What league should OKC go after next?

[mranderson]

If you'll refer to me as "Your royal highness" I'll be glad to call you mranderson.

Until then, you'll have to settle.

At any rate, I guess it's either the MLB, NFL or NHL commissioners you speak with on a regular basis. If I pick up the phone and call them, telling them that I know Anderson, what sort of response will I get?

I will not settle. I have the right to be called by the name I chose. Now back to topic and stay there!

[Midtowner]

Please quit trying to change the subject.

We were discussing which commissioners you had spoken with who had expressed an interest in Oklahoma City.

The world wants to know.

[Swake2]

For me to use the honorific “Mister”, some one must either be:
a) someone I know and have a basic and simple respect for, or b) someone who I don’t know that I am using a basic politeness with. That person that I don’t know, must however, show that he has a basic understanding of how to conduct themselves properly when interacting with others.

I don’t really know you, but you could fall in either category, and you fail to earn my use the term mister on both counts Andy.

You want to be called “Mister”? Then earn some respect or learn to conduct yourself in a civil manner.

And this is on topic, you post obvious and blatant crap and then become outraged when your posts are not shown the proper “respect”. Your post about speaking with NFL Commissioners has zero credibility.

Admit you lied or provide some sort of proof. Forget names, when and where did you speak with a commissioner, under what circumstances and why on earth would they share privileged information on NFL expansion strategy with you? Information that flies in the face of the NFL’s stated positions. In fact, if you are telling the truth, you may well have already broken securities law by sharing privileged information.

[mranderson]

For me to use the honorific “Mister”, some one must either be:
a) someone I know and have a basic and simple respect for, or b) someone who I don’t know that I am using a basic politeness with. That person that I don’t know, must however, show that he has a basic understanding of how to conduct themselves properly when interacting with others.

I don’t really know you, but you could fall in either category, and you fail to earn my use the term mister on both counts Andy.

You want to be called “Mister”? Then earn some respect or learn to conduct yourself in a civil manner.

And this is on topic, you post obvious and blatant crap and then become outraged when your posts are not shown the proper “respect”. Your post about speaking with NFL Commissioners has zero credibility.

Admit you lied or provide some sort of proof. Forget names, when and where did you speak with a commissioner, under what circumstances and why on earth would they share privileged information on NFL expansion strategy with you? Information that flies in the face of the NFL’s stated positions. In fact, if you are telling the truth, you may well have already broken securities law by sharing privileged information.

Respect is automatic. Continued respect is earned. Now. I have had enough of this crap. GET OFF MY BACK, AND BACK ON TOPIC!

[traxx]

We are on topic. We keep asking you who you spoke too and you keep skirting it. We're talking about what league OKC should go after; you say you've been in contact with a particular league; we ask who - seems on topic to me.

You can fill us in without having to spill names or privelaged info.

Face it, you don't know anyone. Why bring up the point if you can't share it. It was a lie.

[Lurker34]

$50 for cheap seats to Football & Basketball. $25 for decent seats to Major League Baseball. Knowing how cheap okies are (myself included) I think MLB would work better than the others. Now if we get a cellar dweller franchise (which is likely to happen) it'll go for 3-4 years and fall flat on it's face. Oklahomans only like winning teams, and the novelty will have worn off by then. Soccer doesn't stand a chance.

My 2¢

Bill

[Midtowner]

People show up in decent numbers for OSU games... so what is that about winning teams again?

[Easy180]

$50 for cheap seats to Football & Basketball. $25 for decent seats to Major League Baseball. Knowing how cheap okies are (myself included) I think MLB would work better than the others. Now if we get a cellar dweller franchise (which is likely to happen) it'll go for 3-4 years and fall flat on it's face. Oklahomans only like winning teams, and the novelty will have worn off by then. Soccer doesn't stand a chance.

My 2¢

Bill

Winning sure translates into more seats filled, but I think the record matters less for cities with only one major league team to choose from

Not so sure about being able to fill a 40,000 seat baseball stadium around 90 games a season...Basketball only has to fill 18,000 for close to half as many dates

Don't think we will have even a remote chance at landing MLB or NFL for decades

[betts]

I'd like to see us support one (NBA) really well for ten years or so, and then have the necessary growth to support two franchises well. The NFL fits a smaller city better than MLB, so it would be a logical second choice. But franchises are not so easy to come by.

[Rifleman2C]

Not so sure about being able to fill a 40,000 seat baseball stadium around 90 games a season...Basketball only has to fill 18,000 for close to half as many dates

Funny you should mention that, Easy180... having an NHL Hockey franchise would mean only having to fill 18,000 seats for 40-45 events as well.

Yet only a very few folks in OKC seem to be even moderately interested in trying to lure a NHL team here.

So my question to those of you who have expressed an interest in any major league team of any sort:


Would you be willing to support a major league team (by your attendance, at least) that wasn't your favorite sport for a few years in the hope that the city's success with that team will lure other big league sports to the OKC area?



Even if it was MLS? or the NHL?

[Easy180]

Funny you should mention that, Easy180... having an NHL Hockey franchise would mean only having to fill 18,000 seats for 40-45 events as well.

Yet only a very few folks in OKC seem to be even moderately interested in trying to lure a NHL team here.

So my question to those of you who have expressed an interest in any major league team of any sort:


Would you be willing to support a major league team (by your attendance, at least) that wasn't your favorite sport for a few years in the hope that the city's success with that team will lure other big league sports to the OKC area?



Even if it was MLS? or the NHL?

Well I must admit the only major league sports I watch are the NFL and MLB...Not really an NBA fan ,but I really enjoyed going to Hornets games and will definitely step up when we land an NBA team...It is much more enjoyable watching it in person as it is on tv...Nice pace and it doesn't drag on for 3 1/2 hours

As for your question...Would check out a few NHL games, but doubt I would support it much...MLS...Absolutely zero interest and would likely not even try it out...Just don't get soccer at all...Must be one of those sports that are only fun when you are playing such as softball etc

[betts]

Funny you should mention that, Easy180... having an NHL Hockey franchise would mean only having to fill 18,000 seats for 40-45 events as well.

Yet only a very few folks in OKC seem to be even moderately interested in trying to lure a NHL team here.

So my question to those of you who have expressed an interest in any major league team of any sort:


Would you be willing to support a major league team (by your attendance, at least) that wasn't your favorite sport for a few years in the hope that the city's success with that team will lure other big league sports to the OKC area?



Even if it was MLS? or the NHL?

I would definitely support the NHL, but primarily for your reason outlined above. If it were the first major league sport we got, I'd not want us to look like a bad sports town, and I'd try to go to as many games as possible. I don't love hockey, but I would try to learn to like it. The problem with hockey is that it competes with the NBA, my favorite sport. I think a city the size of Oklahoma City would have trouble supporting two major league sports during the same season. That's why the NFL is consistently my choice for the second sport, regardless of whether we started with NBA or NHL. It's a different season, and it's easy to support.

[Rifleman2C]

The problem with hockey is that it competes with the NBA, my favorite sport. I think a city the size of Oklahoma City would have trouble supporting two major league sports during the same season.

Betts, I'm definitely with you on that. My favorite sport is hockey, thus I have a tendency to largely ignore the NBA, as the seasons are so closely concurrent. In my opinion, not only would OKC have trouble supporting both the NBA and the NHL with seat-filling customers for more than 40 events per year, logistically, it would be nearly impossible to keep the Ford Center rotating back and forth between hardwood and ice without a different main floor setup. Putting up the basketball court wouldn't be the issue so much as creating good ice to play on night after night (probably with less than 24 hours prep time on many evenings).
And make no mistake, it would degrade the game and would make OKC an unpopular city for other NHL teams to visit if our ice wasn't consistently excellent.

So, as much as I don't really want to admit it, if OKC got the NBA first, I would support it on a local level, and I would do my level best (via my attendance) to support what might be considered the 'less popular' games... such as when the Timberwolves or Clippers came to town.

Getting folks in seats will establish the reliability of a 'major league' audience when OKC breaks into the professional sports market. In spite of the monetary importance of local corporate sponsorship, good attendance at games should always be the primary goal. And if the team management (and corporate sponsors) make it a fun atmosphere to go to a game, folks will keep coming back.

I can only hope that others might feel as I do about supporting the first professional sports team here if the roles are reversed... i.e. if the NHL landed here first (pretty unlikely, IMHO, but possible) or a MLS team was able to launch operations here (?).

[familyguy]

NBA only for now.

[metro]

How about let's worry about landing the NBA permanently first, then we can worry about what next. I personally think MLS is the most feasible in the short run, long haul, NHL or NFL. I don't think we're ready for MLB yet.

[HOT ROD]

I agree METRO. Immediate concern is the NBA/WNBA. This alone will make OKC a year long major league sport market. I too think we could easily get a MLS team and support both franchises well. As for National League Lacrosse - I think we could do it and do it well. Similar thoughts to MLS.

Then, once the population booms to 2M, I think we should do the following, in order:

4) AFL - some dont consider it major league but I do. I think OKC should move back up, I dont think af2 is doing the city any justice. Especially since AFL now has television contracts, it could be a great boon for the city - just as long as this time it is named "Oklahoma City ___"

5) NFL - clearly the NFL will do very well here. Instant rivalries and the fact that OK is football CRAZY!!!! And NFL is the number one major league sport, OKC should have NO PROBLEMS but the city does need a few more residents to spread the wealth. The team could be named Oklahoma something without negatively affecting OKC just due to the league's prominence itself but "Oklahoma City __" would be preferred.

6) NHL - number four of the big four major league sports, hockey would be a shoe in here, given the success of the CHL and the fact that Bob Funk has been a great owner and would be a wonderful owner in the major league. But, with Kansas City likely to get a team and the possibility of some contraction of the league not to mention the overlap of the NHL season with that of the NBA, I don't think it is likely we could support the aformentioned leagues AND the NHL until we reach at least 2.5M or so. And even then, the team MUST be named "Oklahoma City ___."

6) MLB - this is number two league but honestly would be tough to support here. Just way too many days and not enough interested people to go to that many games. Plus, the team would likely be named "Oklahoma ___" which would not really serve the purpose of Oklahoma City visibility, unlike the aformentioned leagues.

[HOT ROD]

So this brings up, what could Tulsa support? Well, honestly there will be somewhat a void when OKC does get its major league NBA/WNBA franchise. It may be difficult for OKC to support the college sports at the same level (not due to population or lack of interest but due to the prominence of having a major league team - surely OKC WILL SUPPORT it first); this could present a great opportunity for Tulsa to 'pick-up the slack'. And since Tulsa is only 99 miles away from Downtown OKC, OKC people interested could still attend the events and help ensure Tulsa's success (much like they have contributed to the success of OKC). OKC's entry into the major leagues could be a HUGE boon for Tulsa without them even having to 'try' to enter the majors themselves, however this will be diminished once OKC builds its second arena; so Tulsa should hurry to try to grab some major college events after 2008.

Tulsa could support MLS but I dont think they would get a team if OKC does. Other than that, Tulsa could move to AAA level where OKC is at major league (and the two cities could feed off each other, of course). I think the CHL rivalry would prohibit Tulsa from EVER getting an NHL team, so long as OKC exists (because OKC would either be in the CHL - and no way tulsa would get a major team with OKC in the minor, OR OKC would get the major team which would push out Tulsa).

It's not to be mean against Tulsa, not at all - it's just being realistic given the rise of OKC and what Tulsa could gain from it. Like I said, for at least a short while around the 2010 timeframe - OKC will be pretty booked with events, which Tulsa could go after college level. If they support it well, then they could 'take away' some of OKC's college events since the city will be actively supporting its major league. To me, this is the BEST opportunity for Tulsa (and Wichita, Little Rock, ABQ for that matter); build on OKC's major league success by successfully hosting college events. ..