Some breaking news
Posted on Wednesday, July 19th, 2006 at 12:35 pm by Big Chris
According to a source close to the team, Ed Evans left a meeting at 8am to go to Bellevue and look at possible sites for relocation of the team. Bellevue is quickly emerging as a possible solution. More details to come.
When we hear something, you’ll be the first to know.
July 19th, 2006 at 12:48 pm
I’d kill for the team to stay and go across the lake to Bellevue
July 19th, 2006 at 12:54 pm
Well, if I was a city official from Bellevue or Renton, I would certainly be making a pitch to be kept in mind as a site.
Having the Sonics at either city would make the development projects at that location much easier to do.
Thanks for the update and thanks Bellevue for the initiative and flexibility to start the ball rolling and possibly keep the Sonics in the Seattle area.
July 19th, 2006 at 1:06 pm
I will glady sit through 520 traffic to watch the Sonics.
July 19th, 2006 at 1:09 pm
Good news.
I don’t mind the Sonics being in Bellevue either. The proposed area will possibly have a light rail stop in the new arena vicinity.
While at it, Bellevue should make sure the new arena meets NHL standards as well.
July 19th, 2006 at 1:09 pm
Is this that breaking of news? Schultz said in his interview on KJR this morning that Bennett was going to look at sites in Bellevue before he leaves for OKC today.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sonics/2003137787_webschultzinterview19.html
Q: How far did explore Bellevue option?
A: Bellevue is still real, and I spoke about it in process of getting to know [new owners] Clay and Evans, giving them comprehensive analysis of situation, and included in that was my enthusiasm for Bellevue. And I believe Clay is going to look at sites in Bellevue today before he goes back to Oklahoma. Our group did look at that, yes. But for Bellevue to happen, they still have to get state approval, and no guarantee of that.
July 19th, 2006 at 1:29 pm
If I were the new ownership I wouldn’t even waste my time with Seattle’s crappy arena site or their politicians. Not to mention that even OKC can’t deliver a brand spanking new arena built to order.
The rift/territorial pissings between the Seattle City Council and the Mayor’s office has been a major problem all along and will still be a stumbling block in any future negotiations with the City.
Your elected officials, Seattle.
July 19th, 2006 at 1:32 pm
Who is ed evans?
That would be great, majority of season ticket base is in the eastside anyways.
Make it a NHL capable arena.
July 19th, 2006 at 1:34 pm
But even if they broke ground today..it would be what..2-3 years before it would be opened? It would mean that the new ownership would have to take a bath for 2 years. Perhaps Bellevue would give some tax $$ to help aleviate that pain?
July 19th, 2006 at 1:43 pm
It’d be great if the Sonics would stay in Washington. So let’s hope that there’s a real chance of this happening and that it’s not just some PR stuff so the new Ownership can say they at least tried to keep them here, after the moved them to OK City.
July 19th, 2006 at 2:06 pm
It’s really too late to build a new arena anywhere. As much as I want to believe it, it likely won’t happen. After the season the new ownership will evaluate their options, regardless of the lease period. What’s such crap is that Ed Evans, Clayton and crew don’t give one iota about Bellevue or Renton. It’s a one and done in their minds and it makes absolutely no sense for them to work a deal with city officials when things are ready to roll in OKC. A pathetic attempt to sugarcoat the truth and off they go. It’ll take more than a couple years to get a new arena built anywhere around here and no amount of wrangling can expedite that process. In two years the Sonics will be arriving in the heartland and the Seattle papers will be full of sad love songs and hopes of Paul Allen and the banditos riding into town.
July 19th, 2006 at 2:07 pm
Bellevue or Oklahoma? Gee, tough decision….
July 19th, 2006 at 2:09 pm
As mentioned in another thread,
Ed Evans is involved in Busch series motor racing. Lived all across the south. Company based in Tampa. Stepping back from CEO to Chairman. In part might be to spend more time on sporting toys.
If Shinn were to rethink and offer to sell completely to Oklahoma group under threat of loss of this location and option, Evans could possibly buy Bennett and the others out of Sonics deal and replace with Seattle minority partners or folks from Tampa or wherever.
Evans is in the celluar industry. Bellevue has lots of that.
It is a possible recovery. The new ownership group isnt necessarily indivisible and singleminded.
July 19th, 2006 at 2:10 pm
We’re all grasping at straws a little bit for the breaking news, so forgive us if it gets redundant. I have to either risk repeating information, or possibly not pass something on that you hear.
In addition to the Howard quote people in the know seem to be a bit more optimistic today than they were yesterday that Bellevue is a reasonable option and the owners would consider it. It seems that there is a lot more money to be made in the PNW than in OK City and in the end owners greed is about our only hope for salvation.
July 19th, 2006 at 2:12 pm
“But even if they broke ground today..it would be what..2-3 years before it would be opened? It would mean that the new ownership would have to take a bath for 2 years. Perhaps Bellevue would give some tax $$ to help aleviate that pain?”
The team actually doesn’t lose that much money. So taking a bath isn’t how I would look at it. If the team were winning games, they could come close to breaking even during those two years. The problem is if fans don’t believe the team might stay… then they are sitting on all this payroll and only 5,000 fans in the seats.
July 19th, 2006 at 2:13 pm
Based in Tampa I wonder if the ocean is important to him for recreation. Take him out on the Sound before he goes.
July 19th, 2006 at 2:14 pm
Kevin Jackson: The Sadness of a Sports Orphan
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=kjackson/060719
July 19th, 2006 at 2:16 pm
Oklahoma group bought themselves a team but also a seat at league ownership meetings which they can use to aid the effort to get a team there, preferrably non-Shinn.
July 19th, 2006 at 2:19 pm
“the new ownership would have to take a bath for 2 years.”
2 years of a bath vs 20 years of rolling in cheddar in a new arena, plus parking, plus concessions? No problem. That’s an easy write-off. The Supes didn’t make money in the Tacoma Dome, but you gotta do what you gotta do.
“It seems that there is a lot more money to be made in the PNW than in OK City and in the end owners greed is about our only hope for salvation. ”
Yeah, that’s the biggest thing in Seattle’s favor right now along with Shinn hopefully being allowed the rights to the OKC market.
July 19th, 2006 at 2:32 pm
One thing I never understood is why Bellevue was supposedly always “scared” of making Seattle mad by negotiating with the Sonics. If I am the city of Seattle, seeing an arena in Bellevue has to be far and away the WORST thing that could happen. Not only would they lose their best tenent, but also many other tenents to the new top of the line arena…you’d think that would get the city of Seattle to the table.
July 19th, 2006 at 2:33 pm
Can we get email addresses/info etc about bellevue city council and mayors office? We could send encouraging words of support to get the deal done
July 19th, 2006 at 2:48 pm
Ask and you shall recieve.
http://www.ci.bellevue.wa.us/page.asp?view=2819
I also placed this link on the yahoo group at:
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/saveoursonics/
July 19th, 2006 at 2:57 pm
Ed Evans’ company Syinverse already has a Seattle office (one of about 15 in US). Does a lot of international work. Said to be interested in and working on more acquisiitions.
July 19th, 2006 at 3:00 pm
This article about the Bellevue options is pretty interesting. Much of the negativity revolves around Bellevue business leaders assuming that Seattle will come to its senses and cut a deal…and leave them out in the cold again. There is a heck of a lot more support from the folks over there in terms of understanding the value of the team to the area. Maybe the sale is the key to making this a viable option - i.e. the team is already “gone”, Seattle had their shot and Bellevue can swoop in and save the day…
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sonics/2002739266_sonics14e.html
July 19th, 2006 at 3:01 pm
Syniverse also has an Oklahoma City office.
July 19th, 2006 at 3:04 pm
I thought Schultz said the guy was from “Cinnaburst” yesterday at the press conference.
July 19th, 2006 at 3:06 pm
If someone could help sell the idea of Bellevue and staying in this market at least to Evans, if he became the focus, it might be no.2 biggest shareholder in current ownership, wireless kingpin John Stanton. They already do business together
Press Release Results
January 28, 2003
TSI Signs Four-Year Deal with Western Wireless Corporation for Clearing and Settlement Services
July 19th, 2006 at 3:09 pm
TSI is the former name of Syniverse, Evans’ company
July 19th, 2006 at 3:11 pm
Western Wireless VP of sales as of May 2005 Todd Larsen came to them from Syniverse.
July 19th, 2006 at 3:13 pm
He may not still be there but there are company ties. I assume Stanton and Evans have talked recently but how much? Reporters could check.
July 19th, 2006 at 3:15 pm
predecessor companies to Syniverse have worked with Western Wireless for almost 10 years, maybe longer
July 19th, 2006 at 4:09 pm
One thing that really may be happening (with rose colored glasses) is that this is all a political ploy. It would seem that the best situation for the NBA would be:
- For a new arena to be created here
- For the NO team to stay in OKC
- For George Shinn to sell the team and get out of the NBA
By having this group by the Sonics, the league now has leverage to:
- Get the new arena done
- Once the new arena gets done they can move to make Clay Bennet by out Shinn…
July 19th, 2006 at 4:26 pm
“a representative of Schultz’s ownership group approached Evans and asked if he knew of a group of investors interested in purchasing the Sonics. Investors who make up the Professional Basketball Club came to the table.” JS?
July 19th, 2006 at 8:27 pm
Apparently, some communities are still led by people with vision. Hope Bellevue pulls this off. I’m a little new to your scene but reading about this Licata fellow talking about turning The Key into an arcade after saying that The Sonics have no value to the city makes me think that there may not be a bigger loser in Seattle. Bennett and Evans should talk exclusively to interested suburbs and tell Nickels, Licata, and whatever other retards are in charge that their input isn’t welcome anymore.
July 19th, 2006 at 8:48 pm
I fear that even if Bellevue totally steps up it wont be enough. Bennett and his Sooner buddies will just make the demands impossible to meet and say they werent able to work it out in time and take their new toy home.
July 19th, 2006 at 10:26 pm
“Not to mention that even OKC can’t deliver a brand spanking new arena built to order.”
They built that brand new stadium a few years ago that the Hornets are playing in, right? I saw a picture of it in the Fox story that was posted here earlier.
July 20th, 2006 at 2:36 am
From ESPN
SEATTLE — If the Seattle SuperSonics and Storm leave the Emerald City following their sale to Oklahoma City businessman Clay Bennett, their home court could become a giant video arcade.
That’s one idea pitched by Seattle City Council President Nick Licata for the future of KeyArena.
No, really, he’s serious.
“It would be an opportunity for a real public-private partnership of a different sort than, say, professional sports,” Licata said. “We could convert KeyArena to a new type of facility that would reflect new 21st century technology.”
“In Las Vegas, 15,000 show up for a national gaming conference. Why not have those people come to Seattle?”
Licata’s idea may seem far-fetched, but finding a viable financial solution for KeyArena and providing upgrades to the surrounding Seattle Center is a significant issue for local officials. The Seattle Center was the site for Seattle’s 1962 World’s Fair.
wow, thanx seattle leaders, we’d much rather have this than an acceptable basketball arena!
July 20th, 2006 at 6:11 am
Licata is a friggin idiot.
July 20th, 2006 at 9:04 am
Nick Licata is an incompetent fool who is an embarrassment to himself, the City Council and the entire region.
July 20th, 2006 at 12:18 pm
unreal