Bye Bye Sonics
 

Good riddance:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basket...onics18ww.html

KJS

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

Bummer. I was hoping for Vegas.

I wonder if this means they're more or less likely to sign Wilcox now.

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

Oklahoma LOL.

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

Is their move to OKC a done deal (after 2010)? How old is Key Arena? Like 10 years? How do these venues become 'too small' and 'unprofitable' so quickly? Same story with the Alamodome.

The Sonics have probably the richest tradition of any Seattle pro team and I for one am a little sad about this.

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

GOD DAMNIT, WTF STUPID [censored] OWNERS, HOWARD SCHULTZ IS A [censored] DOUCHE BAG PIECE OF [censored]. ALSO [censored] THE MAYORS STUPID ASS, INEPT POS AND [censored] THAT GOD DAMN [censored] BAG GREGOIRE. THANKS A [censored] LOT, AS IF ANYONE WILL GO TO A [censored] GAME IN OKC. STERN'S STUPID ASS HAD BETTER FIX THIS. DON'T FORCE ME TO ROOT FOR PORTLAND YOU DUMB PIECES OF [censored].

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

[ QUOTE ]
richest tradition

[/ QUOTE ]
http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/3269/akempipk0.jpg

+

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/3411/needlefy3.gif

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

EAT A DICK.

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/1...csonicsaz1.jpg

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

[ QUOTE ]
GOD DAMNIT, WTF STUPID [censored] OWNERS, HOWARD SCHULTZ IS A [censored] DOUCHE BAG PIECE OF [censored]. ALSO [censored] THE MAYORS STUPID ASS, INEPT POS AND [censored] THAT GOD DAMN [censored] BAG GREGOIRE. THANKS A [censored] LOT, AS IF ANYONE WILL GO TO A [censored] GAME IN OKC. STERN'S STUPID ASS HAD BETTER FIX THIS. DON'T FORCE ME TO ROOT FOR PORTLAND YOU DUMB PIECES OF [censored].

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

Them moving to OKC can't be a good thing for the NBA. If this happens, I wouldn't be surprised if Portland moves as well.

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

Yo man, its no probelm, I gots ta love for my boys on teh sound.

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

NO's owners have got to be pissed about this.

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

I would imagine so would Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio.

I actually can't see them moving. I don't see it happening.

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

I don't see why, they have drawn great in OKC, they have zero competition from pro fanchises, and they have a great arena to play in.

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

eh yo [censored] OKC

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Dear god. I live in Vancouver and I've always liked the sonics. This is a bit sad.

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

[ QUOTE ]
How do these venues become 'too small' and 'unprofitable' so quickly?

[/ QUOTE ]

Starts with a crappy team.

b

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

[ QUOTE ]
Good riddance

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

[ QUOTE ]
Is their move to OKC a done deal (after 2010)? How old is Key Arena? Like 10 years? How do these venues become 'too small' and 'unprofitable' so quickly? Same story with the Alamodome.

The Sonics have probably the richest tradition of any Seattle pro team and I for one am a little sad about this.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's helpful if you don't build a piece of [censored] to start with, Key Arena, like the Kingdome, was a poorly designed dump from the day it opened. The Alamodome is completely ill suited for basketball. Anyone building an arena for basketball should be required to visit Conseco before even starting on the first plan.

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

[ QUOTE ]
NO's owners have got to be pissed about this.

[/ QUOTE ]

I thought that too. Vegas welcomes any franchise with open arms...

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Good riddance

[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]I don't understand how you can say this.

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

Well, this blows.

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Good riddance

[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]I don't understand how you can say this.

[/ QUOTE ]

Very simple. I just hit the 'quote' button and left that part in.

I have no sympathy for pro sports teams that try to put upgrade/expansion costs on the taxpayers. I'm not for government subsidizing private business.(unless the taxpayers vote for it)

See the Seattle Mariners for a prime example. Maybe the sonics can take them with? [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Go Huskies!

b

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

so because of the owners behavior, you say good ridance to a Seattle franchise and the only pro sports team from Seattle to win a championship? [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] I could care less about the owners greediness, but anyone who thinks its good that they may leave is a moron, sorry man.

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Good riddance

[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]I don't understand how you can say this.

[/ QUOTE ]

Very simple. I just hit the 'quote' button and left that part in.

I have no sympathy for pro sports teams that try to put upgrade/expansion costs on the taxpayers. I'm not for government subsidizing private business.(unless the taxpayers vote for it)

See the Seattle Mariners for a prime example. Maybe the sonics can take them with? [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Go Huskies!

b

[/ QUOTE ]

I tend to agree with you here. The Mariners stadium went to a vote and lost by ~1000 votes and we got the stadium rammed down our throats anyway. If the Sonic thing had gone to a vote with the stipulation that Wally Walker be hung in public, I think it would have passed by a 75% margin at least. I won't shed a tear for any organization as low class as the Sonics. Come on! At least pretend to be a contender before you demand $200,000,000 from taxpayers (who are already shellshocked by sound transit and the monorail fiasco, not to mention that little disaster waiting to happen on Alaskan Way). How in the hell did Starbucks make it big with that moron at the helm? It is a bit sad that an organization that has been in Seattle since 1967 is going to be gone soon, I guess. [censored] 'em. The spoiled rich kids were willing to put up $18 million and the City of Seattle rightly told them that the offer was a joke and to get serious or take a hike. I'm bummed that it came to this, but the city was right to tell Schultz and company to eat [censored]. We should be buying infrastucture, not toys for multi-millionaire's.

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

Both the owners and the local government are to blame. The Sonics leaving will be a huge loss on the local economy and its pathetic that the two groups couldn't come to an agreement. Its really really sad, you have one shrewd business owner whose bluff was called by a bunch of dumb politicians in a game where calling the bluff would result in a loss by all parties involved. gregoire is a horrible govenor and Nickles is even worse at Mayor. WA is sorely hurting for some legitimate politcal leadership. If it wasn't for Microsoft, that region would be [censored] because the local leadership doesn't seem to have a clue on how to do anything for the region.

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

BTW, I am boycotting Starbucks for the rest of my life because of this.

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

[ QUOTE ]
Both the owners and the local government are to blame. The Sonics leaving will be a huge loss on the local economy and its pathetic that the two groups couldn't come to an agreement. Its really really sad, you have one shrewd business owner whose bluff was called by a bunch of dumb politicians in a game where calling the bluff would result in a loss by all parties involved. gregoire is a horrible govenor and Nickles is even worse at Mayor. WA is sorely hurting for some legitimate politcal leadership. If it wasn't for Microsoft, that region would be [censored] because the local leadership doesn't seem to have a clue on how to do anything for the region.

[/ QUOTE ]

We'll see just how big a loss it would be to the economy. Something else might replace it. LA didn't seem to lose much not having an NFL team.

I'm actually glad Nickels, who I'm not a fan of by any stretch, nixxed the sonics proposal. The other Mayor and Governor we used to have both sucked, too.

Btw...Would you support a tax deal that put taxpayers funds to help expand Microsofts campus? How about Starbucks? Boeing?

Go Cantwell. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

b

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

[ QUOTE ]
We'll see just how big a loss it would be to the economy. Something else might replace it.

[/ QUOTE ] It will certainly be a huge hit to downtown Seattle, especially right around that arena.

[ QUOTE ]
I'm actually glad Nickels, who I'm not a fan of by any stretch, nixxed the sonics proposal.

[/ QUOTE ] He shouldn't be applauded for making a decision any other mayor would have done. Instead he should be criticized for not finding a solution that would work for both sides.

[ QUOTE ]
Btw...Would you support a tax deal that put taxpayers funds to help expand Microsofts campus? How about Starbucks? Boeing?

[/ QUOTE ] I would support Tax cuts for MS and Boeing, but definitely not for a "retail" store like Starbucks.

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

[ QUOTE ]
Btw...Would you support a tax deal that put taxpayers funds to help expand Microsofts campus? How about Starbucks? Boeing

[/ QUOTE ]

C'mon Bernie, tax cuts are routinely given for things like this. It's just not as highly publicized. When GM decides to open a new car plant, guess what the determining factor is in the final location? That's right, whichever state/city/municipality gives them the sweetest deal.

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

These are the same geniuses that prevented me from get clam chowder while going over to Bremerton because shutting down the food service on the Ferry system for over a year made more sense to them than negotiating a reasonable contract. Also, the whole making gambling on the internet a felony thing.

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

irvman,

You're confusing king county/the city of Seattle with the state of washington, which is a really bad idea.

I don't know how I feel about this. I don't feel like the city has an obligation to fund an arena, but clearly a professional sports team is a value add to the city, and at least something of an economic benefit.

However, for all his bitching, Schultz sold the team for 100M more than what he bought it for, and I don't buy for a second that he really lost 60M over the course of owning the team. Almost every owner who bitches about operating at a lost ignores how much these teams gain value over time.

I would hope that everybody would just work together. It doesn't help that our city council has a few idiot reactionaries, and that previous history here has set people so steadfastly against any funding for our stadiums.

I still wager they won't leave, mostly because I think the team in NO will end up in Ok City before the Supes do. Also, I'm not that broken up if they leave, because we're a top 10 media market and Stern will try and get a new team in here PDQ.

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

There is plenty of blame to go around here. The Schultz ownership group were overly optimistic and naive, and then totally crapped the bed by bitching incessantly in public. The local government has been peevish and unwilling to lift a finger for the most part.

The biggest culprit? The NBA. Their game is [censored] boring, and their business model totally unworkable. I thought I heard this morning that only like 20% of the franchises in the NBA operate in the black? I am too lazy to check it out, but that wouldn't surprise me in the least.

Who loses? The fans, just like always. I remember listening to Sonic games with my dad in the car when Bob Blackburn was broadcasting. I remember watching them lose a playoff game to Phoenix when Gar Heard hit a fallaway at the buzzer (I was distraught, but the Sonics came back to win the series). I remember being heartbroken when they lost to the Bullets in '78, and then overjoyed when they won it all in '79. I was only 9- I ran outside as soon as the game was over, fully expecting that the entire area would be screaming and yelling in celebration. I didn't yet understand that EVERYONE doesn't watch sports (something I still don't fully understand).

I will cry when the moving trucks come. I may not be an NBA fan, but I have loved the Sonics for as long as I can remember. Once they are gone, I will never watch another NBA game.

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

The NBA is clearly the most at blame. I started a thread a few months ago where I said Stern is the worst commish in sports and I completely believe it. The NBA will continue to survive based on the individual talent in the league, but its run is over. I don't think we will ever see the NBA return to its glory days.

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

I think faulting the NBA is slightly missing the boat.

If you are to believe what folks say, if the Sonics had sold out every game, they'd still be losing money because of the terms of the lease (IIRC they generate no revenue from concessions and other revenue streams that teams typically benefit from in their arenas) and the lack of box seats.

The fact that there isn't massive fan demand to keep the Sonics in down may be attributed to a lack of interest in the NBA. However, I tend to think that Seattle is just a town that's pretty front running, and even if the overall quality of the NBA was high, the Sonics aren't going to generate much support given that they've been mediocre for most of the past 5 years.

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

[ QUOTE ]
If you are to believe what folks say, if the Sonics had sold out every game, they'd still be losing money because of the terms of the lease

[/ QUOTE ] I am not buying this.

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

[ QUOTE ]
The NBA is clearly the most at blame. I started a thread a few months ago where I said Stern is the worst commish in sports and I completely believe it. The NBA will continue to survive based on the individual talent in the league, but its run is over. I don't think we will ever see the NBA return to its glory days.

[/ QUOTE ]

The NBA as a whole set records for attendance and profitability this year, despite the fact that the quality of the league is down. The leauge's outlook is brighter now than it has been since Jordan left. I despise Stern for the way he sacrifices quality for revenue and for ignoring the worst officiating in all of sports (except the judges in the Roy Jones Jr Olympic fight in Korea), but I don't see how he factors in negatively with this situation.

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Btw...Would you support a tax deal that put taxpayers funds to help expand Microsofts campus? How about Starbucks? Boeing

[/ QUOTE ]

C'mon Bernie, tax cuts are routinely given for things like this. It's just not as highly publicized. When GM decides to open a new car plant, guess what the determining factor is in the final location? That's right, whichever state/city/municipality gives them the sweetest deal.

[/ QUOTE ]

True.

But what if GM, after being in their location for a couple years, now wants to now upgrade the facility with taxpayer dollars? Would people want to pay for that?

b

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

[ QUOTE ]


[ QUOTE ]
I'm actually glad Nickels, who I'm not a fan of by any stretch, nixxed the sonics proposal.

[/ QUOTE ] He shouldn't be applauded for making a decision any other mayor would have done. Instead he should be criticized for not finding a solution that would work for both sides.



[/ QUOTE ]

Many mayors would've, and have in seattle, caved in and gave the sonics what they wanted.


[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Btw...Would you support a tax deal that put taxpayers funds to help expand Microsofts campus? How about Starbucks? Boeing?

[/ QUOTE ] I would support Tax cuts for MS and Boeing, but definitely not for a "retail" store like Starbucks.

[/ QUOTE ]

Imo, sports teams are just like private 'retail' stores.

[ QUOTE ]
It will certainly be a huge hit to downtown Seattle, especially right around that arena.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not if the Trailblazers move up here. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

I still don't think it will be that huge an impact.

b

Re: Bye Bye Sonics
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If you are to believe what folks say, if the Sonics had sold out every game, they'd still be losing money because of the terms of the lease

[/ QUOTE ] I am not buying this.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't buy that they'd be losing money, but I do by that they wouldn't be making enough to be happy.