Not talking smack, just basically laughing at you with written words
Why would he move the team from the second largest city and media market in the country? They have a beyond terrific deal with Staples Center, and they are in LA.
False. As a multibillionaire, you pay some really good CGI people to make it swing and sway. For anyone in the audience that saw "the real thing", you pay them each $100,000 to keep their mouths shut...
That's not speculating... Yeah I have no idea what he's thinking. But as long as its not written into the sales contract, I have a tough time taking him at his word (guess Ive watched too many of his shareholder meetings and product launches.) As for why he might want to move the team to Seattle, aside from what I mentioned initially, the population and corresponding demographics calculations are far less simple than second biggest city versus Seattle. The LA CSA is worth somewhere around 19mil people, while Seattle is maybe 4.75, so roughly a quarter the raw population. That said, Seattle doesn't have to compete with another intown franchise (as well as 2 others instate and another in Phoenix) that arguable has the best sports history of any major league team in the western US. Also as Im sure some of you are aware, western states often have a singular identifying city acting as a hub for population identification (Seattle is to WA, what Denver is to CO, what Salt Lake is to Utah, etc.) Taking that into account, you could feasibly raise the eligible fan base of Seattle to that of all of WA, 7 mil. And while no one is going to argue that Vancouver BC is a basketball hotspot, it is totally unclaimed basketball territory, 2.5hrs from Seattle with 3 mil more people. As the population numbers close between the two areas, demographics become increasingly important. WA has had a steadily increasing population and quality of life for some time, and while LA has remained a growing city at roughly the same 5% rate, the demographics of its growth are far less favorable, in terms of both absolute wealth and expendable wealth. Anyways, you guys can fill in all the blanks here. I live in Seattle and I want an NBA team, but the Clips have a good 10yr Staples Center deal and Seattle, is probably 5yrs away from a new, deliverable indoor arena, so I would bet 5yrs as the minimum time horizon if Ballmer did care to move them. That or maybe he will use some of his new ownership clout to funnel a new franchise to one of his Emerald City buddies. I did have the opportunity to meet him a couple times through work (no, I do not know him) and he is a very competitive, type-A individual so I wonder how well he could maintain the Clips in LA as a second fiddle when the Lakers reorg. As for the $2 billion price, I think he bid way through the market, but w/ $25 billion in his pocket, he is making a statement that he certainly wants a team for more than simply investment value.
I disagree that the move would necessarily or certainly depress the value. Although its possible, its far from fact. I also feel that the $2bn bid was more representative of his lack of regard for any team's valuation, and more about pride, desire, and dik-measuring. I think he overpaid, but I don't think he gives a b/c he can afford it, and has no intentions of opening up the floor to commentary regarding his purchase and future plans. He'll reassure the league of the Clippers near term home in LA, but like I said, I watched too many shareholders meetings and product launches to concern myself with the words coming out of his mouth.
The ROI is sky high. Sterling is smart. And he does not even use weeds, does he?
