Clay Bennett, the owner of the Seattle SuperSonics announced yesterday that if a new arena isn't built in Seattle, he is planning to file for relocation to Oklahoma City by October 31st.
With the recent vote against the public funding of a new arena in Seattle, is moving to Oklahoma a done deal? Bennett being an Oklahoman himself would be very happy with such a development and he firmly believes that moving to a city with no other major league franchises would be beneficial to the Sonics.
There is however one obstacle that might stop the Sonics from leaving the Northwest.
The team at the moment has a lease with the Key Arena that expires in 2010. Bennett has publicly stated that if he decides to move the team, he is willing to negotiate a buy-out from the lease in order to move to Oklahoma City in 2008. The city of Seattle however at the moment does not appear to have any intention of breaking the lease prematurely. If Bennett makes a very lucrative offer will they insist on keeping the team in Seattle until 2010 knowing that they will most likely lose them then without getting anything in return?
It is very possible. A lot of things could change in 3 years. There already are some efforts by local developers to build an arena in the Seattle suburbs of Auburn (by the native american Muckleshoot tribe) and Tukwila and if that happens until 2010 and the Sonics are still in Seattle by then, they will more than likely stay there for a very long time.
Bennett appears to have made up his mind and frankly, I don't think he should be blamed for this situation. Everyone from the very beginning knew what he wanted even if he wouldn't admit it to the media. I think the blame should fall on the previous owner, Howard Schultz instead, who sold the team to a group of Oklahoma City businessmen, when he knew very well that Oklahoma City was looking for a team.
It will be interesting to see how things will work out.
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