Quote Originally Posted by Laramie View Post
Correct it is from a long time ago. But once the NBA begins talking about expansion with Seattle being on their radar, you know this scab will be picked to death and its wound reopened once Seattle is granted an NBA expansion franchise.

Oklahoma City has supported the NBA from its initial trail run with the New Orleans-Oklahoma City Hornets in 2006 and 2007. Remember, the attendance was so good here, owner George Shinn didn't want to leave. You had cities like Kansas City (Sprint Center 2008) and Louisville (Freedom Hall) offering 'free rent' after the franchise was officially relocated to OKC. Louisville blew its opportunity for the ABA Kentucky Colonels to move to the NBA from the old ABA when the leagues merged in 1976.

When the Supersonics were allowed to relocate to OKC, the NBA did specify that improvements and upgrades had to be made to the bare bones minimum Ford Center. The MAPS for HOOPS (Extension of an existing MAPS initiative) was approved by voters to add money toward improvements to the Ford Center and build an NBA practice facility--it insured that the Supersonics would be here long term.

Our previous efforts to attract an NHL expansion or relocation franchise failed. Raleigh was able to lure the NHL Whalers from Hartford, a city as close to Boston as Oklahoma City was to Dallas. OKC's relocation efforts received a 28-2 vote in favor--opposed by Paul Allen, Portland and Mark Cuban, Dallas.

The Oklahoma City-Tulsa combined TV viewership markets were promoted by then Mayor Mick Cornett as one--at the time the two largest TV markets in Oklahoma had a viewership estimated at 1.2 million.

Portland will renew its Pacific Northwest rivalry with the Emerald City. Seattle will renew its fight with Oklahoma City.

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seattle expansion is not "on the radar" vegas and seattle have already been selected as the 2 expansion cities ..