HUGE NEWS! Clay Bennett & Co. buy Supersonics!

[wsucougz]

Let's hope they do terrible next year so we can get some decent draft picks.

[HOT ROD]

OKC WILL HAVE TWO TEAMS OUT OF THIS

NBA: Oklahoma City Supersonics AND

WNBA: Oklahoma City STORM

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Clay Bennett !!!!!!!! :tweeted:

[writerranger]

Great news! But, Clay, please be honest with the people of Seattle. They are pissed at your saying it is merely "coincidental" that OKC wants a team and your purchase of the Sonics. That REALLY is wrong and if I lived in Seattle, I would be pissed at that kind of blatant lying, too. Let's all hope Clay Bennet will be more honest with the people of OKC than he is being with the people of a great city like Seattle. That aside, this is great news!

-----

[fromdust]

that is good news, but could we support the sonics AND storm? anyones thoughts

[soonerliberal]

that is good news, but could we support the sonics AND storm? anyones thoughts

I think it could be done, but I imagine it would be tough. I have no idea what the attendance averages are for the WNBA, but I think we could manage. The problem would be 3 or 4 years down the line when the "new" wears off of the teams and people lose some interest (i.e. Charlotte, Pre-Katrina New Orleans).

[Pete]

As someone else put it so eloquently, can *any* city support an WNBA franchise??

[HOT ROD]

yeah, the WNBA does not get that much fan support up here. They have gotten better of late, mainly because the younger kids and families can see major league talent for a cheaper dollar.

that being said, WNBA begins after the NBA regular season is over - there is no regular season overlap. OKC's Ford Center would have basketball dates all year long - which would bode well not only for the city and its businesses downtown - but also for the OKC fan base in general.

You all can enjoy basketball all year long, and I'd predict that the STORM in OKC would be the MOST profitable and Most supported of all of the WNBA teams, given the NEW family market available in OKC as well as the lack of competition during their season!!!

If nothing else, Im sure Bennet and company can put together season tix which incorporate WNBA (and vice versa) and Im sure that OKC can be the best single sport *dual team* market in history!

[Pete]

Mayor: Sale doesn't mean Sonics coming to Oklahoma City
By The Associated Press

Mayor Mick Cornett cautioned Tuesday that the purchase of the Seattle SuperSonics by an Oklahoma City businessman does not necessarily mean that the NBA franchise will relocate to the city.


"I think it's presumptuous to assume that Clay Bennett and his ownership group won't own that Seattle team for a long, long time in Seattle or somewhere else. It's presumptuous to assume they're going to move that franchise to Oklahoma City," Cornett said. "I understand that people are going to say that seems to be a likely scenario, but that's just speculation."

Bennett was the leader of a group that sought to buy a minority stake in the New Orleans Hornets, who temporarily relocated to Oklahoma City after Hurricane Katrina.

Upon the formation of his investor group in February, Bennett said: "The bottom line is, we want a team for this market."

But on Tuesday, he had a different message. He told a Seattle news conference that he would keep the team in Seattle if an agreement could be reached for a new arena. In a news release, Bennett said he hoped the Sonics would succeed in Seattle for "decades to come."

"Owning an NBA franchise and a world-class facility in this market is a good place to be," Bennett said. "That said, as you know, I certainly hope that in time, Oklahoma City gets a team, and I think we will."

Bennett said the new ownership group has a "12-month commitment" to Seattle, in which it will attempt to negotiate for a new arena. He said the group was "sincere" but would evaluate its other options if an agreement for a new arena wasn't reached in that time frame.

"I think everything's on the table after that year, and if we run out of all our options, I'd love to have the team in Oklahoma City," Bennett said.

"Certainly Oklahoma has become clearly a viable NBA market."

Bennett, the president of Oklahoma City investment firm Dorchester Capital, was vital to the city's effort to bring the Hornets to the city. He led a group of investors who provided one-third of a $10 million promise to the Hornets if they did not meet surpass their revenue from 2004-05 by at least 5 percent last season.

Instead, the Hornets easily exceeded their revenue benchmark, and the city will share some of the profits.

"Clay is smart. He's got the means to make things happen, he's got good connections, he's trustworthy," Cornett said. "I have high expectations of him and he meets them."

Ed Evans, who was part of another group that unsuccessfully tried to purchase the Washington Nationals baseball team, said Bennett's group met earlier this year and decided that Bennett would pursue buying the Hornets while Evans looked into the Sonics.

Eventually, the group decided it wanted a controlling stake in a franchise, something Hornets owner George Shinn was unwilling to offer.

"The goal is we want to own an NBA franchise. We're not overly particular about where it is, frankly," Evans said. "It'd be great to get a team in Oklahoma City. If it's this team, wonderful. If it's not, another team at some point in time, that will be fine."

Evans said he was "pretty confident" that Oklahoma City would have an NBA franchise within the next five years.

"I don't know if it's this team, I don't know if it's the Hornets. I don't know if it's another team or an expansion franchise, but I will tell you that the way the city of Oklahoma City has responded to the Hornets in that city clearly indicates the ability of that town to support an NBA franchise," Evans said.

The Hornets, who will play 35 games in Oklahoma City this season before returning to New Orleans in 2007-08, don't anticipate the announcement having any impact on the team.

"It doesn't change anything," said Michael Thompson, the Hornets' director of corporate communications. "Our goal, our plan from day one has been to return to New Orleans."

Thompson said season-ticket sales in Oklahoma City are projected to exceed last year's totals, when the team sold out half of its 36 games at the Ford Center, and the Hornets are working on extending agreements with sponsors in the city.

"One of my concerns about what's happening today is that it will take our focus off of the Hornets and all of the great things that have been going on here, and it shouldn't," Cornett said.

The Hornets provided the city's first chance to prove it could succeed as the host of a major league franchise and now "we have proven that we are an NBA city," Cornett said.

"We need to continue to support the Hornets franchise with everything we've got," he added. "That hasn't changed."

[HOT ROD]

Great news! But, Clay, please be honest with the people of Seattle. They are pissed at your saying it is merely "coincidental" that OKC wants a team and your purchase of the Sonics. That REALLY is wrong and if I lived in Seattle, I would be pissed at that kind of blatant lying, too. Let's all hope Clay Bennet will be more honest with the people of OKC than he is being with the people of a great city like Seattle. That aside, this is great news!

-----

You are absolutely right. We are a little pissed by that. It would be easier to swallow if they would tell the truth (the team would stay in Seattle thru 2007 then move on to OKC, something like that). But its all politics and marketing.

Consider this fact. OKC already has the Hornets for 2006-2007 guaranteed and there is no promise that NO will be ready in 2008. Also, Bennet and all just bought an ACTIVE franchise - so certainly they will SAY the team will stay, so they can get as much support and season tix as possible (to try to "convince" the OKC owners to leave the team in Seattle). Its the EXACT SAME THING that Shinn and company did to OKC (and NO), promise both - so as not to limit profitability/support of the team whilst it is in transition.

Im sure if the Hornets were not in OKC, there would be a buyout announcement of the Sonics contract with the city of Seattle, immediately following the announcement today that the team ownership now in-fact resides in downtown Oklahoma City.

Of course, as a Seattle resident, that would be easier to take - hey, its a business decision no offense to OKC. Good luck. And many Seattleites are saying that while at the same time criticizing the "former" owner, who just so happens to be a very rich business man and owner of Seattle-based Starbucks.

If nothing else, now we all see that OKC does indeed have major league status and that no major market is safe - with lackluster performing teams and fans, any purchase/move is possible.

Portland is probably next.

[HOT ROD]

Mayor: Sale doesn't mean Sonics coming to Oklahoma City
By The Associated Press

Mayor Mick Cornett cautioned Tuesday that the purchase of the Seattle SuperSonics by an Oklahoma City businessman does not necessarily mean that the NBA franchise will relocate to the city.

He's saying that so you all will continue to support the Hornets this year. That's all.

You have to read between the lines of these political and marketing type of statements.

Its very much like Bennett saying "We are looking to keep the team in Seattle", YEAH - until 2007* when the Hornet's lease is over* that is.

Bennett said that so Seattleites wont vacate support of HIS team, until he decides to move on. One thing for sure, WE WILL NOT BUILD AN OUTSIDE INVESTOR GROUP A NEW ARENA. WE DIDNT EVEN DO IT FOR A LOCAL OWNER.

NO WAY IN HELL THE TEAM WILL STAY IN SEATTLE PAST 2010, PERHAPS EVEN 2007.

[HOT ROD]

One more point of note, I bet all of the NO Hornet fans are just plain elated with the news that OKC now owns the Sonics/Storm org.

That's for sure.

[Pete]

Yes, all political posturing and pretty transparent.

And Bennett is already setting it up so that when the new arena in Seattle doesn't materialize (which is the whole reason the team was on the block in the first place) then, what can he do? We tried, Seattle, but it's clear you don't want to keep the team. Now, it's off to a place that really wants us, and it just happens to be my hometown.

[HOT ROD]

Yes, all political posturing and pretty transparent.

And Bennett is already setting it up so that when the new arena in Seattle doesn't materialize (which is the whole reason the team was on the block in the first place) then, what can he do? We tried, Seattle, but it's clear you don't want to keep the team. Now, it's off to a place that really wants us, and it just happens to be my hometown.

Right.

And most of us up here in the know (so to say) already know that the team is destined to be known as Oklahoma City SONICS/STORM just as soon as the NO/Oklahoma City Hornets no longer call OKC home.

There is NO WAY in hell that Seattle would build an arena for the SONICs now, no matter what the Governor or Mayor of Seattle say "politically" to sooth the pain of long time fans and current tix holders. The team is as good as "temporary" located in Seattle, from the NBA standpoint.

Tough to swallow for Seattle, but then again, if we supported the team and cared that much and built them a stadium - we still be talking about Shinn' and company's most probable efforts to keep the Hornets in OKC.

[okcpulse]

This is definetely Oklahoma City's decade, and certainly not its last. This news was definitely a jaw-dropper, and I was speechless. Way to go OKC!!!!

[BFizzy]

I thought this was interesting...

http://www.seattlest.com/archives/20...tball_eden.php

[HOT ROD]

One thing's for sure. OKC wont STAY the nation's 33 largest metro area for long.

[SoonerDave]

. The ownership of the Hornets and the Sonics trade teams keeping the Hornets in Oklahoma City and the Sonics move to New Orleans.

I'm glad I'm not the only one seeing this possibility - franchise trade. Didn't something similar to this happen a few years ago - perhaps not in basketball, but some major sports franchises swapped owners (or something similarly uncommon)?

I think it's a brilliant business maneuver on Bennett's part, and it has dramatically lowered Shinn's leverage.

I don't have much insight in the WNBA, except it is perhaps the single biggest joke in professional sports - by any measure, it's an insolvent (to be generous) organization that is propped up purely for public compensation. That said, if they actually make a go of it here, Oklahoma could establish a positive reputation for being a groundbreaker in high-profile women's sports. We got some great publicity during the softball world cup games this last week, IMHO.

-SoonerDave

[HOT ROD]

Everyone.

I was on SSP (where this is also headline news) and got to thinking after another poster had an interesting point:

why dont Bennett change the name once he moves it to OKC.. My first reaction was, Oklahoma City Sonics and Storm fit.

Then again, I started thinking - he might have had a point. Seattle has a HUGE tradition with the Sonics, it was their original and first major league team. If the legendary Sonics were to move, it would be a huge blow to sports fans - whether they reside in Seattle or not. BUT, if the team were "retired" and OKC moved the team and started anew with a "new name", well then,

that might be a whole lot easier to swallow. I mean, we'd put a very courteous end to a sports tradition in the legendary Sonics. Could you imagine if the Bulls were to move away from Chicago (for one thing) then the name Bulls move with it??? Kansas City Bulls or Las Vegas Bulls???

Even Kansas City Sonics or Las Vegas Sonics wouldnt be any better to bear. I know in this region, Oklahoma City Sonics has a catch - due to the fact that Sonic is hq here (i mentioned this on SSP) but it would be sort of honourable if we were to tip our hat to Seattle and rename the team. In fact, Im sure Seattle would "give up much more graceously" if we announced the team would move to OKC and be known as the Oklahoma City ____ (anything but SONICS).

Seattleites would probably say, ok - that's better to swallow. An end to a Seattle era/tradition, Seattle history could be preserved and OKC's stake in the major leagues could start "fresh".

I know the same does not necessarily hold true for the Hornets, and they weren't really in Charlotte for long for them to develop the branding that Seattle, Chicago, LA Lakers, and NY Nicks have.

I think it would have been nice if the Jazz could have done the same for NO, and the Kings the same for KC. Those teams also had long tradition in the old leagues, just Seattle's is the most recent to fold - and it may be hard for them to take "Oklahoma City Sonics".

WNBA Storm, I'd say we could keep that name (since OKC is the Severe Thunderstorm/Tornado capital of the world - everyone knows that). We could even name the men's team STORM and the WNBA team something else, like OKC prarie or something like that (all WNBA teams other than the STORM have goofy names anyway that refer to the region or some derivation of the men's team). How about

NBA - Oklahoma City Storm
WNBA - Oklahoma City Rain

(not to interfere with the Seattle Reign minor league soccer - i think).

What do you all think?

[Bobby H]

Sonics or Hornets, I'll still drive 100 miles up I-44 to watch a few games. I know the Hornets will go back to New Orleans, but I'll enjoy having them here in Oklahoma for the time being.

On whether Bennett will move the Sonics to OKC early (if at all), that will be up to Seattle basketball fans. The lease is officially up in 2010. If residents in Seattle don't want the team to move then they need to do like us Oklahomans did when the Hornets were here: buy enough tickets to sell out some games. The fans have to work to make the team profitable to stay there. I don't think that's going to happen.

Very likely, the Sonics and the City of Seattle will work out some early buyout on that money-losing lease. Once that happens the Sonics will come to OKC after the Hornets return to New Orleans. Whether the Hornets stay there remains to be seen. I think that team could be on the move again.

On the issue of team names, I'm not so sure I'd change the Sonics name to something else.

There's brand name recognition in that the Sonics are a long established NBA team, not a new expansion unit. Of course you have the obvious sponsor tie-in with Sonic, an Oklahoma originated fast food chain that seems to be growing like a virus in some places (I noticed more of them popping up in Colorado Springs). Oklahoma City doesn't have something like Boeing, but we have a lot of military aerospace stuff happening around here.

One thing's for sure the name "Utah Jazz" has to be the most ironic name for just about any pro sports franchise.

[HOT ROD]

I'm glad I'm not the only one seeing this possibility - franchise trade. Didn't something similar to this happen a few years ago - perhaps not in basketball, but some major sports franchises swapped owners (or something similarly uncommon)?

I think it's a brilliant business maneuver on Bennett's part, and it has dramatically lowered Shinn's leverage.

I don't have much insight in the WNBA, except it is perhaps the single biggest joke in professional sports - by any measure, it's an insolvent (to be generous) organization that is propped up purely for public compensation. That said, if they actually make a go of it here, Oklahoma could establish a positive reputation for being a groundbreaker in high-profile women's sports. We got some great publicity during the softball world cup games this last week, IMHO.

-SoonerDave

Oh most definitely. I totally agree this could happen. In fact, Im sure there is something creative going on - especially since OKC is so in love with the Hornets.

Maybe NO would be willing to accept a renamed SONICs team, just as long as they get a team - who cares? Are they that in love with the Hornets? Well, so is OKC.

As far as the WNBA, its true - its not very profitable and hardly a league. Yet, as you indicated - it does offer an opportunity for women in major leagues and is certainly a more affordable option for the many "families" (no offense anyone) that they say exist in Oklahoma, not to mention the "poor" or less NBA tix price fortunate.

Also, it gives another sporting option for Oklahoma City, giving the city "something to do" year-round. This is something that most cities actually envy, as only the big three cities (NY,Chicago,LA) and big 3/4 major league markets (Seattle [was], MSP, Denver, Dallas, Houston) enjoy. With only the NBA, we'd have "major league sports" year-round in OKC.

And you also mentioned that OKC has a tradition for women's sports. You forgot about the womens football teams as well as roller hockey and other minor league sport offerings that were successful (ok, somewhat) here in OKC. The WNBA would do just fine here, in fact - I'd imagine OKC would probably be their best market given the demographics and the "successes" of women's sports in the city.

[jbrown84]

Maybe NO would be willing to accept a renamed SONICs team, just as long as they get a team - who cares? Are they that in love with the Hornets? Well, so is OKC.

If so, they sure didn't show it like we do.

[HOT ROD]

very true, which is why I think such a swap might happen. OKC keep Hornets with Bennet becoming new owner group, NO get Sonics with Shinn becoming new owner group.

I also see Seattle getting the Clippers! If the three deals could work out at the same time (pre 2007), then Seattle actually could keep the Sonics name/tradition - something Seattle actually values moreso than the team or NBA franchise.

[SoonerDave]

HAH, Just heard Craig Humphreys on The Sports Animal pose this very scenario - franchise swap - to an ESPN NBA writer and he said it was "entirely possible."

He (Humphreys) made the additional point that a swap makes it a win-win for everyone; a franchise would be available for New Orleans, the Hornets stay in OKC, and Shinn can either go back to NO with the Hornets or sell to local NO investors who think they can make it work. Heck, if Bennett wanted, he could tell the world the whole idea was Stern's and make him look like a genius to all parties...

-SoonerDave

[brannonterry]

did anyone read that maybe the wnba team might play in tulsa?

[BDP]

Then again, I started thinking - he might have had a point...

Yeah, I hear what you'r esaying, but it rarely happens. think of the Dodgers, The Colts, The Rams, The Raiders, etc. These are all teams that have moved markets and kept their name despite the tradition in their original market.

It costs money to change a name and it affects merchandising. Some fans may even stay loyal to the team, at least as long as it has the name and the players they like. I think most like to keep the brand name and whatever value it has for the organization intact.

And, secretly, I'm terrified they'd give it some hillbilly name...