NBA Commissioner David Stern has issued the following statement:

“We are pleased that the Sonics and the City of Seattle have settled their litigation. While the decision has been made to relocate the Sonics to Oklahoma City, the NBA continues to regard Seattle as a first-class NBA city that is capable of serving as home for another NBA team.

In order for this to occur, a state-of-the-art NBA arena must be funded and constructed in the Seattle area, a subject that has been extensively debated -- but not ultimately acted upon -- by local political and business leaders over the past four years. We are pleased that the City remains committed to addressing this fundamental requirement for the return of NBA basketball to Seattle and we hope that other elected officials critical to a solution will support the City’s efforts.

We understand that City, County, and State officials are currently discussing a plan to substantially re-build KeyArena for the sum of $300 million. If this funding were authorized, we believe KeyArena could properly be renovated into a facility that meets NBA standards relating to revenue generation, fan amenities, team facilities, and the like.

Assuming the funding can be committed, the league is willing to work with the City on the design and construction of the re-build to facilitate this result. Under these circumstances, if an opportunity arose in the future for an NBA team to be located in Seattle, we would support that team playing its home games in a re-built KeyArena, if it wished.

However, given the lead times associated with any franchise acquisition or relocation and with a construction project as complex as a KeyArena renovation, authorization of the public funding needs to occur by the end of 2009 in order for there to be any chance for the NBA to return to Seattle within the next five years.

We are pleased that Steve Ballmer has expressed the continuing willingness of his group, Seattle Center Investors, managed by Seattle developer Matt Griffin, to be a part of the solution for returning NBA basketball to Seattle. The NBA will keep SCI and the City informed if opportunities arise in the next five years for franchise sale, relocation and/or expansion. Under the circumstances outlined above, the NBA would be happy to return to the City of Seattle.”

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I spoke with an Oklahoma City native last night and appearently they're all just tickled shitless.

Thanx Dee

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Again and Again and again and AGAIN and aGAIN and again and AgAiN and aGaIn....having fun, killer is me

Another one bites the dust....

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stares at me,yeah i'm afraid....

yup.

[crickets churping]

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Again and Again and again and AGAIN and aGAIN and again and AgAiN and aGaIn....having fun, killer is me

yeah, that's really sad. sorry! i hate seeing any team move cause i know how upset i would be if my team moved.

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Punky Lunky had sex with Hacksaw Jim Duggan.

Sludge:

yeah, that's really sad. sorry! i hate seeing any team move cause i know how upset i would be if my team moved.

which team is yours?

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Again and Again and again and AGAIN and aGAIN and again and AgAiN and aGaIn....having fun, killer is me

i don't have a nba team, but i'm a real gig cincy reds fan (see avatar) and bengals fan.

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Punky Lunky had sex with Hacksaw Jim Duggan.

I did a drawing of Boomer for my kid on his tenth birthday/thats cool/ hehehe I couldn't tell you were a Reds fan hehehehe/ I like St Louis cards though/thats my team in baseball and KC chiefs in football

 

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Again and Again and again and AGAIN and aGAIN and again and AgAiN and aGaIn....having fun, killer is me

boomer was the man! yeah my reds suck once again this year. now i'm ready for the bengals to dissapoint me like they do every year. can't wait!

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Punky Lunky had sex with Hacksaw Jim Duggan.

heheheh I know exactly how you feel/the Royals always blow and the Chiefs always tossit away at the last minute hehehe but we gotta remember what comes around goes around, right? ...Oh who am I kidding the Royals will always blow

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Again and Again and again and AGAIN and aGAIN and again and AgAiN and aGaIn....having fun, killer is me

poor royals fans! hey hey i'm feeling your pain lately. the reds used to always be competing for the playoffs now thier bottom feeding w/ the pirates.

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Punky Lunky had sex with Hacksaw Jim Duggan.

I have been a Supersonics fan since the early nineties. I lived in Seattle for two years, and attended a lot of games. I live in Oklahoma, so this should be good for me. You know what, it's not!!! The Sonics are NOT coming to Oklahoma, an NBA team is coming to Oklahoma, there is a big difference!!! The colors, logo, and name remain in Seattle. That is where they should be. I will be a fan of the new team because they will represent my state, but the Sonics are Seattle's team, and it should stay that way. I hope they get another team soon. Also, why did they not re-do Key Arena to keep the Sonics there?? That is what I do not understand. I have family that live north of Seattle in Snoqualmie county, they said the people in King county did not want to pay more taxes (they are sky high as it is). So why now, when they lose their team, are they finally willing to do this??? Why did they not do it before???

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This whole thing stinks.  Sports have me so pissed off right now (see Brett Favre release demand) aghhhh!!!

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"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity, and in the end we are what we pretend to be" -Jerry Cantrell-

artificialred:

I have been a Supersonics fan since the early nineties. I lived in Seattle for two years, and attended a lot of games. I live in Oklahoma, so this should be good for me. You know what, it's not!!! The Sonics are NOT coming to Oklahoma, an NBA team is coming to Oklahoma, there is a big difference!!! The colors, logo, and name remain in Seattle. That is where they should be. I will be a fan of the new team because they will represent my state, but the Sonics are Seattle's team, and it should stay that way. I hope they get another team soon. Also, why did they not re-do Key Arena to keep the Sonics there?? That is what I do not understand. I have family that live north of Seattle in Snoqualmie county, they said the people in King county did not want to pay more taxes (they are sky high as it is). So why now, when they lose their team, are they finally willing to do this??? Why did they not do it before???

Sometimes it takes desparate measures to get ppl off their ass/thanx for your input/

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Again and Again and again and AGAIN and aGAIN and again and AgAiN and aGaIn....having fun, killer is me

The rival has disappeared... for that I am truly sad...

The trips to see my Blazers head to head against the Sonics will be sorely missed...

It never really mattered how bad/good either team was, because it was an intense fight to the end for the majority of the games. Whether at the game, or watching it on TV, these two teams had some of the most intense battles I have ever witnessed.

I hope the Seattle people miss their team, because as Sludge said... I would be devastated if the Blazers left Portland (although I would do everything in my power to keep them here).

 

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Remember: Today is the first day of the rest
of what you're optimistically calling a life.

A.K.A. "Nimble"

well i think the city of seattle could have done something to keep them there but i still feel bad for those true sonic fans. hopefully they'll get another team there someday.

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Punky Lunky had sex with Hacksaw Jim Duggan.