You guys completely miss the point...
The problem with having the games in vegas isn't that it is where the gambling is happening... it's not the GAMBLERS that are running cars into power stations. The problem is that vegas is where the LINES ARE SET. The gamblers aren't the ones that are losing enough to alter the game, it's the HOUSE.
And if you think that somehow there aren't still shady things going on with the people that are running vegas... I'd like to talk to you about an EXCITING real estate opportunity in Arizona. lol
Disagreeing with what you say is not the same thing as missing the point. We just believe that distance is no longer the barrier it used to be to have those concerns, and repeating the concerns over and over again isn't doing anything to actually counter that. If you disagree, very well, but no one here is oblivious to the fact that Vegas is at the center of sports wagering in this country.
And no one said shady things still aren't going on in Vegas... but do you really think they are confined to Vegas? Do you really think that, if the power brokers were going to alter a game, that it'd have to be one within an hour drive of a casino? Again, I believe it's a completely obsolete argument now. Those setting the lines don't have to be in Vegas to do so, those who might be interested in manipulating the games don't have to be in Vegas to do so, and the their ability to hire people or make deals or act doesn't suddenly vanish beyond the city's limits. In this day and age, where you could coordinate simultaneous actions with someone on 5 different continents, why should anyone believe that the owners of the Bellagio wouldn't be able do make sure something is done in New Jersey or Seattle?
We currrently don't have the numbers or cash flow to merit a 2nd pro team; however, if the Jags were to relocate here--Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium would be a temporary option.
Our numbers and corporate support would be better than New Orleans, a city we currently mirror in population and media market.
The city would have to start making plans to build some type of NFL ready facility (something with a roof or retract-roof) for our weather. OU would not approve a temporary home for an NFL franchise without some type of assurance that a stadium would be built in OKC in the future. Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium seats approximately 85,000 - that's 15,000-seats above the 70,000-seat NFL average.
We would need to build a facility capable of seating 70,000 - 75,000.
New Orleans currently supports the NFL and NBA. Our market is growing and much stronger; however, you would have to convert some college fans to the NFL product.
We did it with NCAA & minor league basketball; this would be much easier to do with major professional football.
Texas already has two NFL franchises; San Antonio would be a big risk.
Omaha is too small to surport an NFL franchise and wouldn't have the backing of the city or voters to build an NFL stadium.
Norfolk, Virginia Beach & Hampton Roads (Tidewater area) would be a big risk and I don't think they could get a stadium built.
Portland voters would never approve a stadium. Paul Allen recently sold the Portland Rose Garden; I'm sure he would want to incur the debts of an NFL stadium in Portland.
California is in debt and Los Angeles is having a problem getting stadium financing.
MLB, NFL, NBA & NHL would never approve Las Vegas because of the GAMBLING.
Orlando is too close to Tampa-St. Petersburg to place an NFL franchise.
Columbus would be a nice market; however, with team in Cleveland and Cincinnati--it's not going to happen.
Oklahoma City is growing and by 2015 our numbers will be even stronger. This is a can-do city and in my estimation, OKC is primed for relocation. The question remains, could we support OU football, NFL footbal and NBA basketball? Our growth is moderate and by 2020 at the rate we are growing, we could have 1.6 -1.8 million in our metro area by 2020.
I personally think that markets like Los Angeles & Portland would be much more attractive than OKC; however, I do feel that OKC would get the stadium completed before a city like Portland.
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