Besides my strong OKC bias, I just think Oklahoma City sounds better. Plus, I really really REALLY want the PHX-style OKC third jerseys!!!! OKLA just wouldnt work.

It's Oklahoma City's team, so it should be called Oklahoma City Thunderbolts!

Who cares that the state will be supporting the team. Who will be supporting it MOSTLY, day in and out? You guessed it, Oklahoma City - the people who voted to expand their arena to get an NBA team. And, just because the team is named Oklahoma City doesn't mean OKC doesn't appreciate Tulsa or the rest of the state/region. Tulsa doesn't have ANY of its teams named Oklahoma, And Dallas doesn't have ANY of its teams named Oklahoma or N. Texas (they do have the TX Rangers, but I think that is name recognition more than a show of support from the state of TX).

Oklahoma belongs to college (OU SOONERS, OSU COWBOYS), who by the way have basketball teams. Oklahoma City is BIG LEAGUE CITY now (or did the leaders forget, since the Tulsa Mayor came down - to try to slime her way in).

Im not saying that Tulsa wont support the team (OKC would support T-Town if/when they get a team too), but I seriously doubt Tulsa would name their team OK to placate OKC and it would be a stupid move anyway. Oklahoma City said they wanted a team to improve THEIR CITY and make them a BIG LEAGUE CITY - which would draw on the rest of the state and region. There's NO REASON to back away from that now that the team is in the bag.

Don't sell out like Salt Lake did or Indy did. Sure, it probably took their whole state to make their teams happen - but WHO MADE THIS HAPPEN FOR OKLAHOMA CITY - you guessed it, Oklahoma Citians - MAPS Ford Center Improvement, REMEMBER!~!!!!! Last I remember, that was an OKLAHOMA CITY city initiative, not a state or even METRO initiative/vote. without that YES, there would be no team for the tulsa mayor to try to come down and claim. She/Tulsa did NOTHING for this, nor did the state.

It's Oklahoma City's team, Oklahoma City's testimate, Oklahoma City's vote and MONEY, Oklahoma City who will be supporting this team in and out! It's Oklahoma City's team, so it should be called Oklahoma City ___.

You OKC people should DEMAND IT!!!

I doubt the OQJP money is a large sum. If Bennett and Co. were pressured to change from Oklahoma City to Oklahoma because of what is essentially pocket change, they would forget about the money.The amount in question may not seem large to you. But a 5% rebate on their taxable payroll for 10 years is a lot of pocket change to me.

Take a listen to what the mayor of Oklahoma City said

Video (http://www.koco.com/video/13381954/index.html)

I'll clue you in "I dont care about the name other than the first part that says 'Oklahoma City'". Solitude, that should put this argument to rest.

Please make sure the council and mayor ENSURE the team is called Oklahoma City ____! Mayor Cornet has said it, now let's make sure it happens!

It's Oklahoma City's renaissance and team. Sure, it benefits and will be supported by the state, but it is Oklahoma City who is making it happen. So, Oklahoma City deserves the recognition!

Like I said, "Oklahoma" is college (ok I'll admit, Sooner Football is 'NFL Development League'), but Oklahoma City is now Major League!

Let's not confuse the two anymore.

The full press conference is on KFOR's web site.

NewsChannel 4 KFOR-TV-DT - Sports - Oklahoma's source for local sports coverage (http://www.kfor.com/Global/category.asp?C=5530&nav=menu99_4#poll69820)

Under Feature Videos, about half way down the page.

I find it hard to believe that people actually think those outside the OKC metro would refuse to go to the games because it says Oklahoma City.

Especially when it's already been proven false when the Hornets were here, on many levels:

1) The team wore an OKC patch and were often referred to as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets. I can guarantee you that the Ford Center was not filled up by people only living in Oklahoma City proper or even the metro. The name did not affect their decision to support the Hornets, why would it affect them now?

2) One could argue that these people weren't coming to see an Oklahoma City team, so it didn't matter. Well, if these people came for reasons other than to support the Hornets, that is, to see another team or as a casual diversion, those motivations will be unaffected by the name. They will still come at least at a frequency as they did before.

3) How many people in Oklahoma currently support teams that aren't even in the STATE? Oklahoman's drive hundreds of miles, buy plane tickets, buy merchandise, stay in hotel rooms, etc. to support teams in Kansas City, Dallas, and beyond, all of which bear the name of the city in which they reside. Now some of these people can throw their allegiance to a team and cut their expenses of supporting them at least in half. Will they really stay away because of CITY being in the name.

Really, the amount of people who would be affected by the team being named after the city in which it is located would be insignificant, imo. MOST teams wear a city's name and NONE of them rely exclusively on support from that city. It just has no weight with most people who don't live in that city and, really, it is by far the norm. And I really don't think that any leader outside of Oklahoma City would even think that a request to leave City out of the name would be reasonable. I certainly can't imagine any of them trying to make a genuine argument as to why its shouldn't be Oklahoma City.

And, in terms of marketing, I actually think they stand to lose more support from within the city by not naming it after the city than they stand to gain from naming it after the state. People in Gotebo have not chosen to invest in the team above and beyond their possible to decision to buy a ticket and have some beers at a game. It should be named after the city, if for nothing else, because there are a great many people in this city paying a tax that will help the team whether they go to a game or not.

I agree with Hot Rod 100%...good show! Tulsa did not make this happen, nor did anybody but OKC. Do you actually think Tulsa would name thier peofessinal team the "Oklahoma ______", give me a break! I will be very upset it it has no "Oklahoma City" in the name.

Also, please consider:

- Absolutely everyone on the planet would know that Oklahoma City is located in Oklahoma, thus the state will get plenty of pub no matter the name

- A good percentage of people would never know that the Oklahoma ______ were based in Oklahoma City.


I just don't see any downside to using OKC versus OK.

I'm from Tulsa and I already know once OKC gets the team. I will be watching every game possible and go to as many as I can. I could care less whether its OKC ____ or Oklahoma ____.
I get the feeling that you're not the only one to say this.

I feel it should be the Oklahoma City "Somethings". I don't think it would deter anyone outside of OKC from coming if the City part is in the name.

I get the feeling that you're not the only one to say this.

I feel it should be the Oklahoma City "Somethings". I don't think it would deter anyone outside of OKC from coming if the City part is in the name.

This team has about as much business being named the Oklahoma "whatevers" as the (minor-leage baseball) Redhawks. Oklahoma CITY is putting up the tax money, Oklahoma CITY is the one taking the financial risk, Oklahoma CITY is the one looking forward for a downtown Oklahoma CITYrevitalization, hoping an NBA team will play in the Oklahoma CITY Ford Center.

Any suggestion this should be a state-based team name should be flushed instantly and terminated with extreme prejudice.

Look, it' s very simple: a lot of people on this board have a lot of different reasons and fellings on this issue, but the fact remains that on more than one occasion by both Cornett and Bennett, we've heard it clearly stressed that OKC will be the team name.

That is all

Also, please consider:

- Absolutely everyone on the planet would know that Oklahoma City is located in Oklahoma, thus the state will get plenty of pub no matter the name

- A good percentage of people would never know that the Oklahoma ______ were based in Oklahoma City.


I just don't see any downside to using OKC versus OK.


FTW!!!

Look, it' s very simple: a lot of people on this board have a lot of different reasons and fellings on this issue, but the fact remains that on more than one occasion by both Cornett and Bennett, we've heard it clearly stressed that OKC will be the team name.

That is all

I have yet to hear Clay Bennett and the NBA say a word about this. Period. If you can show me otherwise, I truly want to see it - because I want to be wrong.

I have yet to hear Clay Bennett and the NBA say a word about this. Period. If you can show me otherwise, I truly want to see it - because I want to be wrong.

I hope you are wrong solitude. I was listening to the radio yesterday and there was some talk about this. Cornett seems to believe it will be Oklahoma City, but I doubt at this point he would be told if they were going to brand it with simply "Oklahoma". We will be the home city and some seem happy enough with that but I agree with those who think that would take the shine off the attention the city would receive.

Where do the New Jersey Nets play? Newark? I really don't know.

I still haven't seen anything that would make you belive that it is going to be Oklahoma rather than Oklahoma City.

Where do the New Jersey Nets play? Newark? I really don't know.

East Rutherford.

I would like to see the OKC______ also. I loved it when Rob Nice would talk to someone from "the OKC". I think that has a nice ring. It is amazing how many people don't realize that there are two major cities in the state. When my grandfather worked as a travelers aid at the airport people would get off the airplane go to his desk and ask how to get to 61st and Mingo. They just bought a ticket to Oklahoma and assumed there was only one airport. Let's differentiate ourselves from Tulsa.

I've tried to assemble the most significant reports and videos about the most magnificent day, March 25, in this blog post: Doug Dawgz Blog: We ARE An NBA City! (http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2008/03/we-are-nba-city.html)

I would be worried more about what the ___________ is.

Thumbs down to pretty much everything I've heard suggested other than Thunder.

Thunderbirds is OK, Thunderbolts is lame, and everything else I've heard is awful.

I agree jbrown, most of the references I've heard are lame at best. KOCO's poll up right now is even worse. They do have an Other line and I highly recommend voting for it. They are even suggesting email in a suggestion. Since they are reporting this to the masses who aren't as up to date as the online community, perhaps it wouldn't hurt to throw some better names out there. We don't want to just "hope" Bennett picks a decent name. I like OKC Energy, 89ers, and a few other names that have been tossed on OKC Talk.

KOCO's poll options:

Originals -- terrible, unoriginal (lol)
Energy -- decent but I can see the bad puns already
Risers (High Risers) -- WHAAT???
Rattlers -- just meh

Actually I kind of like Energy. As a former member of the 45th I also like Thunderbirds but if I was the one choosing it would come down to 89ers or Energy. I think I would go with Energy.

Oklahoma City Energy has too many syllables. OKC Energy doesn't sound bad because it rhymes, but that's not how they're going to be labeled by announcers. There's no good way to shorten energy, like we've shortened Mavericks to Mavs or Cavaliers to Cavs. If there were, I'd be in favor of it because I like the concept. I'd prefer Thunderbirds shortened to T-birds, the Thunder (as mentioned elsewhere with a Buffalo as the mascot: Buffs) or the Wildcatters (also too long, but it shortens nicely to the 'Cats).

OH-Kluh-ho-ma Enn-ur-gee

It just sounds really clunky.

Oklahoma City Thunder. It has a nice ring to it, and we get a LOT of thunder, more so than sub-tropical Houston will ever hear. I hope that is the team name they go with.

That's not a bad one. I like the idea of Thunder w/ Bison as the mascot--like the "thundering herd". Makes sense.

Oklahoma City Thunder gets my vote.

Thunder has a lot of marketing potential. I can almost hear the fx thunder claps at every graphic and commercial break now.

Oklahoma CitE or 'E' or "The E'.

The 'E' were in Atlanta tonight...

"Feel the power of E"

There is a good poll for the Oklahoma City ___________, over at the Okc based Hornets Central. com

Here is the link.

HornetsCentral.com & SonicsBeat.com Forums :: Log in (http://www.okchornetscentral.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=27)

Concept I came up with tonight:

http://www.seangomez.com/okctalk/rattlersconcept.gif

There is a good poll for the Oklahoma City ___________, over at the Okc based Hornets Central. com

Here is the link.

HornetsCentral.com & SonicsBeat.com Forums :: Log in (http://www.okchornetscentral.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=27)

Kelly Ogle just mentioned the Hornets Central site on his "My Two Cents" He mentioned the "Thunder" nickname and showed a graphic of the buffalo/bison.

I think I can get behind the "Thunder" nickname, but I'm not 100% percent sold on the buffalo/bison concept. I'll have to think about it for a bit.

The Oklahoma City Thunder would be fine.

Only downside is that there is already a Wichita Thunder that plays in the same hockey league as the OKC Blazers.

Concept I came up with tonight:

http://www.seangomez.com/okctalk/rattlersconcept.gif

Sorry, I'm reminded of the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League when I hear that nickname.

This is worse than choosing a new baby's name.

Anyone have a book?

OKC Energy is fine...Thunderbirds is good, but wasn't the 45th a Nat Guard unit from multiple states?

OKC Energy is fine...Thunderbirds is good, but wasn't the 45th a Nat Guard unit from multiple states?

According to this, 45th Infantry Museum -- History (http://www.45thdivisionmuseum.com/History/) , yes.

Oklahoma (City) BARONS!

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/1941/durantbaronju2.jpg
photo courtesy of KMSooners28 at OUInsider

As has been discussed in this and other threads, I join the group that worries that "Barons" will be interpreted as the feudal "Baron" which has nothing to do with OKlahoma....and maybe worse, "Barons" basically means "rich guys" in our vernacular.

if not sonics, then i'm partial to thunderbirds.

energy... that reminds me of that 70's movie, rollerball. -M

The Oklahoma City Thunder would be fine.

Only downside is that there is already a Wichita Thunder that plays in the same hockey league as the OKC Blazers.

I hear ya there, but no one knows that outside of our region. Plus, the city of St. Louis had Cardinals in both the NFL and MLB for about 30 years. The TV people there said "baseball Cardinals" or "football Cardinals." I think we can deal with the name Thunder being shared with a CHL team in the largest city in Kansas.

And it was cool to see my idea (via a friend) get on the air last night! I really hope Thunder is the name. Too too perfect for us.

I hope it's not Thunder, too predictable.

I hope it's not Thunder, too predictable.

Thanks, I have to agree...

Someone calling into the Sports Animal just suggested Oklahoma City Convoy. Thst doesn't sound to bad.

Oh gawd, I can just see the trucker caps and mullet now....


Looks like we've got us a CONVOY!

im just so happy that we have a team coming !!!!!!

if personally would prefer okc but if the other metros and small towns wanna get represented wit a "Oklahoma " title thats fine also

(we okcitians want do yall like yall do us in tulsa) ....

10-4 old buddy!!!

hell naw

I think a lot of people arguing that it should be the "City _____ "named team seem to be under the mistaken assumption that their tax dollars are the only things supporting the team. Not so at all, if nobody buys tickets, you can tax until you're blue in the face but no one is going to care about the team. By calling them the "Oklahoma_____" it makes the team something that everyone in the state would feel part of, and therefore more likely to want to come and watch the games. Yeah, OKC ponied up the tax dollars to renovate the Ford Center, and it will get the benefits of people coming into the city to see the games as a consequence. The more people across the state care about this team, the better for the city hosting it.

I hope it's not Thunder, too predictable.

Remember, the naming process is a one time deal. In five years it will either be a good name or not. Nobody will be discussing whether it was "predictable" when chosen. I love the Oklahoma City Thunder! Actually, I'm not even certain if that's what you mean by "predictable." The Dallas Cowboys: is that/was that predictable? Did it/does it matter?

I think some are over thinking this way to much. I really don't think that the people outside of OKC are going to give a hoot what we put in front of the name. They will all benefit from OKC being touted on National TV, but putting Oklahoma City in the name gives recognition to the area.

Back when Tulsa had a USFL team, it really didn't matter to me they called themselves the Oklahoma Outlaws or if they would have called them the Tulsa Outlaws, I still had season tickets, and went to Tulsa to see the games.

:iagree:

as do I.

If Oklahomans are fans of the Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers, then it certainly won't be an issue for Oklahomans to support a team named Oklahoma City _____.

as do I.

If Oklahomans are fans of the Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers, then it certainly won't be an issue for Oklahomans to support a team named Oklahoma City _____. Are you agreeing that it SHOULD BE an OKLAHOMA team, and SHOULD NOT BE an OKC team? Just asking.

Why would we limit ourselves? It's silly to think it HAS to be OKC instead of Oklahoma.

Did you all hear Ron Thulin on Jox930 today? He is very concerned that the team will, in fact, be called the "Oklahoma" whatevers. He's been hearing that the city market size has convinced the NBA that the team needs to appeal to the region and brand it without the "city." He advised calling the Mayor's office to support Cornett in his lobbying efforts with Bennett, etc. to give OKC its due branding. This whole thing was sold as a big league CITY. Thulin knows his sports, and if he's concerned as well, we all should be. BTW, Cornett is apparently speaking out and acting like it will be "OKlahoma City" as his way of pressuring them to do just that. But - it's not a done deal.

For some of us - this is a BIG deal.

Why would we limit ourselves? It's silly to think it HAS to be OKC instead of Oklahoma.I don't think limiting ourselves is the issue. Not all, but quite a few believe it would be more silly if the team was tagged Oklahoma and not Oklahoma City. 50/50? 60/40? Maybe the question needs to be polled.

I don't think limiting ourselves is the issue. Not all, but quite a few believe it would be more silly if the team was tagged Oklahoma and not Oklahoma City. 50/50? 60/40? Maybe the question needs to be polled.

Andy, Regarding my post above (Ron Thulin on Jox) he said they did a poll Tuesday and the vast majority of people were adament that it be Oklahoma City. Period.

Andy, Regarding my post above (Ron Thulin on Jox) he said they did a poll Tuesday and the vast majority of people were adament that it be Oklahoma City. Period.
Wow. Color me stunned. An OKC-based sports talk radio show took a poll and most people thought the team should be named OKC...

Why not poll some Tulsans? People from Lawton? Stillwater?

Andy, Regarding my post above (Ron Thulin on Jox) he said they did a poll Tuesday and the vast majority of people were adament that it be Oklahoma City. Period. I didn't catch his show, but great. It should be OKC.

Wow. Color me stunned. An OKC-based sports talk radio show took a poll and most people thought the team should be named OKC...

Why not poll some Tulsans? People from Lawton? Stillwater?Because CID, it's no business of the Tulsa, Lawton, and Stillwater people.