Bennett hopeful for arena solution to avoid moving Sonics

Basketball Betting Lines

07/20/2007 - Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - SuperSonics owner Clayton Bennett said on Thursday he wants to have a solution for a new arena in order to keep the team in Seattle.

Bennett, who purchased the team and the WNBA's Storm, issued a call to action to discuss potential solutions.

"One year ago this week we announced the purchase of the teams," Bennett said. "As part of the purchase and sale agreement, we committed to the previous owners and the NBA that we would work for one year from the close of the transaction, until October 31, 2007, to secure the development of a successor venue to KeyArena. In this time we developed what we believed was a pathway to a successful NBA and WNBA future in the region; a new multi-purpose arena with the SuperSonics and Storm as lead tenants. We were disappointed with the results at the Legislature and further disappointed at the lack of progress since the end of the session. We now invite the leadership of the Seattle area to reengage on this issue."

Although Bennett has said he is working toward keeping the Sonics in Seattle, he also informed the Seattle Post-Intelligencer his options to have a team in Oklahoma City may be better if the team can't secure a new arena in the Emerald City.

Bennett said he has asked Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels for a meeting as soon as possible to try and get a state-of-the-art arena for the Sonics and Storm.

"As the Mayor of Seattle, the home city to the SuperSonics and Storm, we believe the Mayor is the appropriate person to provide leadership and guidance on this issue," Bennett said.

Bennett said he wants city leaders to start up talk again in the arena issue, but has said in the past that a new facility is needed to maintain the team in Seattle. KeyArena, owned and operated by the city of Seattle, opened for the 1995-96 season and has a seating capacity of 17,072 for basketball.

"From day one we have maintained that it is our objective and preference to keep the teams in the market," Bennett said. "However, this can only be achieved through the development of a new state of the art multi-purpose arena facility.

"The issue is clear and simple; does the leadership of the region wish to retain its professional basketball teams? If so, serious productive discussions must commence at once. If not, as owners we must consider all of our options in regaining the financial viability of the business.".

Bennett, who used to be on the board of directors for the San Antonio Spurs, was active in accommodating the Hornets when they were displaced by Hurricane Katrina and forced to play in Oklahoma City.

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It's less than a month until the NHL hockey betting season opens at MySportsbook.com and preparations are underway for another battle in the race to hoist Lord Stanley's mug in 2007.

As cup crazy fans prepare to place their bets, one online sportsbook ,MySportsbook.com, is offering hockey betting lines on the 2007/2007 Stanley Cup , who will bring it home this upcoming season.

Despite a poor showing in last season's playoffs and the loss of Steve Yzerman to retirement, the Detroit Red Wings are early favourites at this online sportsbook with wagering odds of 6-1. The Wings will look to offensive powerhouse Pavel Datsyuk and newly appointed captain Nicklas Lidstrom to lead one of the league's most prominent franchises.

Always a threat are the Ottawa Senators, with newly acquired goaltender Martin Gerber from the Stanley Cup champion ,Carolina Hurricanes. The Sens are second best in the rankings at a 7-1 bet, and odds makers at this sportsbook are optimistic that the Ottawa squad will fare better than last season's Eastern Conference semi-final upset to the Buffalo Sabres.

Also worth noting are the defending Stanley Cup champs Carolina Hurricanes, a 10-1 bet to repeat. Behind the Canes are the New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, and Anaheim Mighty Ducks all sit at 12-1. In the basement are the Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, and St. Louis Blues who all have 100-1 odds to win.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your hockey betting needs.

MySportsbook.com: NBA Championship Odds

With the playoffs about two months away, the top two teams in the Western Conference are the clear cut leaders to win the NBA Championship. The Dallas Mavericks have the best record in the NBA (44-9) and have been absolutely scorching since the second week of the season.  What makes the Mavs’ record more impressive is the fact that they dropped their first four games of the season.  Currently they have won 17 out of their last 18 and are MySportsbook.com’s favorite (2-1) to win it all.  Right behind the Mavs are the Pacific leading Phoenix Suns (39-13).  Last season, the Suns lost in the Conference Finals to non-other then the Mavericks four games to two.  Of course the Suns were without center Amare Stoudemire who has is averaging 19.9 PPG and 9.5 RPG since coming back from his knee injury.  Unlike the Mavs, the Suns have struggled a bit lately having lost their last three and four out of their last seven.  Of course the main reason for their three straight loses is due to the absence of two time MVP Steve Nash, who is out with a shoulder injury.  Heads-up, the Mavs have beaten the Suns in both of their meetings this season.

In the Eastern Conference, the Pistons (32-19) are the favorites to win it all at 6-1. The addition of Chris Webber seems to have been a good move for the Pistons.  Since coming over from the 76ers, Webber has averaged 13.1 PPG and 7.3 RPG and the Pistons are 11-4.  Even though the defending champion Heat are currently on the playoff making cusp, they are the Eastern Conference team that is getting the most action to win it all (9-1).  The fact that Shaquille O’Neal is back in the starting lineup after missing 39 games probably has something to do with this.  No doubt, Shaq makes a difference when in the lineup as their winning six out of their last seven would indicate.

Just because it is the All-Star break doesn’t mean that you can’t bet on NBA hoops this weekend.  Be sure to log onto MySportsbook.com to bet on who you think will cut down the nets this July. Also, be sure to check out all of the lines and props for All-Star weekend.  With the highest credit card acceptance rate in the industry, there are plenty of ways to cash in on the NBA this weekend.

MySportsbook.com’s NBA Championship odds:

Atlanta Hawks 1000-1

Boston Celtics 5000-1

Charlotte Bobcats 5000-1

Chicago Bulls 20-1

Cleveland Cavaliers 20-1

Dallas Mavericks 2-1

Denver Nuggets 25-1

Detroit Pistons 6-1

Golden State Warriors 250-1

Houston Rockets 12-1

Indiana Pacers 60-1

Los Angeles Clippers 45-1

Memphis Grizzlies 5000-1

Miami Heat 9-1

Milwaukee Bucks 1000-1

Minnesota T-Wolves 200-1

New Jersey Nets 50-1

New Orleans Hornets 150-1

New York Knicks 150-1

Orlando Magic 75-1

Philadelphia 76ers 1000-1

Phoenix Suns 5-2

Portland TrailBlazers 1000-1

Sacramento Kings 250-1

San Antonio Spurs 9-1

Seattle Sonics 5000-1

Toronto Raptors 35-1

Utah Jazz 20-1

Washington Wizards 25-1

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