New SuperSonics owners insist they want team in Seattle

OKLAHOMA CITY – Members of an Oklahoma City business group that purchased the SuperSonics said Thursday they are disappointed many people have scoffed at the notion that their goal is to keep the team in Seattle.

Members of the group, Professional Basketball Club LLC, were instrumental in making Oklahoma City a temporary home to the New Orleans Hornets after Hurricane Katrina, and there has been much public speculation that their ultimate aim is to move the Sonics to Oklahoma City when the Hornets return to New Orleans after next season.

Not so, said Clay Bennett, the leader of the group, and Ed Evans, one of its members.

They view the $350 million purchase as a solid business opportunity, they said in a news conference at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

They said they are committed to the Sonics’ success next year and will work in good faith to persuade Seattle officials to help them replace or renovate KeyArena, which Bennett has said is a prerequisite for the Sonics remaining in Seattle.

“We’re going to give it our best shot,” Evans said.

Bennett said members approached the purchase as a business deal, believing Seattle to be one of the great cities in the nation and one of the best sports venues.

“I must say I was disappointed with the coverage,” he said. “We’re serious business people. We all have track records.”

He also defended outgoing Sonics owner Howard Schultz, chairman of Starbucks Corp., who has been unsuccessful in trying to get a new arena paid for in part by taxpayers. Bennett said Schultz may be remembered someday for saving the team by selling it.

Bennett said he would hire a chief operating officer to help in negotiations for a new basketball arena in the Seattle area and also will be heavily involved himself, traveling from Oklahoma City to Seattle for discussions and catching as many basketball games as he can.

Bennett said it was too early to have “any sense” of whether Seattle officials will be amenable to tax incentives or other help in building a new arena for the Sonics. Bennett said there had not been any discussions of a “franchise swap” in which the owners of the Hornets and Sonics would take over each others’ clubs.