Sonics Investor Says Seattle Has 60 Days To Keep Team In Town

McClendon Says Seattle Has 60 Days To Make Decision On Sonics

Chesapeake Energy Corp. Chair & CEO and Sonics investor Aubrey McClendon said that the future of the team “is in the hands of the city leadership of Seattle,” according to Jerry Shottenkirk of the Oklahoma JOURNAL RECORD. McClendon said, “They’ve got 60 days to make some decisions they haven’t been willing to make in the past year, and if they make them in a way that satisfies [Sonics Owner Clay Bennett], then the team will stay there. If they don’t meet the requirements he’s laid out, the team will move and Clay has indicated they’ll come to Oklahoma City.” He said that the team “would probably make more money if it stayed in Seattle.” However, McClendon added, “We didn’t buy the team to keep it in Seattle; we hoped to come [to Oklahoma City].” McClendon: “We know it’s a little more difficult financially here in Oklahoma City, but we think it’s great for the community and if we could break even we’d be thrilled” (Oklahoma JOURNAL RECORD, 8/13). In Seattle, Greg Johns notes McClendon “has previously kept a quiet role” in the team’s ownership group (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 8/13).