The NBA in OKC Megathread

[BDP]

Nobody's saying major-league teams are the only thing that get us there, but having a team and a nice, fully finished arena, are a huge stepping stone.

No doubt. In fact, having a class A arena is probably more significant than having the team. With these improvements, we really will have a tier 1 facility. People who make the decisions about where all kinds of events are held consider that. And, with the way the rest of the country has been doing business, you almost need a tier one arena just to be considered a full fledged member of the tier 2 city class.

[betts]

I was listening to Craig Humphries and Jim Traber on the radio today, and he related something I did not know. Apparently the Cardinals' stadium was originally going to be sited in Mesa, AZ, but they had to pass a one cent sales tax to build the stadium. There are a lot of elderly in Mesa, and they all voted against it, so the stadium went to Glendale instead, where they were willing to support it.

I don't know if anyone reading this happened to go to both Fiesta Bowls at that stadium in Glendale, but I did. The difference in the area in one year was nothing sort of astounding. In 2006, the new stadium and arena were sitting in a massive empty field. Field is probably not an accurate enough word to describe how much space there was surrounding them. There were two hotels on the exit, and a couple of chain restaurants near the arena. That was it. When we went back this year for the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, I hardly recognized the place. There were hotels going up all around it, new restaurants, many new town houses and a new mall. It was a hotbed of activity.

Now, because of size constraints, obviously we couldn't see that kind of development, but I think it's a perfect example of the fact that people like living where there are activities, and certainly in this case, it increased restaurant and retail activity in the area dramatically.

[Nixon7]

betts - sounds a lot like what's happening with the glory park at arlington...

Glorypark :. Soul of a New City :. Arlington, Texas

[jbrown84]

betts - sounds a lot like what's happening with the glory park at arlington...

Glorypark :. Soul of a New City :. Arlington, Texas

Are they actually building an indoor mall?

[metro]

Nice. I wonder what David Glover has to say about economic impact.

[betts]

The whole area around Dallas' American Airlines Center(home of the NBA Dallas Mavericks for those who don't know) is undergoing transformation as well. I don't really know what all is going in there, but there are some very high rise condos up that look pretty upscale, and I know there are restaurants going in. I believe there will be retail as well, but I'm not completely sure.

[Doug Loudenback]

Acting on a "hunch", I think that I've finally got the fictitious origin of march4vote.org figured out. The website appears to be done by a San Francisco guy, Tom Dellner, who may be a self-proclaimed paralegal ombudsman employed in the legal department at the University of California at San Francisco. He's also posted a web page opposing the public funding of an arena in Florida. Everything fits. Not an Okie, at least, not these days. Check it out and tell me if I've got it wrong.

See the updated Doug Dawgz Blog: www.march4vote.org post.

[betts]

One of the more interesting things I learned today is that the city can actually sell naming rights to the practice facility. Both the Salt Lake City practice facility and the Cleveland practice facility have sold naming rights. I'm not sure how much they would go for (haven't found that amount yet), but that is one way the city can recoup at least some of the cost of building the practice facility.

[solitude]

One of the more interesting things I learned today is that the city can actually sell naming rights to the practice facility. Both the Salt Lake City practice facility and the Cleveland practice facility have sold naming rights. I'm not sure how much they would go for (haven't found that amount yet), but that is one way the city can recoup at least some of the cost of building the practice facility.

Interesting. But the first thing I looked up I saw a really rotten deal. In Washington, the NHL's Capitals have a new practice facility owned by Arlington County.


"The Kettler Capitals Iceplex, designed by Reston-based Architecture, Incorporated, is owned by Arlington County and leased by the Capitals."

And then.....

"For the Capitals, the deal would not only increase the team's annual sponsorship revenue by about 10 percent but also show an ability to negotiate lucrative sponsorship deals."


Washington Business Journal: Naming rights in the works
Washington Business Journal: Naming rights sold


So, at least in that situation (and it's the first I've looked at), the county owns the practice facility, but the team(!) sold the naming rights and got to keep the revenue!

[bornhere]

And the question that remains to be answered there is who pays for the maintenance and upkeep?

[HOT ROD]

The team obviously

[HOT ROD]

Local News | Sonics | Investors float plans, work on legislators to keep NBA | Seattle Times Newspaper

Sonics | Investors float plans, work on legislators to keep NBA
By Jim Brunner and Ralph Thomas

Seattle Times staff reporters

A new group of private investors willing to buy the Sonics or another NBA franchise for Seattle is working through Mayor Greg Nickels' office to gain support for the plan in Olympia.

But key state lawmakers described the proposal as vague and unlikely to pass before the Legislature adjourns in two weeks.

While many details remained hazy Friday, sources said the plan centers on a possible $300 million renovation of KeyArena, which would be split 50-50 between the unidentified private investors and taxpayers. The public portion would be split between the city and state.

Such a private contribution would be substantially more than previously offered by successive Sonics ownership groups that have sought taxpayer money for KeyArena or a new arena in Renton.

It is not clear whether the latest plan has any realistic chance of keeping the Sonics in Seattle.

Sonics owner Clay Bennett has repeatedly said the team is not for sale. He has petitioned the NBA for permission to move the franchise to his hometown of Oklahoma City. And NBA Commissioner David Stern has said Seattle won't get another team if the Sonics leave.

State legislators so far are unmoved by what they've heard about Seattle's latest proposal.

Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, said she was recently briefed by Seattle Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis, but she was not given details or dollar amounts. She said Ceis appeared to be "taking the temperature" of the Legislature, but that she doesn't see an arena package emerging from the Senate this late in the session.

House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, described what he'd heard of the proposal as "very vague and very tenuous."

Marty Brown, Gov. Christine Gregoire's chief lobbyist, said Seattle officials were pitching a "variety of scenarios" but offered no opinion on whether any had political momentum.

King County Executive Ron Sims, who met with Nickels on Wednesday, told various media outlets Thursday that he'd heard about three potential ownership groups interested in keeping the NBA in Seattle. But he said their plans would probably include luring a new NBA team after the Sonics leave for Oklahoma City.

Sims also criticized the strategy employed by Seattle officials, who have filed a lawsuit seeking to bind the Sonics to KeyArena through the end of the team's lease in 2010. That lawsuit is set for trial in June, and the city recently rejected Bennett's $26.5 million settlement offer to end the lease early.

Brian Robinson, co-founder of the fan group Save Our Sonics and Storm, said the efforts by Nickels' office are a positive sign. The apparent offer by private investors to pay half the cost of a KeyArena expansion, he said, is "an unprecedented private commitment to see the right thing happen in Seattle."

Last year, Bennett offered $100 million toward a proposed $500 million arena in Renton. In 2006, the ownership group led by Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz offered the $18.3 million toward a $220 million proposal to renovate KeyArena.

King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer, an active supporter of the Sonics who worked on the stadium deal for the Seahawks, cautioned Sonics fans not to get their hopes up before knowing details about Seattle's latest proposal.

"There is a lot of wishful thinking here, but wishful thinking does not save the Sonics," said von Reichbauer, R-Federal Way.

The latest move by Seattle officials may be an effort to show the NBA there is support for pro basketball here.

Voters in Oklahoma City will decide Tuesday whether to approve a 1 cent sales tax to fund a $120 million renovation of that city's Ford Center arena to lure the Sonics.

By contrast, voters in Seattle passed an initiative in 2006 restricting city subsidies for professional sports teams. And Sonics supporters have failed for three years to win legislative support for a taxpayer contribution to a new or renovated basketball arena.

Next month, the NBA's Board of Governors is expected to vote on whether to approve the Sonics' request to move.

Jim Brunner: 206-515-5628 or jbrunner@seattletimes.com

Ralph Thomas: 360-943-9882 or rthomas@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

[andy157]

The team obviously

How do you know that? I'm not disputing your statement, I'm just curious. Wouldn't the determenation of who is, or is not responsible for the maintenence and upkeep cost be subject to the negotiated terms of the lease?

[HOT ROD]

ok guys, let's resurrect the Megathread now.

[HOT ROD]

check this out, Darnell (from the Oklahoman) just wrote how there is an ESPN vote about the move of the Sonics and that (at that time) 57% of the nation approved the relo.

Philip (a forumer) then mentioned this was in-spite of Seattle area forums trying to PAD THE POLL. So, I think OKC Talk (and other OKC forums) should PAD IT BACK! As of today, it shows 50%.

Here is the link SportsNation

[Intrepid]

It was 50-50 as of this post.

[jbrown84]

All I saw was "50% think the Sonics will play next season's opener in Seattle" and you couldn't click on it.

[Watson410]

Now the poll is on ESPN's NBA front page. Scroll a lil' past the middle of the page on the far right side, you'll see it. I encourage everyone to go vote... vote again if it'll let you. ESPN - NBA Basketball Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Standings, Rumors - Pro Basketball

[HOT ROD]

Lawsuits, Saving Face, and Political Bantering! Pretty much sums up the City I call Home - Seattle.

I can't wait until all of this ist over with my prediction:

1) NBA approves the relocation but stipulates that it be pending the City's lawsuit (as in, you can move but only after that ist settled). Washington had it's chances, despite what the governor et al are NOW trying to say. Too late, the NBA ain't bowing to your elitism just because you THINK you are better than OKC.

2) Howard Schultz wont file as he will realize the long shot of winning and the fact that everyone up here knows that is just a smokescreen and 'we ain't buin' no more, howie'

3) The fan's lawsuit will be dismissed.

4) The city will suffer an even bigger BLOW to it's elitist ego, when the federal judge will be compelled to allow Clay Bennett to satisfy the contractural obligations and buy out the lease at fair market. I wonder if Nickels would then appeal or tuck in his tail and let go.??

5) I doubt (and hope) the state of OK does NOT approve the tax rebate incentive, as it is currently written. I do agree that there should be an award to the team for players that RESIDE and PLAY in Oklahoma City; but NOT for players who DONT reside in Oklahoma City. The Quality Jobs act is intended for JOBS CREATED IN OKLAHOMA, not passing through - so how could this be allowed. I say, reword the bill to ONLY allow rebate for "employees" that work and reside in Oklahoma OR fail the bill. Clay will move the team to OKC anyways (what other choice does he have???)!

[Laramie]

I understand that the two fans who filed the lawsuit are not season ticket holders.

[metro]

HOT ROD, what cracks me up is all the posters on Seattle Times website who constantly bash Schultz and have refused to buy his coffee, then after he announced he was "suing" they immediately started praising him and went to Starbucks that day! He hasn't even filed the lawsuit yet! Cracks me up, it's a classic PR move/smokescreen and yet they can't see it.

[HOT ROD]

absolutely, and it really shows how shallow Seattle people are.

They think they're all that because Steve Ballmer, Paul Allen, and Bill Gates live here - yet those three could care less about the average Seattle Booster. All you have to do is "remind" people up here about the almost move of Microsoft to Vancouver Canada.

Oh by the way, Vancouver is getting a HUGE Microsoft Center - that's being built, in addition to already being Microsoft (Canada) HQ.

I work for Microsoft, by the way and I personally know the three aformentioned founders. ...

[edcrunk]

The whole area around Dallas' American Airlines Center(home of the NBA Dallas Mavericks for those who don't know) is undergoing transformation as well. I don't really know what all is going in there, but there are some very high rise condos up that look pretty upscale, and I know there are restaurants going in. I believe there will be retail as well, but I'm not completely sure.

it's called victory park... yes, there is lots of retail. they also have these huge tv's on the sides of some of the buildings and screen movies from time to time... it's way cool!

[MrZ]

Will we get cool commercials like this when the move here?
YouTube - Drobnjak 2

[ourulz2000]

David Stern said he prefer's "oklahoma" and not "oklahoma city".