Name our new AHL team

[dmoor82]

B-l-a-z-e-r-s!!!!

[OKC@heart]

OKC>>>>S_T_O_R_M!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dmoor82]

Firestorm!?!?

[Dave Cook]

If they're named The Blazers, they will be mostly ignored.
If they're named The Blizzard or something else, they will be celebrated as "The Next Big Thing In OKC".

You bring up some very valid points in your argument against the Blazers name.

But your idea of 'Blizzard' truly sucks.....and you just need to let it go.

[earlywinegareth]

Just as long as it's not "Tornados" please, please, please not that.

[Jethrol]

You bring up some very valid points in your argument against the Blazers name.

But your idea of 'Blizzard' truly sucks.....and you just need to let it go.

haha...Blizzard wasn't my idea but I like it.

[trousers]

Blizzard - no
Wind - for the love of all that is holy, NO!

[Dio]

Blizzard - no
Wind - for the love of all that is holy, NO!

This team goes to 11

[smooth]

You bring up some very valid points in your argument against the Blazers name.

But your idea of 'Blizzard' truly sucks.....and you just need to let it go.

Jethro is right. Although I am in favor of only one name (Blazers), Blizzard was MY idea. If it wasn't for the rich TRADITION of the BLAZERS, I would love the Blizzard name.

[LIL_WAYNE_2012_PREZIDENT]

I like the name blizzard
if that happens maybe we can get the redhawks to change their name to redhawk

[SoonerBent]

OKC is getting an AHL team because us Blazers fans supported our team better than any other CHL team for years, proving that we could be an AHL market. So, the owners should return that support by keeping the name BLAZERS.

[rbtoliver]

It's already an established name known nationwide... B-L-A-Z-E-R-S!!!

I have to disagree, other than people who have CHL teams no one knew who the Blazers were, it was 3rd rate hockey presented like it was a higher grade of hockey imho !

[smooth]

I have to disagree, other than people who have CHL teams no one knew who the Blazers were, it was 3rd rate hockey presented like it was a higher grade of hockey imho !

You are VERY incorrect. The Blazers had the reputation of being the highest drawing minor league hockey team in North America and gained a great deal of national publicity. Plus, I have tried to drill it into the stubborn heads on this thread, it is pre-marketed.

[rbtoliver]

You are VERY incorrect. The Blazers had the reputation of being the highest drawing minor league hockey team in North America and gained a great deal of national publicity. Plus, I have tried to drill it into the stubborn heads on this thread, it is pre-marketed.

All i know is i went to several Dallas Stars games and met people who were die hard hockey fans and had no idea who the blazers were......

[smooth]

All i know is i went to several Dallas Stars games and met people who were die hard hockey fans and had no idea who the blazers were......

You are referring to Texas. I am referring to intelligent life forms.

[Matt]

After several weeks of brainstorming, I've come up with a name which I think will satisfy all concerned parties:

"Lazers"

It's spelled incorrectly, yes, but this misspelling will allow for creative fans armed with Sharpies or Magic Markers to alter the merchandise as they see fit.

And fans who want a new name will also be happy.

Win-win. Besides, what's cooler than lasers? Nothing, that's what.

[rbtoliver]

I am new to this forum but there seems to be a real lack of intelligent discussion just a lot of 5 to 6 word remarks that border on Just plan stupid so here is one for those i'm speaking of......The difference between stupidity and genius is that
genius has its limits.

[Dave Cook]

Real hockey fans - i.e. those that truly follow the sport - will recognize the Oklahoma City Blazers in the same way that they recognize the Fort Wayne Komets, the Peoria Rivermen and the Houston Aeros.....regardless if they bounce from the CHL to the IHL to the AHL or versa visa.

If you've followed hockey for very long, you'll understand that there is a segment of hockey enthusiasts that call themselves 'hockey fans' but have zero interest in anything outside of the National Hockey League. They claim to be 'hockey fans' but have no desire to attend college games, minor-league games or watch anything from overseas.

So if a few of these folks in Dallas don't recognize the OKC Blazers, the San Antonio Rampage, the Laredo Bucks, etc....I'm not going to consider it a huge loss.

[rbtoliver]

Real hockey fans - i.e. those that truly follow the sport - will recognize the Oklahoma City Blazers in the same way that they recognize the Fort Wayne Komets, the Peoria Rivermen and the Houston Aeros.....regardless if they bounce from the CHL to the IHL to the AHL or versa visa.

If you've followed hockey for very long, you'll understand that there is a segment of hockey enthusiasts that call themselves 'hockey fans' but have zero interest in anything outside of the National Hockey League. They claim to be 'hockey fans' but have no desire to attend college games, minor-league games or watch anything from overseas.

So if a few of these folks in Dallas don't recognize the OKC Blazers, the San Antonio Rampage, the Laredo Bucks, etc....I'm not going to consider it a huge loss.

Great response thanks for more that 5 words and i very much respect you opinion and see your point.

[Dave Cook]

I have to disagree, other than people who have CHL teams no one knew who the Blazers were, it was 3rd rate hockey presented like it was a higher grade of hockey imho !

I won't disagree at all with the fact the CHL Blazers were third-rate hockey presented as a higher level (how do you expect a marketing department to sale a product??).

But I don't think people outside of our state borders were completely unfamiliar with the franchise. I've had a few conversations with Canadians, none of whom have never visited the south, who brought up how impressive those early-Blazers teams were in the old days.

It would be nice to get back to that tradition.

[rbtoliver]

You are VERY incorrect. The Blazers had the reputation of being the highest drawing minor league hockey team in North America and gained a great deal of national publicity. Plus, I have tried to drill it into the stubborn heads on this thread, it is pre-marketed.

Well that's your opinion and of course we all know that saying....

[OKC@heart]

Plus, I have tried to drill it into the stubborn heads on this thread, it is pre-marketed.

& its working so well!!! OKC STORM!

[Jethrol]

Real hockey fans - i.e. those that truly follow the sport - will recognize the Oklahoma City Blazers in the same way that they recognize the Fort Wayne Komets, the Peoria Rivermen and the Houston Aeros.....regardless if they bounce from the CHL to the IHL to the AHL or versa visa.

If you've followed hockey for very long, you'll understand that there is a segment of hockey enthusiasts that call themselves 'hockey fans' but have zero interest in anything outside of the National Hockey League. They claim to be 'hockey fans' but have no desire to attend college games, minor-league games or watch anything from overseas.

So if a few of these folks in Dallas don't recognize the OKC Blazers, the San Antonio Rampage, the Laredo Bucks, etc....I'm not going to consider it a huge loss.

You're looking at this all wrong. You're thinking the hardcore fans will be able to carry this team financially, they won't.

A new team has to appeal to a larger market and I'm not talking about know nothing fans. There's a huge group of fans between the die hards that will recognize the teams you mention and the know nothing fans. Let's call these fans potentially passionate fans and/or dedicated fans. These people like hockey but don't follow every team. They catch games even in the lower leagues and in the past they loved going to Blazers games many times a year and many of them were season ticket holders.

These are far from know nothing fans but they're simply not die hard fans and never will be.....however, they're the bread and butter of ticket sales. That's the demographic they need to appeal to because they'll consistently buy tickets, they'll get friends interested in hockey, they'll buy the gear. For the hockey team to succeed here....we need many, many of these fans.

The OKC entertainment market is much more competitive than it's ever been and if they name the new team the Blazers, it's simply too easy for this demographic to say, "Meh...been there, done that....let's go to a Thunder game."

[rbtoliver]

You're looking at this all wrong. You're thinking the hardcore fans will be able to carry this team financially, they won't.

A new team has to appeal to a larger market and I'm not talking about know nothing fans. There's a huge group of fans between the die hards that will recognize the teams you mention and the know nothing fans. Let's call these fans potentially passionate fans and/or dedicated fans. These people like hockey but don't follow every team. They catch games even in the lower leagues and in the past they loved going to Blazers games many times a year and many of them were season ticket holders.

These are far from know nothing fans but they're simply not die hard fans and never will be.....however, they're the bread and butter of ticket sales. That's the demographic they need to appeal to because they'll consistently buy tickets, they'll get friends interested in hockey, they'll buy the gear. For the hockey team to succeed here....we need many, many of these fans.

The OKC entertainment market is much more competitive than it's ever been and if they name the new team the Blazers, it's simply too easy for this demographic to say, "Meh...been there, done that....let's go to a Thunder game."

Now your Talking....great post !!! Thank you.

[metro]

you're looking at this all wrong. You're thinking the hardcore fans will be able to carry this team financially, they won't.

bingo