Why did okc leave Seattle?

After failing to persuade local governments to pay for a new $500 million arena complex, Bennett's group notified the NBA that it intended to move the team to Oklahoma City and requested arbitration with the city of Seattle to be released from its lease with KeyArena.

Where did the Seattle Sonics go?

In 2008, the NBA team Seattle SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma as Oklahoma City Thunder from Seattle, Washington. The Seattle SuperSonics NBA team played in the league from 1967, till they were rebranded as Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008.

Why did the SuperSonics change their name?

When the Seattle Supersonics were moved to Oklahoma City following the 2007-08 season, fans voted on the team's new name from a set list of possibilities. The name Thunder was chosen over others like the Bison, Wind, Energy, Marshalls and Barons (per Mentalfloss.com's Scott Allen).

Why doesn't Seattle have a basketball team?

Seattle. The NBA didn't want to leave Seattle for Oklahoma City in 2008, but they had no choice, according to Adam Silver, David Stern, and dozens of other officials within the NBA and SuperSonics' organization. The most commonly cited reason for the Sonics' departure: Key Arena wasn't suitable for an NBA team.

Will Seattle get another NBA team?

The NBA is expected to announce two new expansion teams, in Seattle and Las Vegas, after their media rights deal expires in 2024. It is no surprise that Seattle is poised to make a comeback in the NBA world. For years, they were the home of the SuperSonics before the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008.

How The Seattle Supersonics REALLY Lost Their NBA Team

Will Las Vegas get a NBA team?

There is currently no NBA team in Las Vegas so either a team would need to be relocated there or there'd have to be an expansion. On June 2, NBA commissioner Adam Silver told reporters there's currently no plans to expand.

Is the NBA expanding to Vegas and Seattle?

During an appearance on 93.3 KJR, longtime columnist John Canzano reported that Seattle and Las Vegas have “already been earmarked” for expansion by the NBA. According to Canzano, the expansion is set to happen after the league's current media rights deal expires in 2024.

Will NBA ever go back to Seattle?

It's been widely speculated that any NBA expansion would involve Las Vegas and Seattle as a pairing. Construction on the 850,000-square-foot Las Vegas arena and additional amphitheater is scheduled to break ground next year and finish in 2026 — meaning any expansion to Seattle could potentially be years away.

Could Tampa get an NBA team?

On February 25, 2018, Dave Magley stated that Tampa, Florida, was approved as a basketball franchise for the upcoming 2019 season. On July 8, 2018, the team was announced as the Tampa Bay Titans. Bassel Harfouch, the team's owner, became the first ever player-owner in a professional league.

Will Baltimore get an NBA team?

A new study from the American City Business Journals found the Ravens and Orioles don't leave any room for new teams to come into the market. Professional basketball, hockey and soccer fans, despair.

Why Seattle needs an NBA team?

Seattle-Tacoma has the 12th largest media market in the country and is much larger than Oklahoma City themselves are ranked the 44th largest market. All 11 media markets ahead of Seattle-Tacoma have an NBA team so it makes sense for a Seattle Supersonics expansion franchise.

Why are Cleveland called Cavaliers?

A name-the-team contest was held to give Cleveland's new basketball franchise a name in 1970. As always there were the also-rans: Foresters, Jays, Towers and Presidents. Cavaliers was the victor, and has been the team's name from day one.

Why did the Grizzlies leave Vancouver?

Change of ownership

He stated that he was committed to retaining the team in Vancouver. Griffiths was forced to sell the Canucks and Grizzlies following the cost overruns that occurred on GM Place, and the expansion fees to start the Grizzlies had made his company illiquid.

What NBA team does Seattle root for?

team for the first time since the Johnson administration. In their wake, Seattleites appear to have continued their friendly rivalry with the Portland Trail Blazers by ignoring them, at least in the Seattle area, preferring instead the country's two most popular teams, the Lakers and the Heat.

Why did Howard Schultz sell the Sonics?

Five years later, Schultz — exasperated by his inability to secure public funding for a new arena for the Sonics, and turned off by NBA players whom he considered overpaid and disengaged — sold the team, for an attractive profit, to a group led by Oklahoma City businessman Clay Bennett.

Did Kansas City have an NBA team?

The Kings left for Sacramento, California in 1985 and Kansas City has been without an NBA franchise since then. The city has had several teams in the semi-pro, 21st-century version of the American Basketball Association, including the Kansas City Knights, who won the ABA crown in 2002.

Will Vancouver get another NBA team?

Its unlikely the league puts another team in the PNW after Seattle gets a team, as the PNW market will be oversaturated, which effectively rules out Vancouver getting a team.

Will Pittsburgh get an NBA team?

The short answer: unlikely. There is not enough interest in basketball to be able to have a team. Sure, there are some rec leagues in Pittsburgh, but most basketball towns have people playing pickup day in and day out. Plus, there are many cities in line before Pittsburgh.

Why did Sonic leave Seattle?

After failing to find public funding to construct a new arena in the Seattle area, the SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City before the 2008–09 season, following a $45 million settlement with the city of Seattle to pay off their existing lease at the KeyArena at Seattle Center in advance of its 2010 expiration.

Will the Pelicans move to Seattle?

The Pelicans are fine and will continue to be fine in New Orleans. They aren't going anywhere. Replying to a tweet about the Pelicans heading to Seattle, a team that has been dying for another NBA team for decades, Smith said it isn't happening. “The Pelicans are fine and will continue to be fine in New Orleans.

What NBA teams might move?

Will the NBA get new teams?

NBA commissioner Adam Silver confirmed the league will consider expanding to 32 teams, which will help owners make-up for Covid-19 losses. The NBA will seek a combined $3 to $4 billion to add two new clubs, one of which is likely to land in Seattle.

Will the NBA expand in 2022?

However, NBA commissioner Adam Silver denied that discussions are currently happening for an expansion, for now. The commissioner spoke with reporters ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Celtics and the Warriors on Thursday, and said there are currently no discussions of expanding the league.

When did the NBA get 30 teams?

Modern expansion: 1988 to 2004

The league expanded to 30 with the present Charlotte Hornets in 2004, initially as the Charlotte Bobcats.