NBA: Seatle Sonics moving to Oklahoma City next season?

[JEDI]

LINK

- NBA approved the move
- Seatle sueing Sonics to honor remaining 2yrs of KeyArena lease
- Owners expect to incur an expected $60 million in losses if they stay in Seatle.
- the city rejected $26.5 million offer to buy out the final two years of the lease

- "the loser is likely to appeal the verdict, which could take a year or longer to resolve, and virtually guarantee the Sonics will play another season in Seattle."


um.. how much is the current lease per year?

if current lease < $60M, then pay off the lease and move!? else stay.

everything says the new Sonics owners are in the wrong? and/or could have avoided this whole lawsuit/trial debacle by just paying off the lease in full?

 

[dainthomas]

Who cares. Bouncyball sucks, and the Sonics suck even for bouncyball.

That said, if millionaires owners of any sport want to throw a tantrum and move their team because taxpayers don't cave to their extortionist demands then let them, I say.

 

[hellman69]

Well, one problem is the lease states they have to stay during the lease terms. So they can't buy it out. Even if they could, Nickels (the mayor), won't let them.

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: dainthomas
Who cares. Bouncyball sucks, and the Sonics suck even for bouncyball.

That said, if millionaires owners of any sport want to throw a tantrum and move their team because taxpayers don't cave to their extortionist demands then let them, I say.

:thumbsup:x10000

 

[Kyle]

It was only a few years ago the Sonics were in the playoffs and the city loved them...really was sad to see how quickly the city/some of the fans turned on them...

 

[toekramp]

Where is Seatle?

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: dainthomas
Who cares. Bouncyball sucks, and the Sonics suck even for bouncyball.

That said, if millionaires owners of any sport want to throw a tantrum and move their team because taxpayers don't cave to their extortionist demands then let them, I say.

It's become the standard. If another city WILL fund the new arena, what incentive is there for them to stay? Especially if the city hasn't been showing an outpouring of support for the team in general.

Seattle is losing in the long run. What do they expect to gain from this? At best, another 1-2 years with the Sonics - and then potentially never another NBA team, ever again. After Seattle throws a tantrum and sues the Sonics, why in the hell would the NBA ever give them a replacement???

It boils down to this. Seattle lost the Sonics in several ways, through not funding the new arena & not supporting the team in general. They're gone, whether it's now or in 2010. By their actions, they are hurting their chances of ever getting a new team. I have no idea what they think they have to gain from this, it's a series of terrible decisions by Seattle, no matter how you look at it.

 

[JJChicken]

I wish the sonics stayed in Seattle So many memories

 

[Inspector Jihad]

dont they want to see the kevin durant revolution?? it'd be sad to see the team leave as there is quite a lot of basketball history in the city, but fuck that, there are other cities that will gladly take an nba team.

 

[Sureshot324]

If they're losing money now, what makes them think they'll make money in a city 1/3 the size? How about putting together a team that doesn't suck?

 

[Inspector Jihad]

Originally posted by: Sureshot324
If they're losing money now, what makes them think they'll make money in a city 1/3 the size? How about putting together a team that doesn't suck?

yeah, they're in a rebuilding process...all teams go thru cycles.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: Sureshot324
If they're losing money now, what makes them think they'll make money in a city 1/3 the size? How about putting together a team that doesn't suck?

Have you heard of Durant? They're trying. They have one of the most exciting young players in the league, and still no one goes to games, etc. The city has shunned the team in more than one way.