Could OKC be ready for Sonics?

[Patrick]

And of course, there's this article:

Oklahoma Sonics? Unlikely, mayor says
FRANK HUGHES; The News Tribune
Published: April 13th, 2006 01:00 AM

OKLAHOMA CITY – Although the Seattle SuperSonics said in their Board of Governors statement last week that they have had “numerous inquiries” from potential buyers, Oklahoma City is not among the cities that have called, Mayor Mick Cornett said.

“Our situation is very unique,” said Cornett, who attended Wednesday’s Sonics-New Orleans Hornets game at Ford Center. “My situation with the league, all my involvement has been with the commissioner. I just think it would be unethical for me to start talking to some level of negotiation with other clubs without him knowing about it.

“I guess if an owner or someone called me publicly or privately, I would say we need to make sure the commissioner knows what’s going on. He is the reason we have a team, and I want to be careful and be sensitive to that.”

Cornett also said the Sonics have not called him or the ownership group put together to acquire an NBA franchise on the city’s behalf in an effort to gauge their interest in acquiring the Sonics.

Sonics CEO Wally Walker attended Wednesday’s game, but he declined to be interviewed for this story. He said his presence in Oklahoma City has nothing to do with the Sonics’ recent decision to announce they would sell. He said he was traveling on personal business and stopped to catch the road game.

Oklahoma City is the primary host city for the Hornets this season and next while New Orleans recovers from Hurricane Katrina.

The support in Oklahoma City has far surpassed anything the NBA expected when it made the town the Hornets’ temporary home, and commissioner David Stern has said it should get a team in the near future.

Cornett said the Sonics are one possibility for relocation, but does not consider them a probability.

“Professional sports these days seems to come down to the venue and the lease,” Cornett said. “The Sonics are one of four franchises that has been identified as a potential long-term tenant for this arena. There are numerous scenarios for Oklahoma City, and in all of those scenarios we wind up with a team. In one of these scenarios, we wind up with Seattle. But I think it is a long shot.

“I really think Seattle at the end of the day will find a way to keep them.”

[Patrick]

Actually mranderson, you may be right. Just got an email from a councilman (won't name him) that said part of what you've said is true.

[BDP]

Just got an email from a councilman (won't name him) that said part of what you've said is true.

Can you at least tell us which part?

[chrisok]

I would agree that mranderson is pretty close to the truth on this. It won't be next season though.

[Patrick]

Can you at least tell us which part?

The fact that they've talked to other teams, like the Sonics, Trailblazers, etc.

I've also heard rumors that Shinn (or one of his partners) is considering buying one of the teams and locating them here....good investment.

[mranderson]

The fact that they've talked to other teams, like the Sonics, Trailblazers, etc.

I've also heard rumors that Shinn (or one of his partners) is considering buying one of the teams and locating them here....good investment.

I will do what Andy Griffith calls "ifin'." If Shinn buys the other team, likely the Sonics, then he would have to sell all his interest in the Hornets. I wonder who he would sell to. Maybe Starbucks.

A trade, maybe? He trades the Hornets for the Sonics, then moves the team to Oklahoma City, while Starbucks takes the Hornets back to New Orleans... Which in turn, takes them to Kansas City in 2012...

Interesting... Comments?

[OKIESCOT]

I was glad to see Hot Rod bring up the MLS. I know there isn't a lot of interest in the sports media about soccer here, but there is a huge suburban market for soccer as well as a large section of south OKC. The MLS is an aggressive league with low ticket prices, and they don't need huge attendance to be successful.

OK...I'll admit it is not as big a deal as NFL or others, but it is a viable alternative to bring us to a two league city.

I think MLS and NBA would both be successful...and I don't think in their current situation Tulsa presents any real competition. The two cities are moving in opposite directions.

[Midtowner]

MLS would have already been in Edmond had someone in OKC wanted to form an ownership group. I believe Express Sports was originally the interested party, but either they or their investors backed out at the last minute.

The exhibition games have always been well attended though.

[BDP]

Edmond would be a great place for it. However, I would love to see a multi-use outdoor stadium in OKC. I think it would be great on the river.

[metro]

I agree and have thought about it for some time now. Perhaps we should start a new thread discussing this. I think the only realistic approach of OKC being a 2 team major league city is with the NBA and MLS. As mentioned, we almost landed a team a few years back in Edmond. I believe it was not Express Sports as the interested party but rather the Mathis Brothers. I think now we have arrived with success of the NBA. Talks should begin to re-explore a more realistic MLS team. Like someone said, there is a huge underserved suburban market for it as well as the often forgot about Hispanic population of our city. After all futbol' is the world's biggest sport. Let the talks begin..........

[OKIESCOT]

Great idea on the new thread, but I am a newbie so I will watch for it from somebody who knows what they are doing. To add some figures to the discussion;
http://www.socceramerica.com/article...t_ID=562136530
This link gives the 2005 MLS attendance figures.
Average for the league is 15,108. Ticket prices for FC Dallas run 10-40 dollars. This is a very realistic possibility for us.

[Midtowner]

I agree and have thought about it for some time now. Perhaps we should start a new thread discussing this. I think the only realistic approach of OKC being a 2 team major league city is with the NBA and MLS. As mentioned, we almost landed a team a few years back in Edmond. I believe it was not Express Sports as the interested party but rather the Mathis Brothers. I think now we have arrived with success of the NBA. Talks should begin to re-explore a more realistic MLS team. Like someone said, there is a huge underserved suburban market for it as well as the often forgot about Hispanic population of our city. After all futbol' is the world's biggest sport. Let the talks begin..........

Metro, I'm 99% sure it was Express. I attended UCO, and at the time, I was working on the UCO TV news station as a reporter/anchor. The MLS thing was one of the stories that I kept up with, did interviews on, etc. I also had a friend working for Express Sports at the time. Mathis Bros. may have been in on the potential ownership group, but so was Express.

[Uptown]

It was Express. Brad Lund coordinated the gig.

[mranderson]

" "I agree and have thought about it for some time now. Perhaps we should start a new thread discussing this. "

Good idea... And take all the MLS posts with it. We need to leave this post for the Sonics relocation to Oklahoma City. The MLS is not TOS. In other words... Off topic, people.

[Laramie]

Are the Sonics ready for OKC?

I am looking forward to the day that OKC can finally have its very own NBA team.

I remember several years ago suggesting that OKC could support an NHL or NBA franchise and we had a host of nay-sayers. MrAnderson remembers me on the Oregon Forum, FanHome, OKC Civic Discourse and others... We had people who wouldn't dare believe what has happened this past NBA season.

If you think the support is there now; wait until OKC official has its own NBA or NHL team and we'll sell at least 12,500 season tickets and that's being conservative to say the least.

[okclee]

Say no to the NHL! It is the NBA all the way.

[Bobby H]

Why "no" to the NHL?

I find the idea Oklahoma City can have only 1 professional sports team a VERY LOONY idea. The Ford Center could accomodate both an NBA team and an NHL team pretty easily. There's a good number of other arenas around the country doing just that.

[NOLAHornet]

Can't wait until we get our Hornets back. Good luck on getting the Sonics, Magic, or whoever. If you don't get any team that's fine too. Just quit trying to steal our team.

I think those Oklahoma City jerseys at the end of the season stunk.

[chrisok]

I think those Oklahoma City jerseys at the end of the season stunk.

Well they weren't really intended for you.

[NOLAHornet]

Well they weren't really intended for you.

That should have never been done. They're NOT the Oklahoma City Hornets. They ARE the NEW ORLEANS HORNETS! They signed a contract to our city to play here, not in Oklahoma City. They owe us the contract they agreed to.

Your city leaders are only encouraging this unethical breaking of a contract to continue.

[andy157]

It looks like if the Hornets move back that OKC will at least be valuable to the NBA as a 'threat.' In other words, now the league can tell owners and cities "Do as I say or OKC is where the team will be playing next season."

I'm afraid that it's possible that we might be more valuable as a threat than we would be if we actually had a team.

Threats do work.