Question: Do you know what time the voting will start?

Question: Do you know what time the voting will start?

I'm pretty sure that the hours for this special election will be the same as on any other election day, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Thanks for all the great photos Doug. It looks like a good time was had by all. As for Bornhere's comments, I took them as being rather tongue in cheek, and not at all serious.

I'm pretty sure that the hours for this special election will be the same as on any other election day, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Thanks for all the great photos Doug. It looks like a good time was had by all. As for Bornhere's comments, I took them as being rather tongue in cheek, and not at all serious.
Sorry about that if so ... the irrelevant discussion about right to work caused me to think otherwise ... I'm not that great about reading cleverness into things on the internet when its not expressly said to be so by the author ...

I wasn't the one who chose to frame this in terms of propelling Oklahoma City into some prestigious 'tier of elite cities.'

I think the photo helps highlight the difference between the illusion (Oklahoma City will become a sophisticated megalopolis standing shoulder to shoulder with the great cities of the world) and the reality (we gettin' us a baskeebaw team, Uncle Jed!).

As for Right to Work, well, that's another of those Chamber initiatives that was going to be a crossroads, going to be a huge boost to the economy, going to fix everything... and what was the result?

Any time the chamber offers to do me a favor, I look to see which cranky old dude in Nichols Hills actually wants it, and why.

I wasn't the one who chose to frame this in terms of propelling Oklahoma City into some prestigious 'tier of elite cities.'

I think the photo helps highlight the difference between the illusion (Oklahoma City will become a sophisticated megalopolis standing shoulder to shoulder with the great cities of the world) and the reality (we gettin' us a baskeebaw team, Uncle Jed!).

As for Right to Work, well, that's another of those Chamber initiatives that was going to be a crossroads, going to be a huge boost to the economy, going to fix everything... and what was the result?

Any time the chamber offers to do me a favor, I look to see which cranky old dude in Nichols Hills actually wants it, and why.
Frittergirl was apparently wrong about your tongue-in-cheekness, I guess. And I was not, bornhere. But, as you seem to express superior knowledge of how "we" should be and look and dress whether we are at play or not, I'm sure that I and every member of this forum, and beyond, will benefit by the education that you will deign to give us, especially to those who are not nearly as enlightened as you, and even while we humbly strive to be worthy enough to receive your wisdom. :bow:

Since your comment was in reply to an image in a post I made, and therefore by inference ipso facto to something I said, would you kindly point me to where it was that I said anything like "tier of elite cities?"

And whether Right to Work did or didn't help with Oklahoma's/Okc's economy, could you kindly indicate how that relates to the questions being discussed in this particular thread?

Thanks in advance, bornhere ... that name means that you were born in Oklahoma City, right? :tiphat:

But, as you seem to express superior knowledge of how "we" should be and look and dress whether we are at play or not, I'm sure that I and every member of this forum, and beyond, will benefit by the education that you will deign to give us, especially to those who are not nearly as enlightened as you, and even while we humbly strive to be worthy enough to receive your wisdom.

You're doing fine so far. Really.


Since your comment was in reply to an image in a post I made, and therefore by inference ipso facto to something I said, would you kindly point me to where it was that I said anything like "tier of elite cities?"

It may not have been you. But there have obviously been references, which everyone here has read or should have read, to our being among 'the elite NBA cities' and avoiding the '2nd level stigma' and being in the 'first tier of cities.' All of which is marketing hype, of course.


And whether Right to Work did or didn't help with Oklahoma's/Okc's economy, could you kindly indicate how that relates to the questions being discussed in this particular thread?

Because it's yet another example of something which was touted to the citizens of Oklahoma City – and of the state as a whole – as an initiative which would boost Oklahoma's economy and national standing, but which in reality was being pushed because one person wanted it.

This time it's three or four people, but the principle is the same, and it's a technique the chamber has used since at least the seventies to push projects like this.

Like I said, every time the chamber wants to do me a favor, I want to know which cranky old dude in Nichols Hills wants it and why.


that name means that you were born in Oklahoma City, right?

Right. Born here and live here, not in Seattle or California or some other godless wasteland of pro sports heretics. As strange as it may seem, it is possible to have been born here and still not be thoroughly brainwashed by forty-odd years of 'must... obey... chamber...' indoctrination.

You're doing fine so far. Really.

It may not have been you. But there have obviously been references, which everyone here has read or should have read, to our being among 'the elite NBA cities' and avoiding the '2nd level stigma' and being in the 'first tier of cities.' All of which is marketing hype, of course.

Because it's yet another example of something which was touted to the citizens of Oklahoma City – and of the state as a whole – as an initiative which would boost Oklahoma's economy and national standing, but which in reality was being pushed because one person wanted it.

This time it's three or four people, but the principle is the same, and it's a technique the chamber has used since at least the seventies to push projects like this.

Like I said, every time the chamber wants to do me a favor, I want to know which cranky old dude in Nichols Hills wants it and why.

Right. Born here and live here, not in Seattle or California or some other godless wasteland of pro sports heretics. As strange as it may seem, it is possible to have been born here and still not be thoroughly brainwashed by forty-odd years of 'must... obey... chamber...' indoctrination.
All that said, we really ought to be able to get along. But I still fail to see the connection between the principles/ideas involved with March 4 vote and your apparent dislike of the Chamber. The way it sounds, that dislike is fueling your attitude concerning the arena proposition at hand.

Would you break apart your anti-chamber feelings/notions and then say what you specifically or generally don't like the March 4 vote, on the merits of the issue, without involving your notions about the Chamber?

Looks like it was a good crowd. Sorry I missed it.

A lengthy and good article is at Local News | Oklahoma City seeks a Sonic boom | Seattle Times Newspaper (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004197951_oklahomasonics24m.html) . It mentions Hornets Central (http://www.hornetscentral.com) , the Okc based Hornets & Sonics website, and quotes Patrick Nelson, co-founder. It's actually one of the better articles I've read on the Oklahoma City perspective.


Also: the expected pro-March 4 editorial in the Oklahoman, well written: NewsOK.com Article (http://masterweb1.newsok.com/article/3207719)

But there have obviously been references, which everyone here has read or should have read, to our being among 'the elite NBA cities' and avoiding the '2nd level stigma' and being in the 'first tier of cities.' All of which is marketing hype, of course.

You honestly don't see the difference between Albuquerque and Phoenix? Houston and El Paso? Nobody's saying major-league teams are the only thing that get us there, but having a team and a nice, fully finished arena, are a huge stepping stone.


And if you really think that only 3 or 4 people want this (or Right to Work for that matter), then you are severely out of touch.

Nobody's saying major-league teams are the only thing that get us there, but having a team and a nice, fully finished arena, are a huge stepping stone.

No doubt. In fact, having a class A arena is probably more significant than having the team. With these improvements, we really will have a tier 1 facility. People who make the decisions about where all kinds of events are held consider that. And, with the way the rest of the country has been doing business, you almost need a tier one arena just to be considered a full fledged member of the tier 2 city class.

I was listening to Craig Humphries and Jim Traber on the radio today, and he related something I did not know. Apparently the Cardinals' stadium was originally going to be sited in Mesa, AZ, but they had to pass a one cent sales tax to build the stadium. There are a lot of elderly in Mesa, and they all voted against it, so the stadium went to Glendale instead, where they were willing to support it.

I don't know if anyone reading this happened to go to both Fiesta Bowls at that stadium in Glendale, but I did. The difference in the area in one year was nothing sort of astounding. In 2006, the new stadium and arena were sitting in a massive empty field. Field is probably not an accurate enough word to describe how much space there was surrounding them. There were two hotels on the exit, and a couple of chain restaurants near the arena. That was it. When we went back this year for the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, I hardly recognized the place. There were hotels going up all around it, new restaurants, many new town houses and a new mall. It was a hotbed of activity.

Now, because of size constraints, obviously we couldn't see that kind of development, but I think it's a perfect example of the fact that people like living where there are activities, and certainly in this case, it increased restaurant and retail activity in the area dramatically.

betts - sounds a lot like what's happening with the glory park at arlington...

Glorypark :. Soul of a New City :. Arlington, Texas (http://www.glorypark.com/)

betts - sounds a lot like what's happening with the glory park at arlington...

Glorypark :. Soul of a New City :. Arlington, Texas (http://www.glorypark.com/)

Are they actually building an indoor mall?

Nice. I wonder what David Glover has to say about economic impact.

The whole area around Dallas' American Airlines Center(home of the NBA Dallas Mavericks for those who don't know) is undergoing transformation as well. I don't really know what all is going in there, but there are some very high rise condos up that look pretty upscale, and I know there are restaurants going in. I believe there will be retail as well, but I'm not completely sure.

Acting on a "hunch", I think that I've finally got the fictitious origin of march4vote.org figured out. The website appears to be done by a San Francisco guy, Tom Dellner, who may be a self-proclaimed paralegal ombudsman employed in the legal department at the University of California at San Francisco. He's also posted a web page opposing the public funding of an arena in Florida. Everything fits. Not an Okie, at least, not these days. Check it out and tell me if I've got it wrong.

See the updated Doug Dawgz Blog: www.march4vote.org (http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2008/02/wwwmarch4voteorg.html) post.

One of the more interesting things I learned today is that the city can actually sell naming rights to the practice facility. Both the Salt Lake City practice facility and the Cleveland practice facility have sold naming rights. I'm not sure how much they would go for (haven't found that amount yet), but that is one way the city can recoup at least some of the cost of building the practice facility.

One of the more interesting things I learned today is that the city can actually sell naming rights to the practice facility. Both the Salt Lake City practice facility and the Cleveland practice facility have sold naming rights. I'm not sure how much they would go for (haven't found that amount yet), but that is one way the city can recoup at least some of the cost of building the practice facility.

Interesting. But the first thing I looked up I saw a really rotten deal. In Washington, the NHL's Capitals have a new practice facility owned by Arlington County.


"The Kettler Capitals Iceplex, designed by Reston-based Architecture, Incorporated, is owned by Arlington County and leased by the Capitals."

And then.....

"For the Capitals, the deal would not only increase the team's annual sponsorship revenue by about 10 percent but also show an ability to negotiate lucrative sponsorship deals."


Washington Business Journal: (http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2006/07/31/story5.html) Naming rights in the works
Washington Business Journal: (http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2006/10/30/daily37.html) Naming rights sold


So, at least in that situation (and it's the first I've looked at), the county owns the practice facility, but the team(!) sold the naming rights and got to keep the revenue!

And the question that remains to be answered there is who pays for the maintenance and upkeep?

The team obviously

Local News | Sonics | Investors float plans, work on legislators to keep NBA | Seattle Times Newspaper (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2004252898&zsection_id=2003925728&slug=sonics01m&date=20080301)


Sonics | Investors float plans, work on legislators to keep NBA
By Jim Brunner and Ralph Thomas

Seattle Times staff reporters

A new group of private investors willing to buy the Sonics or another NBA franchise for Seattle is working through Mayor Greg Nickels' office to gain support for the plan in Olympia.

But key state lawmakers described the proposal as vague and unlikely to pass before the Legislature adjourns in two weeks.

While many details remained hazy Friday, sources said the plan centers on a possible $300 million renovation of KeyArena, which would be split 50-50 between the unidentified private investors and taxpayers. The public portion would be split between the city and state.

Such a private contribution would be substantially more than previously offered by successive Sonics ownership groups that have sought taxpayer money for KeyArena or a new arena in Renton.

It is not clear whether the latest plan has any realistic chance of keeping the Sonics in Seattle.

Sonics owner Clay Bennett has repeatedly said the team is not for sale. He has petitioned the NBA for permission to move the franchise to his hometown of Oklahoma City. And NBA Commissioner David Stern has said Seattle won't get another team if the Sonics leave.

State legislators so far are unmoved by what they've heard about Seattle's latest proposal.

Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, said she was recently briefed by Seattle Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis, but she was not given details or dollar amounts. She said Ceis appeared to be "taking the temperature" of the Legislature, but that she doesn't see an arena package emerging from the Senate this late in the session.

House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, described what he'd heard of the proposal as "very vague and very tenuous."

Marty Brown, Gov. Christine Gregoire's chief lobbyist, said Seattle officials were pitching a "variety of scenarios" but offered no opinion on whether any had political momentum.

King County Executive Ron Sims, who met with Nickels on Wednesday, told various media outlets Thursday that he'd heard about three potential ownership groups interested in keeping the NBA in Seattle. But he said their plans would probably include luring a new NBA team after the Sonics leave for Oklahoma City.

Sims also criticized the strategy employed by Seattle officials, who have filed a lawsuit seeking to bind the Sonics to KeyArena through the end of the team's lease in 2010. That lawsuit is set for trial in June, and the city recently rejected Bennett's $26.5 million settlement offer to end the lease early.

Brian Robinson, co-founder of the fan group Save Our Sonics and Storm, said the efforts by Nickels' office are a positive sign. The apparent offer by private investors to pay half the cost of a KeyArena expansion, he said, is "an unprecedented private commitment to see the right thing happen in Seattle."

Last year, Bennett offered $100 million toward a proposed $500 million arena in Renton. In 2006, the ownership group led by Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz offered the $18.3 million toward a $220 million proposal to renovate KeyArena.

King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer, an active supporter of the Sonics who worked on the stadium deal for the Seahawks, cautioned Sonics fans not to get their hopes up before knowing details about Seattle's latest proposal.

"There is a lot of wishful thinking here, but wishful thinking does not save the Sonics," said von Reichbauer, R-Federal Way.

The latest move by Seattle officials may be an effort to show the NBA there is support for pro basketball here.

Voters in Oklahoma City will decide Tuesday whether to approve a 1 cent sales tax to fund a $120 million renovation of that city's Ford Center arena to lure the Sonics.

By contrast, voters in Seattle passed an initiative in 2006 restricting city subsidies for professional sports teams. And Sonics supporters have failed for three years to win legislative support for a taxpayer contribution to a new or renovated basketball arena.

Next month, the NBA's Board of Governors is expected to vote on whether to approve the Sonics' request to move.

Jim Brunner: 206-515-5628 or jbrunner@seattletimes.com

Ralph Thomas: 360-943-9882 or rthomas@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

The team obviouslyHow do you know that? I'm not disputing your statement, I'm just curious. Wouldn't the determenation of who is, or is not responsible for the maintenence and upkeep cost be subject to the negotiated terms of the lease?

ok guys, let's resurrect the Megathread now.

check this out, Darnell (from the Oklahoman) just wrote how there is an ESPN vote about the move of the Sonics and that (at that time) 57% of the nation approved the relo.

Philip (a forumer) then mentioned this was in-spite of Seattle area forums trying to PAD THE POLL. So, I think OKC Talk (and other OKC forums) should PAD IT BACK! As of today, it shows 50%.

Here is the link SportsNation (http://sports.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/index)

It was 50-50 as of this post.

All I saw was "50% think the Sonics will play next season's opener in Seattle" and you couldn't click on it.

Now the poll is on ESPN's NBA front page. Scroll a lil' past the middle of the page on the far right side, you'll see it. I encourage everyone to go vote... vote again if it'll let you. ESPN - NBA Basketball Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Standings, Rumors - Pro Basketball (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/index)

Lawsuits, Saving Face, and Political Bantering! Pretty much sums up the City I call Home - Seattle.

I can't wait until all of this ist over with my prediction:

1) NBA approves the relocation but stipulates that it be pending the City's lawsuit (as in, you can move but only after that ist settled). Washington had it's chances, despite what the governor et al are NOW trying to say. Too late, the NBA ain't bowing to your elitism just because you THINK you are better than OKC.

2) Howard Schultz wont file as he will realize the long shot of winning and the fact that everyone up here knows that is just a smokescreen and 'we ain't buin' no more, howie'

3) The fan's lawsuit will be dismissed.

4) The city will suffer an even bigger BLOW to it's elitist ego, when the federal judge will be compelled to allow Clay Bennett to satisfy the contractural obligations and buy out the lease at fair market. I wonder if Nickels would then appeal or tuck in his tail and let go.??

5) I doubt (and hope) the state of OK does NOT approve the tax rebate incentive, as it is currently written. I do agree that there should be an award to the team for players that RESIDE and PLAY in Oklahoma City; but NOT for players who DONT reside in Oklahoma City. The Quality Jobs act is intended for JOBS CREATED IN OKLAHOMA, not passing through - so how could this be allowed. I say, reword the bill to ONLY allow rebate for "employees" that work and reside in Oklahoma OR fail the bill. Clay will move the team to OKC anyways (what other choice does he have???)!

I understand that the two fans who filed the lawsuit are not season ticket holders.

HOT ROD, what cracks me up is all the posters on Seattle Times website who constantly bash Schultz and have refused to buy his coffee, then after he announced he was "suing" they immediately started praising him and went to Starbucks that day! He hasn't even filed the lawsuit yet! Cracks me up, it's a classic PR move/smokescreen and yet they can't see it.

absolutely, and it really shows how shallow Seattle people are.

They think they're all that because Steve Ballmer, Paul Allen, and Bill Gates live here - yet those three could care less about the average Seattle Booster. All you have to do is "remind" people up here about the almost move of Microsoft to Vancouver Canada.

Oh by the way, Vancouver is getting a HUGE Microsoft Center - that's being built, in addition to already being Microsoft (Canada) HQ.

I work for Microsoft, by the way and I personally know the three aformentioned founders. ...

The whole area around Dallas' American Airlines Center(home of the NBA Dallas Mavericks for those who don't know) is undergoing transformation as well. I don't really know what all is going in there, but there are some very high rise condos up that look pretty upscale, and I know there are restaurants going in. I believe there will be retail as well, but I'm not completely sure.
it's called victory park... yes, there is lots of retail. they also have these huge tv's on the sides of some of the buildings and screen movies from time to time... it's way cool!

Will we get cool commercials like this when the move here?
YouTube - Drobnjak 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIVBsd_p6cA)

David Stern said he prefer's "oklahoma" and not "oklahoma city".

Very disapointed in that statement. I still think it will be OKC something.

New thread for the BOG vote:

http://www.okctalk.com/hornets-sonics/12666-nba-approves-supersonics-move-oklahoma-city.html

Very disapointed in that statement. I still think it will be OKC something.

Remember the thread I started during the Relocation Comm. representatives press conference? It was clear to me then that this team would end up "Oklahoma" - even more so now.

Remember the thread I started during the Relocation Comm. representatives press conference? It was clear to me then that this team would end up "Oklahoma" - even more so now.

Sounds so collegiate. I've even heard people say that a few games should be played in Tulsa? How minor league does that sound? IT seems like OKC isn't truly a big league city. The state will rally around this team. There should be no worries there. I'm from SW Okla and I think this name NEEDS to be OKC.

Sounds so collegiate. I've even heard people say that a few games should be played in Tulsa? How minor league does that sound? IT seems like OKC isn't truly a big league city. The state will rally around this team. There should be no worries there. I'm from SW Okla and I think this name NEEDS to be OKC.

Agree 100%. See my new post in the announcement thread.

If it is Oklahoma Somethings then Solitude called it. Are you getting lottery numbers that you might want to pass along.

Bennet just said he was excited to build their new Oklahoma City name.

Bennet just said he was excited to build their new Oklahoma City name.

Actually, he stumbled and said Oklahoma first, then corrected himself and said Oklahoma City.

Actually, he stumbled and said Oklahoma first, then corrected himself and said Oklahoma City.

I don't think that was an accident. Keeps them both up in the air - Channel 9 described it as tripping up the name. He knows what he's doing. I wish somebody would have asked him the question directly and not just to Stern. But what Stern said we all KNOW comes from the discussions he went on to talk about regarding the state.

I propose we move this discussion to the announcement thread.

The Mayor just stated about 3 times that the team would bear the Oklahoma City name.

The Mayor just stated about 3 times that the team would bear the Oklahoma City name.

Please see my post in the other thread. I know, and have been told - personally - that Mick's confidence is his way of lobbying. He is acting like he assumes it will be OKC, is rightly stating that in public, saying it WILL be OKC as a way of putting pressure on Bennett and the NBA. Mick is as worried as many of the rest of us.

Mick has no say so in this Tex, it's a private matter, not city matter.

i have no problem with it being OKLAHOMA and not OKLAHOMA CITY. bringing tulsa in the equation silenced critics like mark cuban.

i have no problem with it being OKLAHOMA and not OKLAHOMA CITY. bringing tulsa in the equation silenced critics like mark cuban.


How's that? He still voted no, and used his criticisms as the basis for that vote.

bringing tulsa in the equation silenced critics like mark cuban.

Naming the team OKLAHOMA CITY doesn't take Tulsa out of the equation in any way, just like naming the team the San Francisco 49ers doesn't take Oakland, Sacramento, Roseville, Stockton, San Jose, etc. out of the equation. It doesn't even take Santa Clara out the position of possibly hosting the team. Hell, even being three hours away in another state doesn't affect the market share the Dallas Cowboys get in Oklahoma.

Most teams are named after the city in which they are located and ALL teams draw from well beyond their municipal borders. It's a moot point as far as their market share goes, but naming the team Oklahoma City would be the only respectful thing to do for the city that paid for the facility in which they play and is now paying to make it a top tier facility.

According to Mick Cornett in an interview at 4pm with Kelley Ogle, "It WILL be Oklahoma City ____." He followed up by asking if he had ironed out all the kinks or something along those lines, and Cornett replied, "It was nonnegotiable."
Whoops didnt read the above posts. Anyway. It will be the OKC somethings and it should ONLY be the OKC somethings. Who cares about markets!! Tulsa should have no claim to this at all. I cant even believe it is being discussed after all the hard work OKC has done.

i have no problem with it being OKLAHOMA and not OKLAHOMA CITY. bringing tulsa in the equation silenced critics like mark cuban.

Ed, Tulsa will be in the equation regardless what the name of the team is called. That is what the NBA saw when they came to the city. Oklahoma supports its teams; and really Oklahoma City's market is the state of Oklahoma.

Therefore, the Oklahoma City team should bear it's name since the city markets the whole state. In fact, Oklahoma City __ has Oklahoma in it's name already!!! unlike Tulsa this or Lawton that.

And I am positive, that Tulsa, Lawton, McAlister, wherever will support anything Oklahoma City irregardless that CITY is attached to the end of Oklahoma.

We need to make sure Oklahoma City gets the marketing recognition for taking on the risk (solely, with the Ford Center improvements and investors being from Oklahoma City). Even the Metro Area cities didn't take on risk, just the CITY!.

I'm very very sure that the team will be called Oklahoma City, Stern doesn't get a say in the name (and even if he did, he'd say what Bennett wants). Stern ONLY commented that it will be supported by the state -which is true, even if it were called Nichols Hills bla bla.

But the people paying tax for the arena hail from the City of Oklahoma City - so ....

Congratulations to Oklahoma City, look out for people trying to LEACH ON to your success!

There is just no question. Ron Thulin (and he worked with David Stern) said after the presser today that Stern would never go on record for "Oklahoma" as opposed to "Oklahoma City" - as he did today - without knowing it was a done deal for it to be the "Oklahoma" fill-in-the-blank. Stern even said that this very thing had been "part of the discussions" with the BOG and went on to praise the involvement of the state, etc.

I agree with Thulin. Stern's not goin on record saying it makes too much sense to be Oklahoma and then have the owners do something else. Stern runs that league with an iron fist and he knows it will be Oklahoma.

If it turns out to be Oklahoma City - it will be because of the intense pressure between now and then. Because, take it to the bank, as of this moment, right now, the plan is to brand this a state team. Are we going to say it doesn't matter? Or, are we going to be part of the pressure?

Is there anyone we can E-mail or send letter to, just to start putting pressure on the right people NOW!?!? This is very IMPORTANT for OKLAHOMA CITY!! ( and of course Oklahoma as a state but the name needs to be OKC ______!!)

Who do you think you're going to pressure? And how?

How's that? He still voted no, and used his criticisms as the basis for that vote.
i didn't say that it changed his mind, but it gave his argument no weight.

Hi Hot Rod, you must be having fun up there about now. Are you taking cover? We're with you in spirit.


Stern ONLY commented that it will be supported by the state -which is true, even if it were called Nichols Hills bla bla.

As for your comment above, I wish that was all he said. Here are his words, with my emphasis, from the transcript:

-------------------------
QUESTION: You've mentioned a number of times the importance of Tulsa's buy in to this plan to bring the NBA to Oklahoma City. Based on that, would you have a preference would you like to see this team be called Oklahoma City or Oklahoma? Does it matter to you?

COMMISSIONER DAVID STERN: I'm going to leave that to the politics of Oklahoma. I would guess that the current group would be under significant incentive and pressure to make it an Oklahoma franchise, and that would be a good thing.

But I wouldn't want to put any undue pressure on the ownership group. Although, there was a lot of discussion about the market size of Tulsa; its accessibility to Oklahoma City, and its support of many events in Oklahoma City, and the mayor was there to speak in favor of the application.

So there was some discussion in our meeting about what the actual size of the market is, whether it's simply the Oklahoma City market, or whether you add the additional numbers from Tulsa and it's suburbs, you really see a much larger market than just the Oklahoma City market.
-------------------------------

Ed, Tulsa will be in the equation regardless what the name of the team is called. That is what the NBA saw when they came to the city. Oklahoma supports its teams; and really Oklahoma City's market is the state of Oklahoma.

Therefore, the Oklahoma City team should bear it's name since the city markets the whole state. In fact, Oklahoma City __ has Oklahoma in it's name already!!! unlike Tulsa this or Lawton that.

And I am positive, that Tulsa, Lawton, McAlister, wherever will support anything Oklahoma City irregardless that CITY is attached to the end of Oklahoma.

We need to make sure Oklahoma City gets the marketing recognition for taking on the risk (solely, with the Ford Center improvements and investors being from Oklahoma City). Even the Metro Area cities didn't take on risk, just the CITY!.

I'm very very sure that the team will be called Oklahoma City, Stern doesn't get a say in the name (and even if he did, he'd say what Bennett wants). Stern ONLY commented that it will be supported by the state -which is true, even if it were called Nichols Hills bla bla.

But the people paying tax for the arena hail from the City of Oklahoma City - so ....

Congratulations to Oklahoma City, look out for people trying to LEACH ON to your success!

it's really not a big deal to me either way, buti don't believe in your assertion that we won't receive our props if "city" isn't attached to the name.

being a former dallasite... i never came across anyone who had a doubt of what city the TEXAS RANGERS reprazent.

being a former dallasite... i never came across anyone who had a doubt of what city the TEXAS RANGERS reprazent.

And what city is that? Did you, as a former citizen of Dallas think it was YOUR team?

Surely, you must know "Texas" was a compromise name. The team moved from Washington to DFW and placed the team in Arlington so it would be a DFW team. Hence, the name "Texas." We need not compromise with anyone. Actually, you're wrong on your premise as well. People in other parts of the country don't necessarily know that the Texas Rangers play in DFW. Because - they don't! They play in Arlington and are just as much Ft. Worth's team as Dallas (as I explained). I'm sure some people might think San Antonio, some may think Austin, WE KNOW because they're 3 hours down the highway and avid baseball fans know, but really - does the country at large know that the Texas Rangers play in Arlington, TX in Metropolitan Dallas-Ft Worth? Really, you make my point.

Mick Cornett said rather definitively that the name would be Oklahoma City ______ in his press conference, but I just got a heads up e-mail from a well connected friend telling me not to be surprised if the name was Oklahoma _______. Personally, I'm more interested in alliteration, and I'm fine with whichever sounds best with the team name. I do like the ability to shorten Oklahoma City to OKC, though, and shortening Oklahoma to OK is not acceptable on a jersey, IMO.