Sonics relocation terms

[mranderson]

If you were given the opportunity to negotiate the terms for the Sonics relocation to Oklahoma City, and the package you and Bennett agreed on went to the City Council, what terms would you offer?

Mine:

1. Give the Sonics no lease payments until they have recovered the money owed to the city of Seattle (or King County, whichever owns Key), then a percentage of the gross revenue from ticket sales.

2. Give Bennett the option to rename the team providing he uses Oklahoma City and not Oklahoma (of course, he can rename it anyway).

3. Buy back the naming rights to Ford Center if Sonic Industries agrees to buy naming rights for the fee paid by Ford plus an amount cominserate with an NBA arena, only if they agree to name it Sonic Center.

4. Provide free office space for a maximum of five years.

5. Give the Oklahoma City Sonics free advertising on buses with ten percent of the buses being total-total advertising.

6. Agree to upgrade the arena to Sonics standards. Should they want more seats, include it in MAPS III.

7. Build a practise arena to hold up to 10,000 people for viewing, or upgrade Norick arena for that purpose.

8. Ask the Sonics for profit sharing from television and radio contracts with the agreement the revenue will be for civic beautifaction projects.

9. Provide free police security during games and for key personnel during personal appearances and up to 24 hours a day if a player is the calibur of Shaquel O'Neal.

[jbrown84]

I wasn't aware that Sonic Industries was interested in naming rights to the Ford Center.

[Spartan]

My main stipulation is that every time a field goal is made sonic tots must drop from the ceiling of the Ford Center.

[Intrepid]

My main stipulation is that every time a field goal is made sonic tots must drop from the ceiling of the Ford Center.

LOL

Or a starlight mint! But that would probably do more damage than a tot.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

My main stipulation is that every time a field goal is made sonic tots must drop from the ceiling of the Ford Center.

I was thinking more along the lines of those t-shirt cannons...Only make them Sonic Blast Cannons. But since they might run into liability issues with the lactose intolerant, "Tots from Heaven" may be a more sensible route.

[okclee]

How about beer?

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

How about beer?

Because a) that would hurt like a mofo and b) it would come with a $12 invoice attached.

[writerranger]

Hey Anderson, Why should a sports team be able to run to the government for all those handouts? I am with those who believe this has to stop somewhere. If an ownership group wants to invest their money into professional sports, why should they be able to demand all of these things while a small business dreaming big must use their own money. You know, capitalism? The kind of corporate socialism used by these big league teams amounts to bribery in many instances. I disagree with almost every single one of your "demands." For example, do you really believe the taxpayers of Oklahoma City, many who have children in sub-standard schools, should provide 24-hour a day security for some hotshot millionaire athlete? Really? If so, you and I have a very different idea about the role of government.

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[PUGalicious]

Well said, writerranger.

A real conservative, Reagan Republican would never suggest or support such an anti-capitalist proposal.

[mranderson]

Hey Anderson, Why should a sports team be able to run to the government for all those handouts? I am with those who believe this has to stop somewhere. If an ownership group wants to invest their money into professional sports, why should they be able to demand all of these things while a small business dreaming big must use their own money. You know, capitalism? The kind of corporate socialism used by these big league teams amounts to bribery in many instances. I disagree with almost every single one of your "demands." For example, do you really believe the taxpayers of Oklahoma City, many who have children in sub-standard schools, should provide 24-hour a day security for some hotshot millionaire athlete? Really? If so, you and I have a very different idea about the role of government.

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Where did I say the Sonics would "demand" those things?

[metro]

I totally agree writeranger and PUGalious, if its these things mranderson proposes, he won't make it to city council as he predicts. I also disagree with almost all of those points. Especially #4, why in the heck would the city provide free office space for the Hornets, when Bennett owns Oklahoma Tower (where the Hornets offices were) and Leadership Square. Heck, he GAVE the Hornets free office space there, why can't he give his own ownership group free office space. Also, as someone said, SONIC DRIVE INS have never expressed interest in naming rights to the Ford Center, heck they weren't even a premier partner for the Hornets. What makes you think that just because the SONICS are probably moving here that they'll want to shell out $20 million or so for naming rights and to become the main sponsor of the OKC SONICS. I also don't think the city should get in the habit of paying for advertising (i.e. buses) for professional sports teams. You know how much fuss that would cause with the Redhawks, Blazers, etc. not to mention the waste of taxpayer money.

[jbrown84]

see the link

I wasn't aware that Sonic Industries was interested in naming rights to the Ford Center.

[writerranger]

see the link

That's pretty funny!



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[Easy180]

Boy that would be one fascinating arena...Don't think that company could afford to get their name on the racetrack at the fair

Everyone get ready for the factual comeback regarding Sonic Industries

[jbrown84]

I don't know where andy got the idea that Sonic Drive Ins was an industrial company, but he insists on calling it that.

I think I'm going to start calling it Chesapeake Forestry, just for the heck of it.

[jbrown84]

Bennett owns Oklahoma Tower (where the Hornets offices were) and Leadership Square.

I didn't know that.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

That's pretty funny!



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Boy, talk about getting screwed.

[chrisok]

^^^^
Actually a Sonic Industries (related to the Drive In) does exist, but it's a subsidiary of Sonic Corp.

We've discussed this before here.

http://www.okctalk.com/okc-metro-are...okc-nba-2.html

[HOT ROD]

I disagree with some of the above ^ arguments about the city's position with regard to the impending move of the SONICS to Oklahoma City.

I think the city should take an approach more close to what Anderson suggested, because OKC - while viable enough in its own right - is still the leagues "little child" and all that would need to happen is for KC to flex its muscle and nab the team.

To prevent this, OKC should show its ACE CARD and use it; which is 1) a debt free arena, 2) cash on hand to upgrade it 3) the fact that Bennett is an OKC resident/prominent businessman.

The way I see this is: even though Bennett and his cronies own the team, so does Oklahoma City. The city has a vested interest to do whatever it takes to make this happen and soon. Don't give any other cities any room to "sneak in" and offer Bennett anything - show your cards soon and use it, make it a slam-dunk, end-of-story situation.

A city like OKC does not have the clout like Seattle to snuff its nose at requests for civic facilities. Of course, Im sure Bennett would be involved with any requests anyways and he'd likely not ask the city anything beyond what/when it can deliver.

But for OKC to now start acting like some diva and bark orders to its favourite son because of the success of the Hornets, praise of the commissioner and league, and fact that WA snubbed its nose to public welfare - does not mean OKC is in the position to do the same.

After all, OKC NEEDS the SONICS a lot more than the SONICS need OKC!! Always remember that, and put these and other things into prospective.

I'd liken this as a marriage, the SONICS and OKC wed themselves - the SONICS are the shining beauty and OKC is the beau with deep pockets. He needs to spend in order to keep his bride happy and with him. In return, he has a trophy bride whose so attractive many other suiters would love to have her - yet she stays with her "MAN" through thick and thin. Also, the attractive SONICS that she is, makes the husband in OKC look good among the big boys - at least OKC would be "in the club".

Without the NBA, OKC is just another Tier III pitstop in the wasteland of the Great Plains of America. With the NBA, OKC is a contendor because the city will be mentioned nightly on news casts across the nation (and for something other than disasters). That alone is enough for OKC to do anything to secure and keep this team for decades to come!

Once we get big enough to land another major league or two, then we could probably start being as smug as a city like Seattle. But remember, as of today - Seattle is a big 3 major league city and OKC isn't even a contendor (as its name will be dropped from the Hornets after today).

Im very glad this will likely change as early as next week, with Seattle becoming a big 2 major league city and OKC becoming a permanent single league city, like Salt Lake, Portland, Memphis, San Antonio, Jacksonville, Green Bay, Buffalo, Columbus, and Orlando. That's good company if you ask me and I think OKC will look fine among that list.

[dcsooner]

Great analogy. Totally agee, Hotrod. If, and I still think it's a significant if, the Sonic owners propose to move to Oklahoma City, we (State, Local,current residents, past residents) etc need to enthusiatically support all the financial incentives necessary to make the move a "sweetheart" deal for our local owners/benefactors.

HOTROD, I have always liked your optimism, but your prediction of an announcement NEXT week is really a stretch. I urge all once again to exercise great caution in all of this, Oklahoma City is far from a SLAM Dunk. Listening to ESPN radio earlier today on DC radio, the announcers expressed doubts of Oklahoma Cities willingness/ability to support an NBA team LONG TERM/Year end and Year Out, through 12-69 seasons etc. We were likened to Memphis and Charolette. Even after two successful years with the Hornets, there are some who question Oklahoma Cities viability due to size.

[writerranger]

More than anything, I was writing in general about professional sports and their relationship to city governments. I have said before that I will always be a Green Bay Packer fan because it is the ONLY municipally-owned professional sports franchise. The city owns the team and the team profits help pay for cops on the street. To me, that's pretty ideal.

However, with private ownership running to the government teat everytime they want a new this or new that - it's absurd! The amazing thing is these high-powered businessmen usually call themselves political "conservatives." What a joke.

I'm not saying OKC shouldn't provide incentives and such, I know the way the game is played, but Anderson's list was ridiculous. Taxpayers paying for 24-hour security for big-name sports stars? They make millions and if they want security they can dern well pay for it themselves. The whole prima donna complex allows them, combined with their ridiculous incomes, to provide for their own security. It's not MY job as a taxpayer in Oklahoma City.

I also disagree with the idea that dissent on this subject is anti-growth. The idea of subsidies to rich men to own rich franchises to pay ultra-rich salaries is an absurdity that needs to be discussed in OKC, Chicago, NY and everywhere else taxpayers are asked to subsidize a football, basketball, basketball or hockey team. There was a day when that was a private investment - and the owners assumed all the risks that came with it. The fact that it has become a prime example of corporate welfare does not make it right. Discussion should not be silenced because everyone here wants an NBA team. A little perspective is in order - in every city.

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[Easy180]

I agree with hot rod...Since we are still a lower level market for major league teams we will have to throw some concessions out to land one...More than a Vegas or KC would have to especially if it's not Bennett's Sonics

Once we do land one and show a solid track record we could then play a little more hardball down the line....But upfront we are going to have to make OKC as attractive as humanly possible if we want to insure we get a piece of the big time

[Millie]

I completely disagree with the idea of trying to buy back the naming rights. The OK Ford dealers were incredibly lucky in their timing. Sonic and all the other companies here had their chance to recognize the potential of OKC. Let's let those who did believe in our potential benefit from their investment.

[mranderson]

I see no problem with the name Ford Center.

Granted, Ford Center is a better name than the arena could have had. However, think about it. As has been discussed before... Sonics... Sonic Industries... Think about it.

[jbrown84]

Sonic Industries...

It's not Sonic Industries.