I think it would be a good idea for us to start brainstorming (perhaps we could contact the Chamber) and start organizing an official OKC Welcomes NBA party. Show the Sonics players how excited we are and how nice and good fans we are. They didn't get much love in Seattle, even before Bennett. Let's have a bigger showing of support than Seattle showed at the SOS rally. Let's let the new team know we're behind them all the way.:welcome55

I think a welcome part would be great idea, I think a welcome part should happen when the new name is announced have a big parade and have the new team colors everywhere and products sold during the event...

That is a Great idea.....if it comes together let us know where it will be and we'll be there.

I'm in.

And I want a t-shirt.

Do it.

My family and I would be there for sure.

I'm in. I want a t-shirt too.

i'm in and i would also like a t-shirt!!!!!

Oklahoma City is to be commended for its support of the New Orleans-Oklahoma City Hornets, its overwhelming support by voters for Fabulous Ford Center upgrades (stay tuned)!

Oklahoma City, I am a proud resident.

I'm in.

who should be contacted to help organize this event, the city needs this and us who live in the okc metro and all around oklahoma needs this. Plus this one event could bring good needed money to the city.. I cant wait, I see the future and the future looks good, bricktown will have a second wind and grow even more, plus i see more hotels and entertainment for downtown...Finally it is okc's time to show that we are a major city and oklahomas time to shine ..Great job to the members who helped bring this nba team to us..THANK YOU

Just speculating but I sense our horizon will soon be seeing the clouds of an invitation only meet the players exclusive mixer for the high dobbers crowd, probably at the cowboy hall of fame, and another for the masses to be held downtown at the arena.

Where's our Tshirt inventor guy?

Seriously, we do need a great first impression for the team...

How about a huge Welcome NBA (since we don't know their names yet) billboard as you exit the airport or do they take buses?

At the very least a few banners to make them feel welcome!

Just speculating but I sense our horizon will soon be seeing the clouds of an invitation only meet the players exclusive mixer for the high dobbers crowd, probably at the cowboy hall of fame, and another for the masses to be held downtown at the arena.
so, just make the "one for the masses" bigger, better, and louder...
:tiphat:
:Smiley208
:cheersmf:

so, just make the "one for the masses" bigger, better, and louder...
:tiphat:
:Smiley208
:cheersmf:

Socialist!

(Just kidding)

I like your idea - one big party!

I agree I would luv to be there to support the teams arrival. I am waiting for merchandise to.

Sounds like a great idea. I'm in...

I will bring you 3 of the loudest boys in Oklahoma to welcome them.

Somebody needs to mention this to Mayor Cornett and the Chamber - they will make it happen.

Be sure to tell them where the idea came from and that there is already a basic audience of 4000 or so posters on OKC Talk who likely would show up, much more once the OKC media promotes it.

I vision a big huge parade and festival for a day, with people driving into downtown honking their horns all day and night, and pedestrians walking, shouting, and celebrating OKC's arrival FINALLY as a major league city.

We need to make sure the welcome party is more than just somebody talking at a podium though. Have it be an event that includes everyone, a true celebration! A party, complete with refreshments so everyone can be involved. I dunno.

I just want to be sure it is not done half-assed. We need to think big time from now on OKC. Enough of this, we'll seed it and wait and see stuff (like the airport, Bass Pro, so on). GO BIG TIME from the start - that way first impressions will be lasting!

Make the nay sayers in Seattle and larger markets eat their words, wishing they had the support (and earning power) of Oklahoma City. Give them a 'preview' with a World Class Welcoming Party!

If someone want's, I dont mind to email the mayor and chamber officials - but it would be even nicer if an OKC resident or two did it; since it's your team and vested interest ultimately.

You're a major league city now (for real). Now, PROVE you belong!

in working on setting something up I'm meeting with chamber on Monday

I see the new team's jerseys,shirts and hats being super hot hard to get items...and yall thought the tickle-me-elmos at christmas a couple of years ago was insane

Great Metro.

Feel free to use any of my suggestions as your own.

Here is Canada's take, globesports.com: Oklahoma City gets ready to rejoin major leagues (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080704.wsptok4/BNStory/GlobeSportsBasketball/)

Note their headline, "Rejoin Major Leagues".

They're the ONLY media outlet so far that got this right, since this is NOT OKC's first major league team: The first could be considered to be the Oklahoma Outlaws - that Tulsa shared with OKC. But the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets definitely were the first major league team to have OKC's name.

Great Metro.

Feel free to use any of my suggestions as your own.

Here is Canada's take, globesports.com: Oklahoma City gets ready to rejoin major leagues (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080704.wsptok4/BNStory/GlobeSportsBasketball/)

Note their headline, "Rejoin Major Leagues".

They're the ONLY media outlet so far that got this right, since this is NOT OKC's first major league team: The first could be considered to be the Oklahoma Outlaws - that Tulsa shared with OKC. But the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets definitely were the first major league team to have OKC's name.

How did Oklahoma City "share" the Outlaws?

And the first major league team in Oklahoma was the Tulsa Ice Oilers in the 1929 American Hockey Association, which was at the time a competing league to NHL. Tulsa even played NHL champion Blackhawks in 1930 in a non sanctioned championship between the leagues. Oklahoma City had a team in the AHA some years later but by then the league had decided to stop trying to compete and be a minor league associated with the NHL.

thank you swakelander for the history lesson on tulsa's first pro sport team in our thread discussing okc.

Also, in the mid '90s we had the Oklahoma Coyotes of Roller Hockey International. This is slightly a bigger deal, though!

How did Oklahoma City "share" the Outlaws?

And the first major league team in Oklahoma was the Tulsa Ice Oilers in the 1929 American Hockey Association, which was at the time a competing league to NHL. Tulsa even played NHL champion Blackhawks in 1930 in a non sanctioned championship between the leagues. Oklahoma City had a team in the AHA some years later but by then the league had decided to stop trying to compete and be a minor league associated with the NHL.

I for one felt like the Outlaws were our team, I had season tickets, and traveled up the turnpike for every home game.

There was no way I would pass up the chance to see pro football that close, with Doug Williams as quarterback, future Washington Redskins Super Bowl Winner, right here in Oklahoma.

I've gone to see the Dallas Cowboys, my only other favorite team, but its not the same when there your home team.

The Oklahoma City TBA, there is a special feeling that go's along with that part of ownership.

i too drove to t-town to see the outlaws often. we would ALWAYS stop at casa banitas (sp?), that pink mexican restaurant, to eat. i had a friend who went door to door selling encyclopedias in tulsa at the time. of course he did not talk to the whole city, but he said most people he talked to said they did not like the outlaws because the owner was always saying he was wanting to move the team to OKC but could not find a location.????????? i believed that because if the owner wanted to stay in tulsa, the team would have been named the tulsa outlaws. anyway, i always felt the outlaws was OKC's team really. kinda wierd. my two cents.

I'm working to see if we can get this official party off the ground, will post details as they progress....

I'm working to see if we can get this official party off the ground, will post details as they progress....

Awesome Metro. Keep us informed. I know I will be there!

I'm working to see if we can get this official party off the ground, will post details as they progress....

Sounds good. :bow:

I agree!
Now that I live in California (still Okie at heart) you have to think big.
There is a different swagger and attitude when you are a major league city.
This is why the name is so important.
You have to think regionally, Kansas has no pro team Nebraska...
if you do a mid america prairie theme over barons from the oil fields.
(Most of Oklahoma's wells are capped anyway.)
Thunder, tornado, something the region identifies with.
You only get one shot at this.
I like thunder with the buffalo as a mascot. Can even put lightning bolts with it as the prairies shake.
make the party BIGGER than Texas.
Rename a street, Signage all over the national airport.
banners everywhere like when the Olympic festival was there years ago.
YOU CAN DO IT! Don't think like a Tulsan, hire a marketing firm think NY or Dallas your in that league now.

Great Metro. Let me know if you need any help on ideas. ....

I want this to be a BIG/HUGE event for Oklahoma City. This should be like when you get a new girlfriend, who is the finest girl in the school. You want to get your best car and your open wallet to show the world that the two of you 'have arrived.'

I also would like it to be accessible to all attendees, not JUST the rich people of OKC. Show the WORLD the hospitality and cosmopolitan side of OKC - where everyone celebrates the arrival of the ICON of OKC.

Maybe even have a portion of the ceremony that pays 'respect' to Seattle - then, 'movin' on ....' would be very classy and probably 'win' the hearts of many disgruntled Seattle Sonics fans.

anyways, let me know if I can help (recognizing im 2000 miles away, lol).