Sonicsgate: Requiem for a Team(2009)

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

Sonicsgate: Requiem for a Team is a documentary that chronicles how Seattle lost the SuperSonics in 2008 following a contentious legal battle. The film exposes the collision of corporate ambition and political failure that stripped loyal fans of their oldest professional franchise after 41 years. The Sonics' storied history included an NBA Championship, three Western Conference titles, and legendary players like Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, and Ray Allen. As NBA salaries surged after the 1999 lockout, the league's business model shifted to demand new arenas funded by taxpayers. Seattle's KeyArena, renovated in 1995, no longer met NBA Commissioner David Stern's standards. Sonicsgate reveals how this perfect storm of greed and political inaction dismantled a cornerstone of Seattle sports culture.