NBA owners approve SuperSonics Relocation to Oklahoma City

(April 18, 2008) - The question nowis when, not if Oklahoma City will be home to a NBA franchise following a 28-2 vote by the association’s Board of Governors today in New York.

The Board, comprised of NBA franchise owners, voted overwhelmingly to approve Professional Basketball Club, LLC’s request to relocate the Seattle SuperSonics to Oklahoma City.

“Things fell into place both politically and privately for this franchise to be in Oklahoma City,” said Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett.  “We have proactively created a community that can support a franchise.”

Cornett made the announcement at City Hall following a news conference held in New York by NBA Commissioner David Stern and SuperSonics owner Clay Bennett.

The team could move to Oklahoma City as early as next season, or as late as 2010.  Timing on the move is contingent on a federal lawsuit brought by the City of Seattle against the team’s owner over lease agreements with Key Arena.

In March, Oklahoma City voters approved a temporary one-cent sales tax to fund major upgrades to the Ford Center to attract a NBA team and give the arena competitive advantages over other eventfacilities in the region.

Thanks to the citizens of Oklahoma City for getting us to this point; their support of the Hornets and their vote for the improvements to the Ford Center,” Cornett said.  “Years from now people will look back at putting a team in Oklahoma City and say they did the right thing.”