Sonics’ Owner Delays Decision on Arena Bid

SAN DIEGO â€”  The president of the Seattle SuperSonics said Monday night that team owner Barry Ackerley has asked “for more timeâ€� before making a bid on San Diego Entertainment, Inc., which holds the lease to the San Diego Sports Arena.

Coopers & Lybrand, the local accounting firm handling the sale, had set Monday as the deadline for submitting bids.

“We probably won’t know anything until (today),� said SuperSonics’ president Bob Whitsitt. “I talked to Barry late (Monday), and he asked his attorney to ask San Diego Entertainment, Inc., to extend more time. He wants to digest all of the information and to meet with his financial people. We expect their response (today)--whether it’s yes or no. If it’s yes, we’ll extend more time and attack this problem intelligently.�

The SuperSonics have had arena problems in Seattle. Asked if the team were serious about moving to San Diego, Whitsitt told the Seattle Times over the weekend, “At some point down the road, if we exhaust all avenues with the city or county, and I’m not saying we’re anywhere near that point, then maybe we’d be in that situation (to move). To stay successful and competitive, we may have to look at outside markets but that’s only if we’ve exhausted all avenues here.�