Washington Lawmakers Won't Vote On Sonics Arena This Session

Tuesday, April 17th 2007, 6:33 am

By: News On 6

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- The Seattle SuperSonics say a decision Monday by the Washington state Legislature not to vote on a measure to finance the majority of a new $500 million arena has all but doomed team efforts to keep the Sonics in the state beyond next season.

Oklahoma City-based Sonics majority owner Clay Bennett says in a statement that at this time, quote, "the Sonics, have little hope of remaining in the Puget Sound region.

Seattle has been the Sonics' only home for 40 seasons.

At a meeting involving Governor Chris Gregoire and state House and state Senate leaders, lawmakers came to the conclusion that there simply wasn't enough time to decide the issue before the session adjourns on April 22nd.

But they say the issue is not dead.