New Downtown Arena

[Shortsyeararound]

I don't think we ever get the NHL just like Nashville probably never gets the NBA.

I'd rather have the NBA anyway.

I agree. In reality we already have another “pro” supported team in Sooner football. The NBA was def a better choice vs the NHL. With OU we will never get an NFL team and as much I would like an MLB team, we can’t even support the Dodgers that great. When you have to remove seats then you don’t have the support needed. Just my opinion.

[jedicurt]

I don't think we ever get the NHL just like Nashville probably never gets the NBA.

I'd rather have the NBA anyway.

i'm not yet ruling it out. per some of my contacts within the Dallas Stars organization, i have heard that they are getting wind that there is an OKC group looking at the Coyotes. the Stars are actively trying to figure out all the details, because they consider OKC as part of their market currently. Not saying it will happen, but it does sound like someone is atleast looking into it for OKC.

[Zuplar]

i'm not yet ruling it out. per some of my contacts within the Dallas Stars organization, i have heard that they are getting wind that there is an OKC group looking at the Coyotes. the Stars are actively trying to figure out all the details, because they consider OKC as part of their market currently. Not saying it will happen, but it does sound like someone is atleast looking into it for OKC.

If I recall correctly, there were similar grumblings from the Dallas Mavericks organization in the time leading up to the local group buying the Sonics at the time. I feel like I remember Cuban voting against it because he felt OKC was in their market, but maybe I'm conflating that part.

Again doesn't mean it's happening, but it's a sign that it's been discussed at some point seriously.

[April in the Plaza]

If I recall correctly, there were similar grumblings from the Dallas Mavericks organization in the time leading up to the local group buying the Sonics at the time. I feel like I remember Cuban voting against it because he felt OKC was in their market, but maybe I'm conflating that part.

Again doesn't mean it's happening, but it's a sign that it's been discussed at some point seriously.

Yea, Cuban and Paul Allen (microsoft co-founder with seattle ties) were the only no votes on relocation.

[floyd the barber]

I agree. In reality we already have another “pro” supported team in Sooner football. The NBA was def a better choice vs the NHL. With OU we will never get an NFL team and as much I would like an MLB team, we can’t even support the Dodgers that great. When you have to remove seats then you don’t have the support needed. Just my opinion.

I am not sure Oklahoma could support the NHL.

The Tulsa Oilers struggle to fill the BoK. I know they're a minor league, but I don't think a professional team could do much better.

[Jake]

I am not sure Oklahoma could support the NHL.

The Tulsa Oilers struggle to fill the BoK. I know they're a minor league, but I don't think a professional team could do much better.

Tulsa won't get an NHL team but the Oilers averaged around 2,000 more people per game than the Phoenix Coyotes did this year at Mullett Arena.

[Bill Robertson]

I like hockey way more than I like basketball and I don't want an NHL team. I'm fine with going to Dallas a couple of times a year when the Avalanche play the Stars.

[Canoe]

I like hockey way more than I like basketball and I don't want an NHL team. I'm fine with going to Dallas a couple of times a year when the Avalanche play the Stars.

Are the minor league teams still more brutal than the NHL? Meaning Do they still have more fights? It has been a while since i when to a hockey game.

[jedicurt]

Are the minor league teams still more brutal than the NHL? Meaning Do they still have more fights? It has been a while since i when to a hockey game.

the AHL no, it's still mostly about trying to play quality hockey, the ECHL (triple a equivalent) is a bit more rough, but not like what people remember from the old Blazers days of the 80's and 90's. to find that you have to go to the non-affiliated leagues, really, but the hockey there is really really bad. the ECHL is probably the closest to what you want, if that is more what you are looking for on a consistent basis.

[smitteebc]

The Dallas Stars play a preseason game every year in Tulsa and it is about 3/4 full. About the same amount of people the Thunder preseason game in Tulsa gets.

[citywokchinesefood]

I am not sure Oklahoma could support the NHL.

The Tulsa Oilers struggle to fill the BoK. I know they're a minor league, but I don't think a professional team could do much better.

Minor league hockey and the NHL are leagues apart when it comes to the game day experience, and the quality of play. The drop off in quality between the AHL and NHL is drastically worse than the NBA and the G-League. NHL games have an incredible atmosphere and the speed that they are able to play at is incredible in person. It likely won't happen, but if we could get the Coyotes franchise, I think they would honestly see all-time highs in attendance for the franchise. The Coyotes have been a dumpster fire for decades, the team has never really found success or a fanbase. In a perfect world I would love to see the new arena have the ability to host both the Thunder and an NHL team. The overlap for the two leagues would be difficult to schedule around, but several other arenas are able to do it in addition to hosting more concerts/other events. The main issue would likely be that unless the Thunder ownership buy the Coyotes, I don't think they would want to share a facility they invested in with an NHL team with a different ownership group. I also wouldn't be opposed to an NHL team becoming an anchor tenant for the Paycom Center, but I don't think the NHL wants to be in a second-rate facility, and I don't know if OKC can draw enough events to keep two major arenas profitable. It would be really cool if we could pull off two arenas, but I don't think that is a realistic path forward.

[caaokc]

Id be pretty shocked if the NHL came to OKC. Tulsa, maybe. Houston is probably the most realistic that’s the closest.

[Ginkasa]

Is the focus on NHL because of nostalgia for the Blazer minor league hockey? Because we lobbied once to get the NHL here back in the 90s? Because its a lower profile (I think?) major league that we think is the most realistic possibility?

I'm legitimately just asking for curiosity's sake. I don't know anything about anything here, but from my ignorant perspective I would assume if we did have a second major league team it would be best to have one in a sport that has seasons opposite the Thunder's, so like MLB. It seems like its a longshot dream either way; I'm just curious why we're dreaming about NHL specifically.

[citywokchinesefood]

Is the focus on NHL because of nostalgia for the Blazer minor league hockey? Because we lobbied once to get the NHL here back in the 90s? Because its a lower profile (I think?) major league that we think is the most realistic possibility?

I'm legitimately just asking for curiosity's sake. I don't know anything about anything here, but from my ignorant perspective I would assume if we did have a second major league team it would be best to have one in a sport that has seasons opposite the Thunder's, so like MLB. It seems like its a longshot dream either way; I'm just curious why we're dreaming about NHL specifically.

The Coyotes have been on the cusp of leaving for the better part of the last 30 years. Oklahoma City has been a rumored destination for the league. Another Canadian city, or a larger city like Houston are certainly more likely. It is still in the realm of possibility, but just not likely.

[Jake]

Is the focus on NHL because of nostalgia for the Blazer minor league hockey? Because we lobbied once to get the NHL here back in the 90s? Because its a lower profile (I think?) major league that we think is the most realistic possibility?

I'm legitimately just asking for curiosity's sake. I don't know anything about anything here, but from my ignorant perspective I would assume if we did have a second major league team it would be best to have one in a sport that has seasons opposite the Thunder's, so like MLB. It seems like its a longshot dream either way; I'm just curious why we're dreaming about NHL specifically.

I highly, highly doubt OKC or the state would get a 2nd franchise, but the MLS and NHL are the only "realistic" options for a 2nd pro franchise, in my opinion. I can't see any world where Oklahoma would get an MLB team, although it's probably the league I'd like the most.

Fan interest would be there for the NFL, but the Cowboys/Chiefs probably wouldn't be too happy about a team in OK. Not even getting into the fact that the cost of a franchise would be absolutely astronomical and would require a huge corporate sponsor base, which I don't think Oklahoma has. Also, we don't even have the stadiums for these leagues. Whereas we have an arena and will eventually have a soccer stadium one day.

[Bill Robertson]

I think the interest in the NHL is mainly because it's the most realistic of the possibilities. Maybe some Blazers nostalgia effect. We loved going to Blazers games and went to most of them. Was it great hockey? No. But for what it was it was cheap entertainment. The Barons were much better hockey but it was way more expensive. Much closer in cost to the NHL than old Blazers games. We went to a handful of Barons games. Attendance wasn't good. I know a lot of people that bought nose bleed seats and sat in good seats because it was easy to do.

[gopokes88]

I highly, highly doubt OKC or the state would get a 2nd franchise, but the MLS and NHL are the only "realistic" options for a 2nd pro franchise, in my opinion. I can't see any world where Oklahoma would get an MLB team, although it's probably the league I'd like the most.

Fan interest would be there for the NFL, but the Cowboys/Chiefs probably wouldn't be too happy about a team in OK. Not even getting into the fact that the cost of a franchise would be absolutely astronomical and would require a huge corporate sponsor base, which I don't think Oklahoma has. Also, we don't even have the stadiums for these leagues. Whereas we have an arena and will eventually have a soccer stadium one day.

Yeah Jerry has tremendous stroke in the NFL and would never allow it, just ask Austin and San Antonio

[kevin lee]

Jerry is turning 81 soon, so there's that.

[Thunderbolt]

I don't think OKC has the population or sponsorship capital to support almost 100 pro home games every year between October and May. NBA and NHL each have 41 home games + some preseason and playoffs.

It's fun to dream but let's be realistic - the Thunder will most likely be the only "big four" team to play in Oklahoma for at least the next generation. That's why it's CRITICAL that the arena vote passes and we lock them in.

[Paseofreak]

I don't think OKC has the population or sponsorship capital to support almost 100 pro home games every year between October and May. NBA and NHL each have 41 home games + some preseason and playoffs.

It's fun to dream but let's be realistic - the Thunder will most likely be the only "big four" team to play in Oklahoma for at least the next generation. That's why it's CRITICAL that the arena vote passes and we lock them in.

NHL only has 41 Home games per regular season.

[Bunty]

Oklahoma City needs to build a beyond awesome arena like this new one in Las Vegas. Seats 18,600. The only problem is that is cost $2.3 billion:

[soonergolfer]

Oklahoma City needs to build a beyond awesome arena like this new one in Las Vegas. Seats 18,600. The only problem is that is cost $2.3 billion:

That is not an arena. It is the worlds most expensive billboard/concert hall/movie theater.

[chssooner]

Oklahoma City needs to build a beyond awesome arena like this new one in Las Vegas. Seats 18,600. The only problem is that is cost $2.3 billion:

Easy for someone in Stillwater to say that OKC‘s citizens should funds about $2 billion.

[chrisTOEpher]

As much as I loved the Blazers, the place was pretty empty for every game. Granted, the Myriad was the biggest venue for the league so 50% attendance was more than most of the other venues could even hold. But it was a fun experience. I'm not confident that we could support a full NHL team at this point. I just dont think the market is big enough with hockey not being a big deal here. The Blazers were fun because tickets were dirt cheap and so was the beer. A NHL game won't be the same.

I would equate it to the old 89ers games. Cheap tickets brought in more people, but the sport itself has sort of lost steam and some of the larger stadiums are struggling to fill seats, Some of those places have resorted to what the OKC Dodgers have done, big ole plastic tarps to block off chunks of seating so its not so empty looking. We were having the same issue in the Myriad with the IHL team after the loge boxes were added. So that doesn't give me a lot of confidence that we would be able to do much better for an NHL team, which also would be draining corporate sponsors for NBA. We're just not big enough yet to support two pro teams.

[jn1780]

That is not an arena. It is the worlds most expensive billboard/concert hall/movie theater.

Its cool and inspiring now. Just wait until their using it for actual advertising.