Slog - Comments on Sonics Want Out of Key Arena Lease http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease Sonics owner Clay Bennett announced today that he's taking the city to arbitration so the Sonics can get out of their lease at Key Arena. The lease runs until 2010. Bennett has said the Sonics and Storm will play the 2008 season in Seattle, but if he doesn't have a new arena deal in place by October 31, he's going to ask the NBA to allow him to move. The mayor's office says they will have a statement later this afternoon. Update: In the meantime, City Council President Nick Licata released this statement: “We strongly feel that the Sonics should... Copyright 2008 Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:13:55 -0800 Sun, 23 Sep 2007 15:38:01 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by monkey It must really suck not getting your way. Poor millionaires.

squish squish, sweetie. :(

]]> monkey http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809111 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809111 News Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:16:04 -0800 Comment by kinaidos Just pay off the present value of the lease through 2010 and you're out of the lease. That's simple enough. Anything else is a give away. The Sonics had the Arena refitted for them to the exclusion of (e.g.) the NHL. They should be forced to pay every last penny of the lease that agreed to in order to secure those changes.

]]> kinaidos http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809113 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809113 News Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:17:37 -0800 Comment by UNPAID BLOGGER Fine them for terminating the lease early, and kick those bitches out the door.

...Is there really any alternative?

]]> UNPAID BLOGGER http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809116 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809116 News Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:18:37 -0800 Comment by Mr. Poe Good. Move. Leave. LEAVE! LEAVE!

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809119 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809119 News Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:21:26 -0800 Comment by Phelix Let 'em go, provided they pay what they owe.

If I wanted out of my apartment lease, I'd have to pay for breaking that lease. I don't see why the Sonics think they're above that.

]]> Phelix http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809127 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809127 News Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:27:02 -0800 Comment by UNPAID BLOGGER The Sonics are like that spoiled brat who squeals and threatens to run away if mommy and daddy don't get him a new play set...

Only in this case, we actually WANT the brat to run away and be raped by hobos.


Memo to Sonics- New stadiums are for WINNERS. Take your shit-fest elsewhere if you don't like it.

]]> UNPAID BLOGGER http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809140 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809140 News Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:35:33 -0800 Comment by Winning Hi. My name is winning. You might have noticed, I haven't been to any Sonics games lately. If you would like to see them win, pick up a SNES from Pink Godzilla, and purchase a copy of NBA JAM. That's pretty much the only way you're going to see me attend one of their games.

]]> Winning http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809146 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809146 News Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:43:29 -0800 Comment by hahah @6

"Only in this case, we actually WANT the brat to run away and be raped by hobos."

bwahaha nice touch

]]> hahah http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809147 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809147 News Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:43:32 -0800 Comment by and Wasn't it great when one of the new owners told a newspaper that it was never their intention to keep the team in Seattle?


HELLO00000?, GOOD-FUCKING-BYE!!

]]> and http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809148 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809148 News Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:45:24 -0800 Comment by whatever city gets percentage of luxury seats how does that get factored into lease buyout?

]]> whatever http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809171 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809171 News Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:59:53 -0800 Comment by seattle98104 BENNETT JUST GOT SERVED!

"I will do everything in my power to enforce the contract keeping the Sonics and Storm where they belong —in Seattle and in KeyArena"

]]> seattle98104 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809184 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809184 News Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:07:40 -0800 Comment by Mr. Poe FUUUUUUUUUUCK!

SUCK IT, BENNETT!

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809195 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809195 News Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:13:18 -0800 Comment by magdaddy Anybody notice an ad for a contest to win Sonics luxury seats just above the Seattle Times article? I bet they'd be worth, um, pennies...

]]> magdaddy http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809206 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809206 News Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:19:32 -0800 Comment by maxsolomon until 10/31 to get an Arena deal done?

how transparent can you be?

the NBA ought to make the relocation fees ridiculous. say, $100 million. that plus the lease settlement might slap some sense into that jugheaded okie.

he still needs an arena deal in his POS cowtown.

]]> maxsolomon http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809214 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809214 News Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:23:34 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle Maybe the Sonics should whine some more in the back east beer?

What a bunch of whiners!

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809215 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809215 News Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:23:47 -0800 Comment by crazycatguy Who needs Bennet and his homophobic buddies. Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

]]> crazycatguy http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809240 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809240 News Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:36:37 -0800 Comment by xiu xiu @ 14

I'm pretty sure they already built him one. Still, I doubt the NBA will let the Sonics leave one of the top media markets in the country for... Oklahoma.

]]> xiu xiu http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809258 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809258 News Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:55:08 -0800 Comment by infrequent are we really losing 3 mil a year? would letting them go cause us to lose more or less per year? stay or go, we should do whichever costs less.

]]> infrequent http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809259 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809259 News Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:55:11 -0800 Comment by Clay Clay "Its time to ENGAGE!"

]]> Clay Clay http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809306 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809306 News Fri, 21 Sep 2007 16:48:22 -0800 Comment by Kevin Durant FUCK Clay Bennet in the ass with a rusty nailed two by four! Dumb hick motherfuckers should not be allowed to come into our town and steal our teams...Regardless of what people think the Sonics should stay, and they should stay downtown, fuck Auburn...

]]> Kevin Durant http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809308 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809308 News Fri, 21 Sep 2007 16:50:10 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle As they say in baseball:

"You're OUTTA HERE!"

Buh bye!

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809333 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809333 News Fri, 21 Sep 2007 17:04:52 -0800 Comment by Clint Berquist Let's not forget who got us into this mess in the first place and deserves 100% of the blame... Howard Schultz..

]]> Clint Berquist http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809356 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809356 News Fri, 21 Sep 2007 17:41:34 -0800 Comment by neo-realist @22

Howie Starbuck couldn't help it if none of the local richie riches wouldn't step forward to buy the team off of him. And even if there were some hometown deep pockets who were interested in buying the team, they would also demand an arena deal requiring considerable taxpayer subsidies.

]]> neo-realist http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809363 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809363 News Fri, 21 Sep 2007 18:04:44 -0800 Comment by wf this might be one of those few moments in which it's nice to have a power-obsessed mayor who doesn't like working with others.

]]> wf http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809379 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809379 News Fri, 21 Sep 2007 18:59:25 -0800 Comment by catalina vel-duray I know you all think I'm some sort of ninny who should be fanning herself in the pantry while you menfolk talk, but I'll say it again, anyway:

I don't care about the Sonics, but I care about the coliseum. That is a cool building. It's as cool as the Orpheum Theatre, or the old Carnegie library, or the Music Hall theatre, or the Frederick & Nelson tearoom, or the IBEW headquarters, or The Outrigger, or a thousand other places that were amazingly cool and should have been saved.

Let the basketball players go, but make them pay. And save our Coliseum.

OK. That's all for now. Someone bring me a glass of ice-cold buttermilk, won't you?

]]> catalina vel-duray http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809396 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809396 News Fri, 21 Sep 2007 20:39:37 -0800 Comment by kk @2 @3 @4 @5 @10 @18 Two words: "specific performance." You all and Clay Bennett should google it. (Means you can't get out of the contract just by paying money--you actually have to make the team play in Key Arena as the contract specifies.) The money for the lease ain't the point. It's the folks that come to Seattle Center for the games (and then spend their money at Uptown restaurants and on other shit). That's why the City spent $75 million fixing up the Coliseum!

]]> kk http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809410 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809410 News Fri, 21 Sep 2007 21:28:21 -0800 Comment by MarkyMark Hmm, isn't $3mil almost enough to cover the complete rebuild that the Monorail needs so badly?

]]> MarkyMark http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809691 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/sonics_want_out_of_key_arena_lease#c809691 News Sun, 23 Sep 2007 15:38:01 -0800