Eric Williams covered the Sonics' last season in Seattle. A Tacoma native, Eric graduated from Mount Tahoma High and the University of Puget Sound.
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This was sent out by the team late Wednesday afternoon:
The City of Seattle has agreed to settle its lawsuit against the Professional Basketball Club, LLC after both parties reached an agreement that terminates PBC’s lease at KeyArena and allows the team to relocate immediately to Oklahoma City, PBC Chairman Clay Bennett announced today. The settlement agreement was signed by Bennett and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.
"We believe this is a fair and appropriate resolution to the litigation involving the Sonics and the City of Seattle. We are pleased that the uncertainty is lifted for our players, staff and Oklahoma City fans who can now make plans for the immediate future,” Bennett said.
He added ticket requests for the 2008-09 season at the Ford Center will be taken immediately.
“We have a business to run and this settlement allows us to make the best decision for the franchise and allow the City of Seattle to begin planning its own NBA future.”
Under the settlement agreement, PBC agrees to pay the City $45 million in order to terminate the KeyArena lease. An additional contingent payment of $30 million will be due in 2013 unless one of the following occurs: the Washington Legislature fails to authorize at least $75 million of public funding for KeyArena renovations by the end of 2009 or Seattle obtains a new or relocated NBA franchise within that five year period. A binding version of the agreement was signed by Bennett and Nickels today. A more permanent version will be formalized by August 1.
The agreement also includes language regarding a lawsuit filed against PBC by the Sonics’ former ownership group The Basketball Club of Seattle, headed by Howard Schultz. Under terms of the settlement, if PBC is prevented from playing home games in Oklahoma City in the 2008-09 or 2009-10 seasons as a result of the Schultz suit, the City will repay PBC $22.5 million for each season. In addition, if PBC is required to play in KeyArena in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons as a result of the Schultz suit, PBC is released from its obligation to make the $30 million contingent payment.
The settlement document also confirms that the Sonics name, logo, and colors will remain available for a potential future NBA franchise in Seattle.“I was always amenable, as part of a negotiation process, to reserving the name for Seattle fans. I feel it’s appropriate and we wish Sonics fans and the City good luck in their efforts to develop a modern NBA arena and return pro basketball to Seattle in the future,” Bennett said.
He added, details of the name and colors for Oklahoma City’s new team are still being developed and will be announced in the near future.
Bennett said the team will begin an immediate transition to Oklahoma City, working closely with staff, players and coaches to make the transition as easy as possible. He said he has asked Sonics General Manager Sam Presti and interim President and CEO Danny Barth to head up the transition process.
Bennett announced that season ticket requests for the Oklahoma City’s team inaugural season in the Ford Center, beginning in the fall, will be taken immediately through July 18.Oklahoma City fans are asked to logon to www.supersonics.com
and provide contact information and be added to the request list. In the coming weeks, team sales representatives will reach out to those who signed up and begin the sales process. Requests to be added the list will also be taken by phone at (888) 618-HOOP (4667).
COMMENTS:
There is no American expansion of the NBA. Stern has already said that.
For Seattle to get around Stern's bias, Stern needs to retire first.
Cost for the NBA to return:
best financial case: $300M for so-called rebuild and at least $400M for a team, plus $30 relocation - $730M not counting intangibles
more likely case: $500M for new arena, $430M for team & relocation - nearing $1B. Nice job, Howard.
The dogged settlement, right before the judge's pronouncement - at the end of the day before what is a 4 day weekend for many people - should've been predictable. Mayor Five Cent can spin it anyway he wants, it's all spin from a career politician.
So Payton's jersey is going to hang in the rafters at the Museum of History?
A guy can dream can't he. I wanted the Sonics to stay, and still do. If Schultz can be a man and step up it would be great. If they leave I never want another NBA team to step into Seattle. Fix the Arena for Hockey and get an NHL team.
No Top FA will go to oaklahoma due to it market and it not big.
They weren't gonna be raising taxes to pay for a remodeled arena. All they had to do was use the same hotel/motel/rental car tax that has been paying off Safeco and Quest fields. There was gonna be no new taxes. And Steve Balmer and company were gonna pay half the cost anyway!
OKC, Seattle to share Sonics past
Posted: Sunday July 06, 2008 09:50AM ET
Even though he's gone, Clay Bennett will forever be linked to the Sonics. His settlement this week with the city put the Sonics' name, colors and logo on ice, but Bennett still will take what's being called the franchise's "shared history" to Oklahoma City. The two sides are still negotiating what that means, with a meeting scheduled Aug. 1 to finalize the agreement. The settlement allows Bennett to replicate and use copies of Sonics memorabilia, including the 1979 NBA trophy, championship banners and the team's six retired jerseys. Bennett described the memorabilia as "assets," which he intends to use to market and promote the Oklahoma City team. And while he retains possession of the Sonics name, logo and colors, he agreed not to use them. Additionally, he owns the Sonics' original championship trophy, banners and retired jerseys and is permitted to periodically display them in Oklahoma City. For most of the year, the items will be kept in Seattle at the Museum of History and Industry. Bennett agreed to return their ownership to Seattle should an NBA franchise emerge here.
...so what exactly did we get out of this deal?
Thank Howard thanks Greg N as you both are complete moron along with Christin G.
Greg N should leave WA and never look back as he not wanted back in WA I think.,
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