Seattle and the Sonics: The end of the affair

Is there any doubt they're headed for OKC? This comes down to Schultz looking at this as a business endeavor instead of a civic trust. They're gone. They've been gone, really, since he took a reasonably competitive team and replaced it with Wally Walker.

The Sonics and Storm would be a great fit in Bellevue. I believe 60-70% of the Sonics season ticket holders live in the eastside suburbs of Seattle, and the further development that could be built around an arena complex over there would be remarkable. I think all fans of the Sonics and Storm should be supporting the idea of building an arena over there.

As a fan it will be much easier to support and follow the Seattle Sonics of Bellevue than the Oklahoma City Twisters.

I want the Sonics to stay in town. The Sonics can try somewhere around or near Safeco or Qwest. If not, Bellevue or Renton works as long as our Sups stay. Period!

The Sonics and Storm should play in Memorial Stadium or in some selected location in Bellevue!! If they played in Oklahoma, the Seattle economy would be losing more money than it has been losing in the past couple years under the ownership of Howard Schultz and Wally Walker. Keep the Sonics and Storm in Seattle!! We should have Clay Bennett and his group of investors build a multi-event or sports center where Memorial Stadium is currently location at Seattle Center. They can work out a deal with the city and keep the teams in Seattle for years to come!! This is an investment opportunity for the City of Seattle to put their commitment and loyalty back into the Sonics and Storm basketball teams. Save Our Sonics and Storm please!!

Why are they not leaving in 2007? 2010 is way to late for them to leave.

By watching Seattle vote the way they have , I beleive this shows that Seattle sports fans are only fair weather fans! As a long time fan of all Seattle's Pro and college sports, its a shame to see our only former world champion to go away without a fight. Shame to any true Seattle fan who didn't come out and vote to save our Sonics.

I'm not a Sonics fan nor do I go to Basketball games, but do those anti-sports people realize what they are doing with all their "get out off town Sonics" noise?

Business around Key arena will suffer badly and i wont be suprise if many close shop. Those Sonic games support thousands of jobs directly and undirectly. They spur development and growth. Look at the area around Quest and Safeco Fields. New hotels are going up along with a lot of small busineses. Quest Flield may only hold a handfull of Seahawks game a year, but it's always busy holding events.

People have to stop acting as if a new arena is money down the pipe. Take a look at Los Angeles and what Staples Center did to it's downtown. Downtown LA has gone from a lifeless area after evening rush hour to a place thriving with businesses and econmic growth.

the Sonics can move to Albuquerque, New Mexico!!

The Sonics and Storm are the only teams to win championships for our area, we need them here in the northwest.

I love the Sonics. I grew up on Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp and nothing gets better than professional basketball. It is a shame the Seattle ownership group sold the team to a group of the most prominent Oklahomans that has a goal of bringing professional basketball to Oklahoma City. Howard Schulz really let the Great Pacific Northwest down as a whole community. I just want the Sonics to stay in the western Washington, period.

What I hope to see is not another back-door deal like the one Gary Locke pulled when he ignored the voters and signed a deal with the Mariners to build Safeco Field. I love the Sonics but we as a region have bigger problems than a small arena. We should focus our investments on a modern transit system, great schools, a wonderful business climate (repeal the B&O)...After that more people will move here and as a result so too will pro-sports teams look to a better Seattle as a more profitable market. The departure of the Sonics should be seen not as a failure to support professional athletics but as Seattle and the regions failure to plan for the future. Transportation is our biggest problem and little has been done to address it.

Honestly... I would rather see them play in the Suburbs. Why? Because I am only 20 years old which means I have grown up watching the Sonics. It would be like I was losing a part of my because I either watch or listen to the Sonics every time they play. Most of Washington's young community loves the sonics as well. You can not move the Sonics to Oklahoma because in my opinion you are losing a great team and a big part of why Seattle is so popular.

Slumping economy? Where? The NBA has lost it's fanbase with it's bad marketing gimmicks. I'm sorry but shelling out $150 for a seat is way overprice for what the Sonic's organization puts on the floor. The team was destroyed by that burnt coffee owner and his clown Wally. Then to top it off they sell out to an out-of-stater who is going to move the team. Good riddance! Thank you, Howie and Wally for getting out of the sporting world!

I understand the economy of the NBA Market dictates that cities pay for new arenas. However, I feel the model must change...and it must change all the way at the top. Congress needs to remove anti-monopoly protection status and let competition drive the market instead of letting the NBA and other sports hold cities and fans hostage! It's the only way to bring balance to this whacked-out market.

I would rather have them both play in Washington. To me and many fans in the NW they have never really been the "Seattle" Sonics/Storm as much as they have been our home team. I hope we can keep them in the NW but everybody knows they are going to OK. That a man made rich in Seattle would sell them to a group he knew would move them is vindictive at the least. "You won't pay for my arena so I'll just get rid of basketball in Seattle completely. Ha ha". If you can afford to own a sports team you shouldn't sell out your own city (or state). I think Bellevue would be a nice home for the Sonics/Storm. I'll see them in Oklahoma next year. Is it to early to root for the Trail Blazers?

let 'em go, and let some other schmucks subsidise the undeserving rich owners and overpaid gymrat players. maybe we can be the start of a trend to rein in this runaway escalation of costs and salaries that is so far out of the realm of the people that are asked to pay for it. let us concentrate our resources on the things that are truly important in a society, and let the free market take care of these entertainment issues.

I am a lifelong Sonics fan and I think it is sad that the only franchise to win a title is getting railroaded out of town...It makes me sick, they have an excellent team and to see them fighting for a place to play is a slap in the face. I hope someone in one of the many suburbs around Seattle comes through...I really don't like thte sound of the Oklahoma Sonics!

Professional sports teams have the luxury of playing a sport, & getting paid very well for it. The Sonics have had that, and loyal fans. But, I believe that the love affair will dwindle when the Sonics organization shows their true colors- the color of money...and leaves Seattle. When they leave Seattle, they better prepare on having to earn the next batch of fans, because when they fail, year after year to get a championship, there is no love lost, Seattlites will tell the new city, 'I told you so.'

I come down from Bellingham each summer to watch the Storm play, and honestly I would much rather see them play in Bellevue than anywhere else. It would be nice to bypass the gridlock of downtown Seattle and see LJ, Sue, and B-Money playing in a world-class venue, rather than trying to negotiate parking by Key Arena -- or worse, watching them play on TV in Oklahoma. The Storm do so much for our community as well, losing them would leave a real black eye on the face of women's basketball in the Northwest.

I think they should move the Sonics south of the city to encourage more fans to attend the games and avoid much of the traffic issues facing many fans when coming to the games. A venue near Southcenter perhaps?

While I'll miss an NBA franchise being in Seattle it makes no sense for taxpayers to meet their demands once you realize the league that's created this broken financial model.

I also recall Paul Allen's refusal to disclose his financials relating to Qwest Field as was required by the state. Do you really want to give investors like these guys your money?

Just the sound of this question is ridiculous. We have got to step up and keep this team. Please oh please let Bellevue make it happen.

Anywhere they want outside of Washington state.

I think Bainbridge Island would be the perfect site site for a new Sonics arena. To make the idea even more attracive provide the new owners with concession rights on the Seattle-Bainbridge ferry on game days.

It seems that Seattle is drifting further toward lock step homogeneity. Few seem to support traditional metropolitan concepts like sports or diversity of thought or even basic freedoms like choice of schools or transportation and elementary property rights. The Sonics are only a small symptom of a large civic decay.

I'm from Bellevue and would, of course, like to see them move to Bellevue which is closer to the center of their fan base anyway. Nevertheless, the NBA business model is out of whack with the exhorbitant player salaries and ticket prices.

I'm all for the Sonics moving to Bellevue (even if the proposed site is down the street from me). I just think of how much better 520 will be to navigate when there's a game, since most the season ticket holders are over here. Now if we could just move Huskey Stadium to the eastside!

40 years of Sonics history is such a waste to dispose of. Nick Licata and the rest of the City Council do not believe for a second that voters care. Will the voters ever forget his stupid SI interview? Let us see what next.
Best option for sports fans is for the Sonics to transfer to Bellevue, Renton or Redmond where the base of fun support is any way.
As long as they stay in our State it will be OK.

If I understand correctly, we have a few thousand fans in game attendance wanting an entire city to financially support a basketball team who's players are paid in the millions of dollars.
Send them elsewhere!

First I have to make the "usual" disclaimers: I am a sports fan, I am not envious of millionairs and I believe that it would be better if the Sonics stayed. Now that that is out of the way, this issue is very simple. IT IS EXCEPTIONALLY IMMORAL TO TAKE TAXPAYER MONEY AND SUBSIDIZE THE INSANE SPENDING HABITS OF PRO SPORTS. What else is there to say? I will be their adversary as long as our pro sports teams continue to blackmail our spineless (except for Nick "Tiger" Licata) politicians.

Definitely on the Eastside. That's where most of the players live, anyway. It would be a perfect fit. Greedy players and owners in a greedy community. The NBA would feel right at home.

"Slumping economy"? have you lost it entirely?

I was a full-throated, enthusiastic Sonics fan in a decade ago. For the last several seasons I haven't even paid attention to the NBA. Never got into WNBA fandom, either, despite the Storm's on-court success. The thuggery of many players, their ridiculous salaries and the cost of attending games all combine to make me say:

Sayonara Sonics
(and Storm)!
Enjoy Oklahoma....

R. Meyer
North Seattle

I think they can build an arena in the suburbs. A lot of teams play in the suburbs of the city. I'm sure Bellevue, Renton, or even Woodinville would love to have an arena and the business that generates from it. If not, I assume the team is leaving

I grew up with the Sonics, but let them leave, the Trailblazers are an attractive alternative with B Roy and Martell, won't miss them at all if they go.

Who cares? Rich men want taxpayers to pay for their toys and then want to keep the income that comes from the building we built. Never mind that they are stealing the schools out of our children's lives, the police off our streets, and the very streets themselves are not being repaired.

I've been a Sonics fan since '85. The Pistons moved to Auburn Hills, a suburb, why can't the Sonics move to Renton, Bellevue, etc.? Seattle has the worst bandwagon mentality..."well if they were good i'd vote for a new arena, but since they're not...BYE" what ever happened to home town loyalty! if they leave, i will never watch basketball with the same love I've had for a long time...you could give us a new team, name them the Sonics but it just won't be the same...save our SONICS AND STORM!!!

I am a sonics fan living in Port Townsend. I would prefer to see the Sonics and Storm stay in King county, whether that be Bellevue, Renton, etc. With the extraordinary amount of income in this region, i would be very disappointed if no one stepped up with a privately funded arena proposal to keep 'our' teams here where they belong.

The Sonics need to remain in the Seattle area. I think it is a shame that a local man like Howard Schultz would sell to someone outside of Washington just to make a quick dollar on his investment. I have followed the Supersonics since 1976, and now because of the sale we might lose them.

Its funny how Seattle people jump on the bandwagon when the Mariners and Seahawks were winning and will help keep those teams around, but since the Sonics are struggling they won't back a team that has been with the city of Seattle for 40 years. The Sonics are the first major sports franchise in Seattle history. Who is the first team to bring a World Championship to Seattle? Yeah, that's right the Seattle Supersonics. Not the Seattle Mariners, and not the Seattle Seahawks. Who was to follow them? The Seattle Storm. Basketball needs to remain in Seattle. Those who have followed the team this long deserve that.

Why should it be allowed to even move them at this point? I think the NBA, NFL, MLB, and the NHL need to take a serious look at teams who have been in a city for a long period of time and make a clause that the team can't be moved. You follow a team the majority of your life, and now this happens. I don't want Portland moving to Seattle to play either. Who would want to go watch the Seattle Blazers? Don't get me wrong I like Nate McMillan, Brandon Roy, and several other players on their roster but it just wouldn't be the same. Seattle is the "Sonics" and it should remain that way.

I am a life long Seattle Supersonics fan. It pains me to see the team that my friends and I grew up rooting for now sent to a second tier status in my hometown. Have we forgotten that the Storm and Sonics are the only pro teams in Seattle to win a championship? I now reside in Dallas, Texas and after going to games here at the AAC, I will tell you that Key Arena is no where in the same class. In Dallas, The AAC has served as an anchor for economic revitalization in the area. Now, condos, restaurants, office space, and hotels have sprowted up all around the Mav's arena. Seattle City Council president Nick Licata believes that the team has "close to zero" value to the city of Seattle. I beg to differ. A new arena could serve as an anchor to a new and improved Seattle Center/Capital Hill if done properly. The truth is, without the sonics, in Seattle the Key Arena and surrounding areas will have little to no value ... end of story.

Contrary to what Nick Licata thinks, the Sonics are part of this city's rich history and culture. If you still think that a professional sports team has no beneficial impact on a city, one just has to look at New Orleans and how that city has used the Saints as a source of city unity during a desperate time. The Sonics need to stay in the Seattle area!

I have followed the Sonics my entire life and it would be gut wrenching to lose our team, but maybe it's time to say 'Goodbye'. Not goodbye to the civic pride and self esteem that we receive as sports fans, but goodbye to an emotionally and financially abusive industry that couldn't care less about us or our city. These aren't our Sonics anymore. Goodbye.

I could not care less. If the goal of pro sports owners is to max-out profitability, then take the team public-- sell stock in it. If owners are capitalists, then start acting like it, rather than continuously asking for outrageous government welfare handouts. No money for pro sports until our schools are fixed.

The Sonics are Seattle and represent it's only true champion. (Sorry, winning 7 or 8 total games to win the WNBA is on the same level as club Hockey). Even though the 'Sammamish Sonics' sounds comical, it's better than the Oklahoma Sooner Sonics.

They should play in Bellevue. That is where the largest percentage of season ticket holders live, and there is still a ton of $$ to made in this region. The Puget Sound is becoming more and more like the Bay Area w/ Seattle mirroring SF and Bellevue mirroring Oakland. I have no problem w/ the Sonics setting up shop in Bellevue. Just keep the Seattle namesake, and please don't let them go to OKC.

I'm a native of Seattle, living in Phoenix AZ. I remember when they were rebuilding the Seattle Coliseum how; they didn't configure it for hockey, and didn't have enough seats for the NBA. I remeber how people drive down I-5 to the Rose Garden in Portland, say "that's how our arena should look." For years the Sonics were trying to move to the eastside, and well they didn't. This is not the first time the city has dropped the ball on things. After the 62 world's fair extending the monorail to Tacoma, losing federal funding for a rapid transit system to Atlanta. Now losing the NBA and WNBA to the world class city of Oklahoma City. At lease be as stupid as metro Phoenix is and pay for sports facilities that house bad teams

Reason No. 11: You can't get people to come to games if they don't become a fan first by watching games on TV. The Sonics (and NBA) cut their own throats by not allowing anybody outside the central Puget Sound counties to watch the games on TV. We get to see the Mariners, the Seahawks and even Gonzaga play.

I would love the team to stay here but I am not willing to pay for a new stadium. There are some many other items that need the public money, i.e. education, transportation, health care.

I am a life long Seattle Supersonics fan. It pains me to see the team that my friends and I grew up rooting for now sent to a second tier status in my hometown. Have we forgotten that the Storm and Sonics are the only pro teams in Seattle to win a championship? I now reside in Dallas, Texas and after going to games here at the AAC, I will tell you that Key Arena is no where in the same class. In Dallas, The AAC has served as an anchor for economic revitalization in the area. Now, condos, restaurants, office space, and hotels have sprowted up all around the Mav's arena. Seattle City Council president Nick Licata believes that the team has "close to zero" value to the city of Seattle. I beg to differ. A new arena could serve as an anchor to a new and improved Seattle Center/Capital Hill if done properly. The truth is, without the sonics, in Seattle the Key Arena and surrounding areas will have little to no value ... end of story.

From Seattle, live in Portland now. I'd definitely rather see the supes stay in Seattle. Oklahoma city is not a good venue for professional sports. Since it appears Seattle can't keep them, I believe Bellevue or Renton can and will. They would still be part of seattle, just would require a commute over I90, not I91.

i would love to see our sonics and storm play in the suburbs. keep the sonics and storm in the state of washington.

Oklahoma City is fine with me.

I would love them to stay in the Seattle area!
I am from here, born and raised 58 years ago; residing in Burien

Good riddens, now maybe we can spend the money on our failing education system, we've already wasted a billion dollars on two stadiums for two teams that will NEVER put that much money back into our economy, but educated kids might!

They will be playing in Bellevue. Good riddance to Seattle Center and the clueless Seattle City Council for saddling our citizens with an tenantless white elephant of an arena and several million dollars of debt left unpaid.

After hearing that a new Sonic basketball arena requires the infrastructure of c-located businesses such as resturants, shops, hotels and the like. I feel a good location would be in Renton. Situated on the vacant property adjacent to the Boeing plant. There are current plans for a re-development of that property to accommodate resturants, stores for shopping, a hotel, etc.

Access-wise this location supports high density traffic from rush hour Boeing employment.

Also, the location would fit the basketbal teams name. The "Supersonics".

Good by, and good riddance. We have diverted way too much money into supporting these narcissistic hooligans when our hard earned tax dollars should be funding more necessary functions in the city, or supporting activities that actually broaden one's mind.

Why should the taxpayers of this area subsidize a private enterprise like this; one that charges exorbitant prices for attendance, pays obscene salaries? And given they are leaving, what makes them more interesting than watching the Portland franchise? Let the taxpayers there subsidize them.

I'd kinda like them to stay in WA, even here in the Seattle area.

What I don't want, and absolutely don't agree to, is what Schultz wants - tax funding of the arena of his dreams with his organization controlling the arena and keeping the profits. The purpose of taxes isn't to fund private businesses - at least it shouldn't be. If Mr. Schulz can't afford an arena, he should learn to live with what he has until he and the team can afford or at least finance the arena they want. But if Seattle, King County and WA can't fund basics like transportation, safety, health care, social services, etc. they have no business investing in an arena - esp. not one that doesn't provide a decent return on their investment.

If stay, means stay only on Mr. Schultz' terms, when's the packing party?

I think the people in the city of Seattle should realize the tradition that the Sonics bring. Didn't the team have something like the best win percentage in basketball from like 1994 to 2001? Hasn't the team been here for 40 years, longer than the Mariners or Seahawks? True: most people who live in Seattle either dont like sports, or only like teams that are winning "right here and now." I refuse to believe that everyone in this state is that cold. I grew up with the Sonics, and the people of Seattle are taking them away from me. It feels like they are trying to kill a member of my family. Most (not all) of the people in Seattle are disloyal, and I sincerely hope that Bellevue and Renton realize the benefits of keeping an NBA team in the state. Get this arena deal approved and done with, that way nobody will have to worry about any more renovations or new arenas for a long, long time. They did it for baseball fans and for football fans. It's not right to ignore the basketball community who has been so loyal for 40 years. I have to think that, when it is all said and done, we will keep are Sonics in Washington. However, for this to happen, people have to stop thinking that it is over and start doing something about it, because it is not over: the fight is just beginning.

Citizens voting not to subsidize new arenas does NOT mean we don't want the team, we do ! But NOT at the expense of schools and transit etc. Our government is here and gets paid to take care of these sorts of things and they need to step up, so do the owners ! You never hear of Sears saying that they will build a new store but only if the citizens pay for it, why should sports be any different? I want to see them stay INSIDE Seattle if possible, and perhaps the Memorial Stadium site would be good. If not, then Renton might be best because the site in Bellevue is kinda small. But lets get our leaders working on this because we DO want them to stay !!

I still can't believe or imagine Seattle with out the Super Sonics. My dad would drive us from the Tri-Cities when I was little to see the games. When I moved west as an adult my first apartment was within walking distance of the Key so I wouldn't have to worry about parking. I live in Tacoma now and would often spend well over an hour getting to a game. I know Pierce county can't afford the team. I only wish I had a vote, I'd go wherever the Sonics went in WA. For what it's worth my next door neighbors haven't missed a Storm game, EVER.

I'm a HUGE sports fan, but I am sick of subsidizing billionare pro sports owners. Point #9 says it all, after owning the Sonics for a scant 5 years, Schultz cashed out for $150,000,000 profit (almost doubling his investment). I wish my 401k had returns like that. Who cares if he lost a few million a year on operating expenses (if he even did, pro-team expenses tend to be closely guarded and highly suspect), look at the actual vale of the franchise. Plus you don't really own a sports team to make money, you do it becuase you are uber-rich and want a new play toy.

The entire Seattle Center is an outdated, underutilized and boring "city space". Building a world class stadium/concert arena/entertainment complex/NW Sports Hall of Fame would be a welcome addition to Seattle Center and lower Queen Anne. People in this town continue to "think small". In short, we blew a chance to re-make Seattle Center into a wonderful attraction and gathering place for the next millenium. Hopefully Bellevue or Renton will have more vision than Seattle.

As a fan since the coach Russell era, this obviously hits a sour note. If an arena - preferrably privately financed - can be built in downtown Bellevue, then I'm all for it. 10 years ago, just the idea of the 'Supes playing accross the lake made me sick to my stomach. But now, if it's the most realistic way to keep them in Puget Sound, I hope the Bennett Group will give it priority status. Regardless of the recent vote, people really DO love this team!

When Commissioner David Stern stated that NBA arenas become obsolete every 8-10 years and that cities need to understand the need for continual investment, he lost my support. My house is 80 years old and still works fine...without any taxpayer support. Plus, we've already spent a billion dollars on Qwest, Safeco and Key. Building a new palace for a bunch of overpaid jocks makes absolutely no economic sense for this community. That said, Bellevue and Renton will work just fine; they should also take a look at the Tacoma Dome. It's already built, has plenty of surrounding property to develop, and is right off I-5. It isn't perfect, but it's better than shelling out hundreds of millions. In the meantime, we should learn the words to the musical "Oklahoma!"

All they have to do is win games! If Luke keeps playing like he has so far this season, look out! Another Steve Nash? The Sonics may surprise people this season. And that would probably save the Sonics. I say build the arena in Renton.

If you're from Seattle, you know how much the Sonics are a part of the soul of our city, and a part of our collective memory here. I'm disgusted at the prospect of them moving, and I think it's almost a duty of native Washingtonians and to do everything they possibly can to keep them in the Seattle area at the very least.

It's pretty clear that people would love to keep the Sonics/Storm around (actually, I'm happy to see the Sonics go, keep the Storm) but it's very clear also that, with schools being closed and bridges falling apart, private sports businesses are a low-priority, at best, for public money. It'd be nice if they stayed here, Bellevue is perfect for them, but the owners have to put up the money, not government. The basic concept of capitalism: you can make money by taking risk, but the risk is to lose the money as well. Don't ask the state to protect you from your risk. Put up or shut up.

I remember when the Sonics came to town. I was 10 years old, and could'nt have been more excited. All the new heroes to follow, Bob (Golden) Rule,Walt Hazzard, Lou Allen, Spencer Haywood, and of course the great championship team. What a shame we are going to lose not just a Basketball team, but a part of history that many of us have followed for forty years. Thanks so much to Howard Schultz for coming in , making several million dollars and dumping our team to the first buyer that came along. I for one have'nt been to Starbucks since. Hopefully something can be done to sve our Sonics, but ..I'm not holding my breath.

Imagine an arena in Bellevue that is host to The NBA Sonics, WNBA Storm, and an Arena football team. Yes, we can steal the one in Everett, build a rivalry with Spokane and have year round events in Bellevue. In fact, I think the ownership group should ditch the Seattle name and Bellevue should buy the rights to the name by making an interest free loan to the organization for the arena. Bellevue will get its money back over a period of time by very specific taxes on tickets and food and beverage sales in the arena. This is a very doable plan that can benefit all parties. On another note, for The People for More Important Things, I hope you expand your focus beyond sporting events. Your mantra dictates that the government shouldn't be investing in museums, statue parks, or regular parks. They aren't nearly as important as education for the children. In fact, these parks don't even generate a revunue unlike a sports team.

When was the last time you went to the game & it was packed w/ fans? A really, really long time I am sure. Why build a massive arena when you can't fill the one you have. It is just a shame to have a "big city" & not have a b-ball team! PS - pay for a star & fans will be there.