As i read the article, it made no mention of whether the thunder have threatened to leave OKC if they are not given what they want.
That seems to be the MO is so many cities. It’s particularly true in Minneapolis-St Paul.
But I will give OKC one thing though. They are at least holding a referendum. back when monies were approved for new stadiums for the Twins and Vikings, those groups told the legislature that if the referendum requirement was left intact, it’d be a dealbreaker for them and they’d leave. They pushed hard for the referendum requirement to be waived and sadly enough, a great deal of republicans voted for that amendment.
In the next election, we primaried a few of them and sent a few packing - but by that time the damage had been done.
It is a negotiating tactic often seen. Teams declare that the existing stadium or arena is outdated , and that they require a new stadium or arena. And the implication is that the team will move to another city without new facilities.
And sometimes teams have moved when not given a new stadium or arena
And often we are told that these sports facilities will generate additional economic activity, aside from sports. Whether that actually happens is never talked about much.