I much prefer the Kickapoo Casino Arena.

Interesting... I wouldn't mind a tribal sponsorship now that I think of it. Why not 'Chickasaw Arena'... sounds less obvious than a company.

Bible Belt Center

NICE Thunder... and it's nickname could be 'The Buckle'

Can someone post the complete article or a link to the complete article? It is archived and this is all I can see of it. Thanks in advance...

http://www.newsok.com/article/3265279
Naming rights: What's next? (Oklahoman, 07/03/2008)


The team's arrival in Oklahoma City triggers the start of a lease with Oklahoma City, and also a 90-day period in which the Oklahoma Ford Dealers have exclusive rights to negotiate a new sponsorship deal with the city and the Professional Basketball Club LLC . If a deal is not struck after that 90-day period, the team is free to seek a new sponsor. But during the next 180 days, the Oklahoma Ford Dealers must be given a...

Can someone post the complete article or a link to the complete article? It is archived and this is all I can see of it. Thanks in advance...

http://www.newsok.com/article/3265279
Naming rights: What's next? (Oklahoman, 07/03/2008)

Are you talking about the latest article or the 08 article? The link to the article I posted hasn't been archieved yet.

On another note:
They have been negotiating with the Ford dealers since July 08 or was a interim contract passed since then?

How about Love's Country Stores puts in the winning bid and calls it the "Love's Shack"?

That would be hilarious, but I don't think Love's has that sort of money. If anything, they need to spend $300 bucks and get their logo updated and redesigned.

How about Hobby Lobby. They could call the building the, well, Hobby Lobby.

My guess is the that Ford Motor Company will take over the name themselves, with maybe the existing Ford Dealers still putting up their share. BTW, the new arena in Louisville is The KFC Yum! Center. Even WalMart Arena is better than that.

Ford payed $40 million over 20 years for Ford Field (home of the Detroit Lions). With local Ford dealers already paying half of that, FMC could get a bargin. The Thunder will win the NBA Championship before the Lions ever make the playoffs.

NICE Thunder... and it's nickname could be 'The Buckle'

Perfect. haha

Are you talking about the latest article or the 08 article? The link to the article I posted hasn't been archieved yet.

On another note:
They have been negotiating with the Ford dealers since July 08 or was a interim contract passed since then?

The 08 article...

No interim one that I am aware of, and no need for one, as long as they are in the negotiating period (the partial 08 article indicates only 90 days and then another 180 days to match any higher offers), it is all a moot point. My reading of it is a new deal is time barred at this point and the original naming rights deal has been/is in full force.

The 08 article...

No interim one that I am aware of, and no need for one, as long as they are in the negotiating period (the partial 08 article indicates only 90 days and then another 180 days to match any higher offers), it is all a moot point. My reading of it is a new deal is time barred at this point and the original naming rights deal has been/is in full force.

Generally speaking, if you want to interpret a lease, it would be better to use the actual language than rely on a media report. Also in general terms, as I've never read the lease, I would find it rather odd that a pack of business folk who managed to dodge the bullets they dodged to get the team and then negotiate a rather favorable lease for their club went and locked down a early on or never ever provision for something as potentially lucrative as naming rights for the arena. I could be wrong in my belief, but it would take a lot before I bet against that belief.

The Del Rancho Arena.

With "The Fried Okra Concourse".

As well as "Steak Sandwich Supreme Court".

hehe

Generally speaking, if you want to interpret a lease, it would be better to use the actual language than rely on a media report. Also in general terms, as I've never read the lease, I would find it rather odd that a pack of business folk who managed to dodge the bullets they dodged to get the team and then negotiate a rather favorable lease for their club went and locked down a early on or never ever provision for something as potentially lucrative as naming rights for the arena. I could be wrong in my belief, but it would take a lot before I bet against that belief.

I agree, but in the absence of the original agreement, this is what we have. I have read many an Oklahoman court case where specific time language such as the very specific 90/180 day language is used and cases have been overturned/thrown out/affirmed based on those parameters.

This time restriction was written before the Team ever got involved and they didn't have any control over it. Sort of like agreeing to the Key lease when they bought the team and then trying to get out of it early or getting a new building/lease. The contract was what it was and they went to court over it. The time limitation change would have to have been agreed to by all parties involved (including the Ford group) and it doesn't seem like it would be in their best interest to do so.

The Del Rancho Arena.

With "The Fried Okra Concourse".

As well as "Steak Sandwich Supreme Court".

Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!
All having tickets before the honorable, the Thunder of Oklahoma City are admonished to draw near and make a little noooiiiiise!! as the starting lineups are now being introduced. God save this team and the National Basketball Association.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oyez

OK so now that it's being called Oklahoma City Arena...how long do you think we have to wait for it to be tagged with a name? Seems like they should have left the Ford Center stuff along until a new one was in place. It looks so naked with the signage!

It would be nice to see a Devon Triangle!Project 180 rennovations at The Myriad Gardens,The Devon Tower,And The Devon Energy Arena!

It would be nice to see a Devon Triangle!Project 180 rennovations at The Myriad Gardens,The Devon Tower,And The Devon Energy Arena!

While, it's amazing to see all of the civic improvements brought about by Devon, I think we need a little more diversity than that.

honestly, I dont like the name "Oklahoma City Arena". It is not creative and sounds like something they just came up with.. I understand it is temporary, but these days with internet and lots of coverage due to events - there is nothing temporary anymore. Maybe they should have come up with something like "Oklahoma City Sports Center", "Oklahoma City Civic Arena", Civic Plaza or better - that would have been much better than 'city' arena.

We lost a lot, in my opinion - by dropping Ford's name. And it was not too smart for the team to drop without having a new name on the ready - particularly since the season has started and we are on national tv. If nothing else, not having Ford Center or a new name yet makes it look like there's a problem in OKC - which people are dying to find evidence of.

Everyone will still call it Ford Center and Thunderdome all over the TV.

Everyone will still call it Ford Center and Thunderdome all over the TV.

The thing is.... They aren't! They all call it Oklahoma City Arena now.

I think he meant the people still call it the Ford Center. There are still a few that call the convention center the Myriad (rather than Cox) etc. The media instantly picked up and is using the name change.

I still dont understand why Bennett didn't just leave it the way it was, until a new sponsor was announced. The season already begun yet they took Ford down after the pre-season??? Why not just continue with the way things were with Ford, until a new sponsor?

It makes it look like something went wrong, that they took down Ford right when the season was getting going - yet still haven't announced a new one and using a VERY GENERIC name instead. Im surprised people around the country haven't pounced on it yet as they ALWAYS looking for 'problems' in Small Markets. ..... small markets need to always demonstrate viability even moreso than large ones. When Salt Lake changed, it went from Delta to Energy Solutions - instantly.

By keeping Ford (until you have a new one), you at least keep the credibility that FORD brought to OKC which in itself helped the city get the team in the first place. Plus, they still could have got revenue from Ford - even if it wasn't more, NOW they're getting nothing and the building looks defaced and like there is a problem in OKC.

If they absolutely had to remove Ford, then they could have avoided that potential image 'problem' of the building/city by coming up with a unique name (like Portland's Rose Quarter, it is sponsorless but unique). Sports Center or even Downtown Arena would have made more sence than just OKC arena *especially since it was originally called Downtown Arena prior to getting Ford to sponsor. ....

Could this be Bennett's first real 'blunder'?

Bennett FAILED and that is HARDCORE!

That's pretty random. Bennett succeeded beyond my wildest dreams.

Bennett FAILED and that is HARDCORE!
Thunder, what is the deal with you? You rattle along about Crossroads being so potentially great but which is a present abysmal failure but then you knock something else in the city which is a fantastic success? I just don't get where you are coming from.

I think he meant the people still call it the Ford Center. There are still a few that call the convention center the Myriad (rather than Cox) etc. The media instantly picked up and is using the name change.

I'm sure this is due to legal reasons. Media doesn't want to get sued.

Thunder, what is the deal with you? You rattle along about Crossroads being so potentially great but which is a present abysmal failure but then you knock something else in the city which is a fantastic success? I just don't get where you are coming from.

Don't try to understand Thunder, Doug. You'll get a huge headache.

I think Thunder is agreeing with me that the naming rights was a failure. He should have made a deal with Ford if he didn't have anybody else lined up or couldn't get the new sponsor in time for the start of this season. It is a failure to be on national tv so many times now - and the "ford center" is no longer there - but it is now called OKC arena. That is a failure for a small market, because OBVIOUSLY Bennett isn't getting any money from arena naming rights (but he was before with Ford); and I would not be surprised if the national pundits or those who hate OKC don't pounce on it. And Im really surprised they didn't already.

Bennett? What does Clay Bennett have to do with the Arena name?!? NOTHING!! He owns the Oklahoma City Thunder not the Oklahoma City Arena... The city owns the Arena, right??

Bennett? What does Clay Bennett have to do with the Arena name?!? NOTHING!! He owns the Oklahoma City Thunder not the Oklahoma City Arena... The city owns the Arena, right??

The city handed over the naming rights to the OKC Thunder when the original contract between the city and team was signed. OKC Thunder is handling the negotiations with sponsors for a new arena name.

Do they have Oklahoma City Arena signage up in place of the Ford logo?

While I agree Oklahoma City Arena isn't exactly the most creative, it does get straight to the point (maybe recycle the Myriad name?) It is also in line with then councilman Cornett (who voted against the Ford naming rights) that we should be promoting OKC and not some corporation. Nothing against getting the money that goes with naming right deals (except that money should have NEVER been given away to the team, they don't own the building and didn't pay for the improvements). However, I do agree to make a name change when you don't have another sponsor lined up doesn't make the most sense. Even though most of the Ford money was being forwarded to the City, Bennett was pocketing the balance (something like $130K/year). Now he is still paying the City the $409K/year and missing the pocketed amount or roughly half a million/year. The building name will change once again. Think the Ballpark has gone though 3 different official names (all with the same company, just the name of the company that keeps changing). Forget the corporate naming rights completely and do it the way Disney does it. Think every attraction has a corporate SPONSOR. But the name of the attraction never changes when the sponsor changes (i.e. Its a Small World remains Its a Small World, just the tag line "sponsored by ________". Everyone still gets what they want out of it. The naming rights holder gets the cash and the sponsor still gets their name plastered everywhere.

What HR said. Larry, there is no signage up there. The building looks like a dump now. Go on drive by and give us some pictures.

The city handed over the naming rights to the OKC Thunder when the original contract between the city and team was signed. OKC Thunder is handling the negotiations with sponsors for a new arena name.

ahhhh ok! Thanks. I must have skipped on reading that article.

My bet is on Hertz or MidFirst.

If memory serves, former Mayor Norick speculated that the new arena would be named Jim Thorpe Arena in a 1994 article about MAPS. This was, of course, just before the corporate naming spree that took sporting venues across the nation by storm.

Since it was paid for by the people of Oklahoma City, Jim Thorpe Arena, Civic Forum, or hey... Myriad Arena South ... just for nostalgia's sake... would all have a nice ring.

Thunder, you need to get a life and quit dumping on OKC! Just because they changed to a temporary name for the time being, and don't have signage up, doesn't mean that the arena is a dump. Get a clue or move on from this forum!

Not that I disagree with your concept, but nostalgia no longer pays the light bill. What isn't covered by naming rights funds would likely get generated from some other source, i.e tickets, concessions, suite fees, etc.

Though your milage may vary, I'm fine for some company to pay a bucket or three full of cash so they can slap their name on the building.

I am 95% sure it will be Hertz Arena, based on what I have heard and the presents that Hertz has inside the center right now.

I am 95% sure it will be Hertz Arena, based on what I have heard and the presents that Hertz has inside the center right now.

Don't you mean the "Hurts" Arena. LOL

Why cant it be Hertz's Jim Thorpe Arena or The Oklahoma City Forum by Hertz. I think there should be a constant name with the company name attached so when it comes time for a new name deal we don't have to worry about the name change there will always be the constant.

I still say it will be the Little Debbie Dome...

Would'nt it be cool if it were named The Devon Energy Arena and The lighting on The arena matched The Devon Tower?or is that over doing it?

Would'nt it be cool if it were named The Devon Energy Arena and The lighting on The arena matched The Devon Tower?or is that over doing it?

Good idea. Proximity is everything.

I dont think Devon can nor should sponsor EVERYTHING in OKC. It really makes the city look small time.

I like Hertz, it is a world brand and has significant ops in OKC as it's #2 city. Very appropriate and almost as good as the Ford label. I like it, now the quesiton is - why did Bennett take away Ford without having the contract from Hertz (or whoever)? Particularly with the season in play AND OKC being on TV a LOT this year. That was a blunder move on his part, not to mention the money he was getting from the Ford deal - however little it was, it was more than what he's getting now and Ford/having 'world' brand naming rights lended very big credibility to OKC.

Somebody may have mentioned this however, I am just not feeling up to reading the whole thread:

I think the Thunder and the City of Oklahoma City wanted way too much money when it came to the new terms of the contract. Oklahoma Ford Dealers probably laughed at and walked away. Every other organization that could afford it probably thought it was an outrageous number as well. I am sure they heard a term similar to "Call us when you the team has the fame and notoriety of the LA Lakers or the Chicago Bulls. I have feeling most major sponsors see the Oklahoma City Thunder the same way I do. In 5-10 years they will be sold off to some other owner who will once again pick up the team and move them to a city who already has a major league presence. A city who already has MLB, NFL and in need of an NBA team. The Thunder will be like every other sports novelty in this state. When the team first comes to town, everybody goes to the games. In 3,4,5 years the novelty wears off and people go back to business as usual. College Football is the only thing that has a serious following in this state. Most of the people that go to the games go because they went with their Dad, Dad went with grandpa, grandpa went with great grandpa and great grandpa went with great great grandpa and so on. In otherwords it is a family tradition that has been going since the stone age.

We are already in year 5 with the NBA (2 years with the Hornets and this is the 3rd season for the Thunder. Last I heard, attendance has remained fairly constant over that period.

We are already in year 5 with the NBA (2 years with the Hornets and this is the 3rd season for the Thunder. Last I heard, attendance has remained fairly constant over that period.

Larry,
Is that you? saying something positive? You are right. I live in VA and am a season ticket holder for the Thunder. I will be in town Wednesday to attend games on Wed and Friday. In town again on 11/24 for the Dallas Game and again in March. I believe the Thunder will remain in OKC, but as was stated the allegience will have to be grown via new generations of fans. The Thunder are methodical in their growth process and I am thoroughly encouraged by the detail and professionalism of the organization. The citizens of OKC and Oklahoma for that matter will not allow failure, its not in our blood.

... In otherwords it is a family tradition that has been going since the stone age.

I'm never going to be confused for a b-baller fanatic, but I catch them, and fan shots occasionally on the telly. I also see fan families out and about the metro.
For what it's worth, locally this is b-balls stone age, and a significant passle of new traditions are already forged and more are arising.

I'm not sure what the sudden fascination with Hertz is on here these days. Why would they suddenly decide after alllllll these DECADES, to start naming things? They've been in a terrible financial state for years, so it's not like they have extra cash to throw around on something that doesn't really have a return. It's advertising, but when was the last time you went to Staples instead of Office Depot because an arena has their name on it....or used American Airlines over Southwest? The product sells itself, not an arena. So for Hertz, what do they get out of it except paying a lot of money? At least the local Ford dealers could say they were a grass roots effort to support the local facility. Hertz isn't really local...they're up in NJ/NY, we're just the cheap labor operations bottom-o-the-bucket employees. They've already started outsourcing some jobs to contractors here to cut more costs. They moved some jobs OUT of OKC as well. I just don't get why so many people have this bug in their rear thinking Hertz is some magical fix for things these days. They aren't gonna do jack.

The Thunder will be like every other sports novelty in this state. When the team first comes to town, everybody goes to the games. In 3,4,5 years the novelty wears off and people go back to business as usual.

I beg to differ. The Oklahoma City Blazers experienced consistent attendance figures for 17 years. The only reason the franchise folded was due to interest moving up to AHL. If they had ANY financial difficulty, it was because someone didn't keep the books. The RedHawks have been around since 1962. Minor league fly-by-might teams is something Oklahoma City never supported. This is where we fail to give Oklahoma City credit in that its populous wants the read deal, not imitation or in most cases minor league sports. Both hockey and baseball are the lasting minor-league staples in the city. Nothing else will make it unless it is a professional team.

Let's quickly go over the teams that failed, and why...

Oklahoma City Cavalry 1990-1995. CBA=minor league basketball. Eventually the entire league folded. Nothing says basketball worse than minor league basketball. It in itself is a failed concept.

Oklahoma Coyotes - 1995-1996. RHI=minor league... roller hockey? Fly-by-night. Period. What were they thinking? It would have been better off in Edmond.

Oklahoma Wranglers - 2000-2002... I think. AFL. Arena football is nice. It, but just isn't football. The real deal.

Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz - AF2. A step down. I hope someone realizes by now that arena football simply does not work in Oklahoma City.

Sports novelty, yes. But MINOR LEAGUE sports novelty. National sports writers undermine Oklahoma City's support and knowledge of basketball. They clearly didn't do their homework with OSU basketball and its glory days of a packed Gallager-Iba Arena, or OU basketball, or even the NCAA Basketball tournaments that always did so well in Oklahoma City.

You can't blindly assume that college football is the only sport that has a serious following in this state when we have a pro basketball team, the real deal, that has already struck a chord with the city and state. Heck, even now many of the serious OU and OSU football fans I know now pair OU and the Thunder in their sports priorities. Hence, the Thunder is now taken as seriously as college football. Like Larry said, we are in year 5 with the the NBA. Thunder fans are still packing the house. It is what it is.

They've been in a terrible financial state for years, so it's not like they have extra cash to throw around on something that doesn't really have a return.

It's not Hertz. There are plenty of hints in the other thread on this very topic. Not only that, but my husband works at Hertz. As you said, bomber, they don't exactly have free cash to spend on these types of extravagances. They're too busy spending money on worthless consultants teaching their employees how to "huddle" and stand up in meetings. (No joke). I am just an outside observer for the most part, but I've never seen this company make any really wise business decision when it comes to basic operations.

Would'nt it be cool if it were named The Devon Energy Arena and The lighting on The arena matched The Devon Tower?or is that over doing it?

No

It's not Hertz. There are plenty of hints in the other thread on this very topic. Not only that, but my husband works at Hertz. As you said, bomber, they don't exactly have free cash to spend on these types of extravagances. They're too busy spending money on worthless consultants teaching their employees how to "huddle" and stand up in meetings. (No joke). I am just an outside observer for the most part, but I've never seen this company make any really wise business decision when it comes to basic operations.

I still say Midfirst Arena

No

No that its not over doing it,or no as in no in The whole idea?

No.

whole idea.

I agree with you guys, I was just throwing it out there!

very good points Larry. oneforone - you're forgetting one thing in your thinking about the Thunder but you posted it in your thinking about college football - that is, generations of fans were created that follow the OU Sooner football (in particular, no offense OSU) - as kids went with their dad and their grand dad and so on.

This is how it is even in major leagues too, and this is why many Seattleites legitimately felt betraid by the NBA. The Sonics had a very strong core following in Seattle, but as the city got other franchises - Seattle really wasn't big enough to keep the audience on basketball, especially when the team was virtually disbanded (and this happened before Bennett got there). However, most people who lived in Seattle longer than 10 years have an attachment to the Sonics brand, even myself even though I am an OKC expat; but I was here during the 1990's glory days of Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton battling Michael Jordan and the league. That gets into your blood and doesn't leave, even though you may not care about the recent product - and Seattle IS a very much bandwagon city.

Nevertheless, I was very happy when Bennett bought the team - I know they were moving to OKC. And I was fine with it. I felt the Sonics were not the same and they needed a change. and OKC needed the team - so to me it was a good fit. Now back to my point.

As time goes by, kids will grow up with the Thunder as their team. Sure, you and I old enough, we know OKC without a major league team. But kids will ONLY know OKC as one of the major league cities - and their team is the Thunder. Kevin Durant is class class class, and he IS pro-OKC as can be. We should give him the KEY and let him do whatever he wants because he is making OKC become big league all by himself. Well, this will grow on people and especially kids - they will always associate the Thunder with OKC, and as OKC's team. Very similarly to what is done with the Sooners, dads will take their sons/daughters to the NBA game; and those times will mean something - just like it does in MOST other major league cities.

Im not saying it works everywhere, because Memphis seems to have problems - but I think OKC is different, the city seeks a major league team (or two) and the support will be there. Maybe not every seat will be filled, but they will be paid for. And as long as the team continues to grow and at least try to do well - I don't see OKC ever without a pro team again.

One final point, NBA is not football - so that also gives the city a cachet for supporting a pro team. If we instead had the NFL, it would be very difficult. See New Orleans for example (they have a top college bball but NO football, so NFL works great there and NBA is not so). OKC 'fortunately' doesn't really have a top college bball club - OU and OSU are more or less middle of the pack.

Super Sonic Cheeseburger Dome! :D

Walmart Center

Walmart Center

I hope this is a joke, but I wouldn't be surprised.

My guess is it will probably be the Gaylord Family Memorial Center, or NewsOK Center, or something like that. The Oklahoman has to have their name on everything around here.