Sonics Never Made Renton Land Deal; Doubts Surround Future

Sonics’ Long-Term Future In Seattle Further Called Into Question

Doubts about the Sonics’ long-term future in the Seattle area “intensified Wednesday, when it was disclosed ... that the team never executed an agreement to purchase land for a new arena in Renton,” according to Craig Harris of the SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER. When the Sonics “needed momentum two weeks ago to urge lawmakers to push through a funding package for an arena, the team announced it had reached a deal in principle to acquire the land.” However, state lawmakers decided not to even vote on the funding. Jim Kneeland, a local PR liaison for the Sonics’ ownership group, said that if the team “could get an arena plan back on track, ‘We would be after that land again’” (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 4/26).

RELOCATION: ESPN.com’s Chris Sheridan reported “signals have been sent to Bennett and a handful of other owners that the deal they could get in K.C. would be far superior from an economic standpoint to whatever deal any of them might make elsewhere.” Sheridan wrote if Bennett “wanted to move this summer to Oklahoma City, I think he’d get the support of the other owners. ... But if Bennett wanted to move to [K.C.] this summer, he’d have a much more difficult time getting the approval of the other owners. ... My sense on all this is that the Sonics will remain in Seattle for one more year, and Bennett will start playing prospective relocation cities against one another (San Jose, St. Louis and Las Vegas could all enter the mix) to get the best deal” (ESPN.com, 4/25).

ROOKIE MISTAKE: In Seattle, Jerry Brewer writes, “Instead of having a news conference to explain the forced departures of coach Bob Hill and [GM] Rick Sund, [Sonics Owner Clay] Bennett sent out a release Tuesday. ... It was the preference of a low-key man, but consider this a rookie mistake. This gripe is not about failing to inform the media. It’s about failing to inform the public. And it’s about failing to capitalize on a chance for some goodwill. None of the Sonics’ on-court problems during this past 31-51 season were his doing. Some public comments could have further distanced Bennett from this mess and painted him as the leader of a rescue unit” (SEATTLE TIMES, 4/26).