Clay Bennett Bailed Out By Washington State Politicians

Even though the Oklahoma City Thunder just wrapped up its inaugural season, some old Sonics fans maintained hope in a return of the NBA to Seattle. If Seattle could find a way to get a new gym or refurbish KeyArena, the league has left open the potential for future expansion or relocation back to the city.

But a bill in the state legislature that would have secured a quarter of the costs for KeyArena renovation died last night. Local businessmen (led by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer) had pledged to augment the funds, which would have come from an otherwise expiring hotel/car rental tax, with enough to get Key up to snuff. The other portion of the funds, if the bill had passed, would have come from Seattle's Public Enemy No. 1: Clay Bennett.

Last July's settlement between Bennett and the city featured $45 million for Seattle straight away, along with the promise of $30 million in 2013 if the state legislature passed a funding plan for KeyArena or a new gym by the end of 2009 and if the city had not already procured a replacement NBA team. The bill's death with the end of the session basically put that $30 million back in Bennett's pocket.

Of course, it's unlikely Bennett -- or David Stern -- ever realistically believed that money to be at risk. For the guff we've given Bennett (trust me, there has been plenty), the legislature is really showing its culpability on this issue. Bennett went about things in a completely devious, destructive fashion. But in the end, he has basically been shown to be correct in terms of Washington's lack of will in keeping these Sonics fans happy, and in keeping Seattle an NBA town. It's sad, all around.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

4-28-2009 @ 2:51AM

Steve said...

One fewer places for the Kings to move.

4-28-2009 @ 8:44AM

Bill Johnson said...

You said " Bennett went about things in a completely devious, destructive fashion " .

Where do you get this ? Yeah, that was what the Seattle politicians, media, and fan group was spreading but it was FAR from the truth. It was just them spinning the issue to CYA.

The day Bennett announced the sale of the team, in his very first PC, he told Seattle they had one year from the close of the sale ( which was Oct 31, 2006 ) to have a plan in place for a new arena or he would move the team. He then did exactly what he told them he was going to do.

Its only hacks on these blogs, who really have no clue about what really went on in Seattle, who are raging against Bennett. Its people like you have become nothing but mouthpieces for fan groups in Seattle.

You don't even resemble , in any fashion, true old fashioned ethical journalism. You should be ashamed.

Bennett was vilified in Seattle for political show. As time goes on, he will become vindicated. Its already happening.

Just go ask the Orlando fans if Bennett was wrong to not pay Rashard Lewis a max contract ? In Seattle, Bennett was accused of tearing down the team to destroy fan interest when he did not resign Lewis. Go read the Sunday's Orlando Sentinel, Mike Bianchi, for a good opinion on the Lewis contract.

4-28-2009 @ 8:41AM

tziller said...

With all due respect Bill, give me a freaking break. Bennett replied to emails from an OKC-based minority owner the same week he bought the Sonics to say that he was "a man possessed" to get the team to Oklahoma. Another minority owner admitted -- twice! -- that the group bought the team with the goal of bringing it to OKC. He not only did not engage in good faith efforts to keep the team in Seattle, its home of 40 years, but he actively lied to everyone. Everyone.

4-28-2009 @ 9:01AM

Again , you are wrong. You've not researched this issue, not in the least. Your just flying over mountain tops.

First, when Bennett bought the team. He was in a no lose position. If Seattle built an arena, he could flip the team for a good profit. If not, he brings a team to OKC. Yes, he was looking for a team for OKC, but he was not adverse to keeping the team in Seattle.

Second, it was not his role in Seattle to mobilize the community around a new arena. That was for the civic leaders in Seattle to get done.

He did attempt to present an arena proposal to the Washington legislature, which was an arena that he and the NBA would find acceptable. Yes, it cost 500 million. But thats what arenas run these days. It was very similar in design to the arena being built in Orlando. Just check it out Ziller. It was the same architectural design firm. Orlando voted for a new arena, but not Seattle.

But nobody knows how much Bennett's arena plan would've cost or how much money the team would have provided for an arena, cause it never even had a chance to get out of committee with the Washington state legislature. It was DOA, just go ask Frank Chopp, if you know who Chopp is to ask.

Next, Bennett bought the team in July 2006. Those McClendon emails were written in the following summer. And McClendon never wanted to keep the team in Seattle but he was just one of a large ownership group.

Next, not three months after Bennett purchases this team, there's a vote in the City of Seattle on Prop I-91. And for people like you Ziller, who are totally ignorant of Seattle politics, I-91 is not an Interstate Highway. Basically, it was a vote that no more public funds would be spent on pro sports in Seattle. It passed by a 75% MARGIN. Ziller in elections, 75% goes past landslide, its almost a majority.

Again, Orlando voted for public funds for a NBA team ........ is Seattle to good for that ???

Howard Schultz sold the Sonics to Bennett because he thought that Bennett could bring the hammer. He saw Bennett as a real threat to move the team. No one in Seattle thought Schultz would move the team so all of his efforts to get a profitable arena were rebuffed. The threat of the team moving should've gotten the public mobilized. But reality is, very few care about the NBA in Seattle. Not enough to pay for it.

Schutlz misjudged.

This arena issue had festered there since the year 2000. The previous owner to Schultz got out because he was losing his rear in a bad lease. Schultz naively thought the could change that but he could no longer afford the losses. And there were no other local buyers willing to buy the team with that lease.

Schultz tried to sell the team locally. NO ONE WANTED THE TEAM. It only had value to someone wanting to move the team.

Its all Seattle politics. Thats the culprit. Stern and the NBA owners had a problem franchise and they did what had to be done. The franchise had to move.

And your ignorance of the issue is appalling.

4-28-2009 @ 11:08AM

f5alcon said...

Was it really that hard to figure out that bennett wanted to move the team to OKC after he tried to keep the hornets here, shultz knew that it would happen if they didnt get a new arena and still sold.

4-28-2009 @ 9:25PM

" Was it really that hard to figure out that bennett wanted to move the team "

Heck no.

Not when the man said as much in the PC that announced the sale of the team. I don't know how else it can be interpreted when he says he needs a new arena in one year or he moves the team.

Seattle did not believe him. They still don't.

He did nothing devious. He did what he said he was gonna do.

And really, in what city in America can an outsider come in and get the taxpayers to vote a tax increase !!! DUH !! Like that's ever gonna happen anywhere.

4-28-2009 @ 1:24PM

nate said...

Gee, what's so funny about this is that Washington State politicans don't want to deal with this, because they also have to get something for UW as well on the table. That will have difficulty getting passed.

My feeling is that the NBA knew what it was getting into when it got into the fight, and like most things in Seattle, it's just become another line of issue's to be solved with no real solution on the horizon.

All I do know is that the politicians DID let Bennett off the hook. It was devious by Bennett sure, but, can you blame him?