Sonics owner tells NBA he wants to move team to Oklahoma City

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by Kevin

According to Stern, the arena didn't meet NBA criteria. I don't really have anything bad to say about the Key. I'm sure it's a fine facility. I don't have anything more to go on. OKC's Ford Center was built in '95 as an "NBA-ready" facility. It's getting $150 million worth of improvements to bring it up to par for the new team. Comparing two arenas, I'm sure, is apples to oranges.

I was struck by one of Bennett's comments last night at his press conference when he mentioned that the Ford Center was limited in that it doesn't have enough seats (19,675).

A new arena is probably in the works. OKC has had a series of public works programs geared at improving the city. Somoe of the tentative drawings I've seen on OKC's next big round of public works programs include a new, larger arena.

The Sonics have played at the same location for 40 years - I assure you there's nothing wrong with Key Arena...it's perfectly regulation, or the NBA wouldn't allow games to be played there. What Bennett and other owners don't like is that it's not HUGE. I think it seats around 17,000. It's not a place designed for fine dining before a game, so it doesn't have real restaurants like you'd see at some sports arenas or airports. But it's modern enough that it has tons of concessions areas and plenty of women's bathrooms...that should be a testament to how recently it was renovated, because as women know, older arenas have few women's facilities! Anyway, we're still paying for the renovations to Key Arena, which now I guess will be used just for concerts and high school basketball tournaments.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

The Sonics have played at the same location for 40 years - I assure you there's nothing wrong with Key Arena...it's perfectly regulation, or the NBA wouldn't allow games to be played there. What Bennett and other owners don't like is that it's not HUGE. I think it seats around 17,000. It's not a place designed for fine dining before a game, so it doesn't have real restaurants like you'd see at some sports arenas or airports. But it's modern enough that it has tons of concessions areas and plenty of women's bathrooms...that should be a testament to how recently it was renovated, because as women know, older arenas have few women's facilities! Anyway, we're still paying for the renovations to Key Arena, which now I guess will be used just for concerts and high school basketball tournaments.

I did actually look into the renovations Seattle did. Calling the Key "old" is definitely a misnomer. There are maybe only a couple of structural elements which are old. The rest was complete gutted.

Best of luck in getting a new team. I hope our new team in OKC works out.

[Buttonz]

It's all about the money. And I bet you when he called the Key "old" one of the things he was referring to is people aren't going to come just to see the Key, vs. how people will come to see a new arena/stadium even if the team is playing like shit. Even bad teams to amazing in attendance the first year of a new place.