattle.

Could be wishful thinking on this reporter's part too.

Or counting the chickens before the eggs hatch on OKC's part.

From the way this article sounds, he's just playing the game so it doesn't look like he just bought the team for Oklahoma City.

----------
Sonics owner: ‘We'll consider a number of cities'


From Staff Reports


Seattle SuperSonics owner Clay Bennett said when considering relocation of his team, there deserves to be several cities considered — including Las Vegas — and not just Oklahoma City.

In a statement to The Oklahoman on Friday, Seattle Sonics owner Clay Bennett said "we owe it to the business to consider a number of cities where the leadership has expressed a strong desire to attract an NBA and WNBA franchise and demonstrated a willingness to explore ways to make that happen.”
The statement was in response to a report out of Seattle that Bennett told a group of business and civic leaders this week that Las Vegas, rather than his hometown of Oklahoma City, would be a likely destination if the team winds up leaving Washington state.
Bennett made the comments at a Wednesday board meeting of Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Sonics spokesman Jim Kneeland confirmed Bennett's comments Thursday, but the organization released a statement on Friday morning, which didn't mention Las Vegas.
"We have made it clear that we want to succeed in Seattle and we are still exploring all of our options there. We have a responsibility to the business to weigh every possibility to ensure we make prudent business decisions based on the long-term economic upside,” Bennett said in the statement. "Of course, we know Oklahoma City and we know what this remarkable marketplace can do based on the way it exceeded all expectations over the past two years. We have said all along, as has the Commissioner, Oklahoma City deserves an NBA team, and, we would add, a WNBA team.
"At this time no one knows the confluence of events that could occur to land the teams in Oklahoma City. At this moment, everything is way too premature. While it looks bleak in Seattle, we are not ready to throw in the towel.”
As a business proposition, Bennett has repeatedly said he'd rather keep the teams in the Seattle area, which is a much larger and wealthier market.
If money, rather than hometown pride, is the deciding factor, Las Vegas' glitzy casinos and millions of tourists could trump Oklahoma City as Plan B.
"What I heard him say was that if he ended up having to move the team, Vegas would likely be a more attractive market than Oklahoma City," said Steve Leahy, chief executive of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, who attended the convention bureau meeting.
Seattle City Councilwoman Jan Drago, who was also there, said "it was about money — they can't make a return on their investment in Oklahoma ... he really expected to end up in Vegas."
Bennett and his Oklahoma City partners paid $350 million for the Sonics. An NBA franchise in Oklahoma City is expected to be worth somewhere below $300 million.
It's not clear whether the NBA will allow a team in the nation's gambling capital. At its owners meetings last week, the NBA appointed a committee to consider Las Vegas' viability as a potential franchise location. All major leagues have expressed concerns about placing teams in Las Vegas, where gambling on sports is legal.
Other obstacles exist in Las Vegas. The NBA's All-Star Game was held in Las Vegas for the first time this year. But for an NBA franchise to relocate full-time to the city, a new arena almost surely would be needed to replace the Thomas and Mack Center, which was built in 1983.
Other cities might also compete for the Sonics. Kansas City, for example, recently built a new arena in an effort to lure an NBA team.
The Sonics and Storm have a lease at Seattle's KeyArena until 2010, but Bennett recently has suggested he may try to negotiate a way out of that deal after next season. He has set an Oct. 31 deadline for getting an arena deal in Washington state.
Bennett told the convention board he'll remain open to new ideas, but indicated he's been frustrated by the lack of local political support. He also ruled out plans by previous owners to simply expand KeyArena.
"I think he feels they made their best-faith effort," Kneeland said. "If anything is going to be done now, the community is going to have to come up with something, not him."
Don Welsh, president of the convention bureau, called Wednesday's meeting with Bennett a "healthy exchange" and said business leaders hold out hope for a deal that could keep the Sonics and Storm here.
"I hope we as a community exhaust every political and private opportunity to keep them in the region as long as it makes viable economic sense," Welsh said.
But there has been no sign that political leaders will step in to save the Sonics and Storm with a taxpayer-funded arena. Gov. Christine Gregoire has said she will not call the Legislature into special session on the issue.
House Speaker Frank Chopp, speaking this week to The Seattle Times editorial board, remained unsympathetic. "They already have a place to play. It's nice. There are no potholes in the court there. Every player has health care. They all had the opportunity to go to college. Let's get real here. If they want to do it, we're not stopping them. They can pay for it themselves," said Chopp, D-Seattle.

appears to be just another shot fired across the bow. Now, exactly whose bow that shot sailed over, I suppose that depends on which town you wanna see as the Sonics homebase. All in all, these folks do strike me as some fairly adept marksmen.

Like I said, if Bennett moves the team anywhere other than OKC, he better watch his back, and he better never re-enter Oklahoma.

How and why exactly does the NBA define a city's status? Personally, I think it would be great to have one, but I really don't care if we don't. We should have professional teams by now, but I personally am not that concerned with what egotistical "journalists" from Seattle think about our city. Sure we need better PR, but we shouldn't seek sports as our only opportunity to obtain it. Maybe we should look at what attracts people to larger cities (who don't put everything on the line for a basketball team) and see what individual idea we could exploit to make us not require a team to feel good about ourselves. I know that sounds obvious, but really. If people are freaking about about this, how can we ever be taken seriously?

And for the record, I hope Bennett and the Gaylords take their money elsewhere as well. Either way, we should be worried about the newspaper over an NBA team...

It should also be considered that he has to convince the NBA owners that a relocation to Oklahoma City would be prudent. It seems that if he does bring them to Oklahoma City, it'll be only after he has made every attempt to consider every other option. Really, I don't think we can fault him for that. If you had a few million in this deal, you'd expect that.

And who knows, maybe he just likes the gift baskets.

How and why exactly does the NBA define a city's status?

I 100% agree with the sentiment of your post, Spectral, but there is a level of legitimacy that comes with having a major league sports franchise in your market. It's stupid and superficial, but, let's be honest, so are a lot of people and people, not numbers, are the ones who make the ultimate decisions.

To try and put something concrete on it, continued support for major attractions is a selling point when trying to attract new services and businesses, which increases quality of life, which again attracts more business. Specifically, it can help show some prospective businesses that Oklahoma City is a viable market, even when population and income figures don't gel with their expansion or relocation models. It may make some businesses take a closer look or even take a look, by showing that, while our median incomes look low and the income is spread out over a large area, we can support a premium product long term.

I may be reaching and/or overstating the impact of the NBA specifically, but everyone wants to live and work in a place where they can make money and have a nice life. Major attractions, like major league sports, often fall into that equation for many people. In fact, if anything, it may just keep us in consideration when such things serve as a first level of elimination, i.e.: “Oklahoma City doesn’t even have professional sports and there are several comparable cities that do, so I won’t focus on OKC.”

So, while we should be considering “How and why exactly does the NBA define a city's status”, it may be even more important to consider how much not having major league sports negatively affects the city’s market value, even if in just superficial terms.

It should also be considered that he has to convince the NBA owners that a relocation to Oklahoma City would be prudent.

But that makes no sense when Stern just said point blank on ESPN that we are the top choice for a new team.

I go back to my statement of how much more press our fine city got in 2 years compared to what we received over the last 20

Last ounce of national press we received was the Murrah bombing....The NBA did wonders for us while the Hornets were here and will help us immeasurably when it comes back

Like the NBA or not...It means a heck of a lot to a city like OKC...Unless you are comfortable with keeping our image as the bombing city and home of tornadoes

And now watermelon's as vegetables :fighting3

Seattle City Councilwoman Jan Drago, who was also there, said "it was about money — they can't make a return on their investment in Oklahoma ... he really expected to end up in Vegas."

Again, sounds like inference and speculation to me. Without transcripts of the actual meeting, this story is meaningless.

On the same note as what the Councilwoman said, Craig Humphries on WWLS The Sports Animals said earlier today an insider close to Bennet told him that the return on investment was much, much greater for the Sonics franchise in Vegas than OKC. He also said that the insider sees the Hornets coming back after a failed year in N.O. but that one of the problems with that is Stern hates Shinn and really doesn't want to do anything to help him out.

These are the games business people play.

But that makes no sense when Stern just said point blank on ESPN that we are the top choice for a new team.

Stern isn't all of the owners. They all have a vote as far as I understand it.

But think how much better that will make OKC look should Vegas now look like the likely candidate and wham........ OKC gets the Sonics and they succeed here. Yeah its a no brainer without punching the numbers that the franchise will be worth more in Vegas, but they will have a more loyal fan base here. A franchise in Vegas will be primarily tourists attending games although they'll have no problem selling tickets. I still think Bennett has his heart set here, just be patient and let's see before you start cursing him, etc. If the franchise does move here, you'll be eating your words. Patience Danielson! Then if they don't come, we'll all start a grassroots anti-Bennett/Gaylord campaign.

Stern isn't all of the owners. They all have a vote as far as I understand it.


You're right. The 29 teams vote and 15 "yes" votes are needed for approval.

Here's something that is too easy to forget: Actions speak louder than words.


Here are specific actions Bennett & his partners have undertaken in the last 5 years:

1. Formed a partnership with the public goal of bringing a big-league pro sports team to OKLAHOMA CITY.

2. Took a hard run at getting an NHL franchise for OKLAHOMA CITY.

3. Were the main force behind getting the Hornets to play in OKLAHOMA CITY.

4. Tried to buy a majority interest in the Hornets when there was still on-going talk about them staying in OKLAHOMA CITY.

5. Acquired a struggling NBA franchise with a failing future in it's present location only -- and pretty soon -- after the NBA made it clear the Hornets would not return to OKLAHOMA CITY.

6. In article in last Sunday's Oklahoman, it was revealed that McClendon had purchased over 12,000 acres as a personal investment, and all of it was in and around OKLAHOMA CITY.

7. McClendon's Chesapeake Energy now owns over 300 separate pieces of real estate in OKLAHOMA CITY.

8. Tom Ward moved his Riata Energy company (now SandRidge) to OKLAHOMA CITY.

9. Where do all the partners live? Where are all their businesses and ample investments located?


Simply put, these men all stand to gain much more than ROI on a basketball team. They are all very well positioned to reap a massive windfall if OKC lands a team and continues it's advance as a "major league" city.


Yes, they are businessmen trying to make so money. But for all of them, the investment in this pro basketball team is insignificant in comparison to their holdings and interest in our favorite town.

Keep in mind, all, that Las Vegas may be a *financially* appealing alternative, but it is not a politically appealing alternative. I don't think Stern wants a franchise within 100 miles of Las Vegas, and as we all know, Stern is as much about impressions as he is anything else. The all-star event in Las Vegas this last year was a behind-the-scenes disaster, and that's why Stern would barely even give the LV mayor the time of day about a franchise presentation.

While I think Bennett et al are probably going to end up in OKC, keep in mind that the real threat in all this is Kansas City. I think they're going to cook up a proposal that might throw an unfathomable amount of cash to Bennett to move the Sonics there. Bennett, as a businessman, would be crazy not to at least listen, even if his predisposition is to come to OKC.

I still think there's a potential three-team dance to be played out before it's all done, and that could still involve a franchise trade with Shinn, Bennett, and a player to be named later.

Frustratingly, this house of cards is so fragile right now that it could still work out that OKC ends up with zilch the coming year or two, or could still conceivably be the permanent home to either the Sonics OR the Hornets...still very tricky to discern right now.

-soonerdave

ESPN.com - NBA - Sonics owner taking 'really hard' look at Vegas (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2850918)


Sonics owner Bennett tells officials he's eyeing VegasESPN.com news services


Seattle SuperSonics and Seattle Storm owner Clay Bennett has told Seattle business and civic leaders that Las Vegas, not his home town of Oklahoma City, could be a destination for the team, The Seattle Times reported.

Sheridan: Options Abound
Chris Sheridan senses that the Sonics will remain in Seattle for one more year, then Clay Bennett will start playing prospective relocation cities against one another. Blog

Bennett's comments were made at a Wednesday board meeting of Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau and comfirmed by a Sonics spokesman.


Team spokesman Jim Kneeland said while no firm plans are in place, the team is "looking really hard right now" at Las Vegas, the Times reported. That follows the Washington state legislature's rejection of public funding for a proposed $500 million arena in suburban Renton to replace KeyArena.

"He [Bennett] said, 'I'd still like to get a deal done here, but we're at a point where we have to start looking at other options,'" Kneeland said. The Sonics and Storm have a lease at KeyArena through 2010, but Bennett has said he may try to negotiate a way out of that deal after next season rather than play out the string.

The proposal could raise eyebrows across the NBA for two key reasons:

• It has been presumed since Bennett purchased the teams a year ago that he would move them to his native Oklahoma if he could not get a deal done in Seattle. Oklahoma City hosted the New Orleans Hornets for two NBA seasons in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and the city's support for the team impressed league observers.

• Commissioner David Stern has long insisted that the NBA will not allow a franchise relocation or expansion to Las Vegas until the city's casinos ban betting on NBA games. The city's latest proposal to the NBA did not meet that demand, though Stern has announced he'll appoint an ownership committee to study the issue.


Bennett has repeatedly said he'd rather keep the teams in the Seattle area, since it's a larger and more affluent market than Oklahoma City.

But if market size and money are factors, then Las Vegas naturally becomes a desirable alternative, officials who attended the meeting said of Bennett's thinking.


"What I heard him say was that if he ended up having to move the team, Vegas would likely be a more attractive market than Oklahoma City," Steve Leahy, chief executive of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, told the Times.


Seattle City Councilwoman Jan Drago told the newspaper "It was about money -- they can't make a return on their investment in Oklahoma ... he really expected to end up in Vegas."

Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire has said she will not call the state Legislature into special session on an arena financing plan, and state House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, is resolutely opposed to taxpayer funding for an arena.


"They already have a place to play. It's nice. There are no potholes in the court there. Every player has health care. They all had the opportunity to go to college. Let's get real here," Chopp told the Seattle Times editorial board. "If they want to [build a new arena], we're not stopping them. They can pay for it themselves."

Meanwhile, Lenny Wilkens said Thursday he has been promoted from vice chairman to team president and is no longer a candidate to replace Rick Sund as general manager or Bob Hill as coach. On Tuesday, Hill was fired and Sund was removed from his post. Sund will remain with the team as a consultant during the final year of his contract.



Sounds more like OKC is now a "last resort".

Just blowing smoke up Seattle's ......

Has to say he is considering other cities...Won't happen unless our city leader's deal for the Sonics is just plain horrible

I give up. From a potential fan stand point I can't figure out what the hell is going on. I have tried to remain optimistic through every piece of news but I am getting relocation fatigue. I am just going to sit down and shut up until a press conference is called. Vegas, Renton, KC, OKC - who the hell knows anymore.

This is my last post on this thread. Peace out.

Hornets will crater in Nawlins

Bennett won't be allowed to go to Vegas but KC is going to
give him a zillion suitcases full of cash and they've already
got the arena to lure a team....he'll turn the team for a tidy
profit of 20-40mil shortly thereafter.......

Seattle will be left like a relic and the Hornets will return to
OKC in 2012.....maybe with Bennett as "an" owner.....

Let's look back in 2012 and see if my crystal ball was right......

Actually Bennett has everything to lose by not moving a team here to OKC. Think of how much more all of his other investments will be worth with an NBA team HERE.

He also has the risk of losing his reputation here, which is incredibly huge considering all of his investments are here. If he chooses to move the team elsewhere, don't expect any favors from any of the city leaders here, and expect everything to be uphill here, including zoning changes for Chesapeake, favors for Bennett, etc. It will be hell to pay at city hall in terms of favors if they move the team elsewhere.

You can send all your hate mail to his home address: 1604 Dorchester Dr. Just kidding.

Actually Bennett has everything to lose by not moving a team here to OKC. Think of how much more all of his other investments will be worth with an NBA team HERE.

He also has the risk of losing his reputation here, which is incredibly huge considering all of his investments are here. If he chooses to move the team elsewhere, don't expect any favors from any of the city leaders here, and expect everything to be uphill here, including zoning changes for Chesapeake, favors for Bennett, etc. It will be hell to pay at city hall in terms of favors if they move the team elsewhere.

Patrick, (Good to see you posting again, btw)....I would agree with you if it was anybody but Clay Bennett. First and foremost Bennett is a GAYLORD. He married into great wealth and power. The Gaylord's have always put whatever is best for them before what's best for Oklahoma City. I know, they've done a lot of good with their money in the state. But frankly, their companies being privately held keeps them in the shadows of what they are REALLY worth. The ratio of wealth/philanthropy is said to be incredibly weak. But, there's no denying they've done some good things. But that also doesn't change the fact that the Gaylord money trail has always been to LEAVE Oklahoma. I certainly hope they don't do that in this case.

-------------------

People tend to act out of self-interest and as long as OKC could support a team (and I think that's already been proven) than all the partners would benefit the most from the team being in Oklahoma.

There are simply huge benefits that would flow to the investment group, and pro sports franchises tend not to make much money -- if any.

People tend to act out of self-interest and as long as OKC could support a team (and I think that's already been proven) than all the partners would benefit the most from the team being in Oklahoma.

There are simply huge benefits that would flow to the investment group, and pro sports franchises tend not to make much money -- if any.

I hope you're right. Gawd, I hope you're right. It seems like the partnership would fall apart pretty fast if Bennett took the team anywhere else. Do you - or anybody else - know the percentage of ownership details of the group?

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I don't want to get off on a tangent about the Gaylords but now that the old man's gone, I think they deserve the benefit of the doubt.

They do a great deal for the community and for OU and the Oklahoman has always had one of the best web presences of any newspaper. Unless someone is aware of some agregious actions that have occurred *recently* I think we all need to stop assuming they are just out to screw people.

I've know Christy Everest for a long time, for example, and I've always thought she was extremely sharp and generally a good person.

They are business people as is Clay Bennett. However, I think Clay knows there would be serious backlash if he had the opportunity to relocate the Sonics and took them to another city, especially in light of the support of commisioner Stern.

Bennett is the head man with his neck way out there. And he and his wife are never going to leave OKC, so I have a hard time believing that he would not bring his team to Oklahoma unless something went very wrong.

writerranger, first off, glad to be back. I just finished an incredibly tough rotation, and hope to be back on here more often.

Concerning the Sonics, one thing you have to consider is the other members that are part of the ownership group, that aren't part of the Gaylord clan. They have a lot to benefit with an NBA team in Oklahoma City.

David Stern was just interviewed during the Mavs/Warriors game that Bennett did not say the most likely city he will move the Soniics is Las Vegas and if he did say that he will be retracting the statement tomorrow.

David Stern was just interviewed during the Mavs/Warriors game that Bennett did not say the most likely city he will move the Soniics is Las Vegas and if he did say that he will be retracting the statement tomorrow.


I heard Stern say that too, He really kind of laughed it off, as if moving to Las Vegas is not an option.

History-
Gaylords spew their name on everything/everywhere- costing but a dime. Takes off to Nash and wipes on memorial stadium on the way out.

Dirt thrown on OKC by tulsans for years.

Bombings and twisters. More dirt.

Katrina.

OKC saves the hornets with humble pie.

Hatred bubbles up from the mud pits of Nawlins.

Mudslinging. more Mudslinging on OKC by them nawlins'(while trying to find their next hot meal-given to them by oklahomans).

Bennet/McClendon/company vows NHL/NBA-in OKC. Draws hornets...la de da da... Then buys sonics!

Shinn/Hornets (crying)- leaves OKC for a pompous, dirty hell hole for NBA PR.

More mud thrown by nawlins(just in case we end up w/ the hornets later).

Stern announces OKC next destination for NBA.

Seattle flicks articulate buggers and nasty degrading comments at OKC. Along with their CITY LEADERS- more great PR.

Little more dirt flung over by tulsans and surrounding region.

Bennet plays cat and mouse with Seattle for trillion dollar disneyland miracle. But still desires to also keep the team in the wash. region if he can. But still Repeats his devotion to OKC. Stern Repeats message.

Bennet has love affair with Vegas and KC. Committee is created by Stern for other city options.

More drama...mud....dirt....drama....dirt/mud...buggers....and more bad PR.

If the sonics dont come to town, then a public tar and feathering should happen at will rogers airport.

History repeats. --There's three types of people out there chuck......and now OKC is all covered in .....

If the sonics dont come to town, then a public tar and feathering should happen at will rogers airport.

I concur. We all know where Bennett lives! LOL!

I won't support any tar and feathering efforts until after NW 50th between Penn and May is repaved.

I won't support any tar and feathering efforts until after NW 50th between Penn and May is repaved.


Hmmm. Very close to your home on NW 47th. I don't blame you one bit. Hopefully MAPS for Kids will get around to renovating Monroe Elementary one of these days as well.

On Dorchester? Dang, that's in the general area where my with and I want to buy a home when that day gets closer.

According to the Master Schedule, construction at Monroe won't begin until early 2009 and won't be done until perhaps 2011. I can wait. This is already one of the better schools in the district.

Didn't Edward L. Gaylord live around 1506 Dorchester?

So much for not posting on this subject again.

All of a sudden Las Vegas doesn't seem like such a good idea. 1 out of 30 homes in Clark County in foreclosure. Can't afford your house - can't afford Sonics tickets.

My Way News - Flippers Flop As Housing Market Cools (http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070429/D8OQ9IMG0.html)

Well, it's actually the flippers that are getting burned. It doesn't really say much about what the people who actually live in those houses can and can not afford. Vegas is/was a big speculative market. It could hurt actual residents if the spec and subprime market drastically hurts their property values, but only in terms of their equity worth. The cash flow for most would be unchanged.