Seattle Files Motion Claiming Sonics Limited Media Exposure
 |
City Of Seattle Claims Sonics
Owners Hurt Player Exposure |
A motion filed yesterday by the city of Seattle in its lawsuit against the Sonics claimed that by "limiting exposure of its players and denying media access through radio interviews, the Sonics have intentionally tried to minimize public interest in their team in Seattle over the past year," according to Greg Johns of the SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER. The motion was filed in an attempt to allow testimony from KJR-AM's Mitch Levy, and one of Seattle's arguments apparently will be that the Sonics ownership group "helped create its own financial hardship in Seattle by choosing not to avail itself of the free marketing possibilities provided by an all-sports media outlet like KJR." The motion talks about how Sonics F Kevin Durant "was described by many, including Sonics [President & CEO] Danny Barth in a deposition with city lawyers, as a 'potentially transcendent player and potential superstar.'" It also claims that the Sonics made "'only minimal efforts' to market Durant in Seattle, allowing him to appear only once on KJR and 'failing to attempt to create a bond between [Durant] and the Seattle community.'" The motion said that Levy "could be asked to compare that marketing with how the Mariners promoted Ken Griffey Jr." when he was a rookie in Seattle, "as well as showing how the NBA franchise eventually curtailed all live interviews with players and coaches on KJR during the recently completed season." The Sonics yesterday also filed motions asking U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman to "allow a survey showing the Sonics rank third in popularity behind the Seahawks and Mariners among Seattle sports fans; as well as evidence regarding [ownership's] efforts to find a new arena in the region" (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 6/4). Pechman is "scheduled to make a decision on the motions on Friday" (SEATTLETIMES.com, 6/3).
|
Related Stories By Company
|
Related Stories By Sport
|
Oklahoma City Eyes Boost From Thunder
October 29, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Seattle's NBA Coverage On The Decline
October 29, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Thunder Ink Cornerstone Sponsors
October 28, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Seattle, Key Rework Arena Naming Deal
October 7, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Settlement From Sonics Trial To Pay Off Debt
September 23, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
T-Mobile Debuts Latest Barkley/Wade Ad
November 21, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
T'Wolves Struggling In Post-Garnett Era
November 21, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Bobcats Want To See More Of Jordan
November 21, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Ad Sales Down For Sports Properties
November 19, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
SEC Suit Could Affect Cuban's Sports Deals
November 18, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
|
