SonicZoo

Sometime last week, Sonic's owners lead by Howard Schultz (CEO Starbucks) announced that the (Seattle Professional BasketBall) team had been sold to a group of investors from Oklahoma. After that announcement the emotions in the Pacific NortnWest have been running high.

First, I applaude the Seattle City Council for taking a hard stance on the KeyArena. In my view - and others - it's a fine arena. No need for some $200M+ infusion of capital and renovation. Seattle area has so many more needy projects; Alaskan Viaduct, SR-520 bridge, bike lanes, transit system ,etc, etc. The list can be made long.

But, as most people don't understand these days, "Professional" sports is just that. It is no longer "sports" but big business. No fault in that, even though a pure "home team", built out of the younger generations training for a "club" feels better. Such a team is more anchored in the community, and cannot just be lifted and "sold" (out). You would have to sell the kids with that as well.
But, that's not how it is done in America. Sport is big business and teams relocate to the market where the teams owners can generate the most profit. Nothing wrong with that. Any business would do that, and the "Staff" is small enough to tag along. Think about relocating Microsoft. It'd be a major brain drain as people would hesitate to follow the company to Oklahoma City. A sports team is easier. Players and coaches are tied by contracts. They follow (the $$$).

In Sonic's case, I feel no "evil" toward Howard Schultz & Co. The loss of Sonics is sad for Seattle but paying what the owners wanted to remain here, it'd be plain stupid - given all other priorities. As for the fans, yes sad for them, but this is business, not sports. If the teams felt they needed a higher profit, raise ticket prices and see if that works. Likely outcome would be that the fans would shun the team all together and go/do somewhere/something else.

And here is the core in this issue. Seattleites has a plethora of activities to choose from. We live in the most amazing part of the United States. In North America only Vancouver B.C. can provide even a challenge. We are not a city that is without options, should we have no professional sports teams. The audience/fans have so much to choose from, be it skiing, sailing, boating, hiking, fishing, "hanging out", traveling, music, movies, golf, local politics, food. The list can be made long.

I used to live in Dallas, TX. The options were (due to natural/geographical and meterological restrictions) limited. Once could play golf/tennis (when it was not too hot outside), go to the movies, restaurants, etc, but that was pretty much it. Hence, the market for professional sports was much bigger because people in general had nothing better to do. Seattle is a VERY different "market". The options are far greater, and hence the "competition" for the audience - and its dollars - is much more pronounced. Possibly not such a great "market" for a sports team.

On top of that we have a topopgraphy that makes traveling harder and more congested (compared to Dallas, Oklahoma City, houston, etc, etc). That shrinks the available market even more. Few people would travel from Chehalis to see the Sonics, since that could be a major undertaking, while a trip from Ardmore, OK, to American Airlines Center in Dallas, would only be a long "swoop" down the same (open) freeway.

In the text above I have assumed (?) that the Sonics are leaving. Only time will tell if that is true or not. Whatever happens, they'll be missed, but Seattle, Starbucks, and Howard Schultz lives on. After all, it's only business...