Tulsa 66er's to move to OKC

[Bullbear]

Didn't see a post of this but thought it was interesting.. if someone already had it posted feel free to move this.

Thunder To Move 66ers To OKC - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports |

[Pete]

Thunder officials are currently in discussions with the City of Oklahoma City to play the team’s 24 regular-season home games at the Cox Convention Center in downtown Oklahoma City, directly across the street from Chesapeake Energy Arena. Along with the move of the team, the business and basketball operations of the D-League team will also relocate to Oklahoma City. The team will train at the Thunder Community Events Center in Edmond, the original training home of the Thunder from 2008-11. The move of the 66ers is subject to NBA D-League approval.

Interesting.

Just a little more to do downtown.

[Dennis Heaton]

I just wish "they" would rename the Arena to "Thunder Arena," or just something with the Thunder name in it.

[Bullbear]

I just wish "they" would rename the Arena to "Thunder Arena," or just something with the Thunder name in it.

Da Thunder Dome!!!! lol

[kwhey]

I just wish "they" would rename the Arena to "Thunder Arena," or just something with the Thunder name in it.

No

[Mississippi Blues]

#SaveOur66ers

[bombermwc]

I'm wondering why they didn't pursue something at the TCC. It's twice the size of Spirit, but about half of Cox. I mean the BOK is going to be way too expensive compared to the crappy little Spirit Bank place. But at 4,500, heck the UMAC is bigger than that. Moving to the Cox is going to make them feel like no one is at the game. In Tulsa that's the only pro or semi pro basketball IN town. If you can't fill a 4,500 seat place there, what makes you think you can fill one 3 times the size in a similar sized city that has an NBA team here too? Im just afraid it's not a good move for them. I just don't understand why they wouldn't move to TCC.

[Laramie]

I'm wondering why they didn't pursue something at the TCC. It's twice the size of Spirit, but about half of Cox. I mean the BOK is going to be way too expensive compared to the crappy little Spirit Bank place. But at 4,500, heck the UMAC is bigger than that. Moving to the Cox is going to make them feel like no one is at the game. In Tulsa that's the only pro or semi pro basketball IN town. If you can't fill a 4,500 seat place there, what makes you think you can fill one 3 times the size in a similar sized city that has an NBA team here too? Im just afraid it's not a good move for them. I just don't understand why they wouldn't move to TCC.

Oklahoma City 66ers?

If the Thunder wanted to break-even or make a modest D-League profit; Wichita, Lawton, Enid or Topeka probably would have been a better option. The NBA D-League franchise is moving to the Cox Convention Center where there will probably be some spill-over support since the Peake has been a sellout for the Thunder for four and a half seasons.

This is an interesting move.

Do you think Tulsa no longer wanted this?

The UMAC (5,662-seat Union Multipurpose Activity Center) would have been a good option; however its Tulsa's pride. Let's agree on one thing, Tulsa did not like to play the role of farm city to its big sister--can you blame them.

'The team will train at the Thunder Community Events Center in Edmond, the original training home of the Thunder from 2008-11.'

Thunder NBA Development League Team to Relocate to Oklahoma City | Oklahoma City Thunder

Will this move to the Cox CC put the squeeze on the AHL Barons?

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[warreng88]

Will this move to the Cox CC put the squeeze on the AHL Barons?

I have a feeling this will be the last year of the Barons.

[borchard]

Oklahoma City 66ers?

Will this move to the Cox CC put the squeeze on the AHL Barons?

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

I think it will

[dankrutka]

I think it will

There are only 25 66ers home games total. You'd think between two arenas that both teams could be accommodated pretty easily. Lots of arenas have busier schedules that that.

[Plutonic Panda]

There are only 25 66ers home games total. You'd think between two arenas that both teams could be accommodated pretty easily. Lots of arenas have busier schedules that that.

Pete said the Staples arena hosts tons of events

[Pete]

They may have determined it was better to have all their operations in OKC. It says the 66ers will use the Thunder practice facility.

The "we couldn't find a good location in Tulsa" line may just be an excuse to move to them down.

[Bullbear]

They may have determined it was better to have all their operations in OKC. It says the 66ers will use the Thunder practice facility.

The "we couldn't find a good location in Tulsa" line may just be an excuse to move to them down.

Actually they will use the Thunders Old practice facility.

[Throckmorton]

The "we couldn't find a good location in Tulsa" line may just be an excuse to move to them down.

66ersgate!

[Laramie]

66ersgate!

Oklahoma City 66ers?

As with Sonicsgate; there were no real winners. We closed a chapter on an established NBA city while basketball tapped into a virgin market.

Yes, ownership hijacked the team to OKC; those things happen when you stop taking care of business. The City of Seattle abandoned their first child; they totally rebuilt the interior of the Seattle Center arena while preserving the look of the 1962 World's Fair, they forgot the amenities; however they welcomed MLB and the NFL with palaces which were second-to-none in major league sports.

My intent is not to shake bad apples off the tree:

Tulsa sees herself as a better quality, better looking city than OKC. They forgot one thing, OKC is not the tomboy Jethrine, who compared to Elly May looked like the Bride of Frankenstein (monster) on her bad hair day. Oklahoma City has continued to improve; she has become competitive. Oklahoma City, which one could describe as once being 'dog pound ugly' decided it was time for a change. The NBA franchise that Seattle neglected is a shining star in Oklahoma.

True Tulsa is no stranger to a higher level of professional sports with the NASL Tulsa Roughnecks and their brief engagement with the USFL Oklahoma Outlaws. If anyone thought that there was a chance that something like the NHL or NBA would parachute into Oklahoma you would think that Tulsa was the place.

Understandable so, Tulsa doesn't mind taking a backseat (development) to Toronto, St. Louis, Dallas, Minneapolis or Denver; but Oklahoma City? I lived in Tulsa for a number of years; it is a clean and beautiful city. Why Tulsa didn't grow faster than OKC especially with the Port of Catoosa (most inland water canal) that channels into the world's largest port (Port of New Orleans) is a mystery?

Oklahoma City took her last bean (MAPS), planted it and invested in herself. Now, she's competitive with cities similar in size (Little Rock, Memphis, New Orleans, Omaha, Tulsa, Wichita...). Everyone (cityans) I talk with about MAPS speaks with anticipation and excitement; they like this progress; progress which spurred private development. Tulsa is on a progressive rebound as Oklahoma City 'continues the Renaissance' (momentum).

Now, why would Tulsa want to take a back seat to her archrival?

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[Dustin]

Wow. Tulsa probably REALLY hates us now!

[AP]

lol tulsa

[bradh]

love this move, it's great for the organization

[FighttheGoodFight]

This is an interesting move.

Do you think Tulsa no longer wanted this?

[bombermwc]

Wichta would be a great location. Wichita State has an EXCELLENT basketball tradition and Intrust Arena is about the size of the Cox Center. But they would be the only PRO basketball in the state. Intrust is about 5k more seats than the WSU arena...think Lloyd Noble to The Peake.

Maybe they'll hang out in OKC until they can make a comfortable deal for the next year. I honestly don't think it's a good idea to put your farm team in the same city as your pro team....and especially not in a city the size of OKC. The Thunder will definitely survive, but I'm not so sure about the 66ers....or as mentioned, The Barons. Something's gotta give 'cause there just aren't enough people to support it all. Heck, look at the Redhawks. Attendance there SUCKS! Of course they suck pretty hard as a team ever since the switch to the Astros too. No one in OKC cares about the Astros. You cant drive 3 hours and be in a pro game in Arlington and have people you recognize float between the two cities. Maybe with the 66ers in Wichita, they would be free of feeling like OKC leftovers like Tulsa did. And with the feeder/parent relationship, maybe we could see some I-35 traffic attracted.

[bradh]

Wichta would be a great location. Wichita State has an EXCELLENT basketball tradition and Intrust Arena is about the size of the Cox Center. But they would be the only PRO basketball in the state. Intrust is about 5k more seats than the WSU arena...think Lloyd Noble to The Peake.

Maybe they'll hang out in OKC until they can make a comfortable deal for the next year. I honestly don't think it's a good idea to put your farm team in the same city as your pro team....and especially not in a city the size of OKC. The Thunder will definitely survive, but I'm not so sure about the 66ers....or as mentioned, The Barons. Something's gotta give 'cause there just aren't enough people to support it all. Heck, look at the Redhawks. Attendance there SUCKS! Of course they suck pretty hard as a team ever since the switch to the Astros too. No one in OKC cares about the Astros. You cant drive 3 hours and be in a pro game in Arlington and have people you recognize float between the two cities. Maybe with the 66ers in Wichita, they would be free of feeling like OKC leftovers like Tulsa did. And with the feeder/parent relationship, maybe we could see some I-35 traffic attracted.

Hey now, I care about the Astros!

What you should realize about the 66ers is, they don't exist to make money, it's to develop players. I think it could be nice having the farm here, to be that close to the parent club.

[KenRagsdale]

Wichta would be a great location. Wichita State has an EXCELLENT basketball tradition and Intrust Arena is about the size of the Cox Center. But they would be the only PRO basketball in the state. Intrust is about 5k more seats than the WSU arena...think Lloyd Noble to The Peake.

Maybe they'll hang out in OKC until they can make a comfortable deal for the next year. I honestly don't think it's a good idea to put your farm team in the same city as your pro team....and especially not in a city the size of OKC. The Thunder will definitely survive, but I'm not so sure about the 66ers....or as mentioned, The Barons. Something's gotta give 'cause there just aren't enough people to support it all. Heck, look at the Redhawks. Attendance there SUCKS! Of course they suck pretty hard as a team ever since the switch to the Astros too. No one in OKC cares about the Astros. You cant drive 3 hours and be in a pro game in Arlington and have people you recognize float between the two cities. Maybe with the 66ers in Wichita, they would be free of feeling like OKC leftovers like Tulsa did. And with the feeder/parent relationship, maybe we could see some I-35 traffic attracted.

Oklahoma City Redhawks game attendance is better than most, less than others:

BaseballAmerica.com: Stats

2012 Baseball Attendance by Average | News

[Zuplar]

Not surprising as this is going to start being a trend for farm teams in all sports.

[bradh]

Not surprising as this is going to start being a trend for farm teams in all sports.

So true