The NBA in OKC Megathread

[Kerry]

I never really understood why people think a hotel/motel/rental car tax is paid by outsiders. Maybe in some tourist heavy/low business cities but I think places like Seattle have a higher percentage of business people using those services. When I travel I pay high car rental rates in Atlanta, Chicago, and San Francisco. I even pay for homeless healthcare in San Fran when I eat out. But guess what - I get 100% refunded those costs by the companies I have there working for. So you see, local business really is the ones that pay that cost. In situations where I don't get reimbursed I factor that into bill and just charge more. Either way local business picks up the tab.

[bombermwc]

Yes, but that's not the typical person. Business travelers are one thing, but the average joe out there on a trip doesnt get reimbursed and so that money really does get paid out. When I go somewhere on business, I get reimbursed when I get back, so the company in OK pays out, again the city still got their money.

[Kerry]

bombermwc - when you travel are you going to your own companies location or are you at a customer site? For those that travel to customer site - your comapny send the customer a bill that includes the money they reimbursed you. I am not saying the monmey doesn't get collected, but it is not this free panacia of cash that supporters of such taxes make it out to be. This why Chambers of Commerce and hotel/motel assoication every where oppose such taxes. Sales taxes are the way to go.

[HOT ROD]

Looks like Shinn blew it if he wanted to block or compete with Bennett over OKC (for 2008 at least). The NBA has given Bennett EXCLUSIVE rights to Oklahoma City.

This is very good news from two prospectives:

1) it should make it very easy for Bennett to get the relocation approval for either 2008 or 2010; depending upon the outcome of the litigation 1a) especially if/when OKC approves the Ford Center update

AND 2) IF (and I mean a big IF) the BOG does not approve OKC (more than likely would be if OKC were not to pass the Ford Center update) - then Shinn could apply to OKC next year and surely would be granted to move when the N.O. lease runs out, if not earlier.

One thing's for sure, Oklahoma City is major-league now forever and WILL get an NBA team - most likely the Sonics 99%, with the Hornets becoming likely should the Sonics relocation bid fail.

Read on and ENJOY!!

Sonics | Bennett is first in line for OKC, NBA says | Seattle Times Newspaper

Bennett is first in line for OKC, NBA says

By Percy Allen
Seattle Times staff reporter

WASHINGTON — The Sonics have exclusive rights to the Oklahoma City market, according to the NBA constitution, which means New Orleans Hornets owner George Shinn can't block Sonics chairman Clay Bennett's relocation bid.

Shinn has been mentioned as having interest in returning to Oklahoma City, which hosted his Hornets after Hurricane Katrina.

"Any other team that has interest in moving to Oklahoma City would have had to apply within 45 days of the Sonics' application," league spokesman Tim Frank said in a telephone interview Friday. "So, therefore, we're only reviewing the application submitted by Clay Bennett and the Sonics."

The Sonics filed for relocation Nov. 2, which established a Dec. 17 deadline for counterproposals. Once that deadline passed, the Sonics were awarded exclusive rights to Oklahoma City until their application is decided.

The NBA formed a relocation committee of seven owners, which is expected to make a recommendation to the Board of Governors at an April meeting.

At issue is the city of Seattle's lawsuit against the Bennett-led Professional Basketball Club, which owns the Sonics. The city wants the team to play at KeyArena for the duration of its lease, which expires after the 2009- 10 season. Bennett would like to buy out the lease and move to Oklahoma City next season.

The case has been reassigned to U.S. District Court Judge Marsha Pechman.

The sides are expected to hold pretrial meetings in the next two weeks before Pechman sets a trial date. The case isn't expected to be decided before the Board of Governors' meeting.

The NBA would need Bennett to resolve his legal situation before the 2008-09 schedule is determined. Typically, the league completes scheduling in August.

Despite the potential hurdles, if any team plays in Oklahoma City next season, it will be the Sonics and not the Hornets, who spent two seasons there from 2005 through 2007.

Their return to New Orleans hasn't been a smooth transition. Despite a surprising amount of corporate support, a 21-11 record and an All-Star candidate in guard Chris Paul, the Hornets rank last in the league in average home attendance at 11,871.

Twice the Hornets drew fewer than 9,000 fans. Even before Katrina and Rita slammed into the Gulf shores, the Hornets averaged 14,221 in 2004-05, about 4,000 fewer than their average during their stay in Oklahoma City.

Several other issues plague the Hornets. Games are not televised locally because of a dispute between the cable company that broadcasts games and the provider that carries them. Ground has not been broken on a $20 million downtown New Orleans practice facility, a promise from the state of Louisiana that helped lure the team from Charlotte. And Shinn's relationship with local and state politicians has been described as "icy" in newspaper editorials.

Few optimists outside NBA commissioner David Stern's office think the Hornets will remain in New Orleans once their lease expires in 2012. Recently there has been rampant speculation that Shinn would try to force a move back to Oklahoma City immediately following the Feb. 17 All-Star Game in New Orleans.

"That's not going to happen," Frank said. "The rules are very clear. That market belongs to Bennett and the Sonics, for now."

Notes

• X-rays of F Chris Wilcox's dislocated right pinkie didn't reveal any serious damage, but there is considerable swelling. He returned to Seattle on Friday and will remain there until the swelling subsides. He's listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against Washington and questionable for Tuesday's game in Cleveland.

• The Sonics flew to Washington, D.C., on Friday afternoon. Sunday's game is a homecoming for rookies Kevin Durant and Jeff Green and reserve guard Delonte West. Durant and West were born in the district; Green was born in nearby Cheverly, Md.

Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

[HOT ROD]

WNBA Storm staying put. Bennett sold them to Seattle investors. Looks like OKC will just be an NBA city afterall - which this sale should indicate NBA is a done deal for OKC.

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
Clay Bennett selling Seattle Storm

Clay Bennett selling Seattle Storm

Last updated January 7, 2008 11:27 p.m. PT

By MOLLY YANITY
P-I REPORTER

The Seattle Storm is staying put. A local ownership group has bought the WNBA franchise from Clay Bennett and his Oklahoma City-based group, a source with knowledge of the negotiations told the Seattle P-I on Monday night.

League president Donna Orender will be in Seattle on Tuesday for an 11 a.m. news conference, the Storm announced Monday.

Neither Orender nor Storm chief operating officer Karen Bryant could be reached for comment Monday, but the source said the new ownership group includes at least one woman.

Bennett bought the Sonics and Storm for $350 million in 2006 from a group led by Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. At the time, Bennett committed to keeping both teams in Seattle, contingent on plans for a new arena within a year.

With no arena in the works, Bennett filed with the NBA to relocate the teams to Oklahoma after the lease at KeyArena expires after the Sonics' 2009-10 season.

"Those of us close to (the Storm) are riding out our optimism ... (we) just hope that at some level, everyone will come together, be solution-oriented and find a way to get this done," Bryant said on Aug. 30 of the effort to keep the team in Seattle.

She said Bennett intended to keep his "investment" in both the NBA and WNBA, but also left the door open to outside interest.

"I think if there's an ownership group that's committed, you can survive in a market without the association of an NBA team," Bryant said.

When the WNBA began in 1996, all eight teams were owned and operated by NBA franchises and continued to be collectively owned until 2002.

The Connecticut Sun became the first independently owned team when it was bought by the Mohegan tribe.

With the Storm joining the group, there are now seven independently owned WNBA teams, including the Los Angeles Sparks and Houston Comets, both league originals.

The Buss family, owners of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers, sold the Sparks to a female-led investment group for $10 million in December 2006.

The sale price of the Storm was not known Monday.

The WNBA has suffered financial setbacks in recent years and four teams have folded in the league's 11-year history. The Charlotte Sting was the latest, disbanding last January.

The Storm is on a year-to-year lease at KeyArena separate from the Sonics, and is not directly involved in the city's lawsuit aimed at halting Bennett's efforts to move the Sonics after the current season.

The Storm has only four players under contract for the 2008 season -- including league MVP Lauren Jackson -- and is searching for a coach and director of player personnel.

Anne Donovan resigned both jobs Nov. 30 after going 93-77 in five seasons and leading the Storm to the 2004 WNBA championship.

The Storm opens the 2008 season at KeyArena on May 17 against the Chicago Sky.

© 1998-2008 Seattle Post-Intelligencer

[HOT ROD]

Hornets’ future sketchy | TheNewsTribune.com | Tacoma, WA

Tacoma, WA - Wednesday, January 16, 2008 < Back to Regular Story Page

Hornets’ future sketchy


ERIC D. WILLIAMS; eric.williams@thenewstribune.com
Last updated: January 16th, 2008 01:23 AM (PST)

NEW ORLEANS – Time is ticking for the Crescent City if it wants to keep professional basketball in New Orleans.

The outcome doesn’t look too promising, and it could have an effect on the SuperSonics’ tenuous situation in Seattle.

A week ago, the New Orleans Hornets signed an accord with the state of Louisiana extending its lease agreement at New Orleans Arena until 2014.

On the surface, the deal would seem like good news, creating some stability that the Hornets will stay long term.

However, a clause in the contract allows the Hornets to opt out of the lease if the Hornets do not draw an average attendance of 14,735 by the end of the 2008-09 season. The amended deal also absolves the state of the responsibility to pay for a costly practice facility for the Hornets.

Opting out of the lease would cost Hornets owner George Shinn close to $100 million. He would have to buy back the 25 percent minority share local businessman Gary Chouest purchased for $62 million in July, and also pay back inducements the team has received, among other things. But it would give Shinn the ability to relocate his team to a stronger financial market.

A city of nearly 500,000 before Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans’ population is now around 300,000, according to the latest U.S. Census results. And New Orleans does not have the corporate business support many major U.S. cities enjoy.

Sonics chairman Clay Bennett has a foothold on Oklahoma City after filing relocation papers in November. But the Hornets are a familiar product to Oklahoma City, having played there for two seasons after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the New Orleans’ area.

Kansas City, Las Vegas and Louisville, Ky., also are in the market for an NBA team.

Shinn has stated that he wants to stay in New Orleans and try to make it work there.

“It’s a joint effort with the state,” Shinn told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “I think it’s the right thing to do. I believe in this market. I believe in everybody working with me. We’re going to make it work. I don’t care what people nationally think. I care what people here think.”

However, the team seems unlikely to meet the attendance benchmark, which is based on the Hornets’ three-year average before Hurricane Katrina. In 17 home games, the Hornets are averaging 12,341, ranked second-to-last in the NBA in attendance behind Indiana (11,987).

The Hornets are putting a quality product on the floor. With a team led by budding superstar point guard Chris Paul, the Hornets are 25-12 and likely headed for the playoffs.

The Hornets also have an increasing player payroll to consider. Paul, the rookie of the year in 2005-06, can begin negotiating a lucrative, long-term deal when his contract expires in July 2009.

New Orleans will get a chance to showcase itself to the professional basketball world when it hosts the NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 17. However, it’s unclear if New Orleans has recovered enough financially to support both the Hornets and the city’s most popular professional sports franchise, the NFL’s New Orleans Saints.

Shinn insists he is set on making it work in the Big Easy.

“I’m 66 years old; I’m tired of moving,” Shinn told the Times-Picayune. “I don’t want to move again. We want this thing to work. We are using prayer and manpower.”

[HOT ROD]

The News Tribune - ‘Not much interest’ in helping Sonics, house speaker Frank Chopp says (print)

‘Not much interest’ in helping Sonics, house speaker Frank Chopp says


eric.williams@thenewstribune.com
Last updated: January 15th, 2008 06:20 AM (PST)

For state house speaker Frank Chopp the new session of the Legislature is all about “kitchen table” issues that affect everyday people.

And that does not include public funding for a $500 million arena for the Seattle SuperSonics.

On Monday, the opening day of this year’s 60-day legislative session, Chopp said securing public funding for a remodeled KeyArena or a new venue for the Sonics is not a priority for the Legislature.

“We’re focusing on what the voters want us to focus in on, which is education, health care and jobs,” Chopp said. “And other issues, too, like the environment and government reform. There’s just not much interest out there about helping the Sonics.”

However, Chopp said he met with Seattle mayor Greg Nickels a few weeks before the legislative session. Chopp said Nickels made a proposal for a revamped KeyArena during the meeting, and later followed it up by e-mailing a preliminary plan for financing the proposal. However, Chopp said he hasn’t had a chance to review the numbers.

Chopp said he also planned to meet with other legislators in Olympia to talk about how they will respond should the city of Seattle submit a proposal this session for a remodeled KeyArena.

“In the past when ideas have been floated, first by the Sonics through Howard Schultz and then by (current Sonics chairman Clay) Bennett, there weren’t hardly any votes for anything,” Chopp said. “So I don’t know, we’ll see.”

Senate majority leader Lisa Brown said she’s heard nothing about an arena proposal for the Sonics.

“They haven’t contacted me,” Brown said. “Nothing has come up to the leadership level. And no senator has brought me any proposal they are working (on) or anybody they are working with.

“The time line is very short. If something is not on the table now it needs to get there soon.”

Seattle still has not revealed its plans for a remodeled KeyArena, although deputy mayor Tim Ceis said in December that the city would announce plans in the near future. Ceis has not given a specific date and did not return a phone call from The News Tribune on Monday seeking comment.

According to sources with knowledge of the plan, the city’s proposal will be similar to a plan it made to former Sonics chairman Schultz and his group, just before Schultz sold the team to Bennett’s group. The most expansive option in that plan would have provided $198 million for a KeyArena remodel. But it required a public vote and a $49 million contribution from the team.

Bennett has said he’s not interested in any plan that involves remodeling KeyArena.

Also, timing is an issue. The Sonics and the city will soon file joint status reports, giving the judge in their federal court case over KeyArena lease terms, Marsha Pechman, some possible trial dates and other time guidelines. The filing deadline is Wednesday, after which Pechman is expected to set a date for a jury trial.

If the city gets the fall trial date it wants, the Sonics could be forced to play in Seattle another season.

With the Sonics filing an application with the NBA to relocate to Oklahoma City, interested observers are keeping an eye on an Oklahoma City initiative. It goes to voters March 4 asking for a penny increase in sales tax to raise $122 million to improve the Ford Center and build a practice facility for the arrival of a team.

Meanwhile, Washington legislators such as Rep. Eric Pettigrew and Sen. Margarita Prentice, who initially supported arena proposals for the Sonics in past legislative sessions, say possibilities are dim to get something done this session.

“I haven’t heard a peep or anything, today or beforehand, about any motivation or interest to do anything,” Pettigrew said. “We have kind of gone through the ringer a couple times before and have kind of ground people into a situation where they were already sensitive to it anyway, as related to the other stadiums. So whatever sentiment we had before the last couple years, I just don’t have a sense for that now.”

Added Prentice: “I have had a number of people (legislators) ask me if there’s anything happening. … But there’s too many stumbling blocks.”

blogs.thenewstribune.com/sonics

Originally published: January 15th, 2008 01:22 AM (PST)

[Easy180]

IF the BOG approves the move in April for a future date or however they word the decision then that coupled with zero interest in the legislature may open up buyout talks again

If they know it's inevitable they would be stupid to not get a chunk of cash out of the ordeal

[Kerry]

If the BofG approves the move then there is no way the team stay in Seattle. The only thing left to determine is when it happens. If the BofG approves and then Bennett agrees to some kind of deal in Seattle, talk about a bunch of pissed off people that are customers of the owners in OKC. And don't think Stern and the other owners would be more than ticked off. If the Board approves in April the Sonics are coming to OKC - period.

[CCOKC]

I just read the box score for the Hornets Sonics game last night and the paid attendance was 9882. The game was played in NO. Obviously the attendance clause in the Hornet's new contract did not spur the fans to go to a game. I almost cry for these guys and how hard they are playing and the fans don't appreciate their effort. The team is very close to getting Coach Scott as coach for the Western Conference in the All Star Game and openly talk about that as being a short term goal since the game will be played on their home court. I just fell in love with this team (especially CP and Tyson) and wish them all the best wherever they play.

[Watson410]

Here's the newest story about the Seattle Supersonics on ESPN.com... Looks like they're pushing to be in OKC for the 2008-2009 season.

SEATTLE -- The Seattle SuperSonics are asking a federal judge to order a quick start to mediation, as well as a March trial date, in the team's legal fight with the city over its future in KeyArena.

In a status report filed by both sides with U.S. District Court Judge Marsha Pechman this week, the city agreed that mediation should start as soon as possible -- but only if the Sonics' ownership group, the Professional Basketball Club, is prepared to discuss keeping the team in Seattle instead of following through on plans to move it to Oklahoma City.

The Sonics have shown no such willingness.

"The court has the right to order the parties to mediate," Paul Lawrence, a lawyer for the city, said Thursday. "But the goal here is to keep the Sonics in Seattle. We don't want to mediate unless that's an option."

The city also took issue with the Sonics' request for a March 24 trial date, saying there's no way to prepare that quickly, and instead proposed Oct. 27. Both sides agreed the issues should be heard by a judge, rather than a jury.

The city is suing to keep the Sonics at KeyArena -- the NBA's smallest venue -- through the end of its lease in September 2010. Team owner Clay Bennett, having failed to win support for a new arena in the Legislature last year, is seeking to buy out the remainder of the lease and move the Sonics to Oklahoma City. The league is expected to rule on the team's relocation request this spring.

Mediation -- negotiations overseen by another judge, retired judge or other qualified mediator -- is typical in cases where an early settlement could save the cost of preparing for and going to trial. Sonics attorney Paul Taylor said Thursday he could not discuss what the team might hope to gain in mediation, or whether it would be willing to talk about staying in Seattle.

In the status report, the Sonics argued that the earlier trial date was crucial, and that the lawsuit is basically a landlord-tenant dispute that doesn't need 10 months of preparation.

"Wherever the Sonics are playing, considerable planning and lead time are required to prepare for the 2008-2009 season, and myriad details must be worked out regarding offices, ticket sales, marketing, sponsorships, player contracts, coaches, media contracts, trademark issues, etc.," the team's lawyers wrote. "All of these and other matters are in limbo until the case is resolved."

[HOT ROD]

Here is Art's take on things. Im beginning to really believe that the Hornets' are on their way back to Oklahoma City, especially given the recent attendance. ...

Sonics are awful -- and possibly staying put?

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
Sonics are awful -- and possibly staying put?

Sonics are awful -- and possibly staying put?
Last updated January 27, 2008 10:45 p.m. PT

By ART THIEL
P-I COLUMNIST

The debacle of the StudentSonics feels like one of the sorriest ordeals in the history of Seattle sports.

It terms of the appearance of infinite futility, it's tough to top the Mariners' 15 years to their first winning season, the dreariest trudge in the history of modern American team sports. But at least it ended. Can't say that yet for the StudentSonics.

Sitting through Wednesday's game with the Houston Rockets, which featured a winning opponent and a couple of intriguing characters in Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, was nevertheless a chore. Even though the StudentSonics played well enough to bring a half-empty house to its feet at the end, there was an air of inevitability about the outcome despite a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter.

The team is playing at midseason exactly to the fate ordained after the dismissals of Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. Assembled largely for reasons of lower payroll and expiring contracts, the roster lacks the two key elements of most successful NBA teams (without Michael Jordan): A center and a point guard. Nearly everyone else is a middle-sized forward of undetermined role and value.

The mishmash is coached by P.J. Carlesimo, a retread with a checkered NBA past who has done little to persuade players and fans that he has learned his unnecessarily overbearing tactics still don't work so well.

New GM Sam Presti seems able, but right now he is half of a league-wide joke that says he and Timberwolves GM Kevin McHale will be co-winners of the executive of the year award for the contributions they made in turning the Boston Celtics into a sudden powerhouse.

The debacle had its roots in the bungled stewardship of Howard Schultz and Wally Walker (attention Starbucks shareholders: If Schultz in his return to his old job as Starbucks CEO plans to do what he did for his hoops team, consider investing in all the tea in China). The best personnel move, for them, in their six years was selling to an overeager buyer from out of town who had no clue what he was overpaying for.

And as yet, no political or business leader has emerged to take public charge of the arena situation. All appear on hold until there is legal resolution of ownership's attempt to get out of the KeyArena lease after this season.

Comments from multiple attorneys who have read the public filings indicate the city has a good chance to win the argument that the lease can't be bought out, and the club will be forced to play two more seasons.

It might be pro basketball's only local win in 2008.

Despite the foregoing litany of despair, we take this moment to throw in a little perverse sunshine.

The New Orleans Hornets have negotiated an escape clause into their lease after the 2008-09 season.

How that affects the scene here takes some explaining, so hang in, please.

Despite having, astonishingly, the best team in the Western Conference, the Hornets are, not astonishingly, floundering financially in the devastated city. Even before Katrina, the Hornets weren't working out, with an average attendance of 14,735 ranking near the NBA's bottom in the first three seasons in the Crescent City.

Now, with many in a relatively small middle class having fled and almost no Fortune 500 companies to carry sponsorship freight, the Hornets are in worse shape.

Unclean as it feels to examine this civic pain through a pro sports prism, the fact is that on Jan. 9, the state and city were realistic enough to create a new lease deal for owner George Shinn that allows him to leave before the lease's old expiration in 2012.

Naturally, Shinn, who disgraced himself when the Hornets were in Charlotte and is perhaps the most unpopular owner among his NBA fellows, said all the optimistic things about meeting the announced goal by the end of next season of 14,735 -- the pre-Katrina average.

"It's going to be hard, very, very difficult for us NOT to pass that number," he said last week, despite the current average of a little more than 12,000, which includes ticket giveaways. "I think it's going to happen. We're happy to be in New Orleans and have made the effort to come back. We didn't come back to fail."

What else could he say? Shinn believes the fan base lost in the temporary relocation to Oklahoma City will be revived, starting with hosting the All-Star Game next month as well as by the success of a team that Saturday beat the defending champion Spurs by 24 in San Antonio.

He might be right. Even if he isn't right, moving won't be easy. Triggering the escape clause means he must cash out a local partner of his $62 million investment, and pay a relocation fee to the NBA of perhaps $40 million.

Nevertheless, the franchise may well be in play, creating two possibilities in Seattle:

- A Seattle ownership purchases the Hornets for a move, or

- More likely, StudentSonics owner Clay Bennett no longer tolerates losses in the wallet as well the courts of law and basketball. He sells to a local ownership group, taking his proceeds to buy the Hornets for less than the $350 million paid for the Sonics in 2006 and move them to his Oklahoma City hometown (Shinn and Bennett could be forgiven the relocation fee).

No knowledgeable person will talk about the scenario on the record, much less suggest it will happen; no one wants to add to New Orleans' misery. But the movers and shakers in Seattle, New Orleans, Oklahoma City and New York know the path is there. The escape clause wouldn't have been created and accepted if the need for an out wasn't dramatic.

The NBA legitimately can say that it tried in New Orleans. It also wants to stay in Seattle, and wants to reward Bennett and Oklahoma City (not Shinn) for being good NBA citizens after Katrina.

An arena solution still is needed here. Discussions have taken place, but action awaits a favorable court ruling and Bennett's willingness to be a hometown hero in a different way.

Even then, the process of keeping the franchise will be a slog. Nothing is guaranteed. The ordeal seems infinite, and

[HOT ROD]

I pretty much agree with Art, with one exception: Bennett will sell to the HIGHEST BIDDER and not JUST to Seattle ownership.

Im almost certain that New Orleans wont make the cut and this will be determined by the April meeting (even if they were to sell out all of next year). This will come to the table and Shinn will be put on notice. The BOG will grant a franchise move to Bennett BUT they strongly recommend it be the Hornets (as in, Shinn you better sell). Shinn does but asks for (and probably gets) minority interest.

Then Bennett offers up the Seattle Sonics to the HIGHEST BIDDER - which I BET will come from Las Vegas, for $400M. Im sure the BOG won't PUNISH Bennett by MAKING HIM sell ONLY to Seattle investors when there ARE/MIGHT BE others. And surely, nobody in Seattle will offer that much money that Im assuming (or even the $350M Bennett paid), for the sake of Seattle's pride when the arena and unfavourable government issues still exist.

So, in the end - Oklahoma City will Definitely get a team (VOTE YES ON MAR 4) and honestly, I think it is looking more likely to be the Oklahoma City Hornets.

Also in the end, the Sonics may still be leaving Seattle in 2010, for Vegas or KC.

Im beginning to see the light now. .... I wonder if Cornett was tipped about this? Maybe everything is already in work (meaning, Shinn already agree to sell to Bennett if N.O. fail to attend). ...

[solitude]

Very interesting! Thanks for posting!

Good analysis as well.

[betts]

In my mind, this has always been the best solution for the NBA, even if not necessarily for Oklahoma City. The Hornets are currently the gypsies of the NBA. If they are going to move, they will gain the most stability by going back to a city in which they've already been. Stability is good for the NBA. I had heard from decent sources that David Stern is set on not letting Shinn out of New Orleans, but the new negotiated contract there certainly makes one doubt that's the case. It looks bad for the NBA to have the Western conference leader, and almost assured playoff team sitting at 60&#37; announced capacity. If you watch the games (every Wednesday night on Cox 7!), it's clear actual attendance is lower than announced. If the Hornets were to move to OKC, rather than the Sonics, the entire sporting world, with the exception of a couple in NO. would heave a collective sigh of relief. The problem I see with this scenario which would make almost everyone happy is the fact that George Shinn clearly lied to Clay Bennett about selling him some portion of the team, and I'm not sure they're dear friends and close companions. George has been adamant about not selling a majority interest in the team, and flatly denied Bennett's request for minority ownership now, with the option to purchase majority ownership after Shinn's death. So, could a compromise be reached whereby Shinn and Bennett could get along, and both of them have enough control over some aspect of the team which makes them satisfied? I don't know. I also don't know if Shinn would have the relocation fee waived, since he still hasn't paid the BOG his last relocation fee.

I do agree that it's reasonably likely Bennett will not get an early out on the lease in Seattle. However, what happens from there is going to affect whether the Sonics move. If the Board of Governors gives him permission to move "at which time he is legally capable of moving", that gives him some negotiating room with the city of Seattle. Even if held to his lease, he can go to the city and say, "I've been given permission to move the team, and I will move the team the minute I can do so legally. Therefore, you no longer have any hope of keeping the team beyond 2010. I will wait out the lease, but I will not stay here no matter what happens with an arena." Were that the case, the city of Seattle, which is losing money on the Sonics(poor attendance + suite size and sale issues + bond debt) might be able to go to it's constituents and say, "We're negotiating a buy out because we know the Sonics aren't staying regardless and so the city might as well make some money to help pay back Key Arena debt. Bennett could conceivably leave the Sonics name and logo there, as another way for the city to save face and possibly get the Sonics "back" after some point in time, through expansion or franchise movement.

If the above is an option, at some point David Stern is going to have to go to everyone and say, "We don't like teams moving all over the place. It's better the Hornets be the team to move, as they've already been in Oklahoma City, and broker some sort of deal whereby Bennett owns part of the Hornets (I'm not sure the other Sonics owners care about more than getting a team to OKC) and has enough responsibility for the team to be happy. Stern then finds someone in Seattle who is willing to buy the team (for $350 million, so it's no easy task), he gets the city of Seattle to agree to a major remodel of the Key Arena and a reworked contract between the city and the owners.

Were that to happen, sportswriters of American would be racing to be the first to approve Stern's "clear desire to do what's best for the sport in American."

But this is all a daydream if we don't pass the tax proposition on March 4, I honestly believe.

[metro]

Or option numero tres, all of our speculation scenarios are wrong. I'm pretty confident we'll get a team within 3 years as long as the Ford Center vote passes, otherwise, we have other scenarios to ponder far greater than this.

[Nixon7]

When will we hear if they will get a spring court date or october? Could the hornets be mathmatically out of contention for their benchmark by april and be here in 08/09? this is not a fun roller coaster ride.

[betts]

I think they're expecting a court decision within the next couple of days, if you look at the Seattle websites. I think it would take pretty bad attendance even by current standards for the Hornets to be mathematically able to negotiate out of their lease by April, but Doug could tell you whether that's a possibility or not.

[metro]

Hornets in 08/09 is not possible (unless the NBA changes its rules and I don't see that happening this year for the Hornets, the Sonics maybe). The NBA has officially come on record stating that the Hornets did not apply for relocation and that the Sonics have exclusivity over OKC. Now, if the judge strikes down the Sonics move and then the Hornets file next fall to relocate for 09/10 then the Hornets might be a possibility. Barring another Katrina or an unforeseen disaster, no way the Hornets are here in 08/09.

[Doug Loudenback]

I think they're expecting a court decision within the next couple of days, if you look at the Seattle websites. I think it would take pretty bad attendance even by current standards for the Hornets to be mathematically able to negotiate out of their lease by April, but Doug could tell you whether that's a possibility or not.

Mathematically possible, but waaaay improbable ... like a bunch of games with near-zero attendance would have to occur, and that's not gonna happen!

Based on the average paid attendance before tonight's game v. Denver, and carrying that number forward, the 14,735 number would be mathematically possible to reach until sometime in late November-December or so of next season. I'm expecting Nola to improve on its existing average (12,569) and if they do the "impossible" date moves further out than that. Here's a thread with the detail: HornetsCentral.com & SonicsBeat.com Forums :: Log in

Here's a subset of the projected data zeroing in on the "zone" where the "mission" becomes impossible to reach ... but this is only based on the existing paid attendance average as of today, beginning 12/1/2007:



Nola arena capacity is something of an unknown quantity, also. Presently, the official capacity is 17,188, although it was stated to be 17,956 earlier in the season. In previous Nola years, paid attendance surpassed 18,500 on 3 different occasions, so "real" arena capacity is pretty hard to know. Realistically speaking, I'm thinking that it will be possible for the 14,735 number to be reached until January-February 2009. However, none of my crystal balls have ever worked worth a damn ... though tinkering with them gives one something to do while waiting!

[betts]

The trial date appears to be a compromise to me. Although it's not the March date requested by the Sonics' owners, it's also not the fall date requested by the city of Seattle. This seems like a fair decision, recognizing that March is rather close, but also recognizing the stalling tactic the city of Seattle clearly was implementing. Had the trial been scheduled for October or November, there is no way the team could move next year, regardless of the outcome.

"Judge Marsha Pechman set a June 16 trial date for the court case involving the City of Seattle and SuperSonics to determine the team's future in Seattle under the KeyArena lease, which doesn't expire until 2010. The Sonics have filed for relocation to Oklahoma City, the base of chairman Clay Bennett and the ownership group. Bennett's lawyers wanted a speedy resolution, requesting a March 24 trial date, but it was not granted. "

[metro]

I bet the Judge set it then in Seattle's favor. This case is clearly going to be biased as long as it's held in the Pac NW. Hopefully the BOG will approve the move in April anyways and it will be leverage for the trial in Bennett's favor.

[OU Adonis]

The City has threatened to include the NBA in its lawsuit if they do that.

[jbrown84]

WOW, talk about burning your bridges. Seattle is so ridiculous.

[HOT ROD]

When will we hear if they will get a spring court date or october? Could the hornets be mathmatically out of contention for their benchmark by april and be here in 08/09? this is not a fun roller coaster ride.

Answer: June 16 is the date. Ending is the question, .. perhaps by Nov??? Which would allow Bennett to move in 2009 (only forgoing one year). In fact, I think with the court date split between the two requests submitted (which admirably is fair of the judge); it still gives the advantage to Seattle because it is highly likely Bennett wont be able to move next year even WHEN he gets BOG approval in April. Bennett wont move the team mid-season (I don't think). If he's still in court by the schedule set in August, then 2008-2009 will surely be in Seattle.

So then, the question becomes - does Seattle want to be stupid and continue the fight or would they drop the case (once it clear that the final year possibly gained isn't worth the cost to keep dragging)? Why not take the "WIN" and try to get some MONEY for Key Arena AND some good graces with the NBA by letting Bennett negotiate out the final year ....

In exchange for Stern stepping in and getting a new owner for the Sonics (and possibly an arena solution also) while getting Shinn sell the Hornets to Bennett (although he could remain a majority-minority investor) and Bennett takes his relo grant and applies it to the Hornets; moving them to OKC.

Everybody is happy.

I think Seattle would go for that. I think Shinn would go for that (since he dont want to be in N.O. and could STILL participate in the Hornets in the OKC hotbed). I think Bennett et al would go for that since they'd get a team and likely could recover some of their lost cash (although they'd owe LA some dough but perhaps they could negotiate with them to leave some broadcast in their market and perhaps exhibition games in exchange for lessening some of the burden).

This is interesting times, but it definitely looks like OKC is IN - Now improve the Ford Center!!!