Business leader says Sonics will provide boost

By Amy Lester, NEWS 9

Wednesday felt like Christmas Eve for Jim Cowan and other NBA fans awaiting the fate of the Seattle SuperSonics' trial.

"We can't wait to see what's under the tree and hopefully it's gonna be a present that says they're coming here in just a couple of months," said Cowan, the executive director of the Bricktown Association.

Cowan got his "Christmas wish" when the team settled a lawsuit with the city of Seattle Wednesday, allowing the team to break its arena lease in Seattle two years early and move to Oklahoma City this year.

Cowan said that having a permanent NBA franchise in Oklahoma City will result in economic development in the city's downtown.

He predicts that before the Sonics play their first game at the Ford Center in the coming season that there will be announcements of major tenants who plan to set up shop in the Bricktown district.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.