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Sonicsgate

  • 20092009
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
364
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Sonicsgate (2009)
'Sonicsgate: Requiem For A Team' is a critically acclaimed feature documentary exposing the corporate greed and political impotence that caused the Seattle SuperSonics to relocate to Oklahoma City in 2008 after 41 years in the Emerald City.
Play trailer2:06
1 Video
2 Photos
  • Documentary
  • History
  • Sport

Exposing the truth behind the Seattle SuperSonics' tragic exodus after 41 years in the Emerald City.Exposing the truth behind the Seattle SuperSonics' tragic exodus after 41 years in the Emerald City.Exposing the truth behind the Seattle SuperSonics' tragic exodus after 41 years in the Emerald City.

IMDb RATING
8.1/10
364
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jason Reid
  • Writers
    • Jason Reid(story)
    • Camp Jones(story)
    • Adam Spiro Brown(story)
  • Stars
    • John Keister(voice)
    • Kevin Calabro
    • Percy Allen
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jason Reid
  • Writers
    • Jason Reid(story)
    • Camp Jones(story)
    • Adam Spiro Brown(story)
  • Stars
    • John Keister(voice)
    • Kevin Calabro
    • Percy Allen
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 5User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Sonicsgate: Requiem For A Team
    Trailer 2:06
    Sonicsgate: Requiem For A Team

    Photos

    Sonicsgate (2009)
    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Keister
    • Self - Narratoras Self - Narrator
    • (voice)
    Kevin Calabro
    • Self - Sports Broadcaster, KIRO710as Self - Sports Broadcaster, KIRO710
    Percy Allen
    • Self - Sportswriter, Seattle Timesas Self - Sportswriter, Seattle Times
    Chris Daniels
    • Self - News Reporter, KING5as Self - News Reporter, KING5
    Art Thiel
    • Self - Sports Columnist, Seattle PIas Self - Sports Columnist, Seattle PI
    Steve Kelley
    • Self - Sports Columnist, Seattle Timesas Self - Sports Columnist, Seattle Times
    Slade Gorton
    • Self - Former U.S. Senatoras Self - Former U.S. Senator
    Sam Perkins
    • Self - NBA Playeras Self - NBA Player
    Brent Barry
    • Self - NBA Playeras Self - NBA Player
    Nick Collison
    • Self - NBA Playeras Self - NBA Player
    Desmond Mason
    • Self - NBA Playeras Self - NBA Player
    Jamal Crawford
    • Self - NBA Playeras Self - NBA Player
    Aaron Brooks
    • Self - NBA Playeras Self - NBA Player
    Doug Christie
    • Self - NBA Playeras Self - NBA Player
    Jim McIlvaine
    • Self - NBA Playeras Self - NBA Player
    James Donaldson
    • Self - NBA Playeras Self - NBA Player
    Paul Lawrence
    • Self - Attorney for Seattleas Self - Attorney for Seattle
    Brad Keller
    • Self - Attorney for PBCas Self - Attorney for PBC
    • Director
      • Jason Reid
    • Writers
      • Jason Reid(story)
      • Camp Jones(story)
      • Adam Spiro Brown(story)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    "Sonicsgate" is a feature documentary film exposing the truth behind how Seattle lost the SuperSonics after a heated legal battle in 2008. The perfect storm of corporate greed and political impotence formed to rob loyal Seattle sports fans of their oldest professional franchise. The team's celebrated 41-year run in Seattle included an NBA Championship, three Western Conference titles, six division titles and legendary players such as Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, Ray Allen, Tom Chambers, Xavier McDaniel, Jack Sikma, Freddy Brown, Slick Watts and Spencer Haywood... just to name a few. As NBA salaries skyrocketed following the 1999 player lockout, the league's business model changed to require expansive new buildings paid for with taxpayer dollars. Seattle's KeyArena, built in 1995 as a remodel of the old Seattle Coliseum, just wouldn't cut it anymore according to NBA Commissioner David Stern. Faced with operating losses and political leadership that was extremely adverse to stadium funding, Sonics owner and Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz sold Seattle's oldest professional franchise to Oklahoma City businessman Clay Bennett, who had promised to bring a pro sports team to his hometown at any cost. The scandalous dealings of Bennett's ownership group led to a heated courtroom battle as fans and city officials fought to keep their team. Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels ultimately accepted a $45 million buyout to cover the final two years of the Sonics' lease at KeyArena, allowing the team to relocate in July 2008 as they were renamed the Oklahoma City Thunder, effectively tarnishing decades of Seattle history while leaving fans shocked, bitter and heartbroken. Soncsgate is an investigative piece that explores what really happened to cause this tragedy, as the perfect storm of greed and political impotence cost Seattle its only championship team. This documentary exposes the truth behind the Sonics' departure told directly by the people involved. A fascinating piece of investigative citizen journalism, "Sonicsgate" shows why no home team is safe in the world of modern pro sports. —Adam Brown
    • nba
    • greed
    • courtroom
    • sports fan
    • theft
    • 7 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Requiem For A Team
    • Genres
      • Documentary
      • History
      • Sport
    • Certificate
      • Unrated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      All of the music featured in the film comes from Seattle-based artists, including The Presidents of the United States of America's re-working of their song "Supermodel," called "Supersonics," which features play-by-play audio from Kevin Calabro in the background.
    • Quotes

      Sherman Alexie - Writer: [about what it will take to bring the NBA back] The thing is, if we get a team, it's going to be somebody else's team. It's not going to be a new franchise. So, I read, I keep up, I know who's in trouble. So we're going to get New Orleans, Milwaukee, Indiana, Memphis, Sacramento. To get a team, I'm going to have to break the hearts of people just like me, who will then have to go in front of cameras and talk about their pain like this. And that's the only way we're ever going to get a team.

    • Alternate versions
      SONICSGATE: REQUIEM FOR A TEAM (2012) was completely re-cut and re-produced to air nationally on CNBC television in April 2012. This new 43-minute version is distinct in many ways from the original 120-minute Online Director's Cut released online in 2009, though the basic story and many elements remain the same in both versions. Updates include new graphics, archive footage and new interviews with
    • Soundtracks
      Supersonics
      Written by Chris Ballew and Dave Dederer

      Performed by The Presidents of the United States of America

      Courtesy of PUSA, LLC

      SONICSGATE: ONLINE DIRECTOR'S CUT (2009)

      SONICSGATE: REQUIEM FOR A TEAM (2012)

    User reviews5

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Great Movie
    I am a fourteen year old boy who saw a link to this documentary and was just going to take a glance.

    However, once i started watching this, i was hooked! Sonics Gate accurately explains how the Sonic's franchise was STOLEN from Seattle.

    Even if you are a Yankee's fan or you don't watch basketball, this documentary is a MUST WATCH.

    Please take a little time to watch it!

    It is my second-most favorite documentary of all time after Tupac : resurrection.

    With love,

    Zane; Faithful Sonics fan
    helpful•5
    3
    • zane-3744
    • Jan 3, 2010

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 9, 2009 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Sonicsgate: Requiem for a Team
    • Filming locations
      • Bellevue, Washington, USA
    • Production companies
      • 2R Productions
      • Diald
      • Green and Gold Media
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $280,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours

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