Sacramento Kings moving franchise to the OC, CA.

As a fan, I'd rather have an expansion team. I don't wanna do to another city what OKC did to my hometown.


On a side note, it's a shame the NBA has traded two beautiful cities in the PNW for OKC and Memphis. I wish the Grizzlies had stayed in Vancouver, that city is something else, one of the most beautiful cities in North America.

 

Three years isn't that far off... They're obviously hoping the new TV deal is huge enough that it would drive up the cost of the expansion fee. I don't think the NFL, MLB will add teams during that timeframe. I don't follow the NHL enough to have any idea what its plans are.

Is there another NBA team that Seattle could target?

 

Only other one mentioned in the article is the Bucks.

 

Milwaukee is starting to rumble about a new arena. Payback for the Pilots?

 

Oklahoma City didn't. Clay Bennett did. He was from there and had every intention from the outset to move it.
The city should have kept the Hornets.

 

Hyman Roth was killed in the Miami Airport and so was the Jewish mob. They all became bankers and lawyers.

 

I'm not much for conspiracy theories but, at this point, I can't much blame Seattle fans for feeling that way.

To say he has treated Seattle inconsistently and inconsiderately compared to other cities is putting it mildly. The same rationale used for protecting Sacramento this time applied even more to Seattle a few years ago. Seattle supported its team even better with higher attendance than Sacramento, had a bigger more lucrative market, had a better NBA arena, etc. Yet, not only did Stern have no sympathy for Seattle, he at times seemed to be actively helping push the Sonics out. Now that a team wants to move TO Seattle--which plainly appears to be a bigger better market for the Kings--he suddenly reverses course and is now all about blocking the move to preserve market loyalty.

And, my, doesn't it ever work beautifully for the League being able to use Seattle the same way the NFL has Los Angeles the last two decades--this big market bargaining chip against any city that dares negotiate against his League or one of his franchises.

Just wait til the Kings instead try to move to Kansas City (or elsewhere) next year and Stern reverses course again and has no objection to it, that's when Seattlei-tes will truly lose their minds.

 

Lakers and Celtics have dominated the league over the 50 years. More than dynasties, these teams have a hold over the NBA. Other teams can get hot and dominate over a short period of time, the Bulls, Rockets, Spurs, even the 76ers here and there and the Heat will to should LeBron stay and not opt out after next year. But the overwhelming majority of franchises exist as fodder for a few teams.

 

Stern hates Seattle? That's why they won't get a team? Is it the coffee? The fresh seafood?

And, we should be choosing where to locate professional sports franchises based on the physical beauty of the city? Is that it?

 

Grizzlies ownership/management during the Vancouver years was a mess. If they could have captivated a fan base the way Oklahoma City has done, the team might have flourished.

 

Well, in regards to number two, if I am planning a trip somewhere, I am a lot more likely to go to Seattle or Vancouver and maybe my plans include a game. I would never have the urge to hop on a plane and go to Oklahoma City. Memphis maybe, but not OKC.

Stern hates Seattle because he is convinced the arena situation there was so bad. KeyArena was not as bad as people thought it was, yeah it was not an ideal situation because there were not bars and restaurants and lounges and such inside the damn arena, but the area around Key Arena, Lower Queen Anne Hil, is a very vibrant part of the city. Lots of great bars and places to eat that catered to the Sonics crowd. That wasn't good enough, he wanted that neighborhood inside the arena.

 

http://sonicsgate.com/