Sonics Fans Are Hating Life Right Now

If you're a huge Sonics fan, the kind that lives and dies with the team the way we do with the Mariners, you've gotta be asking yourself: "Why is it that the Seahawks and Mariners get taxpayer-funded boondoggles of stadiums, and the Sonics don't get shit?"

"Why is it that an insane Mariners fan like Seattlest Seth can sleep easy, knowing that his team is staying put well into mid-century, while I spend all day staring out the window and crying?"

We will tell you. Because life is unfair.

An email we received today from a longtime friend generated this burst of empathy. The email read:

I know that not everyone agrees that sports are vital to a healthy
community, but if the sonics go away I will be very very sad.

Come to the rally tomorrow before the game tomorrow. I will make it
worth your while.

(Please forward this to anyone you think might be interested.)

Poor guy. We've been against a new stadium for the start, but, screw it, we're going to the rally tonight.

Oh--wait--forget it...we've got tickets to the Mariner game.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@seattlest.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Seth in News on April 18, 2007 8:08 AM

Comments [rss]

Dave

The Sonics aren't making money at Key Arena because their lease agreement is the worst in the league, not because they're not winning. They could win 70 games and they'd still struggle to make ends meet.

And for all the people who think of a new arena as "corporate welfare," I hope you're as vocally opposed the next time the city or the state gives a big corporation tax cuts or other incentives so that their business comes to or stays in Seattle.

After the Sonics go to Oklahoma City and become good again, everyone who bitched about the new arena will be lamenting their departure.

Matthew

@3--that's exactly what they want you to think. There's all of about zero chance for an NHL team. One of the major sticking points of this deal has been the Sonics' stubborn insistence on keeping ALL of the revenues from ALL events, basketball and otherwise, held in a new building. So what NHL team would want to come into that situation? Especially when there are places like Phoenix that are perfectly willing to give NHL teams their own arenas where they can keep all non-hockey revenues? Nobody. No owner other than Bennett's group, at the very least. And have you heard the man mention the possibiility that he would be buying said NHL team, even once? Even hinted? No. It's just more deception to justify this joke. I wish we had NHL too, but it's just not happening. Not this time. Not this building. Not these owners. Keep dreaming. Go Canucks.

Farrell

If the Sonics can’t make money in the Key they should try a new approach. Hmmm Like winning?

We have way to many real problems in this city that are going to burden the tax payer in the next several years.

If the Sonics are such a great money maker than they should not have a problem finding privet investors. Do they need a hand packing?

Martin H. Duke

The Sonics did get their arena, when we remodeled the Key for them. Because ownership bungled that isn't the fault of the taxpayers.

Teams aren't entitled to one new arena per decade!

Jake of 8bitjoystick.com

I was only one year old in 1978. Quite simply the Sonics have sucked for most of my entire life and I am sure that loosing 14 games in a row didn't help their chances of getting a corporate welfare check from the State.

Seth

Good point, K. Although that's not my poor friend's fault, is it?

SM

The Mariners and Seahawks have won something approaching a championship? What is something approaching a championship--is that like what the Sonics did in 1978-79? I don't think so, they gave Seattle its only professional sports championship. Several years of bad owners--not to mention a poorly conceived Key Arena remodel created this result, but I will still mourn the loss of our only true champions.

Roachie

See, I'm not a basketball fan at all, but this new owner seems to be Seattle's best chance at an NHL team. So I really want a new stadium in Renton. Once we have a pro hockey team, the Supersonics can go wherever they like.