Bank Might Pull Title Sponsorship Of KeyArena Without Sonics
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KeyBank Might Pull Sponsorship From
KeyArena Following Sonics' Departure |
KeyArena title sponsor KeyBank "might pull its name -- and sponsorship money -- from the building, because its contract with the city hinges on the Sonics playing there," according to Stuart Eskenazi of the SEATTLE TIMES. KeyBank Seattle-Cascades District President Rick Wirthlin: "In the coming weeks, we will be analyzing the settlement to determine how it will affect our agreements with the city and the Sonics." Meanwhile, Seattle Center officials "already are trying to fill some of 100 KeyArena dates that had been reserved” for the '08-09 Sonics season. Seattle Center Dir Robert Nellams: "We will be very aggressive in letting people know those dates are now available." Eskenazi noted in addition to the Sonics, the WHL Seattle Thunderbirds in January '09 are moving to the new Kent Events Center approximately 30 minutes outside Seattle. KeyArena "had been booked between 130 and 160 days a year," but with the two teams leaving, Nellams said that city officials "believe the number will drop to between 80 and 100." However, Nellams added that the number of dates "is still enough to keep KeyArena profitable." Eskenazi noted the city of Seattle also is negotiating with the WNBA Storm "to extend its KeyArena lease, and is in talks with Seattle University to play around 11 basketball games a year there" (SEATTLE TIMES, 7/4).
KEYARENA RENOVATIONS NEEDED FOR NEW TEAM: Seattle developer Matt Griffin said that the Seattle Center Investors (SCI), a potential ownership group led by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer of which Griffin is a member, remain "interested in buying another NBA team to eventually wear the Sonics' green and gold ... but won't even begin scanning the waters until a firm financing plan is in place for a KeyArena makeover." In Seattle, Greg Johns reported Seattle leaders are "still hoping to leverage a KeyArena solution out of the Legislature," and if a financing plan "can be committed during next year's session, Ballmer's group ... remains willing to foot half the projected $300[M] renovation costs." But Seattle Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis said of the timeframe for a new NBA team in Seattle, "Realistically, we're looking at a couple of years at the earliest." Seattle Councilmember Nick Licata, "viewed as an obstructionist to previous KeyArena proposals, sounds willing to work toward a solution." Licata said, "The best thing right now is the NBA is willing to help Seattle get a team. That wouldn't have happened if we'd gone the straight court route [and not settled with Sonics ownership]." Johns noted it is possible a “long-term solution might not even include KeyArena" (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 7/4).
PRACTICE FACILITY IN OKC: The AP's Murray Evans reported a taxpayer-funded practice facility in Oklahoma City is "planned but won't be ready for at least 18 months, meaning the Sonics have to find somewhere to practice until then." No one connected with the team is "saying much, only that locating a suitable temporary facility will be the responsibility" of Sonics GM Sam Presti. Sonics Owner Clay Bennett's spokesperson Dan Mahoney "declined to comment on potential sites for the Sonics' temporary practice facility or on whether the team is considering using a college, high school or private gym" (AP, 7/4). Southern Nazarene Univ. and Oklahoma City Univ. officials said that they are "open to talk about the use of their campuses as temporary practice facility locations." But in Oklahoma City, Zach West reported neither school as of Thursday afternoon "had been contacted" by the Sonics about the possibility (DAILY OKLAHOMAN, 7/4).
NO STORM BREWING: In Seattle, Jayda Evans reported the Sonics' relocation "will not affect the Storm." Force 10 Chair Anne Levinson, whose company owns the Storm, "spoke with Storm players at a shoot-around on Thursday." Force 10 has contracted the KeyArena game-operations crew for the season, and the team will "continue to use downtown office space formerly shared with the Sonics." The team will "use the same training facility until the end of this season," and then Force 10 will "have to find a practice facility and office for the team" (SEATTLE TIMES, 7/4).
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