Clay Bennett speaks
Sonics chairman Clay Bennett spoke to students and faculty at Oklahoma City University this morning about the Sonics and the business of sports and the NBA. It was his first time speaking publicly about the team in Oklahoma since he filed to relocate here in November.
You can read my story in Friday’s editions of The Oklahoman or on NewsOK.com. A couple of the highlights….
* He gave his stamp of approval on the proposed $120 million arena improvements that Oklahoma City voters will decide whether to approve on March 4.
“We think that it is exactly what we need for the foreseeable future,” Bennett said. “We believe this is the appropriate thing to do. We support it. We think that it will be a great building for a long time.”
* Bennett answered opposition by some citizens and city council members to the $20 million practice facility by saying the public benefits more from the building than the team owners even though it would be NBA specific.
Some examples he used to illustrate his point were the team’s presence creating more than 150 jobs and the team’s players, coaches and team executives boosting the local economy through spending. He also noted the team’s presence would give Oklahomans civic pride and make the state more attractive to other prospective corporations looking to relocate.
* Bennett also rejected the notion that moving from Seattle (the 14th largest market) to OKC (the 45th largest market) being a mistake.
He noted 1) Oklahoma City’s growing economy, 2) the absence of any other major league franchises, 3) the pre-existing connection between the team’s ownership group and the city’s governmental leaders, 4) the willingness of OKC’s government leaders to provide a modern arena with a suitable lease and 5) what he expects to be a rabid fan base in OKC.
-DM-
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Comments
wow, this cracks me up….seattle “would not miss the sonics” financially, but it would create an immediate impact somewhere else….
hoepfully the okc residents aren’t so deluded by this Henry Hill that they’re actually starting to believe this jerkoff.
I’m in, bring us the Sonics!!!!!! As for the Hornets they will be finding a better place to play soon enough.
Welcome to the world of professional sports OKC. Buckle your seat belts and get those wallets out. Dig deep and give to people that have more money than you will ever see.
Love,
Seattle
“Bennett answered opposition …. to the $20 million practice facility by saying the public benefits more from the building than the team owners even though it would be NBA specific.” What a load of male bovine excrement! The public gets ZERO benefit from an EXCLUSIVE NBA use practice facility. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.
i truly believe this will not happen. the NBA is in dire staits!! moving from a large beautiful, to a tiny disgusting city makes no sense? it wont get support in okc. seattle has been one of the best NBA citys for over forty years. seattle will figure it out. we will tie up bennet in the courts. he will be forced to sell to a seattle buyer. we then will get a reasonable stadium deal through.
the judge in seattle is starting to look at bennett a lil closer. she recently told reporters her concerns over bennett accepting a $120 million makeover of the bare-bones ford center, but, not a $350 million dollar makeover of an arena that already hosts an nba team, and, is surrounded by the infrastructure (resteraunts, nightlife, retail outlets), needed to sustain a successful nba franchise. looking more and more like clay has a day in court in june that he might like to reschedule!HA! we up here in seattle have made a good faith effort towards the team, even as they suck (13,000+ per game), and, have been stripped down by the ownership. the courts are going to find mr. bennett did not. he is going to be another ken berhing. DO NOT MESS WITH SEATTLE! yes, i said seattle not texas. also, ok city is not a stop on our softball tour any longer, this will strip your hotels and resturaunts of about $3000 every summer, and, this is just from 1 business owner like myself. thank mr. bennett and co.
love,
a 30-year seattle fan
all of you okc DRONES, need to go espn.com. and read bill simmons page 2. you might learn something. oops, thats an oxy-moron. saying an oklahoman can learn!!
IT IS THE ONLY REASON HE IS IN THE GAME. HE MARRIED MONEY, JUST DONT WANT TO SPEND IT ALL. WHY, WHEN HE CAN GET TAXPAYER’S TO FOOT THE BILL. THERE ARE VERY FEW PUBLIC-FUNDED STADIUMS ANYMORE. WAKE-UP OKIE’S, BEFORE YOUR INTO MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THE AVERAGE OKIE WILL NOT EVEN SEE!!
It’s great that Mr. Bennett has brought the NBA to OKC, I hope they have considered some cool names and colors. The Pioneers would be cool. Since they had to over come addveritsy to settle here, dito the NBA team. And please no Orange…
I guess since you weren’t successful in looting our team you have to go steal a well-supported historic NBA franchise from a great city like Seattle.
I’m sure the NBA players will be thrilled that instead of playing in a world class city with an incredible mix of cultures, restaurants, and nightlife, they will now be living with rednecks, indians, and Outback steakhouses.
Nicely done, OKC.
(I haven’t stolen, or attempted to steal, anyone’s franchise. But I do love the steaks at Outback. -DM-)