OKLAHOMA CITY - Four more Oklahoma City businessmen are joining the ownership
group that is buying the Seattle SuperSonics.
The new members announced Sunday are William M. Cameron, president and CEO of
Oklahoma City-based American Fidelity Assurance Co.; Bob Howard, president of
Mercedes Benz of Oklahoma City; Everett Dobson, executive chairman of Oklahoma
City-based Dobson Communications Corp.; and Jay Scaramucci, president of
Oklahoma City-based Balon Corp.
Clayton I. Bennett, chairman and managing partner of Professional Basketball
Club LLC, announced in July that his group would buy the Sonics and WNBA Storm
for $350 million. The sale is subject to league approval and is expected to be
addressed at the NBA Board of Governors meeting on Oct. 24.
"This is a dynamic group of accomplished business people," Bennett said in a
statement. "They bring business insight from a variety of demanding market
categories including finance, banking, real estate, insurance, automotive,
telecommunications, energy and investment management."
The original partners in the group are Bennett, president of investment firm
Dorchester Capital; Aubrey K. McClendon, chairman and CEO of Chesapeake Energy
Corp.; G. Jeffrey Records Jr., president and CEO of MidFirst Bank; and Tom L.
Ward, chairman and CEO of SandRidge Energy Inc. All four companies are based in
Oklahoma City.
The group was initially formed in February and set out to find an NBA team
for Oklahoma City. However, Bennett has said the new owners intend to keep the
teams in Seattle, provided a new arena deal can be reached within a 12-month
deadline.
"We will enhance the tradition of the Seattle Sonics and are completely
committed to keeping the Sonics and Storm in the Seattle area," Bennett said in
the statement. "The business experience and expertise of this ownership group
will be invaluable in securing a world-class arena for the area and building one
of the league's premier franchises."
The original investors last year helped Oklahoma City fund a $10 million
revenue guarantee to the New Orleans Hornets when the team temporarily relocated
to the city following Hurricane Katrina.
