Lease situation

[SeattleHawkFan]

Does anyone have any information on the lease for the Hawks at Philips?

[buckeye242424]

Does anyone have any information on the lease for the Hawks at Philips?

First post.. Seattle Sonics emblem. Are you hoping the Hawks are going to be relocating to the northwest?

I have no clue about the lease agreement, sorry.

[HawkItus]

Atlanta Hawks

Arena: Philips Arena (18,729).

Cost: $213 million (privately financed).

Opened: September 1999.

Lease: Atlanta Spirit, which owns the Hawks and NHL's Thrashers, owns the arena.

Attendance rank: 20th.

Net loss: Lost $5.6 million (17th).

Sponsorship revenue: $13.5 million (16th).

Summary: Attendance annually ranks near the bottom of the league, and the ownership group is split between three quarreling factions, but the Hawks are firmly rooted in Atlanta. Co-owner Michael Gearon, who has ties locally, appears as if he'll win a February 2009 trial to determine who gains control of the team. Ownership would sell the profit-draining Thrashers before the Hawks.

[mrhonline]

Are you hoping the Hawks are going to be relocating to the northwest?

Go easy on our Washingtonian friends. The diehards had their hearts ripped out...

[linus22277]

Technically, I'm a Washingtonian, as I live in Camas. However, I grew up in Athens, GA and have been a Hawks fan ever since I could comprehend what basketball is.

Link to a great documentary regarding the former Seattle Supersonics:

http://www.sonicsgate.org/movie/

[mrhonline]

I lived in Yakima as a teenager and would love to move back to Washington (closer to Seattle than Yakima, of course).

The NBA should encourage the Grizz to move to Seattle, IMHO.

[SeattleHawkFan]

I lived in Yakima as a teenager and would love to move back to Washington (closer to Seattle than Yakima, of course).

The NBA should encourage the Grizz to move to Seattle, IMHO.

Yes, I am a diehard Sonics fan and realize the great history the Hawks have in Atlanta. I'd rather have the Grizz move to Seattle, but for right now I do love the Hawks, watch them every chance I get.

I was curious about the lease situation because we are looking for a team and wasn't sure what was happening down here with ownership and I didn't want them to be the ones we took.

So was just curious.

But until Seattle gets a team, I'm firmly behind the Hawks!

[MaceCase]

As an Army brat I also have ties to the Washington area but I rather have the Atlanta franchise remain where it is and either have Memphis or better yet New Orleans replace the Sonics in Seattle. Yea Key Arena is a high school gym compared to most modern arenas but I never could argue with its location.

[AHF]

Seattle got jobbed so badly. That is a great fan-base and a great basketball city that needs to land a new franchise. I wouldn't wish what happened to Seattle on any team.

[mrhonline]

I forgot about the Hornets. That poor city can't really support an NBA team anymore, can it?

(Charlotte is struggling, too).

[Johnnybravo4]

Y'all would have better luck getting the Clippers.