Sonics minority owner says team destined for Oklahoma City

When Oklahoma City businessmen bought the Sonics a year ago, the plan wasn't to keep the team in Seattle, minority owner Aubrey McClendon told The Journal Record.

McClendon said in an article published by the Oklahoma City newspaper Monday that the intent was to move the Sonics to Oklahoma City, not to keep them in their hometown.

The Chesapeake Energy chief executive acknowledged the NBA team would make more money if it stayed put in the Pacific Northwest, but financial difficulty won't be what prevents the team from moving to Oklahoma City.

"We know it's a little more difficult financially here in Oklahoma City, but we think it's great for the community and if we could break even we'd be thrilled," he told the newspaper, also saying he was "under a self-imposed gag order" in regards to the business end of the Sonics.

But that didn't stop him from saying city leadership in Seattle — and a new arena — will decide the future of the team, according to the article.

"They've got 60 days to make some decisions they haven't been willing to make in the past year, and if they make them in a way that satisfies Clay [Bennett], then the team will stay there," he said. "If they don't meet the requirements he's laid out, the team will move and Clay has indicated they'll come to Oklahoma City."

Majority owner Bennett set an October 31 deadline to file papers to start moving the team, although the Sonics' lease with Seattle's Key Arena runs into 2010. State lawmakers have declined to commit taxpayers to help build an arena that would cost about $500 million.

In the same article, Bennett is quoted as saying in the year since Professional Basketball Club bought the Sonics, along with the WNBA's Seattle Storm, has not been easy.

"Our experience in Seattle with our investment in the SuperSonics and Storm has had many challenges," Bennett said. "That said, we are as committed as ever to a successful outcome."

McClendon said Oklahoma City has a "can-do spirit" and a supportive fan base.

"This is a sports town; nobody ever knew it was a pro sports town. I think it is," he said.

On the flip side, he said he doesn't feel Seattleites have the same enthusiasm.

"They take pride in Seattle not needing a NBA team to be considered a world-class city. That's probably true, they don't," he said.

After noting the Sonics were going through ownership challenges, Bennett made a move for the team last year.

And "to the great amazement and surprise to everyone in Seattle, some rednecks from Oklahoma, which we've been called, made off with the team," said McClendon.

Material from the Associated Press was included in this report.

Christina Siderius: csiderius@seattletimes.com