Next major/mid-major professional sport to enter the Oklahoma City market will be?

[OKCNDN]

I think that a "one-off" sporting events would do well in OKC. I mean sports that wouldn't have a full slate of games in one location but contests that move around taking the whole spectacle from place to place.

I would have said NASCAR but that was before Dallas and Kansas got their tracks. Also that sport is not growing any more. NASCAR could have been huge here in OKC.

The Indy car race could be huge in OKC. It would be a "one-off" event, one day per year. It would require minimal investment from the city (15-20 million which is a far cry from the hundred of millions to build a new stadium). There wouldn't have to be a local owner because the teams are individually owned and the races are put on by the league. Sponsors would have to be found but I don't see that as too big of a problem. Fans wouldn't have the expense of season tickets. Just buy a ticket to the race. The race could take place in the summer giving Oklahomans "something to do". Also having the race in the summer would be after the NBA and college BB season's are over but before OU and OSU football starts. It could even be before the NFL training camps open.

[Laramie]

Agree with those who wanted a "None of the above" option.

While I think it actually might be the most likely prospect among those listed, I don't think MLB wouldn't get enough consistent attendance over 81 home dates. Sorry, but I've been hearing about how soccer is going to "explode" in US popularity since I was a kid, and it still isn't there yet. Can't imagine the city sinking $100+ million into a soccer-only facility, so that's a loser, too. No way we'd get the requisite 65K+ seat stadium only three hours away from Jerry World for any NFL consideration, so that's out. NHL is on shaky financial footing and will cut franchises before they expand, and the WNBA is an unqualified joke as a professional sports enterprise.

Sorry to sound like a "Debbie Downer," but I'm trying to be honest....I think an NFL franchise would be awesome in OKC, but I just don't see it ever happening.

A soccer-specific facility could also accommodate american football.

Oklahoma City does not have a decent facility to hold the state high school playoffs or some possible college or university (non conference) games which could be brought to this area.

Remember when we built the Oklahoma City Arena it was built to accommodate a number of events and not just for sports.

[SoonerDave]

The OKC Arena was constructed to NHL specifications back when the conventional wisdom held that we should be pursuing an NHL franchise. When we realized that the NHL was playing us for leverage against another city, and apparently wasn't seriously considering us, we opted to build the arena anyway. The later tweaks to the arena were to modify it to NBA specifications.

Hosting Oklahoma high school football championships isn't going to justify the expense of a $100 milliion-plus facility, especially in light of the fact that host sites for those games rotates between east and west sites. That means you only have a revenue opportunity every other year. Beyond that, there's no way OU or OSU is going to sacrifice a home date just to give an OKC facility some exposure. OU is already behind the curve among power programs having only six home dates per year, and that's because they in effect give away one home date every other year by playing Texas in Dallas, so you'd sooner get a kiss from a skunk before you'd get OU to sacrifice a *second* home date. OSU is arguably more likely to be in a position to offer a date, but they'd be doing so at the expense of losing a home date in their newly rebuilt facility. So I think that's a non-starter too.

The NFL just isn't going to happen here, either. To begin with, pretending Jerry World doesn't exist, even talking about an NFL franchise here means you're looking at a $1 billion pricetag, considering facility and franchise costs, and I frankly don't think that kind of money exists in either the private or public sector. I think the window of opportunity for OKC to have done something like that was wide open about 15 years ago, but there was simply no public sentiment for it then.

[Edgar]

Just wish they'd build a new dirt track somewhere to replace the SFS. In his solemen statement at the time of the deed Mick said he'd be working tirelessly to fill the void caused by the destruction of the SFS. He wasn't talking about a Gran Prix race was he. yeah, European style street racing, hear poeple talking that up all the time around here. Know there's ben fledgling efforts to get it done(new track)- has anyone heard lately. I haven't. btw, can anyone pour salt into a wound- was the destruction of SFS accomplished with maps3 funds.? Mick forgot to mention that in all those smarmy ads.

[cjohnson.405]

Nascar

[ljbab728]

Just wish they'd build a new dirt track somewhere to replace the SFS. In his solemen statement at the time of the deed Mick said he'd be working tirelessly to fill the void caused by the destruction of the SFS. He wasn't talking about a Gran Prix race was he. yeah, European style street racing, hear poeple talking that up all the time around here. Know there's ben fledgling efforts to get it done(new track)- has anyone heard lately. I haven't. btw, can anyone pour salt into a wound- was the destruction of SFS accomplished with maps3 funds.? Mick forgot to mention that in all those smarmy ads.

I don't know what you consider to be recent. This came out two months ago.

http://www.newsok.com/article/356482...C%22mans%22%5D

[ljbab728]

To my knowlege there have no expenditures of Map3 funds to date so your worries about the Mayor's smarmy ads for that reason may be misplaced.

The contract for the demolition was for $425,000.00.

[Edgar]

I don't know what you consider to be recent. This came out two months ago.

http://www.newsok.com/article/356482...C%22mans%22%5D

Got fired up to click on the link thinking a new dirk track going in somewhere nearby and I somehow missed it. The prospect of a Le Mans race makes me yawn, as it does most around here. Fine if the city wants to put one on, just don't make my 78 year mom and all the homekless mental patients wearting paths at stoplights help pay for it. Thought we had plenty of rich oil barons around here. Happens whenever thee's a surge in the energy sector, the ollies get all high brow and try make OKC into something it isn't. Tulsa's a peer city, not fricken Monaco. Aren't these races generally $ losers?

[Edgar]

To my knowlege there have no expenditures of Map3 funds to date so your worries about the Mayor's smarmy ads for that reason may be misplaced.

The contract for the demolition was for $425,000.00.

A local electric co offered to bring the SFS up to code gratis, and were politly rebuffed. All their justifications were bunkum. They wanted it gone, and couldn't wait to do the deed. Now we have zero motorsports in OKC. How is that momentum?

[SoonerDave]

A local electric co offered to bring the SFS up to code gratis, and were politly rebuffed. All their justifications were bunkum. They wanted it gone, and couldn't wait to do the deed. Now we have zero motorsports in OKC. How is that momentum?

Bingo. I think the fairgrounds (as evidenced by the speedway in particular and the destruction of our fairgrounds in general) is viewed quite disdainfully by our current power structure. Anyone who followed that story knew the Speedway didn't magically become unusable overnight, and that the excuses for its closure were nothing but thinly veiled elitist politics.

[earlywinegareth]

Yo! I-44 Speedway has races: http://www.i44speedway.com/

[Edgar]

go carts- eh, mean no disrespect.

[dmoor82]

Nascar

Kansas speedway to the North and Texas motor speedway to the South!OKC will NOT get a Nascar track,atleast for a few decades!There just isnt enough of a population base for it and also being sandwiched inbetween two larger markets that have tracks!

[Edgar]

OKC needs to focus on a multi purpose facility that will draw drivers regionally ala SFS before the half mile got mothballed. I miss racing so much. Get a twinge when I see a trailor going down the highway to race somewhere. Did the SFS really need to come down? What was the point? Flying back into town, two fine tracks sit there idle. doesn't look like any grand plans for the land. So far our former sports anchor mayor has killed motorsports and hockey in the town- momentum!

[Bill Robertson]

OKC needs to focus on a multi purpose facility that will draw drivers regionally ala SFS before the half mile got mothballed. I miss racing so much. Get a twinge when I see a trailer going down the highway to race somewhere. Did the SFS really need to come down? What was the point? Flying back into town, two fine tracks sit there idle. doesn't look like any grand plans for the land. So far our former sports anchor mayor has killed motorsports and hockey in the town- momentum!

No, SFS did not need to come down. The point was, and is, that the State Fair Board wants the Fairgrounds to be one big horse show venue. There are plans to make a "Grand Entrance" where SFS was. Search on here and somewhere the plans were posted not too long ago.

And as far as hockey our mayor has done a GREAT thing. I was a big Blazers fan and was totally torqued when the Blazers folded. I boycotted the Barons until one night my daughter (who I was patching up years of not talking to so I would do anything she asked) and her husband talked my wife and I into going. Now we're season ticket holders. This is REAL hockey. I didn't realize how minor league the CHL was. The attendance isn't what the Blazers was (4500 average for the Barons vs 6500 for the Blazers) but I think that will improve as ticked off Blazers fans like myself give in and start attending. 6500 would put us in the upper teams of the AHL.

[Edgar]

Could have taken a nap in the place game I went to. Yes, the skill level noticablly higher, but no one seemed to much care. people aren't even using the comp tix apparently comparing actual attendace with announced. what a flop. AHL always a dicey proposition, be shortlived in OKC.

[dmoor82]

No, SFS did not need to come down. The point was, and is, that the State Fair Board wants the Fairgrounds to be one big horse show venue. There are plans to make a "Grand Entrance" where SFS was. Search on here and somewhere the plans were posted not too long ago.

And as far as hockey our mayor has done a GREAT thing. I was a big Blazers fan and was totally torqued when the Blazers folded. I boycotted the Barons until one night my daughter (who I was patching up years of not talking to so I would do anything she asked) and her husband talked my wife and I into going. Now we're season ticket holders. This is REAL hockey. I didn't realize how minor league the CHL was. The attendance isn't what the Blazers was (4500 average for the Barons vs 6500 for the Blazers) but I think that will improve as ticked off Blazers fans like myself give in and start attending. 6500 would put us in the upper teams of the AHL.

The Blazers at one point in time led all of North America in Minor league hockey attendance!I think if I recall correctly that The Blazers gave out like 2-3k seats for free to each game!

[Edgar]

Barons gave out tix as well, no one much used them apparently.

[Bill Robertson]

Edgar, AHL dicey? The stats don't say so. The league and it's teams have been quite stable since 1980 when it did almost go under. Also. the average attendance for the Barons was around 3900 in February and improved to a season average of about 4500 by the end of the season. Meaning that attendance must have been well over 4500 average the last half of the season. I think they'll be just fine. I take it you're either not a hockey fan or a still bitter Blazers fan?

[skyrick]

OKC will never get NFL or MLB franchises.

How about noodling?

[ljbab728]

A local electric co offered to bring the SFS up to code gratis, and were politly rebuffed. All their justifications were bunkum. They wanted it gone, and couldn't wait to do the deed. Now we have zero motorsports in OKC. How is that momentum?

I don't think I mentioned anything in support of the demolition of the SFS. I was not in favor of that in the least.

[Laramie]

Great way to sabatoge a Thread; thanks fellows, I get the message...

[Mr Big]

For MLS to work here, it needs its own stadium. The key to any professional sporting event is to host one massive party where a game breaks out. Sound, food & beer are keys to every party. We can't do that with our current available/potential stadiums. Building one should never be considered too much spending on a soccer stadium, because its not. An outdoor mid-sized stadium is great venue that can be used for a ridiculous amount of various events. Especially for musicians who can sell more than arenas hold, but couldn't sell out full size stadiums. This also serves a need for city. Since we got the Thunder we started getting passed over by many, many different artists. If our arena is available during the dates near when an artist does Tulsa or Dallas, then we get the artist. If the Thunder is in the place, we miss out. A multi-functional facility of this nature would be awesome for our city and it would give MLS a fighting chance.

I don't understanding the nay-sayers regarding the NFL. Jerry Jones won't be able to stop a team here, any more than Mark Cuban did (1 of 2 no votes against the Thunder). NFL owners want money. If they see it here, they won't give a d### if Jerry is losing fans, while the league on a whole is gaining more (and more money). I don't understand the concept that we can't build a jumanji stadium like Jerry. (holy little brother syndrome...) Didn't Jerry make his money doing the same thing as many our financial leaders? I can't help but notice that a few of those guys got together and bought a basketball team. Oklahoma is a football rich state with respect to fans, the ultimate asset for the NFL. We have fans who know the sport, love the sport and want nothing but the sport of football. Adding more football is not a dilution issue, its adding gasoline to the fire.

[dmoor82]

OKC is too small for the NFL!Right now at only 1.3 Million people OKC is where it needs to be with ONE pro franchise,let's see how OKC can support the Thunder after multiple losing seasons!

[SoonerDave]

As already noted elsewhere in this thread, existing, established MLS franchises in larger cities (with one exception) do well to draw something on the order of 15-20K fans. That can't possibly draw the revenue needed to justify the cost of building a stadium sized even *just* for that number, let alone anything larger. It is too much to spend for that sport.

What kind of "ridiculous events" do you expect this "mid-sized" stadium to draw that wouldn't be more interested in going to a larger venue in a city with higher population and greater disposable income, eg Jerry World in Dallas, which, like it or not, is designed to be used as a multi-purpose facility - not just football.

As far as the NFL goes, it isn't about Jerry Jones stopping it. It's about the fact that there are limited corporate financial resources in Oklahoma compared to Dallas - hate to say it, but it's true. Many of those resources have been, as it were, "tapped out" to sponsor/support the Thunder. Understand that acquiring an NFL franchise, assuming the league were even interested, would be an expense these days hovering somewhere around the $1 billion mark. What possible rationale would there be for building a second "jumanji" stadium with one already in existence in a major metropolitan market only three hours south? What possible drawing card would make a similar facility in OKC more attractive?

This isn't about "little brother" syndrome. It's about realizing where we are as a state financially. The NFL is an objective of an entirely different order of magnitude in expense than the NBA. Yeah, Oklahoma is a great football state, but its a great college football state. While I would love to have the NFL in OKlahoma City, I also realize the practical impossibility of such a goal. We had a chance to pursue such an objective about 30 years ago, but didn't pursue it, and given the cost of such a facility, I can't fathom a speculative venture of that magnitude would make sense on anyone's balance sheet. It most certainly IS a dilution issue, not of football in particular, but professional and amateur sports in general, and there are so many discretionary ticket dollars available in this state.

I remember a few years ago there was a hue and cry for Oklahoma to pursue an Arena football league, and ol Dean Blevins was among one of the interested parties. He eventually backed out, and was on the radio saying "we ran the numbers every way we could, and there's no way it can work financially in this market." Well, someone else tried it, and guess what - it failed.

I read once that a metropolitan area can generally think about supporting one pro sports franchise per one million residents. OKC's greater metro area includes just over that number, IIRC. And we've got the NBA in our hip pockets. It's great to dream, but we've got to temper it with reality. The NFL is outside that reality.