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Lore & Background

The SuperSonics relocated from Seattle to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and were renamed the Thunder in July 2008. The documentary film Sonicsgate: Requiem for a Team chronicles the SuperSonics move to Oklahoma City, focusing on the corporate and political reasons why the Sonics left Seattle. The film contains interviews with former SuperSonics figures including Gary Payton, George Karl, Wally Walker, Kevin Calabro, and Sherman Alexie, as well as Seattle and Washington state politicians. The film was released for free online on October 12, 2009, and collected more than 55,000 online views from October 12 to November 10, 2009, and over 600,000 views as of November 2020.

In Their Own Story

At the 14th Annual Webby Awards Gala on June 14, 2010, held at Cipriani in New York City, the producers of Sonicsgate unveiled a special surprise guest to accept the award for Best Sports Film on stage on their behalf: former Seattle SuperSonics point guard Gary Payton. As is the Webby Awards tradition, honorees are limited to acceptance speeches of five words or less. Payton said these five words as he accepted the award: "Bring Back Our Seattle SuperSonics!" Steve Kelley, longtime sports columnist for The Seattle Times who is interviewed in Sonicsgate, described the festivities: as host B.J. Novak from "The Office" introduced him, Payton came on stage to loud applause. Payton, dressed in a gray suit, strode to the microphone and said what everyone associated with the film wants most. "Bring back our Seattle SuperSonics", Payton said forcefully, and this mostly New York crowd stood and cheered.

Reader's Guide

The documentary Sonicsgate: Requiem for a Team is a 2009 American documentary film chronicling the history of the Seattle SuperSonics. The film premiered at two sold-out screenings in Seattle at SIFF Cinema on October 9, 2009, and Pacific Place Cinemas on October 10, 2009. SIFF Cinema picked up Sonicsgate for a one-week theatrical run from December 11 to December 17, 2009. In February 2010, the Beer And Movie Fest of Portland, Oregon, selected Sonicsgate to screen at the Bagdad Theater and Pub. The film's producers independently booked a four-day East Coast premiere in New York City at the People's Improv Theater from April 28 to May 1, 2010. During the NYC premiere, ESPN dedicated an entire episode of its sports journalism program Outside the Lines to the Sonics saga and Sonicsgate movie, showing a 3-minute trailer of the film and having director Jason Reid on as a guest contributor. In May 2010, the Park City Film Series gave Sonicsgate a special selection to screen in Utah at the Park City Film Music Festival. After the festival, Sonicsgate took home the Audience Choice Silver Medal for Excellence.

Did You Know?

• The documentary Sonicsgate: Requiem for a Team was released for free online on October 12, 2009, and collected more than 55,000 views in its first month.
• At the 2010 Webby Awards, former Seattle SuperSonics point guard Gary Payton accepted the award for Best Sports Film and said only five words: 'Bring Back Our Seattle SuperSonics!'
• ESPN dedicated an entire episode of its sports journalism program Outside the Lines to the Sonics saga and Sonicsgate movie during the film's New York City premiere in April 2010.
• The Sonicsgate soundtrack features songs by several Northwest hip hop artists including Sir Mix-a-Lot and the song 'SuperSonics' by Seattle rock band Presidents of the United States of America.
• In April 2012, cable news network CNBC acquired broadcast rights to a newly updated version of Sonicsgate that premiered nationally in prime time on April 27 and 29.