Robert Sarver's Greed Driving Threat To Leave Phoenix

#4 The Bidding War

A retrofit or upgrade of the Talking Stick Resort Arena is too expensive for the city of Phoenix to approve

It appears Robert Sarver has played a public relations game of misdirection. A new stadium anywhere for his franchise costs a ton of money.

A retrofit or upgrade of the Talking Stick Resort Arena is too expensive for the city of Phoenix to approve.

However, by putting Phoenix on notice that they could lose their basketball team, by threatening to move to Seattle or Las Vegas, when the time comes Sarver has created a scenario where three cities might be looking to give him extras to either stay in or come to their city.

When the Seattle Supersonics left the city of Seattle in 2008 for Oklahoma City, it was over the owner's desire to have the City of Seattle spend $300 million dollars for a new stadium.

"Bennett told Gov. Chris Gregoire in a letter Thursday he will ask the state Legislature for at least $300 million instate-authorized public funds, for what he later specified would be a $500 million, multipurpose, suburban arena.

Bennett later said the plan will reach lawmakers by the end of the month."At the end of the day, it's up to leadership and the public if they want such a facility," Bennett said in a one-hour interview with The Associated Press.

Attendance was not really a problem in Seattle. The Supersonics last season in Seattle, 2007-08 had them record 17, 833 fans per home date. The potential of an NBA franchise re-locating there would cause a buzz among the city’s basketball fans.

Furthermore, the city of Seattle has approved a privately funded renovation of their Key Arena expected to be completed by 2021.

The renovation plan was approved in a 7-1 vote from the Seattle City Council in favor of a group led by Tim Leiweke. This could mean, with NBA approval, Sarver could relocate to a city rich with NBA history, a good fan base, and a NBA ready facility.

The NBA may expand after 2025 when a new TV contract would be negotiated so Seattle awaits either a team looking to relocate or an expansion franchise.

Las Vegas just received its first pro team franchise with the NH’s Las Vegas Golden Knights beginning play in the 2017-18 NHL season.

The arena in Vegas, the T-Mobile Arena, can seat 18,000 for a basketball contest. It’s a fairly new facility about two years old. Sarver’s ultimatum to the City of Phoenix may carry weight as the NBA announced back in August that the MGM will become the official data partner of the NBA.

"Those operators who create the best experience for consumers that have official data, that have the official imprimatur of our league and other leagues as well, are going to be those that win in the hearts and minds of consumers," Silver said during an afternoon news conference in New York City to announce the partnership.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver weighed in on the Phoenix situation by saying on the Bleacher Report’s “The Full 48” podcast. :

“Arenas are modern-day town halls. They’re community centers. And the NBA is a fraction of the overall dates,” Silver said. “A productive arena generally is booked 250 or so days a year. I think it makes perfect sense to have public-private partnerships in the case of arenas.”

Adam Silver, the NBA's commissioner even went further in his support of Sarver's proposal:

"Silver said he wrote a letter to Phoenix city officials saying the arena and the Suns have a huge impact on the city and having the Suns' games broadcasted globally is a huge advertisement for the city."

Either way, by getting three cities potentially excited about either losing an NBA franchise or gaining one, Sarver wins financially.

If Phoenix continues to rebuff his demands and the Suns relocate to Seattle he has a retrofitted arena ready in 2021 and all it will cost him is moving expenses and rent. The same thing applies with Las Vegas except it’s a newer arena.

If the City Council in Phoenix panics and gives in to Sarver's demands, Sarver gets what he asked for although it would cost him $80 million dollars.

Its also why staying in Phoenix does not appear to be Sarver’s choice but even at $80 million he would be paying about 8% of what Golden State has spent on the new Chase Center.

Phoenix.simply needs to get better talent and improve on the court. Simply rewarding an owner, ranked the fifth worst in the NBA by ESPN in 2017, with an upgraded or new stadium does not fix the Suns' flaws.

With DeAndre Ayton and Devin Booker starring for the Suns now, it might be best for the Suns to try and surround their two young stars with some support and the eroding fan base and lost revenue might return.

The Talking Stick Resort Arena is not the problem in Phoenix its Robert Sarver’s greed and lack of direction for the Suns.