It was four years ago on July 2, 2008 that Sonic fans lost their NBA team to Oklahoma City. Then this past season, we had to watch the Oklahoma Thunder make it to the NBA Finals. It was hard to hear sportscasters commenting on what would be the Thunder's second NBA Championship, if they won. No, it would not have been their second title it would have been their first. The other one belongs to the Seattle Supersonics and the Seattle fans. They can take our team but they can't take our history.
In the last year there is progress on getting a new arena built in Seattle that would house both an NBA and NHL team. Chris Hansen and his investment group would like to build the new arena in the SoDo area South of Safeco field. The proposal must be approved by the Seattle City Council and the King County Council before moving forward. The Chris Hansen proposal is a good solid proposal that Sonic fans should be excited about. In recent weeks, he has identified Peter and Erik Nordstrom and Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer as investors in the arena project. These are three credible investors with strong ties to the Seattle area.
Once the proposal is approved by both councils, the next step will be finding a NBA team to move to Seattle. It is unlikely the NBA will expand their league with so many NBA teams in financial trouble. Getting an NHL team could happen one of two ways, a team moving or by the NHL expanding their league.
I wanted to also give an update on former Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, who I feel sold out the Sonics to Oklahoma City for money instead of waiting for the judges ruling. Nickels will be back on the ballot this year, this time running for Washington Secretary of State. As a Sonic fan I can never give my vote to Nickels. It was to easy for him to sell-out the Sonics fans, what would it take for him to sell out the State of Washington?
This is the first time in four years I see steps being taken to get an NBA team back in Seattle. It will still be years until a team will be in Seattle, unless the NBA allows a team to be moved here and use Key Arena while the new arena is being built.
If you would like to find out more about the arena proposal or help support the arena you can find more information on their website: http://www.sonicsarena.com/
I'm with you and the rest of the Sonics Nation: Bring 'Em Back. Here's the piece I wrote on whether this is a basketball region: http://patch.com/B-XYV
Although I don't attend many games, I still would like to see an NBA team in Seattle. It's good for business, it's good for morale, it's good for . . . well, prestige.