http://www.kansascity.com/385/story/117995.htmlKansas City wants in on the Seattle Super Sonics.
Tim Leiweke, president of Anschutz Entertainment Group, which will manage the new downtown Sprint Center, said he was encouraged by comments made by Super Sonics chairman Clay Bennett in Monday’s editions of The Kansas City Star that he plans to consider the Kansas City market if his club moves from Seattle.
Bennett, who is an Oklahoma City businessman, has been frustrated at Seattle’s inability to come up with a plan for a new arena to replace outdated Key Arena, the second-smallest facility in the NBA. The Sonics’ lease does not expire until 2010, but the franchise could opt out for $75 million after the 2007-08 season. Bennett established an Oct. 31 deadline for another arena plan or he will move the team, and he has NBA Commissioner David Stern’s blessing to do. Oklahoma City enthusiastically supported the New Orleans Hornets during the past two seasons, but its Ford Center, a $90 million facility, will not produce the revenue streams the $276 million Sprint Center will provide.
The Sonics have some exciting players in Ray Allen (who is coming off ankle surgery that slowed him this season), Rashard Lewis (an unrestricted free agent whom they plan to re sign), Chris Wilcox (whom they recently re signed) and Luke Ridnour (whom they recently re signed). They're keeping that group together. Plus they've got Nick Collison to bring in the ku crowd and they're projected to get a Top 5 draft pick after tonight's lottery which could bring them another Gayhawk in Julian Wright if they don't manage to have Greg Oden or Kevin Durant fall into their lap.
