Sports

NBA approves SuperSonics' move to Oklahoma City

by Rachel Nixon | April 18, 2008 at 12:18 pm

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It looks like the Seattle Sonics may become the latest in a growing line of teams to relocate from their home base.

NBA owners overwhelmingly approved the Sonics' relocation bid to Oklahoma City by a 28-2 vote today by the league's Board of Governors.

"The support for the NBA demonstrated by the fans, government leaders and business community of Oklahoma City over the last three years has been extraordinary," said NBA commissioner David Stern. "The Board of Governors is confident that the level of local support will result in success for the Sonics franchise in Oklahoma."

Mark Cuban of the Dallas Mavericks and Paul Allen of the Portland Trail Blazers were the only votes against the move. Allen was not in New York for the meeting, represented by team president Larry Miller.

Stern said the Sonics are prepared to play two more seasons in Seattle if the team loses in court. The City of Seattle has filed a lawsuit to keep the Sonics at KeyArena through a lease that ends in 2010. A trial is scheduled to begin June 16.

The Sonics ownership group had offered a $26.5 million settlement to the City of Seattle to pay the remaining two years of the KeyArena lease rather than fulfill a "specific performance clause" that requires them to play games inside the building. That offer was rejected.

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Jordan Yerman

at 12:34 on April 18th, 2008

There was a snippet about this on television the other day- one of the Sonics (not sure who; I don't follow the NBA too much) seemed visibly upset about the prospect whilst trying to give a professional interview.

depechemoad

at 12:45 on April 18th, 2008

Seattle loves the Sonics.

depechemoad has contributed a photo to this story.

WordOfMouth

at 12:57 on April 18th, 2008

Kudos to Mark Cuban and Paul Allen for stepping up and doing the right thing by voting against this terrible move. Too bad their voices of reason were ignored. It is hard to accept Seattle losing the Sonics, while some cities -- which shall remain nameless -- have had 2 or 3 pro basketball teams, and never supported any of them well, yet those cities keep their teams.