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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Jul 18, 2007
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I for one am glad to see free markets at work. If the owner of the Sonics wants to move the team, he should have the right to do so. If it is the best financial decision for him and the franchise, it is nobody's right to tell him differently unless they put up the money to make him whole. I didn't see anyone willing to make that offer...
I do feel bad for the fans in Seattle, but this is how free market economics are supposed to work.
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Jan 18, 2008
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Yeah it is free market at work however I just don't see the team being successful in Oklahoma city. Once the novelty wears off the fans won't keep going to the games.
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Jun 28, 2007
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I don't see how this is the free market at work. Bennett's action is irrational. I can see justification in moving the team out of Seattle, but there is no way that OKC will support an NBA team in the long run. On the other hand, there are several markets much larger than OKC that don't currently have a team. If the Sonic's move were a market-based decision, they would move to San Diego or Vegas or Pittsburgh or add a third team to the NYC area. In fact, there's almost no doubt that Schultz would buy back the team for significantly more than it's going to be worth in OKC. Quite simply, this is the work of an irrational owner, not "market forces." (I'd like to add that I have no ties to Seattle and would have no particular problem with a Sonics move if it were to a big-market city. But the NBA really needs fewer, not more, small markets.)
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Reputation:82
Level:All-Star
Since:Feb 15, 2008
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Dude, the NBA is the farthest thing from being a free market. Think of it as more of a monopoly. Decisions are made behind closed doors by 32 owners with no regard for any thing except how much money they can line their pockets with from the fans and the cities they extort for arenas and tax breaks. If it were a true free market there would be no way a team would move from the 14th largest media market to the 45th largest.
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Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Apr 10, 2007
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Horsefan - ridiculous, free market my ass! Get a clue as to why there are no NBA teams between Denver, Minneapolis, Texas, Chiacgo, and Memphis
That area is too rural - ie all of the Great Plains besides parts of Texas! I mean come on, the only other pro sports teams in that area (besides the NBA) are in St Louis and Kansas City - which are bigger than any place in Oklahoma.
The Midwest's Great Plains are for college teams to succeed due to smaller cities and towns.
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 5, 2006
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No kidding.
You don't run professional sports leagues using the "free market" as a model. Look at the league that best manages itself - the NFL. Do they let everything go to the free market? Nope, they are very highly regulated with salary caps and revenue sharing. That's why small market teams like Green Bay continue to succeed.
Meanwhile, the poorly run leagues like the NHL and MLB pretty much leave all the powers to the bigger teams, and it makes for a lousy product. You know that every year, the Red Wings and the Yankees are going to be there in the end, because they spend the most money.
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Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Apr 10, 2007
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one more aspect - even though the Hornets were in Oklahoma City for a year, that market will not be able to support a team for multiple years (unless if the owner is willing to use more of his own money).
Seats might sell out, but if they do they'll be cheap for NBA seats - people out there don't make enough money to spend enough to support an NBA franchise for an extended period. It's simple economics!
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Level:Amateur
Since:Apr 18, 2008
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lifelong Bear - you are correct. I guess no one out there makes enough money to attend an NBA game. 4 people just ponied up 350 Million to buy a team how? Probably not working at Mcdonald's for $10/hr. Some people in OK may not be able to afford it but show me a market where season tickets are affordable for everyone in that market.
Seems you are tying to paint with a wide brush here. You may be suprised what people make in other areas of the country.
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Reputation:86
Level:All-Star
Since:Sep 20, 2006
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As long as everyone keeps driving their cars and consuming EVERYTHING that needs the petroleum industry Oklahoma can support 2 or 3 teams. I don't think people have any idea what $100 oil and $10 nat gas is doing for OK and TX. Yeah there are the not so well to do around these parts but the rich are getting richer and the middle class is catching up. The cost of living in OK is so low that even minimum wagers could take in a game here and there. And dont come with the "oil won't always bee this high priced" BS . Get used to your 3 and 4 buck gas, its here to stay , till some one gets of their ass and come up with a plan that DOESN'T benefit energy companys...........and ticket are the same price here that they are in LA $1000.00 court side was the norm
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Level:Amateur
Since:Sep 24, 2007
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You really need to check your facts. Oklahoma City has a population of 538,000, not inlcuded 10 suburb cities with in a 30-mile radius. There are over 1 million people in that area. Seattle's pop is 580,000. not that big of a difference. And by the way, KC's pop is 450,000, St Louis is 353,000. Yeah those cities have other good size markets in the surrounding area, but so does Oklahoma. For too long the rest of the nation has overlooked Oklahoma as a podunk, redneck state with nothing but Mcdonald's wages and farmers. The fact of the matter is that Oklahoma has 6 member of the 2008 Forbes 400, Washington has 7. Do not tell me that OKC can't support a franchise. OKC and OK could support an NBA team as well as an NFL team. With in 7 years, we will have an NFL team | |
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