Bennett to Mayor: Stick Key Arena in Your BEEEEEEEP
Mayor Greg Nickels told reporters yesterday he thought Key Arena was a great place for basketball, and if the Sonics would just pony up $100 million, the city would be willing to renovate it to match the team's needs.
Sonics owner Clay Bennett's response was swift and unequivocal.
We have been clear since July 18, 2006, the day the sale of the Sonics and Storm was announced, that KeyArena is not an option as a future home for the teams.Bennett had asked Nickels for a meeting to discuss the Sonics' future in Seattle, but now he doesn't think it's worth it.
In issuing our call to action last month, we were hopeful the Mayor would use his regional leadership platform to rally support for a solution. Instead he focused on old unworkable concepts that are not acceptable.Yeeowtch. Bennett not only calls Key Arena an "old unworkable concept," he even spells itIt is clear that if all we have to discuss is the renovation of KeyArena, then a meeting with the Mayor will not be productive or necessary.
As you can tell from the photo above, Bennett is a shrewd negotiator. That look on his face says, "You think I paid full price for this suit? Nosirreebob."
So, basically, the city and its professional basketball team are now at war.
We'd like to take this opportunity to once again remind everyone that--as much fun as we have at the expense of Clay Bennett, we don't blame the guy one bit. This whole mess is Howard Schultz' fault.
