Oklahoma City Would Be Part Of Relocated Sonics Name

Oklahoma City Would Be Part Of Relocated Sonics Name

The Oklahoma City Council yesterday approved an agreement that will require the Sonics to include Oklahoma City in their team name if the franchise relocates to the city, settling the "question of whether the team will be named for the city or for the state," according to Bryan Dean of the DAILY OKLAHOMAN. Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett: "It's a branding issue. Oklahoma City has traditionally not been protective of its brand. As a result, we find ourselves with identity issues when we try to market ourselves on the east coast or elsewhere." Oklahoma City Councilman Pete White said that the team name "should reflect the contributions by Oklahoma City taxpayers, who have put their sales tax dollars into the Ford Center and downtown." White: "We felt like the vast majority of the work that was done to attract the team here was done by Oklahoma City." However, Dean notes whether the franchise will retain the Sonics nickname is "still a question" (DAILY OKLAHOMAN, 4/30).

SAYING GOODBYE: SI.com's Chris Mannix wrote of the Sonics potentially relocating, "It's sad. I think everyone will agree with that. But it's over. ... The time has come to accept reality. The Sonics are gone. And they are not coming back." Mannix: "Sure there is plenty of mudslinging to be done. Blame [Sonics Owner Clay] Bennett for perhaps not operating completely honest. ... Blame the city or the state, both of which have inexplicably refused to put forth any proposal that includes significant public financing for a new arena. ... You can even blame [NBA Commissioner David] Stern, though I would be careful how harshly you criticize" (SI.com, 4/29).