Haven't heard a peep about this in months; pipe dream abandoned?

ECHL Tulsa & Wichita now play in very plush arenas comparable to the Peake. Doubt if you'll see the return of the Blazers' anytime soon unless they can play in the Chesapeake Energy Arena on nights the Thunder don't play. Fans see the Cox Convention Center as bush league.

The recent addition & success of the Oklahoma City Energy FC soccer & the Oklahoma City Dodgers will make it difficult to compete for the sports dollars in a small market the size of OKCs.

OKC's market is strong enough to support NBA, USL & PCL for now. The window of opportunity for the return of ice hockey will be 2020 when OKC metro population exceed 1. 4 million.

So hockey has died twice now in OKC, so let's bring another team? Maybe I don't get it.

Basketball had previously died before it finally took hold :-P

So hockey has died twice now in OKC, so let's bring another team? Maybe I don't get it.

You must be new to the city b/c hockey has died her at least 4 times......

The Blazers are playing this weekend, actually. They're in the Western States Hockey League now. They'll be playing three games against the Cheyenne Stampede at the Blazers Ice Centre - tonight at 7:30PM, tomorrow at 3:00PM, and Sunday at 2:30PM.

Oklahoma City Blazers Hockey - Western States Hockey League (http://okcblazershockey.com/)

The Blazers are playing this weekend, actually. They're in the Western States Hockey League now. They'll be playing three games against the Cheyenne Stampede at the Blazers Ice Centre - tonight at 7:30PM, tomorrow at 3:00PM, and Sunday at 2:30PM.

Oklahoma City Blazers Hockey - Western States Hockey League (http://okcblazershockey.com/)

Respectfully, that's not the Blazers we're talking about.

You must be new to the city b/c hockey has died her at least 4 times......

Wasn't at least one of those due to the league collapsing.

The Blazers are playing this weekend, actually. They're in the Western States Hockey League now. They'll be playing three games against the Cheyenne Stampede at the Blazers Ice Centre - tonight at 7:30PM, tomorrow at 3:00PM, and Sunday at 2:30PM.

Oklahoma City Blazers Hockey - Western States Hockey League (http://okcblazershockey.com/)

That is the Junior Blazers.

ECHL Tulsa & Wichita now play in very plush arenas comparable to the Peake. Doubt if you'll see the return of the Blazers' anytime soon unless they can play in the Chesapeake Energy Arena on nights the Thunder don't play. Fans see the Cox Convention Center as bush league.

That's simply not the case. Many ECHL teams play in smaller arenas. Look at Wheeling and many others. The CCC would actually be considered a better than average venue (although not on par with the better arenas in the league, including the BOK, IBA and Orlando's arena).

One more thing of note; today is the deadline for teams wishing to join the ECHL to apply. If nothing is heard by this evening, unless an extension is granted, then no team in 2016-2017 unless a team is relocated.

BigTulsa,

Hopefully we'll hear something soon. An ECHL OKC franchise could probably survive with Tulsa & Wichita as rivals. Brad Lund who runs Sold Out Strategies (SOS) had expressed interest in getting a group together to back an Oklahoma City 2016 entry into the ECHL.

NBA Oklahoma City Thunder's success has captured the Lion's share of the sports market in Central Oklahoma. The Thunder ranks among the top NBA franchises @ 13th behind San Antonio & Portland among 30 NBA franchises: Forbes Welcome (http://www.forbes.com/nba-valuations/#page:2_sort:0_direction:asc_search:)

The OKC Dodgers (AAA baseball) were impressive with an average attendance of 6,941 in its inaugural year.

USL Oklahoma City Energy has had a healthy growth with its fan base (2015 attendance average 4,635). NASL Oklahoma City (RAYO OKC) soccer franchise is scheduled to make its debut in 2016.

The OKC market may have reached its saturation peak for minor league sports.

I know SFA is not the sexiest place to have your team, due to many factors. But if you ever saw a Blazers game there back in the day, the sightlines were pretty good. The only REAL problem back then, before hockey mandated the nets go up, was that the seating rises pretty steeply. And if you are sitting behind the goal, you don't have to go very high until your head is above the glass! I saw several people get hit with pucks during games back then. Of course now that is a non-issue, with the advent of the protective netting behind the goals.
I went to a game in Memphis, in the Mid-South Coliseum, and sat in the upper level behind the goal. Turns out, the seats were ABOVE the goal, not so much behind it. The seat next to me got pinged a few times during the game. Makes you REALLY pay attention to the game! :-)

Good times. Made you pay attention to the game.

WWWWWAAAAATCHH the pucckkk...

My preference to watch an ice hockey game is the State Fair Arena (SSF) vs. the Cox (Old Myriad). As Bouchard mentioned; there was something about the atmosphere of the place.

Glad I wasn't able to witness :) a hockey game at the old Stockyards Coliseum, that place was awesome (a Cathedral coliseum) for the weekly Friday night wrestling events--the fun we had riding the old Exchange Avenue Bus to the historic coliseum and walking back home if we missed that last 10:45 p.m. bus. Many of the wrestling fans were clad & down with their overalls, look like they had just gotten off work from the Packingtown establishments.

The topic of reviving the Blazers as an ECHL franchise has been pretty quiet lately. I'm guessing the think-tank decided it wasn't a wise venture.

I noticed last week that the OCFD participated in the opening ceremony for a Blazers hockey game, and it kind of threw me off. I looked it up, and apparently there's still a club calling itself the Oklahoma City Blazers in the junior hockey Western States Hockey League. Apparently they're pretty good, too.

Oklahoma City Blazers Hockey - Western States Hockey League (http://okcblazershockey.com/)

I noticed last week that the OCFD participated in the opening ceremony for a Blazers hockey game, and it kind of threw me off. I looked it up, and apparently there's still a club calling itself the Oklahoma City Blazers in the junior hockey Western States Hockey League. Apparently they're pretty good, too.

Oklahoma City Blazers Hockey - Western States Hockey League (http://okcblazershockey.com/)

Yep... They have a few hundred die hard fans (All that can fit in the arena)... I've never attended one of their games but I've seen their fans streaming in to the Blazer Ice Arena as I was leaving OU Hockey games.

Believe it or not UCO also has a very good college hockey team with a very dedicated following.... When they played OU at the Blazer Ice Arena it was standing room only and I think they regularly sell out the arena they play at on the north side..

.
Hate to be the bearer of bad news; however AA quality or better ice hockey may never return to the OKC area.

June 2, 2015 article:


“I’m fearful that if a franchise isn’t activated in Oklahoma City in the next eighteen months this market could go dark for decades if not forever,” says Lund passionately.

If Oklahoma City were going to enter the ECHL for 2016 (October opening) they missed the application deadline which was January 2016.


The timeline is not fully realized right now, but the announcement will come late summer early fall, but with a deadline of January 2016 or else, as Lund explains, “You can kiss the 2016 season start goodbye because you don’t want to rush a business like this.”

OKC Blazers "Interested" In Return, Joining ECHL in 2016 (http://www.tendthefarm.com/okc-blazers-interested-in-return-joining-echl-in-2016/)

I noticed last week that the OCFD participated in the opening ceremony for a Blazers hockey game, and it kind of threw me off. I looked it up, and apparently there's still a club calling itself the Oklahoma City Blazers in the junior hockey Western States Hockey League. Apparently they're pretty good, too.

Oklahoma City Blazers Hockey - Western States Hockey League (http://okcblazershockey.com/)

Yep. It's ran/coached by former Blazers players.

Hockey: Minor league hockey will not return to OKC for 2016-17 season | News OK (http://newsok.com/article/5488564)

Hockey: Minor league hockey will not return to OKC for 2016-17 season

Hockey: Minor league hockey will not return to OKC for 2016-17 season | News OK (http://newsok.com/article/5488564)

Hockey: Minor league hockey will not return to OKC for 2016-17 season

I don't know why they couldn't play at Norick Arena.

I don't know why they couldn't play at Norick Arena.

No ice plant.

No ice plant.

Really? Since they do ice shows there I just assumed...

Really? Since they do ice shows there I just assumed...

The ice equipment at the State Fair Arena is portable and brought in by shows like the Ice Capades.

Agree that the State Fair Arena could temporarily host ice hockey--city would have to install a new ice plant.

Oklahoma City should invest in expansion & improvements of State Fair Arena (opened in 1963) or a new arena at the Fairgrounds, something in the 12,000 -15,000-seat range equipped specifically for rodeos, basketball & ice hockey. A larger arena could potentially bring back the 5A-6A basketball playoffs to the OKC area that now play in Tulsa's Mabee Center on the campus of Oral Roberts University.

You're probably talking about an investment in the $100 million plus range--something that could be considered for MAPS IV.

A new arena at the Fairgrounds could lock down the the IFR, Cowboys of Color Rodeo & many horse related shows for future years ahead.

this was on the Secretary of State website

OKLAHOMA CITY BLAZERS PRO HOCKEY, L.L.C.


Details
Filing Number:

Name Type: Status:

Corp type: Jurisdiction:
Formation Date:


3512511184

Legal Name

Active

Domestic Limited Liability Company

Oklahoma

6 Jul 2015





Registered Agent Information
Name:

Effective: Address:
City, State , ZipCode:


SEAN JONES

6 Jul 2015
1801 N BROADWAY AVE OKLAHOMA CITY OK 73103

I never was a huge ice hockey fan (although Slapstick was a great movie) but I did enjoy an occasional Blazers game. That puck moves a a little too fast for me to keep up with it. Man, those guys can skate (refs included)!

You want to bring back the Blazers. Make it attractive for a franchise to call OKC home.

Why not build a new arena at the fairgrounds that could accommodate rodeos, stock shows, horse shows and ice hockey on the AA level.

State Fair Arena opened in 1965; constructed at a cost of $2 million. It has had several renovations during that period; we could build a new arena next to it or demolish it; this would allow us a number of options.

It would take around $100 million to construct a new quality arena to accommodate 12,500 - 15,000 seats. This would insure that Oklahoma City has the facilities to continue to maintain that 'horse show capital of the world' moniker.

Our fairgrounds is basically a convention center complex for the horse related industry activities and various other trade show activities.

A new arena could be equipped with an ice plant--serve as a home for an ice hockey team, Oklahoma City Blue NBAL development team and host ALL of the state high school basketball playoffs which we now share with Tulsa who hosts 6A & I believe 5A schools.

Maybe we could consider a velodrome type arena which could serve those multipurpose activities mentioned.

Pretty sure this died when Yukon's first soccer team came to town.

Please no!!!+

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Tulsa Oilers vs. Oklahoma City Blazers

A tale of two blood-thirsty arch rival cities that don't need any introductions...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8fVRpEGz6w
Tulsa Civic Assembly Center, April 1, 1994.

^^miss those days^^ Funny, I am wearing my 2000-2001 Blazer Championship T-shirt at the moment.