OKLAHOMA CITY -- The ownership group that is buying the
Seattle SuperSonics announced Sunday that four more Oklahoma City
businessmen are joining the group as additional investors.
The new members 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.
"This is a dynamic group of accomplished business people,"
Clayton I. Bennett, chairman and managing partner of Professional
Basketball Club LLC, 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."
Bennett's group announced in July it 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.
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 as they
temporarily relocated to the city following Hurricane Katrina.