Sonics/NHL/New arena thread

[Crizilla]

SonicsGate was biased. Yes you could connect the dots and spin things to make it look like Bennet's goal was to move the team all a long whether or not a new arena deal could be met. It looks that way NOW, sure. It came down to business and the highest profit was for the team to be in OKC. If Seattle didn't have a socialist hippie agenda, there would have been a much higher profit HERE with a new arena and plenty of new attraction. SODO should have been Sonic Land, plain and simple. Now OKC has our history and when we do get a new team, it's a clean slate. Awesome!

 

[silverandgold]

IMO it would have to be either Mets, Totems or Thunderbirds.

I got a better name, the Seattle Seals.

After there is the Penguins, Ducks, Sharks and Panthers, why not have a Seal mascot for a team?

 

[Sgt. Largent]

SonicsGate was biased. Yes you could connect the dots and spin things to make it look like Bennet's goal was to move the team all a long whether or not a new arena deal could be met. It looks that way NOW, sure. It came down to business and the highest profit was for the team to be in OKC. If Seattle didn't have a socialist hippie agenda, there would have been a much higher profit HERE with a new arena and plenty of new attraction. SODO should have been Sonic Land, plain and simple. Now OKC has our history and when we do get a new team, it's a clean slate. Awesome!

There's no way the #41 backwoods hick market in the country was a more profitable area to be in than the #14 market with all that a truly Metropolitan city like Seattle offers. I for one can't wait for Westbrook to leave OKC so they turn into the bottom feeder NBA franchise that OKC and Bennett deserve. Literally the only thing that's been keeping that franchise relevant and profitable the past 10 years was their two stars. One gone, one to go.

Also, I believe that part of the agreement before moving was that if a team ever returned to Seattle, we'd get the uniforms and history back.

 

[twisted_steel2]

SonicsGate was biased. Yes you could connect the dots and spin things to make it look like Bennet's goal was to move the team all a long whether or not a new arena deal could be met. It looks that way NOW, sure. It came down to business and the highest profit was for the team to be in OKC. If Seattle didn't have a socialist hippie agenda, there would have been a much higher profit HERE with a new arena and plenty of new attraction. SODO should have been Sonic Land, plain and simple. Now OKC has our history and when we do get a new team, it's a clean slate. Awesome!

No his goal was to move the team from day 1, everything else was a smoke show, fake effort at an arena he knew would get shot down.

Also if we ever get the Sonics back, they'll take the history back. OKC doesn't want it. The championship trophy is still physically in Seattle.

 

[chris98251]

SonicsGate was biased. Yes you could connect the dots and spin things to make it look like Bennet's goal was to move the team all a long whether or not a new arena deal could be met. It looks that way NOW, sure. It came down to business and the highest profit was for the team to be in OKC. If Seattle didn't have a socialist hippie agenda, there would have been a much higher profit HERE with a new arena and plenty of new attraction. SODO should have been Sonic Land, plain and simple. Now OKC has our history and when we do get a new team, it's a clean slate. Awesome!

There's no way the #41 backwoods hick market in the country was a more profitable area to be in than the #14 market with all that a truly Metropolitan city like Seattle offers. I for one can't wait for Westbrook to leave OKC so they turn into the bottom feeder NBA franchise that OKC and Bennett deserve. Literally the only thing that's been keeping that franchise relevant and profitable the past 10 years was their two stars. One gone, one to go.

Also, I believe that part of the agreement before moving was that if a team ever returned to Seattle, we'd get the uniforms and history back.

I guess that's why their Arena was being groomed before he bought the Sonics, there was never any other outcome that was going to happen, even if it was not the Sonics the Clippers or Sacramento would have had the same thing done to them if Mr. sellout had not sold to Bennett.

 

[Hawkscanner]

SonicsGate was biased. Yes you could connect the dots and spin things to make it look like Bennet's goal was to move the team all a long whether or not a new arena deal could be met. It looks that way NOW, sure. It came down to business and the highest profit was for the team to be in OKC. If Seattle didn't have a socialist hippie agenda, there would have been a much higher profit HERE with a new arena and plenty of new attraction. SODO should have been Sonic Land, plain and simple. Now OKC has our history and when we do get a new team, it's a clean slate. Awesome!

As far as profitability is concerned, as Sgt. Largent said, there is absolutely NO WAY that one could argue (from a pure dollars and cents point of view) that the team would be more profitable in OKC vs. Seattle. The Seattle-Tacoma area is the 12th biggest media market in the country ... Oklahoma City ... comes in at #41.
Source:
http://www.janson.com/rights/top-50-u-s-markets/

No, the bottom line is that there is reason that Clay Bennett is one of the most hated figures in Seattle Sports history. There is very strong evidence to believe that all of his talk of wanting to get a new arena here in Seattle was nothing more than a smokescreen ... and that he and his partner's goal from Day 1 was to move the team to OKC. The truth is that they flat out lied to the citizens of Seattle and Commissioner Stern. Period. The most damning piece of evidence that shows that was the case were the emails that were intercepted and shared with the Seattle Times. Here is a snippet of some of those that were picked up and published by ESPN ...

"In one e-mail [at the time of the team's purchase] sent to Bennett and Ward, McClendon celebrated the news with the subject line: 'the OKLAHOMA CITY SONIC BOOM (or maybe SONIC BOOMERS!) baby!!!!!!!!!!'"

"On April 17 last year, team co-owners Clay Bennett, Aubrey McClendon and Tom Ward talked about whisking the Sonics away to Oklahoma as soon as possible even though it would mean breaching the KeyArena lease, according to the city's motion filed in U.S. District Court in New York City. 'Is there any way to move here [Oklahoma City] for next season or are we doomed to have another lame duck season in Seattle?' Ward wrote. Bennett replied: 'I am a man possessed! Will do everything we can. Thanks for hanging with me boys, the game is getting started!' Ward: 'That's the spirit!! I am willing to help any way I can to watch ball here [in Oklahoma City] next year.' McClendon: 'Me too, thanks Clay!'"

Source:
http://www.espn.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/4701/reading-clay-bennett-s-e-mail

It is VERY hard to read those and conclude anything other than Bennett and his group bought the Sonics with the sole purpose of moving the team to OKC and lied to everyone in the process. It seems abundantly clear they never had any intention of keeping the team in Seattle. It was evidence such as this that led Howard Schultz to try to sue Bennett and his group for breach of contract in an attempt to get the Sonics back. He ultimately dropped his suit because he was advised he probably wouldn't win and that his lawsuit could anger the NBA and hamper efforts to get another team here in Seattle.

Now, all of that is ancient history. That's in the past and there is nothing that can be done to change that. All of that doesn't really have a lot of bearing on what's happening right now with the whole ongoing (seemingly endless) New Arena saga. BUT, I share that to make those who may not be aware of that history to help them understand -- there is a reason why many people in and around the Pacific Northwest who used to be Sonics fans (like myself) stopped watching NBA basketball as soon as the team left team town.

 

[Crizilla]

Having the team play in OKC in that arena vs here in Seattle in the keyarena was better for the NBA. We needed a new arena here. Now when the NBA gets back here with a new arena hopefully and the ball gets rolling again, you can bet the NBA will do better here than okc ever would. To me it looks like Bennet took advantage of WEAK Seattle leaders.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

Having the team play in OKC in that arena vs here in Seattle in the keyarena was better for the NBA. We needed a new arena here. Now when the NBA gets back here with a new arena hopefully and the ball gets rolling again, you can bet the NBA will do better here than okc ever would. To me it looks like Bennet took advantage of WEAK Seattle leaders.

The hell if it was better for the NBA. It was better for Bennett and OKC. What's better for the NBA is to have a 40 year beloved franchise stay in the 12th largest Metropolitan market in the country with four decades of history and dedicated fans.

Stern sure as hell changed his tune after he helped steal our team by meddling in the Sacramento bid by Hansen helping that corrupt piece of crap Kevin Johnson keep a team that's still a bottom feeder franchise.

NOW the NBA cares about doing everything they can to keep teams in their city. Where the hell was that empathy and commitment when Bennett was stealing our team?

 

[Bobblehead]

Having the team play in OKC in that arena vs here in Seattle in the keyarena was better for the NBA. We needed a new arena here. Now when the NBA gets back here with a new arena hopefully and the ball gets rolling again, you can bet the NBA will do better here than okc ever would. To me it looks like Bennet took advantage of WEAK Seattle leaders.

The hell if it was better for the NBA. It was better for Bennett and OKC. What's better for the NBA is to have a 40 year beloved franchise stay in the 12th largest Metropolitan market in the country with four decades of history and dedicated fans.

Stern sure as hell changed his tune after he helped steal our team by meddling in the Sacramento bid by Hansen helping that corrupt piece of crap Kevin Johnson keep a team that's still a bottom feeder franchise.

NOW the NBA cares about doing everything they can to keep teams in their city. Where the hell was that empathy and commitment when Bennett was stealing our team?

Why does the NBA care about a 40 year old beloved franchise when it could go somewhere else and still be beloved when at the same time, make more money for the NBA? Perhaps the NBA and Bennett were smarter than us and foresaw the crap it would have to go through to get a worthy arena. Why not forego the hassles and just take it down the street to an arena already being built.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

Why does the NBA care about a 40 year old beloved franchise when it could go somewhere else and still be beloved when at the same time, make more money for the NBA? Perhaps the NBA and Bennett were smarter than us and foresaw the crap it would have to go through to get a worthy arena. Why not forego the hassles and just take it down the street to an arena already being built.

Fine, then don't give us a load of crap about how important it is to keep longtime teams in their cities when Hansen was going hard after the Kings and Bucks. Cause that's all we heard out of Stern, Silver and the NBA at those times.

I'm not absolving our city government btw, they certainly were impossible to deal with, and downright antagonistic with Stern and the NBA when the Sonics left.

But no way you can convince me that Bennett and Stern tried hard enough to keep the Sonics here. They had a plan from day one of ownership, and carried it out beautifully.

 

[Bobblehead]

Anyone who loved the Sonics..knew the moment Starbuck guy sold it to an outside bidder, the team was doomed.

Bennett, like most would, took the easy way out. Really, why fight the NBA, fight, that antagonistic City, when an arena is already waiting in a place where they really want them? I think most would do the same..it's probably why Shultz sold the Sonics in the first place.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

Anyone who loved the Sonics..knew the moment Starbuck guy sold it to an outside bidder, the team was doomed.

Bennett, like most would, took the easy way out. Really, why fight the NBA, fight, that antagonistic City, when an arena is already waiting in a place where they really want them? I think most would do the same..it's probably why Shultz sold the Sonics in the first place.

Oh believe me, enemy #1 will always be Shultz.

He was naive and maybe even vindictive selling to Bennett's group. All he had to do is wait another year or two until Balmer got his finances in order, or any of the dozens of billionaires from Seattle who would have never sold to an outside ownership group.

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

Anyone who loved the Sonics..knew the moment Starbuck guy sold it to an outside bidder, the team was doomed.

Bennett, like most would, took the easy way out. Really, why fight the NBA, fight, that antagonistic City, when an arena is already waiting in a place where they really want them? I think most would do the same..it's probably why Shultz sold the Sonics in the first place.

Oh believe me, enemy #1 will always be Shultz.

He was naive and maybe even vindictive selling to Bennett's group. All he had to do is wait another year or two until Balmer got his finances in order, or any of the dozens of billionaires from Seattle who would have never sold to an outside ownership group.

Sure I read if the City of Seattle/Mayor had dug in for 6 months and kept up the law suit rather than cave that the Oklahoma owners lost most of their fortune in the recession and the move to Oklahoma would have fell through. 6 frikkin months.

 

[Bobblehead]

Yeah, haven't purchased a Starbuck product in years... I used to love it.

 

[chris98251]

Having the team play in OKC in that arena vs here in Seattle in the keyarena was better for the NBA. We needed a new arena here. Now when the NBA gets back here with a new arena hopefully and the ball gets rolling again, you can bet the NBA will do better here than okc ever would. To me it looks like Bennet took advantage of WEAK Seattle leaders.

The hell if it was better for the NBA. It was better for Bennett and OKC. What's better for the NBA is to have a 40 year beloved franchise stay in the 12th largest Metropolitan market in the country with four decades of history and dedicated fans.

Stern sure as hell changed his tune after he helped steal our team by meddling in the Sacramento bid by Hansen helping that corrupt piece of crap Kevin Johnson keep a team that's still a bottom feeder franchise.

NOW the NBA cares about doing everything they can to keep teams in their city. Where the hell was that empathy and commitment when Bennett was stealing our team?

Stern was pissed at Seattle, when the Sale was announced he came here, Nickels basically said wait in the lobby and I will call you when I have time to discuss it, not treating Stern like Royalty pissed him off. From that point on Stern was not going to talk to Seattle in a favorable light.

 

[hawkfan68]

Unfortunately the majority of the people in Washington don't give a crap about the Sonics or the NBA. The politicians that screwed this up -Gregoire, Nickels, etc. still got re-elected afterwards. That tells me all I need to know. Same thing is happening to Hansen. He's pretty much give them everything but they don't want his plan because they won't have any ownership in the deal. The problem is the city of Seattle/King County owned stadiums have failed. See Kingdome, Key arena, etc. They are/were poorly maintained facilities.

How is a dilapidated arena a historic site? The Kingdome was more historic than the Key arena is or will be. Kingdome was demolished. Key arena should be too.

 

[chris98251]

Unfortunately the majority of the people in Washington don't give a crap about the Sonics or the NBA. The politicians that screwed this up -Gregoire, Nickels, etc. still got re-elected afterwards. That tells me all I need to know. Same thing is happening to Hansen. He's pretty much give them everything but they don't want his plan because they won't have any ownership in the deal. The problem is the city of Seattle/King County owned stadiums have failed. See Kingdome, Key arena, etc. They are/were poorly maintained facilities.

How is a dilapidated arena a historic site? The Kingdome was more historic than the Key arena is or will be. Kingdome was demolished. Key arena should be too.

Well that's where you need to look back at the History of the building and the where and why it's there in the first place, I know most of todays people could give two shit about tradition or history of anything but how much the property is worth today.

The Old Spaghetti Factory was recently closed down, it's a sad story as well, but with the areas population recently doubling in the last 5 years Business and Housing are at a need and property in Seattle is at a premium. The fact the Council wants to set the Washington State Coliseum , yes that's the original name as a historical landmark because of it's roofline and little else is perplexing. The Fun Forest was allowed to be destroyed, the Monorail almost but rejuvenated with the commuter bill that really fell on it's face and never really became the above ground answer to commuting. The whole area of the 1962 Worlds Fair, sorry for the tangent. Due to the Pacific Science Center, the Opera House and a few other Civic buildings that were built for the fair I think they want it all kept as a unit. Tear one down the rest may go, that would create a lot of revenue loss overall for tourism and general Opera House goers. Tear the Arena down without a plan on that site and not long big developers are in there buying it from Japan, China or somewhere else and maybe the rest of the area.

 

[Crizilla]

^yes youre correct population is growing exponentially (doubled in past 5 years and still growing). Gee, I wonder why?

anyways - today is terrible news for the SODO arena. Looks like the top 2 candidates squaring off for the new Seattle Mayor position are anti-SODO. I'm speechless.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

Kingdome was demolished. Key arena should be too.

It will be, other than the dumb roof that everyone thinks is some iconic piece of architecture.

Of course the Key site is the worst option, but as of now in this terrible political climate where both our councils and mayor ONLY want to support the Key site renovation...........what choice do we have?

I want hockey and basketball, and I'd like it before I die in the next 40 years. So I'm down with whatever brings hockey and basketball here the fastest. It's clear that means Key.

 

[twisted_steel2]

^yes youre correct population is growing exponentially (doubled in past 5 years and still growing). Gee, I wonder why?

anyways - today is terrible news for the SODO arena. Looks like the top 2 candidates squaring off for the new Seattle Mayor position are anti-SODO. I'm speechless.

I dont think the council and port races look any better either.