by Lavi Aulck
Sports Editor

We don’t often know what we have until it’s gone. Whether we realize it or not, the city of Seattle is primed to lose its oldest professional sports franchise, and along with it, 40-plus years of tradition, memories, and happiness.

In July of last year, the Seattle Super Sonics were purchased by an ownership group from Oklahoma City. Although they have stated that their intentions are to keep the team in Seattle, their words slowly seemed to be getting farther and farther from the truth. Soon, the ownership group gave the city a deadline of October 31st to provide funding for a new arena or else it will seek a new home for the team.

The impact of losing the Sonics can’t be understated. We must realize that we aren’t losing a sports franchise–we are losing a proven social and economic commodity. We need to understand that the impact of losing the Sonics will be felt beyond the realm of sports; it will also be felt in hearts and wallets of Seattleites.

According to a task force assembled by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, the Sonics have a total economic impact of about $235 million per year. This economic impact is comparable to both the Seahawks and the Mariners. In addition, the task force concluded that the Key Arena, the current home of the Sonics, produces over 3,250 jobs and over $100 million in labor income for King County alone.

Socially, the Sonics serve as means through which citizens can connect regardless of race, gender, wealth and age. For kids, the Sonics give something to hope for, a reason to stay out of trouble and a positive example to look up to. For the city, the Sonics give immeasurable charitable support while holding our only professional sports championship and all the memories that 40-plus years could possibly hold.

“They have a 40 year legacy,” says Brian Robinson, a local businessman and co-founder of the Save Our Sonics Organization. “I don’t think we should let go of any civic interests. It doesn’t make sense. Seattle is going to be questioned whether it’s really a top tier city if we continue to fail to find solutions.”

After the Sonics were sold, Robinson and fellow businessman Steven Pyeatt started the SOS organization with a mission to “demonstrate the great cultural value and civic pride associated with professional basketball in the Puget Sound region.”

Having grown up near SCC, Robinson believes that as a community, we need to “raise our standards and demand to keep our amenities.” A valid argument against him doesn’t exist, though many may argue the points of fan support and the team’s lack of recent success.

We need to understand that every franchise goes through crests and troughs, and as a city, we have been too quick to abandon our teams when they fail to succeed.

It only took one unsuccessful season for the ill-fated Seattle Pilots to leave Seattle and change their name to the Brewers and our now-beloved, then-abandoned Seahawks would be in Los Angeles had it not been for legal action taken by the city in the mid-90s.

Whether directly or indirectly, fan support played a major role in both situations and the situation with the Sonics calls for no different. We need to rally behind the Sonics, not for the millionaire owners and athletes, but for ourselves and future generations.

It’s the fans and the people of Seattle that will ultimately decide the fate of the Sonics and it’s for the fans that the Sonics should stay. It’s time to step up and speak up. Robinson says that “(Sonics) ownership wants to present that people don’t care, that people want to see (the Sonics) leave and that’s not the truth. We need to stay really vocal.”

Taking a quick few minutes to visit saveoursonics.org and sign up for alerts would be an excellent first step. Voicing our opinions to our councilmen, representatives, and senators would be the next. We need to understand that letting this team go will tarnish this city economically, hurt this city and have a drastic impact on its social future.

Our ignorance can and will rob future generations of an integral part of our community that has been at the heart of our city for over 40 years. We need to respond to this SOS. Please, people, Save Our Sonics.