Butch Beard: Sonic turned coach", "Sonics Going Dome Tonight: Hawks in Rare Kingdome Visit", "TV / Radio Notebook -- Sonics, Four Others Tap Pay-Per-View", "PRO BASKETBALL; Westphal Is Fired by Sonics After Feuding With Players", "Westphal firing was inevitable, but wrong", "Five years after 'gut wrenching' fight, Kings are going to Seattle – for one night only", "Sonics, Storm sold to group from Oklahoma City – NBA – ESPN", "Judge blocks Sonics from taking arena dispute to arbitration". Road uniforms were dark green with white and gold accents, with "SEATTLE" across the chest. [45][46][47], On January 20, 2013, several sources reported that the Maloof family had reached a binding purchase and sale agreement to sell Hansen and Ballmer's ownership group their 53% majority stake in the Kings franchise, pending approval of the NBA's Board of Governors. In the summer of 2015, the state of Wisconsin and city of Milwaukee agreed to help fund a new arena to replace the BMO Harris Bradley Center, and construction began in June 2016. They returned to the Coliseum full-time in 1985, moving temporarily to the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington, for the 1994–95 season while the Coliseum was renovated and rebranded as KeyArena. Returns, Exchanges, and Shipping Insurance. The Sonics moved to the Tacoma Dome for the 1994–95 season while the Coliseum underwent renovations and went on to earn a second place 57–25 record. The new arena, the Fiserv Forum, was completed in August 2018, with the Bucks also signing a 30-year lease with the city of Milwaukee. The Sonics had gotten a franchise player with second overall pick in the NBA draft with Durant. The expansion team stumbled out of the gates with a 144–116 loss in their first game in San Francisco against the San Francisco Warriors. The rivalry was fairly equal in accomplishments, with both teams winning one championship each. PANTONE: 704 C. Hex Color: #9E2A2F; The SuperSonics were Seattle's first major league sports franchise. In October 1983, original team owner Sam Schulman sold the SuperSonics to Barry Ackerley, initiating a period of decline and mediocrity for the franchise. However, while Hansen and his fellow investors still feel having a future arena should be considered as a back-up plan for the future of the SuperSonics, they fully support the renovation and would be right beside the Oak View Group in cheering the team on moving forward if the plan on acquiring an NBA team becomes successful. [63] Any attempt to move the Hawks out of Atlanta would have incurred a $75 million penalty from the city of Atlanta and Fulton County for breaking the Hawks' lease at Philips Arena before 2017. [55] Others, including Paul Jacobs, CEO of Qualcomm, Sacramento developer Mark Friedman, former Facebook executive Chris Kelly, and manufacturer Raj Bhathal, were added to the group to address team ownership and arena investment. After 2 years in the inaugural sets, the Sonics went through their first uniform evolution. [10], On December 20, 1966, Los Angeles businessmen Sam Schulman and Eugene V. Klein, who both owned the AFL's San Diego Chargers at the time, and a group of minority partners were awarded an NBA franchise for the city of Seattle. Perhaps the strongest roster the SuperSonics ever had was the 1995–96 team, which had a franchise best 64–18 record. Williams returned for the 1981–82 season, and Seattle managed respectable 52–30 and 48–34 records during the next two years. In the 1988–89 season, with Chambers having signed with Phoenix, Ellis improved his scoring average to 27.5 points per game and finished second in the league in three-point percentage. The new design featured a yellow alternate, the first time yellow was used as a primary color since the mid-‘70’s. On July 20 the SuperSonics used the trade exception and a second-round draft pick to acquire Kurt Thomas and two first-round draft picks from the Phoenix Suns. [42] To address concerns of the Port of Seattle, the Seattle Mariners, and local industry, a SoDo transportation improvement fund to be maintained at $40 million by tax revenue generated by the arena was also included. The legendary Bill Russell was hired as the head coach in the following year, and in 1975 he coached the SuperSonics to the playoffs for the first time. However, with the Allen trade the Sonics did not have much talent to surround their rookie forward, as they lost their first eight games under coach P. J. Carlesimo on the way to a 3–14 record in the first month of the season.