Sonics owner Clay Bennett said Wednesday that economic conditions could force the team to leave KeyArena before a lease expires in 2010 if the Legislature doesn't provide funding for a new facility.

"It's our intention to play there and stay there and move seamlessly into a new building," Bennett told the Seattle P-I in a meeting with its editorial board. "I would expect we would stay, but I'm not so sure a lame duck franchise is good for anybody."

Marty McOmber, a spokesman for Mayor Greg Nickels, said the mayor has been clear that the city expects the Sonics to honor the lease until 2010.

Bennett said his team would lose "north of $20 million" this season playing in Seattle's 17,072-seat KeyArena, the smallest venue in the NBA. The Sonics, however, have one of the worst records in the league and are having trouble filling the Key.

Bennett's comments came a day after he went to Olympia to ask lawmakers to approve funding for a $500 million arena that's slated for Renton. The Oklahoma City businessman is seeking $400 million in public funding, with $300 million coming from the state and about $100 million from Renton.

Soundoff (Read 26 comments)
What do you think?