NBA commissioner David Stern says KeyArena renovation not an option for Sonics
Originally published March 26, 2008 at 12:00 am Updated March 26, 2008 at 11:20 am
David Stern
Sonics owner Clay Bennett, left, listens as NBA commissioner David Stern speaks after an Oklahoma City presentation Tuesday.
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NBA commissioner David Stern on Tuesday shot down a proposal by a group of Seattle businessmen seeking to renovate KeyArena in order to...
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By Seattle Times staff
OKLAHOMA CITY — NBA commissioner David Stern on Tuesday shot down a proposal by a group of Seattle businessmen seeking to renovate KeyArena in order to keep the Sonics in the city.
Stern said the NBA does not view a renovation as a solution because the site could not undergo a proper expansion.
On Tuesday, Stern visited Oklahoma City with three NBA owners who were impressed enough with a presentation to think it should be the future home for the Sonics.
While taking questions about an NBA relocation subcommittee’s recommendation to move the Sonics to Oklahoma City, Stern said, “The reason that this journey began was because KeyArena was not an adequate arena going forward and there were a lot of recommendations made for another arena … but the tax revenues and the various contributions weren’t forthcoming.
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“I would say that as far as we know, the footprint of Key is at present time not viewed as adequate to support what’s necessary going forward.”
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