Seattle steals the Kings

JaeReece, you must have missed the comments over the years from some(and yes I know it's just some)of the seattle fans.

Schultz paved the way for relocation. Tell me how the Sonics move to Oklahoma without the actions of the Schultz group. Explain to me how it happens if Schultz decides to only let people in the Seattle area bid on the team, something he could have mandated but did not. Tell me how Clay Bennett ever enters the picture without the actions of Howard Schultz and his conscious, deliberate decision to sell the Sonics to an ownership group from Oklahoma City. Nothing happens without Schultz. Schultz sold to the OKC group and did not give a flip about the Sonics fans when he did it. He simply did not care. He didn't wait for a local buyer. He took the money and ran.

Your point? I pointed out that Howard Schultz did not move the team and with all your blabbling you said it's his fault. And merely pointed out the fact that slimeball filed for relocation not Howie.

Stepped up as in built a new arena? I don't think so. Nice try

Stepped up as in offered. You do realize that Bennett owned the team less than it takes to construct an arena right?

You clearly have no understanding of simple economics. If the Sonics were playing in a new $500m arena with lots more luxury boxes, restaurants, and seats, he would be able to sell the team for far more than the $350m he paid with that team stuck in KeyArena.

No, clearly you do not understand economics period. Having a brand new state of the art arena does not add the extra $150 million dollars to a franchise's value which Howard sold the club for 150 million more than it's value.

Wow. If Bennett is 10th on your hit list, I hate to see the kind of hateful rhetoric you'd use for the people in the 1-9 slots, but to date I've never heard any hateful rhetoric such as the kind of words you use describing Bennett, such as "slimball" or "scumbag"

Well lets see, there are only two culprits left involved in taking the Sonics away. David Stern and Scum Bennett. Howard has been in hiding from the sports community since his dropped his lawsuit. Gregoire is out, Nichols is out, the racist Licota is still in. Clay Bennett is a sleaze ball and there is no way around it, but I'd understand wanting a sleazeball as an owner.

And I'm not sure exactly where any Sonics fans have hated on OKC fans. We hate the scum ball owner, we hate the fact that the NBA fought for a city like OKC to have a team but was more than willing to rip one out of a city like Seattle. Never any animosity towards the actual people in OKC.

And I'm not sure exactly where any Sonics fans have hated on OKC fans. We hate the scum ball owner, we hate the fact that the NBA fought for a city like OKC to have a team but was more than willing to rip one out of a city like Seattle. Never any animosity towards the actual people in OKC.

Why do you hate the owner when he did what he had to do to survive?  You're being rediculous because the Key Arena was deemed unworthy to use. That enabled the owner to move the team. Even now improvements will have to be made to the arena in order for the Sacramento Queens to use it while a new arena is being built.  If Seattle wanted a team so badly, they would have made efforts sooner to build a new arena.  Stop with your foolishness already - the owner was just making the best money possible
  

Why do you hate the owner when he did what he had to do to survive?  You're being rediculous because the Key Arena was deemed unworthy to use. That enabled the owner to move the team. Even now improvements will have to be made to the arena in order for the Sacramento Queens to use it while a new arena is being built.  If Seattle wanted a team so badly, they would have made efforts sooner to build a new arena.  Stop with your foolishness already - the owner was just making the best money possible
  
I guess you missed the hearing where David Stern and Clay Bennett went before our former governor and the witch asked about renovations about Key Arena and David Stern said no, the city/state needed a brand new arena. If Clay Bennett wanted to make more money he would've stayed in an area that has more money. He loved his home area, which obviously should be more important.

And mine you the main reason Key Arena did not have as many luxury boxes as David Stern would like is because every single owner who has owned the Sonics has worried about the NHL Even sweat monger Bennett asked for a state of the art arena that was shy of NHL standards.

You really are that econimcially challenged to think a person could make more money in OKC than Seattle?

I guess you missed the hearing where David Stern and Clay Bennett went before our former governor and the witch asked about renovations about Key Arena and David Stern said no, the city/state needed a brand new arena. If Clay Bennett wanted to make more money he would've stayed in an area that has more money. He loved his home area, which obviously should be more important.

And mine you the main reason Key Arena did not have as many luxury boxes as David Stern would like is because every single owner who has owned the Sonics has worried about the NHL Even sweat monger Bennett asked for a state of the art arena that was shy of NHL standards.

You really are that econimcially challenged to think a person could make more money in OKC than Seattle?

First of all, I will take your word for it that they went before your former governor and aksed about rennovations


Okay, so what?  - I also heard that the Key arena was deemed unworthy to play in.  As it goes, buildings get old and have to be rennovated or replaced. Same thing with cars, appliances and employees. That's life my friend and it's a business. You might like it in 30 years when you are replaced by some one 25 youngers then you, but that is the way business works.  


Now then as far as wanting a brand new arena - again I say so what?  The Lakers replaced the stadium they were playing in just as other teams have.  I think it's a smart move for them to want a new stadium right from the start - otherwise they will have a situation like AL Davis and the Raiders who moved twice in less then a decade.  That's business

The Luxary boxes are big time money - they need high rollers to bring in the money - Jack Nicolaus for the example never misses a game and spends something like $10K or mor per game - that's guaranteed income for the teams - Like I said that's business and every team in the nation works the same way regardless of it it's NHL, Baseball, NFL or the NBA.

The only thing that I would say you have a point is the sharing the building with a NHL hockey team, but the Lakers share the Staples with the Los Angeles Kings and the Clippers and neither team sells nearly has high as the Lakers - so they are compatible.


The bottom line is for a team to stay, they have to make a profit - that's the reason the Grizzlies dumped Rudy Gay and some other players and it's the reason the Thunder dumped James Hardin.  The Thunder is set up in a relatively new building that will host them for the next 20 years or more - so that is going to guarantee the Thunder a fan base that sells tickets even though they might struggle in some years. It's a business and a business goes where they can make money.  Let me explain something to you as far as economics is concern - I audit businesses all over So California and I have seen their payrolls, general ledgers, income statements and cash disbursements and they all have one thing in common - those making an exceptable profit stay in business and those that don't go bankrupt - The Seattle Super Sonics failed to exist because of the economic situation and the new owners purchased the assets and set up a new team in Oklahoma and made it work.


Fortunately for the citizens of Seattle a group has come together and found a way to bring a new team back to Seattle, so I say forget the past and enjoy - Rename them The New Supersonics or whatever and enjoy your new future               

By the way - since some of you have challenged the economics of the Seattle Supersonics move to Oklahoma - Here is the one report I obtained on their financial situation

After moving to Oklahoma City from Seattle, the team's operating situation improved markedly. In December 2008, [Forbes Magazine] estimated the team's franchise value at $300 million – a 12% increase from the previous year's $268 million when the club was located in Seattle.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference">[[14]]</sup> Forbes also noted an increase in percentage of available tickets sold, from 78% in the team's last year in Seattle to 100% in 2008–09.<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference">[[15]

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The city of Seattle was willing to talk about renovating the Key Arena but Stern wanted none of it because the Mariners and Seahawks had state of art stadiums. Key Arena just newly renovated 10 years prior, it was a great facility and was praised by everyone. It needed luxury boxes which the state and city were willing to talk. But a completely publically funded 500 million dollar arena? Are you serious?

I get your point with LA sharing a NHL arena, but Seattle is a city that had all 4 major sports and supported all 3 in record numbers, once the Sounders arrived it added one more competitive sport. Adding a 5th competing professional sport completely waters down the ability to sell those luxury boxes David Stern and Clay Bennett cried about. The Mariners right now are trying everything they can to block the Kings or any NBA franchise from coming to Seattle.

The Thunder renovation is great and I commend them for it, but that building is a dump compared to what Clay Bennett and David Stern demanded from the city of Seattle. You demand the state of the art arena from one city yet take a non state of the art arena from another city?  And Seattle fans have already proven they have the same amount of support as the OKC fans do and did it for longer with sh*ttier teams. Clay Bennett trading everyone that could play basketball, then getting a star like Durant but not allowing him to be accessible to the local media or fans causes displeasure. Again, I do not blame Bennett for moving one bit, he just is a smart slimeball. Did everything completely in his power to alienate the city, then he went below the belt to Sonics fans when he demanded an entirely publically funded arena which was just made illegal in the state.

Enjoying the future is great, but you can call someone a slimeball is the past proves it. The USA won the Revolutionary War so that makes Bennedict Arnold no longer a traitor right?

When you pull your head out of the sand you will be able to see the the light.

It's a business and from what I remember - Seattle didn't want to spend any money - It's a business and relocating has done them well. They are making a profit. The profit is the only thing in business that matters.  That's the reality of life - get over it already

The city of Seattle was willing to talk about renovating the Key Arena but Stern wanted none of it because the Mariners and Seahawks had state of art stadiums

Case closed.

It needed luxury boxes which the state and city were willing to talk. But a completely publically funded 500 million dollar arena? Are you serious?

Yep, they were serious. You did nothing. Case closed.

The Thunder renovation is great and I commend them for it, but that building is a dump compared to what Clay Bennett and David Stern demanded from the city of Seattle

Oh, just paid-for and more seating, as well as far more luxury boxes. You lose again.

You demand the state of the art arena from one city yet take a non state of the art arena from another city

He demanded it because their ownership group owned the team. That's why they paid $350m for it. The bought it, Seattle sold, it. Suck it.

And Seattle fans have already proven they have the same amount of support as the OKC fans do and did it for longer with sh*ttier teams.

Apparently it wasn't good enouigh to sway generic voters of the City of Seattle. Suck it again. You didn't prove a single thing. Other than your ability to whine like a 6-year-old girl.

Again, I do not blame Bennett for moving one bit, he just is a smart slimeball.

A smart businessman. Thanks for finally admitting the truth. Go away.

Did everything completely in his power to alienate the city, then he went below the belt to Sonics fans when he demanded an entirely publically funded arena which was just made illegal in the state.

Total garbage, exactly what I expected from wazzufan. Did you build a new arena or did you not? It was what you were told you had to from the beginning, even in the Schultz days. You did nothing. NOTHING AT ALL.

The USA won the Revolutionary War so that makes Bennedict Arnold no longer a traitor right?

Howard Schultz is not THAT bad, is he? Only you Seattle people can answer that question. Nothing happens without the actions of Howard Schultz. You know this, you digested this, but you refuse to admit it and call him the names you do Clay Bennett. Go away, seriously, just go away. You stink in articulating anything that makes even moderate sense. I am your worst nightmare.

Your point? I pointed out that Howard Schultz did not move the team and with all your blabbling you said it's his fault. And merely pointed out the fact that slimeball filed for relocation not Howie.

He just sold to an ownership group from Oklahoma City. It was his fault. Nothing happens to the Sonics without his actions. NOTHING.

Stepped up as in offered. You do realize that Bennett owned the team less than it takes to construct an arena right?

Stepped up as in allocated funding. Don't think so, son. Try again. You lose, and you lose badly.

No, clearly you do not understand economics period. Having a brand new state of the art arena does not add the extra $150 million dollars to a franchise's value which Howard sold the club for 150 million more than it's value.

Since I apparently have no concept of economics (even though I majored in it), let's just entertain the wazzufan dolt for a second or two.....    A brand-new arena with more revenue streams will add more to the overall revenue stream of the team. You think a few more luxury boxes and a few more seats over time won't make a difference in the revenue stream? You're an idiot.

Well lets see, there are only two culprits left involved in taking the Sonics away. David Stern and Scum Bennett

Well, first of all, the Sonics were never a public ulility. You don't own the team. They are free to move like anyone else in the free market (ever heard of that, wazzufan???? it's called "the f-r-e-e m-a-r-k-e-t). Ever heard of such a concept, wazzu fan? Ever in your life? The only persons responsible for this franchise moving were the actions of former owner Howard Schultz and the Seattle Mayor (at the time) Greg Nickels.

You lose, badly, yet again.

Never any animosity towards the actual people in OKC.

Then shut up!!!!  The people of OKC are not why you don't have the Sonics today. STFU.

Hey wazzufan, I'm sort of friendly right now, please go ahead and explain your latest line of excrement:

You really are that econimcially challenged to think a person could make more money in OKC than Seattle?

Ummmm, idiot.... they are making far more money there. Please quit while you're dreadfully behind. You lost, and lost badly.

SMASH SMASH SSSMMMMMAAAASSSSHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!