2. The mexican national soccer team


definite agree!

Even though I do NOT believe that Oklahoma City will get an MLS team in the near future (or an NHL team, for that matter) , IF someone were to have the money to TRY I believe what one of the OKC FC owners told me, that that person will need to get the blessing of Clay Bennett, Aubrey McClendon, and the rest of the Thunder ownership group. They have become the benevolent, major-sports dictators in OKC. If they're not behind it, fuggedaboutit.

Even though I do NOT believe that Oklahoma City will get an MLS team in the near future (or an NHL team, for that matter) , IF someone were to have the money to TRY I believe what one of the OKC FC owners told me, that that person will need to get the blessing of Clay Bennett, Aubrey McClendon, and the rest of the Thunder ownership group. They have become the benevolent, major-sports dictators in OKC. If they're not behind it, fuggedaboutit.

Since the Thunder ownership group has high ranking positions in what seems like half the potential major corporate sponsors and ties with some of the other majors and several of the medium ones it would not be surprising that a MLS group would want them on board.

Though I could see this window closing eventually, MLS is not going to be the same level of sports dollar competition that a NFL/NHL/MLB would be (and the NBA revenue sharing means less reliance on local income) and since they all make more in other business having more amenities for employees they are trying to recruit, several are expanding, can be beneficial (at least a couple of that group are sponsoring at least one of the two teams already).

I remember it being said (and I can't find supporting documentation) that an AHL requirement is that a host city be dark (no hockey) for a season prior to establishing an AHL franchise there.

I agree that the buzz going around about Blazers fans once the Barons came in was absurd. People would dog you online if they saw you wearing a Blazers jersey to a Barons game. Pretty ridiculous, since it's important to keep the hockey legacy fans coming if you want the team to thrive.

About free tickets: yes, the Blazers gave a way loads of tickets. I went to nearly every home game their final season and didn't buy a single ticket. If you wanted to go to a Blazers game for free, it wasn't difficult to find a free ticket. Sometimes they were handing them out at 7-11, if I remember correctly.

Maybe someone with inside info can shed some light on something for me.
Why was it not feasible for the Blazers to move in the Cox Center, but it was perfectly OK for the Barons to do that?
I know the city shelled out money to increase the ice-making equipment at the Cox Center, as part of the agreement with Funk, and such

Maybe someone with inside info can shed some light on something for me.
Why was it not feasible for the Blazers to move in the Cox Center, but it was perfectly OK for the Barons to do that?
I know the city shelled out money to increase the ice-making equipment at the Cox Center, as part of the agreement with Funk, and such
Didn't the Blazers play in the MYRIAD, aka, Cox Center?

Maybe someone with inside info can shed some light on something for me.
Why was it not feasible for the Blazers to move in the Cox Center, but it was perfectly OK for the Barons to do that?I know the city shelled out money to increase the ice-making equipment at the Cox Center, as part of the agreement with Funk, and such

Inside info? No.

Funk wasn't on board with Lund's red carpet treatment of the NBA. If we recall the initial fallout between Funk & Lund centered around the accommodations the city had Lund make with the Hornets and later the Thunder. The downtown arena lease spelled out that if the NHL or NBA were to come to OKC these groups would be given preference; the agreement with them would supersede any use of the arena by the Blazers.

Lund chose to accommodate the NBA (Hornets & Thunder). The Blazers probably would have been forced out of the downtown arena had they not worked with the NBA. The ice plant at the Cox Center needed to be replaced leaving the State Fair Arena as the Blazers' other option.

At the time, the NBA didn't want ice underneath the court because of condensation concerns. You had this problem in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles & New York where the NBA & NHL share the same venue. Maybe the technology & materials for dealing with this concern has improved?

Two arenas does provide Oklahoma City's NBA & AHL teams a lot of flexibility with the schedule. Milwaukee & San Antonio are two cities where the AHL & NBA share the same facility.

We are blessed to have Chesapeake Energy Arena, Cox Convention Center Arena, State Fair Arena, Lazy E Arena (Guthrie), Civic Center Music Hall and Armstrong Auditorium (Edmond) in our metro area; it has to be a plus for the variety of events planned.


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

Inside info? No.

Funk wasn't on board with Lund's red carpet treatment of the NBA. If we recall the initial fallout between Funk & Lund centered around the accommodations the city had Lund make with the Hornets and later the Thunder. The downtown arena lease spelled out that if the NHL or NBA were to come to OKC these groups would be given preference; the agreement with them would supersede any use of the arena by the Blazers.

Lund chose to accommodate the NBA (Hornets & Thunder). The Blazers probably would have been forced out of the downtown arena had they not worked with the NBA. The ice plant at the Cox Center needed to be replaced leaving the State Fair Arena as the Blazers' other option.

At the time, the NBA didn't want ice underneath the court because of condensation concerns. You had this problem in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles & New York where the NBA & NHL share the same venue. Maybe the technology & materials for dealing with this concern has improved?

Two arenas does provide Oklahoma City's NBA & AHL teams a lot of flexibility with the schedule. Milwaukee & San Antonio are two cities where the AHL & NBA share the same facility.

We are blessed to have Chesapeake Energy Arena, Cox Convention Center Arena, State Fair Arena, Lazy E Arena (Guthrie), Civic Center Music Hall and Armstrong Auditorium (Edmond) in our metro area; it has to be a plus for the variety of events planned.


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

It still gets mentioned by announcers any time a player falls where they did not look out of control or nobody had recently dove possibly getting sweat on the floor at those venues, so probably not much has changed in the last five years.

The reason why we loss the Blazers was that the City decided not to renew its lease with the team.

The reason why we loss the Blazers was that the City decided not to renew its lease with the team.

No. No. No.
Go back to the Oklahoman's archives and read for yourself.

OKC Blazers cease operations; city to talk with AHL team | News OK

The Oklahoma City Blazers have suspended operations after failing to renew their lease with Oklahoma City to play in the Ford Center or Cox Center, a team official said Thursday...The Blazers did not renew their lease with the Ford Center after months of negotiations. According to city documents, the city and SMG were going to grant the Blazers a three-year renewal, but the Blazers have retracted the deal.
After 17 Years, Oklahoma City Blazers Fold Up Shop in the CHL - Defending Big D
announced on July 1 they were suspending operations for the upcoming season after failing to agree with the city on a new lease.
So apparently, maybe even I could have been able to renew the lease. The city and SMG were planning to do it. It was Funk who nixed it.

Spoke to someone yesterday that has worked in tickets sales for both the blazers and the barons.

While the attendance is not what they would like (and they are changing some thinks to help that next season)

The paid attendance. Was higher for the barons this season then any year the blazers played in okc

I'm sorry. That is complete, and total B.S.
http://newsok.com/barons-building-a-brand-in-oklahoma-city/article/3786791
The Blazers averaged a franchise-record 10,438 fans in 1993-94. For a dozen years, the Blazers averaged between 8,000 and 9,000.
In the first year of the Blazers, their goal was to average 3,000/game. at that number they could break even by year's end. They broke even by Thanksgiving. Everything else after that was profit.

The blazers gave most of their tickets away for free

We always bought tickets from the scalpers out front.

The blazers gave most of their tickets away for free

So in 1993-94 when the Blazers averaged 10,000/game.....they gave away most of those tickets?
Really? Do you know how stupid that sounds? Seriously.
Do you work for the Barons? Is your last name Funk? :)
I just gave references to their actual attendance numbers, and all you can say is "They gave most of their tickets away"?!?
Every year?
Some years?
Just the last year?
Seriously, though. I get so tired of this holier-than-thou Barons Bull$#!+. Especially when they can't even get more than 1,200 people to come to a Playoff game!
And let me say this, the smallest crowd I ever saw at a Blazers game was in the first year, 92-93. Their was an ice storm that hit Oklahoma City in the afternoon. The news was telling people to not travel, if they didn't have to. There were STILL 6,000 people at the game that night. And that was turnstile count, NOT tickets sold.
So, even IF they gave away all those tickets, there were STILL almost 6x's more people who would rather brave an ice storm to see the Blazers play a regular season, AA, non-affiliated game than would come to see the AAA Barons, on a 70-degree evening in a playoff game.
(Drops the mic, and walks off stage)

(Drops the mic, and walks off stage)
Was that because people were heckling? It certainly wasn't because you won any arguments.

You gave references to actual attendance numbers, but what about actual PAID attendance numbers? The fact of the matter is the Blazers DID give most of their tickets away.

Was that because people were heckling? It certainly wasn't because you won any arguments.

You gave references to actual attendance numbers, but what about actual PAID attendance numbers? The fact of the matter is the Blazers DID give most of their tickets away.
What do you base that statement on? Do you have any proof of that? Someone above said they had talked to someone from the Barons who told them their paid attendance NOW is more than the Blazers EVER had. That is patently false.
Did the Blazers give away some tickets? Absolutely. Welcome to minor league sports.
Did they give away MOST of their tickets? Absolutely not! But that's the "conventional wisdom" that keeps popping up, with NOTHING to back that up. Nothing.
If you're a Barons fan, does it make you feel better about their terrible attendance numbers to think that?
Do you have to try to break someone else down to make yourself feel better?
If it was true, that would be one thing. But it isn't. But it keeps getting passed around like it is.
If the Funks keep trying to pass off a lie, as if it were true, I guess they hope people will start believing it. Hey, it worked for Hitler.
But at the bottom of it, is that it is NOT true. And in the end, I may be the only person who even cares. The Blazers aren't coming back. And the Barons can't surely sustain with the status quo for very long.

What do you base that statement on? Do you have any proof of that? Someone above said they had talked to someone from the Barons who told them their paid attendance NOW is more than the Blazers EVER had. That is patently false.
Did the Blazers give away some tickets? Absolutely. Welcome to minor league sports.
Did they give away MOST of their tickets? Absolutely not! But that's the "conventional wisdom" that keeps popping up, with NOTHING to back that up. Nothing.
If you're a Barons fan, does it make you feel better about their terrible attendance numbers to think that?
Do you have to try to break someone else down to make yourself feel better?
If it was true, that would be one thing. But it isn't. But it keeps getting passed around like it is.
If the Funks keep trying to pass off a lie, as if it were true, I guess they hope people will start believing it. Hey, it worked for Hitler.
But at the bottom of it, is that it is NOT true. And in the end, I may be the only person who even cares. The Blazers aren't coming back. And the Barons can't surely sustain with the status quo for very long.
Where is your proof that the paid attendance exceeded the free attendance?

For the record, I was a Blazers fan until the Blazers were no more. I am now a Barons fan. I like hockey. That doesn't mean I like how the Barons front office is managing things. Do I like the attendance numbers? No. But it's not because the product on the ice is inferior to what the Blazers offered. I went to more Blazers games than Barons games, mostly because I could get free tickets pretty easily. I actually think that they ought to work harder to fill up the lower bowl with paid ticket holders and then open up the second-level decks to free or VERY cheap tickets to fill up the place and get people excited about OKC hockey, THEN start building up your paid attendance numbers. But the anti-Barons rhetoric by the Blazers zealots is frankly unbelievable.

I'm just curious, borchard, which would make you happiest?

A- Status quo, no changes, just lots of complaining
B- Barons stay in place, Bob Funk throws up his hands and says I'm getting out of this business, someone else please take over, Prodigal sells the team to a different ownership group
C- Barons fold, someone other than Bob Funk/Prodigal brings back the CHL and the Blazers
D- Barons fold, nobody does anything else, OKC is hockey-less for the foreseeable future

I have no dog in this fight, I'm just trying to figure out the conditions that would make you content so I can better understand where you're coming from. For example, trying to understand if you will simply always hate the Barons, or if it's just Funk, or both or what. This is not intending to be an insult at all.

Where were all these mythical Blazer comps? I never saw any. Went to a hundred Blazer games and always bought as ticket. Think I once got a voucher by collecting x # of Libby can labels. Anyway, the truth is plain to see, attend a game. sad people don't care enough to use their tickets. Epic fail by Funk Jr and now the city is hitching their wagon to him to bring in soccer? Richie Rich tired of his new hockey toy and moving on.

I'm just curious, borchard, which would make you happiest?

A- Status quo, no changes, just lots of complaining
B- Barons stay in place, Bob Funk throws up his hands and says I'm getting out of this business, someone else please take over, Prodigal sells the team to a different ownership group
C- Barons fold, someone other than Bob Funk/Prodigal brings back the CHL and the Blazers
D- Barons fold, nobody does anything else, OKC is hockey-less for the foreseeable future

I have no dog in this fight, I'm just trying to figure out the conditions that would make you content so I can better understand where you're coming from. For example, trying to understand if you will simply always hate the Barons, or if it's just Funk, or both or what. This is not intending to be an insult at all.

I'm with option C. What's that smarmy line from the banking ad that runs during Thunder games, "... the only vote that matters is that of the customer." Well, they've cast their ballots and the customer prefers blue collar hockey.

I'm just curious, borchard, which would make you happiest?

A- Status quo, no changes, just lots of complaining
I don't go to games anymore, but it can't stay at status quo for very much longer, whether I go or not IMHO

B- Barons stay in place, Bob Funk throws up his hands and says I'm getting out of this business, someone else please take over, Prodigal sells the team to a different ownership group
I might give that a chance. But honestly, I don't know what a new ownership group would hope to do that would change the situation. It may be too far gone now.

C- Barons fold, someone other than Bob Funk/Prodigal brings back the CHL and the Blazers
I personally would really like to see that happen. Just being honest. i think Blazers, in the CHL is the best chance to keep hockey alive in Oklahoma City. And I think that 9,000 empty seats in the Cox Center agree with me. All the hockey purists who continue to harp about how the Barons are far superior to the Blazers forget that it wasn't hockey purists, for the most part, who bought tickets in the past. It was people who loved the Blazers, for whatever reason. And if they are thriving, and making money, what difference does it make WHY they come to the game?
And it was those same regular people who chartered buses to away games on a regular basis. The OKC Hockey Booster Club paid for their tickets. They spent their own money to charter trips to see games as far away as Nashville.
There used to be a guy called "Puckhead". I think his name was Dennis. He sat in the same seat every season, wore a foam puckhead, and ALSO, for several years, attended EVERY away game. And still held down a fulltime job. That is dedication. And he didn't do it because he thought the Blazers were the highest level of hockey. He did it because he loved the team. For whatever reason. For his own reasons. His wife was a hockey fan in Memphis. They met at an away game. She ended up moving here, and being a photographer for the Blazers, I think. Do you see ANYTHING remotely close to that kind of devotion to the Barons?

D- Barons fold, nobody does anything else, OKC is hockey-less for the foreseeable future
I think it would be terrible to lose the hockey equity that has been built in OKC since 1992. But honestly, it might happen.

I'm with option C. What's that smarmy line from the banking ad that runs during Thunder games, "... the only vote that matters is that of the customer." Well, they've cast their ballots and the customer prefers blue collar hockey.

I believe this is disingenuous. The conventional wisdom is that the paying customer has voted and selected the Barons over the Blazers (although they are still a very distant second to the Thunder).

I personally would really to see that happen. Just being honest. i think Blazers, in the CHL is the best chance to keep hockey alive in Oklahoma City. And I think that 9,000 empty seats in the Cox Center agree with me.

Request some clarification in your response to option "C".

I personally would really _________ to see that happen.
I think you left out a crucial word.

Request some clarification in your response to option "C".

I personally would really _________ to see that happen.
I think you left out a crucial word.
edited

I believe this is disingenuous. The conventional wisdom is that the paying customer has voted and selected the Barons over the Blazers (although they are still a very distant second to the Thunder).
That's really sad then. Multiple thousands of tickets go unused because no one cares enough. Beer sales alone at a Blazers game easily made up for any supposed comps. Where were these comps?? I never saw any.

Just a point of clarification. I never meant tickets sold I was talking about ticket revenue per game

So Blazer games that drew 7k were $ losers, and Barons games that struggle to get a thousand people in the arena are more profitable. right

Where were all these mythical Blazer comps? I never saw any. Went to a hundred Blazer games and always bought as ticket. Think I once got a voucher by collecting x # of Libby can labels. Anyway, the truth is plain to see, attend a game. sad people don't care enough to use their tickets. Epic fail by Funk Jr and now the city is hitching their wagon to him to bring in soccer? Richie Rich tired of his new hockey toy and moving on.


That's really sad then. Multiple thousands of tickets go unused because no one cares enough. Beer sales alone at a Blazers game easily made up for any supposed comps. Where were these comps?? I never saw any.

Agree, Edgar

:treadmill Send in the clowns and the organ grinder's monkey. Is OKC's Corn Camel or Willow View Mental Health Center still open? I'm ready...

Paid my hard earned cash for me and my grandsons to attend Blazers' ice hockey games. Attended 20-25 games a year; wish some of those free tickets could have fallen into my hands. A friend, who worked for a downtown firm invited me on several occasions to attend games whenever it was his turn to use the company's four season ticket passes.


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

It's funny how this has turned into an Us-Vs-Them between Blazers fans and Barons fans. Completely retarded. I was a Blazers fan, and I'm a Barons fan. I dig hockey in general.

There were LOADS of free tickets for EVERY game. As I said previously, I went to nearly every home game their final season, and didn't buy a single ticket. My place of employment gave tickets to employees. My ex's place of employment gave tickets to employees. Truckloads of places across the metro area gave tickets away to their employees. Of course I don't know the number of free tickets vs. paid tickets, but none of you guys do either. There was no shortage of free entry to be had, that's for sure.

Also, I'm skeptical about the actual attendance numbers that the Blazers announced. I remember one night at a game, they decided to announce out of the blue that there were 9,xxx in attendance that night. Looking around the arena, there was nary a chance in hell the number came close to that. They fudged the numbers. I remember on the forums back then we all suspected the free tickets + numbers fudging, especially over those last few seasons, was to paint a delightful picture of OKC as a hockey town so Edmonton would be attracted here as the future home of their AHL franchise. Basically, Funk Sr. wanted to be rid of a money losing operation, and was handing the baton to his son under a new franchise.

It's really not all as black and white as it's being presented by you folks. The Blazers were a hell of a lot of fun to have as our home team, and the Barons are more than worthy of you hockey fans buying a ticket and watching a good game of hockey now and then. Having ill will toward your city's hockey team is in poor taste.

One last point: if you don't agree that the Barons represent a higher caliber of hockey athleticism and skill than the Blazers did, then you don't know dick about hockey. This isn't a matter of opinion. The Blazers were great for a good night out downtown, especially when Wichita or Tulsa were visiting; but that wasn't great hockey. It was great entertainment.

White Peacock just picked up that mic and dropped it for good this time

We know they fudge attendance #'s now, when their not too pathetic to even print. You can actually take the time to count heads at a Barons game. Not buying that the Blazers weren't profitable. Those were rowdy party crowds that spent $, unlike the choir at a Barons game. Perhaps their making more in tix revenue because they charge so much to attend a game but game day sales ain't $%^^#. No one is using the already purchased tickets.
The only ill will I noticed that of Jr and his minions towards Blazer fans. Of course it's better hockey, no one is disputing that. Just not a fun night out apparently. The hockey fan of OKC has spoken loudly. They don't care about the Oil Barons. It's Jr's toy now, and he's moved on to a new toy.

Where were all these mythical Blazer comps? I never saw any. Went to a hundred Blazer games and always bought as ticket. Think I once got a voucher by collecting x # of Libby can labels. Anyway, the truth is plain to see, attend a game. sad people don't care enough to use their tickets. Epic fail by Funk Jr and now the city is hitching their wagon to him to bring in soccer? Richie Rich tired of his new hockey toy and moving on.Boy you sure love to pick on people wealthier than you.... I mean seriously dude, nearly every post I see you make, you demonize the rich.

What is your opinion of the Koch Bros?

I'm not taking sides here, but for the record, posts on message boards crediting mic drops only work when made by a third party.

I guess I did. i don't go to hockey games anymore

Because you were a Blazers fan not a hockey fan.


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For me, at least, it seemed like everything changed. I wasn't a Barons hater, I promise. I went to the first game. I went to several more that year. But every time I went it just didn't feel the same. My wife said the same thing. She wasn't a hockey fan when I met her. But after I took her to only about 2, or 3, Blazers games, she turned to me and asked how much season tickets were.
I asked her why, and she said, "I don't know, maybe we should get some next year. This is fun"
She doesn't want to go to a Barons game now, any more than I do. I didn't just go to games, either. i used to NEVER miss a game on the radio, if at all possible. I went to many away games, as well. I knew all of the players' names, and most of the opposing players. My ex-wife and I once planned a short vacation to Tennessee around the Blazers playing two games there at the same time.
And I am so tired of people who don't know who keeping throwing out "Oh the blazers gave away tickets!"
I can tell you FOR A FACT, as a multi-year Season Ticket Holder, that I NEVER got a free ticket to a Blazers game.

Yeah, you were a season ticket holder. Of course you never got a free ticket. I can tell you for a fact for the last five seasons of the team, I got into nearly half of the games for free. The Blazers counted that as "paid" attendance.


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I'm hearing about free Blazer tickets. I followed them since 1965 and the resurrection of the CHL in the early 90s and I never ran across free tickets. Would have faithfully used them...

Has anyone noticed how well the RedHawks have done in attendance this year? Much better than when they were being managed by Prodigal. Just wander if a change in ownership of the AHL Barons could make a difference?

Will give Funk and Prodigal credit for the great job they are doing with the Oklahoma City Energy FC soccer.


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

Even though the same entity owned both teams, no mention was given EVER of the Blazers history. All banners removed, etc... It kinda pissed me off

Because it is a completely different franchise. It has no history with the Blazers. Maybe the Thunder should put up banners of the Hornets since they played here first.



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Do you have to try to break someone else down to make yourself feel better?

If the Funks keep trying to pass off a lie, as if it were true, I guess they hope people will start believing it. Hey, it worked for Hitler.

Well, you just compared Funk to Hitler. Nice job spitting in the face of your own argument. BTW, Blazers gave away tons of free tickets.


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OILERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH NELSON ON CONTRACT EXTENSION

OKC Barons | The Official Site of The Oklahoma City Barons (http://okcbarons.com/index.cfm?fa=pressreleases&ra=showarticle&guid=6633DE8F-2FB6-4510-ABDD-0906A951C267)

OILERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH NELSON ON CONTRACT EXTENSION

OKC Barons | The Official Site of The Oklahoma City Barons (http://okcbarons.com/index.cfm?fa=pressreleases&ra=showarticle&guid=6633DE8F-2FB6-4510-ABDD-0906A951C267)

Great!! He has done a heck of a job with the Barons.


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Because it is a completely different franchise. It has no history with the Blazers. Maybe the Thunder should put up banners of the Hornets since they played here first.
Not a good analogy, at all.
The Blazers and the Barons were owned by the same person. The Blazers, and Stars, and the ORIGINAL Blazers are all part of a very rich hockey history in Oklahoma City.
Using your logic, I guess the Blazers should never have talked about OKC hockey history in their programs, either. You know, since they weren't the same organizations.
For the Funks to not even acknowledge that there WAS hockey before they brought in the Barons, is ludicrous. It's also a bit insulting to all of the Blazers fans. And Stars fans, and original Blazers fans.
But to finish up on your analogy;
The Hornets and Thunder weren't owned by the same person.
The Hornets never took the name "Oklahoma City". They were a guest here.
But, if they HADN'T came and played here for two season, we not have ever gotten the Thunder.
So, yeah, maybe the Thunder SHOULD mention them in their program. Good idea :-)

So, when does hockey season start anyway?

I know the hawks start against Dallas on Thursday night before OU/Texas

The AHL generally announces their schedule in August. The Barons website has the third weekend in Sept blocked off for some unspecified future event.

hopefully its another exhibition game between the oilers and another NHL team

It won't be the Oilers. They already have their exhibition schedule set and they are not coming to OKC.


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also, I was looking at the ticket map for the upcoming season and looks like they are capturing more seats in the upper corners with the tarps. probably for the best

and it looks like they are adding glass party suites on the south end of the ice. interesting move. looks like they are really trying to improve atmosphere and fan experience.

http://www.okcbarons.com/index.cfm?fa=seatingmap

The AHL generally announces their schedule in August. The Barons website has the third weekend in Sept blocked off for some unspecified future event.

I was wrong! It's the third weekend in OCTOBER that was blocked off: Oct 17 and 18.

also, I was looking at the ticket map for the upcoming season and looks like they are capturing more seats in the upper corners with the tarps. probably for the best

and it looks like they are adding glass party suites on the south end of the ice. interesting move. looks like they are really trying to improve atmosphere and fan experience.

OKC Barons | The Official Site of The Oklahoma City Barons (http://www.okcbarons.com/index.cfm?fa=seatingmap)

I think this is where they need to go. Work hard to make the fan experience more of a party and less of a civic center conference / religious mass. Changing the configuration or uses of some sections will go far in this effort.

I was wrong! It's the third weekend in OCTOBER that was blocked off: Oct 17 and 18.

That is opening weekend.


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I bet these guys would boost attendance. Warning potty mouth language. Prolly NSFW.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i_D6oQO6b8

I bet these guys would boost attendance. Warning potty mouth language. Prolly NSFW.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i_D6oQO6b8

Looks like a Blazers/Thunder game. No thanks.


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The new alignment for the AHL was released today. Iowa slides into the spot vacated by Abbotsford. So it is OKC, Texas, San Antonio, , Charlotte and Iowa in the West Division of the Western Conference. Interestingly enough, Adirondack (formerly Abbotsford) is still in the Western Conference.


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also, I was looking at the ticket map for the upcoming season and looks like they are capturing more seats in the upper corners with the tarps. probably for the best

and it looks like they are adding glass party suites on the south end of the ice. interesting move. looks like they are really trying to improve atmosphere and fan experience.

OKC Barons | The Official Site of The Oklahoma City Barons (http://www.okcbarons.com/index.cfm?fa=seatingmap)

The seating capacity has been sort of a problem in the place once it wasn't the primary arena. It was always the largest in the CHL, but we always kept it pretty heavily filled. It's still a good 5k seats larger than it really NEEDS to be for the class of sporting events it houses nowadays. There's not much you can do about it other than take out seating and try to put in some boxes...which is what the Leouge (sp?) boxes were doing. Cant really slide a suite in after-the-fact, but you can do SOME things. I don't know what the structure can support, but you could pull out a few rows of seats at the top and put in some real boxes. The first problem with those would be that they're so high and when you pay for a box, you don't want it high. But you can't cut out chunks of concrete support to put it in any lower. Rock and a hard place.

Solution - Its curtains I tell you, curtains. Seems to work for the Redhawks too < - although when you do that it's sad because it means you consistently couldn't fill the seats.

The 2014-15 season officially got started for the Barons yesterday on the road at San Antonio. Barons lost 3-2 in OT. Next 3 games are home on Oct 17, 18, and 24 against Texas and San Antonio.

As I have been doing for all the Barons Seasons, I have started my goolge docs stat sheet this year. Here is the link to the stats sheet. (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ExoRjiR_UxI4TFvqFGtSb-ODxI1XFOKjL1SCJzI5qjM)

Barons join Keep it Local OK

OKC Barons | Keep It Local OK (http://www.keepitlocalok.com/oklahoma-city/sports-entertainment/okc-barons)

looking forward to taking the fam to Friday's game

I hate to bring this up, but isn't this the last season of the agreement between the OKC franchise and the Edmonton parent club? Reason I say this is that there are rumblings about that Edmonton wanting to move their AHL afflliate to Stockton CA as part of some big Western AHL setup. IF that were to happen, that could leave OKC in the position of fielding an ECHL club to replace the loss of the Stockton team, and now that the CHL has folded and all remaining member teams are now expansion to the ECHL, there would be instant rivalries again with OKC and Wichita.

How I miss the OKC/Tulsa turnpike rivalry. Almost always guaranteed to entertain.

I hate to bring this up, but isn't this the last season of the agreement between the OKC franchise and the Edmonton parent club? Reason I say this is that there are rumblings about that Edmonton wanting to move their AHL afflliate to Stockton CA as part of some big Western AHL setup. IF that were to happen, that could leave OKC in the position of fielding an ECHL club to replace the loss of the Stockton team, and now that the CHL has folded and all remaining member teams are now expansion to the ECHL, there would be instant rivalries again with OKC and Wichita.

How I miss the OKC/Tulsa turnpike rivalry. Almost always guaranteed to entertain.

Good point BigTulsa:

Those rivalries with Tulsa & Wichita made a big difference. We looked forward to joining San Antonio in the AHL for many years; then the NBA took OKC by storm.

The new ECHL-CHL setup will be a better fit for OKC; let's hope this occurs. We just don't have the numbers for the AHL especially when you look at their ticket structure--that was a real turn off from the get go.