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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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Seattle Sues SuperSonics

City tries to stop NBA team's owners from breaking arena lease and fleeing town

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(Newser) – In the latest struggle between local governments and pro sports teams over who foots the bill for the places they play, the city of Seattle has filed suit to try to stop the SuperSonics from breaking their lease at the city's Key Arena before 2010 and moving elsewhere. The NBA franchise's Oklahoma-based owners claim they're losing money under the deal.

"Too often, pro sports teams just run over local governments," the Seattle city attorney said at a press conference announcing the suit. "Today we're standing up and saying, no, we have an agreement and we want to enforce that agreement and we want you to honor your promises."

KeyArena, home of the NBA basketball team the Seattle SuperSonics, is shown at night in this Jan. 16, 2007 file photo in Seattle. The City of Seattle filed a lawsuit Monday, Sept. 24, 2007 against the team to hold them to the terms of their lease of KeyArena, which runs...
KeyArena, home of the NBA basketball team the Seattle SuperSonics, is shown at night in this Jan. 16, 2007 file photo in Seattle. The City of Seattle filed a lawsuit Monday, Sept. 24, 2007 against the...   (Associated Press)
Seattle city attorney Tom Carr, right, and Former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton, left, an attorney with the Seattle office of K & L Gates, talk to reporters Monday, Sept. 24, 2007 in Seattle about a lawsuit filed Monday by the city of Seattle to keep the Seattle SuperSonics NBA...
Seattle city attorney Tom Carr, right, and Former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton, left, an attorney with the Seattle office of K & L Gates, talk to reporters Monday, Sept. 24, 2007 in Seattle about a lawsuit...   (Associated Press)
Seattle SuperSonics owner Clay Bennett begins a news conference to introduce his new general manager Thursday, June 7, 2007, in Seattle. Bennett said he has had introductory meetings with two private investors who could potentially help him build an arena that would keep the NBA basketball team and its WNBA...
Seattle SuperSonics owner Clay Bennett begins a news conference to introduce his new general manager Thursday, June 7, 2007, in Seattle. Bennett said he has had introductory meetings with two private...   (Associated Press)
Seattle SuperSonics forward Rashard Lewis, right, and injured guard Luke Ridnour, left, leave the court after the Sonics final game of the season, a 106-75 loss to the Dallas Mavericks Wednesday, April 18, 2007 in an NBA basketball game at KeyArena in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle SuperSonics forward Rashard Lewis, right, and injured guard Luke Ridnour, left, leave the court after the Sonics final game of the season, a 106-75 loss to the Dallas Mavericks Wednesday, April...   (Associated Press)
Seattle Storms' Iziane Castro Marques, right, from Brazil, runs away from Washington Mystics' Alana Beard, in the first quarter of WNBA basketball action at Key Arena in Seattle on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2007. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)
Seattle Storms' Iziane Castro Marques, right, from Brazil, runs away from Washington Mystics' Alana Beard, in the first quarter of WNBA basketball action at Key Arena in Seattle on Saturday, Aug. 11,...   (Associated Press)
Sonics mascot Squatch, dimly aware of the controversy, mourns in low animal frequencies in this fan-taken photograph.
Sonics mascot Squatch, dimly aware of the controversy, mourns in low animal frequencies in this fan-taken photograph.   ((c) fortes)
The Storm take on the Lynx in this panoramic shot of Key Arena.
The Storm take on the Lynx in this panoramic shot of Key Arena.   ((c) Don Nunn)
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