NBA in Tulsa?

[G.Walker]

Looks like the Kings aren't going to be staying in Sacramento, and the BOK Center is looking real nice these days, your thoughts?

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/78...-falls-through

Key quote from article:

"The Kings are scheduled to play at Power Balance Pavilion next season. Stern wouldn't speculate where they would play beyond that, and said if they sought to relocate, approval would be left to the relocation committee that is headed by Oklahoma City owner Clay Bennett."

[redrunner]

BOK Center is nice but Tulsa wouldn't even make a short list for any NBA franchise seeking to relocate. Tulsa isn't even mentioned in this article.

[G.Walker]

I know, but the NBA likes new arenas, and the BOK Center in Tulsa is one of the best in the nation. I actually think Tulsa could support an NBA team. Even though their metro is smaller than OKC's, Tulsans have a lot of buying power, and I think their per capita income is higher...

[redrunner]

Hmm, I think Kansas City would be a wiser choice with their nearly new Sprint Center.

[MikeOKC]

I know, but the NBA likes new arenas, and the BOK Center in Tulsa is one of the best in the nation. I actually think Tulsa could support an NBA team. Even though there metro is smaller than OKC's, Tulsans have a lot of buying power, and I think their per capita income is higher...

Seattle
Kansas City
St. Louis
Cincinnati

I think that's pretty much the pecking order of a new or relocated NBA team.

[G.Walker]

I don't think Seattle, St. Louis, or Cincinnati have new arenas? I think Kansas City has the newest arena...

[Just the facts]

The Kings are going to Anahiem. This deal has been in the works for a long time. The NBA doesn't like new arenas as much as it that they like arenas that are capable of generating multiple revenue streams. For most cities this required building new arenas.

Just 2 weeks ago though they said the new arena in Sacramento was a done deal. What happened? Keeping the King in Sacramento is like trying to bailout Greece - a new plan has to be hatched every 4 weeks because the old plan everyone said would work didn't work.

[adaniel]

I know, but the NBA likes new arenas, and the BOK Center in Tulsa is one of the best in the nation. I actually think Tulsa could support an NBA team. Even though their metro is smaller than OKC's, Tulsans have a lot of buying power, and I think their per capita income is higher...

Incomes in Tulsa aren't that much higher. We aren't talking about Greenwich CT here.

The number of eyeballs matter way more than incomes anyway. Why snuff out the growing clout of the Thunder in OK and KS?

This is Kansas City's team to lose.

[Snowman]

I don't think Seattle, St. Louis, or Cincinnati have new arenas? I think Kansas City has the newest arena...

Seattle does have someone with the money who has been going through the process of getting one built and some others that have shown a willingness to put in money, though there are some conditions with it before it starts construction, however the building matters less than the market which is roughly 4 times the others mentioned here that interests the NBA.

[dmoor82]

What about Louisville?With the new KFC-Yum! Center?I think it goes KC,Anaheim,Seattle,Louisville,although KC with another pro franchise would be overextended,three teams in a metro just at 2 million?

[SoonerBoy18]

It would be nice to have an NBA version of "Bedlam" in Oklahoma but I dont know.. It would also be nice for the city of Omaha, Nebraska to get an NBa team, they definitely would sell out every game night.

[Snowman]

It would be nice to have an NBA version of "Bedlam" in Oklahoma but I dont know.. It would also be nice for the city of Omaha, Nebraska to get an NBa team, they definitely would sell out every game night.

As well as the Thunder turned out, most owners care more about the market size. Anaheim is plausible but will have resistance from the LA owners and those not wanting so many teams in one region. Seattle is plausible if they can get their arena deal done. Most other places are long shots. A second team in Chicago could make more sense than KC, Louisville, St. Louis or Cincinnati.

[SatelliteHigh]

Seattle Metro = around 3.5 million
St. Louis Metro = around 3 million
KC Metro = around 2 million
Cincinnati Metro = around 2 million
Tulsa Metro = around 900,000

Anaheim isn't a metro, but the population for Orange Country is around 3 million. Even Louisville is bigger than Tulsa.

There are 53 metropolitan statistical areas larger than Tulsa.

Tulsa just doesn't have a big enough market for an NBA team. OKC barely does, and it has yet to be seen whether or not the city will be able to support the team in the long run, especially once they have some down seasons. I'm pretty sure the NBA and/or owners looking to move care more than just if a city has a nice, new, sparkling arena. I'm pretty sure it's more about the $$$ and number of eye balls. And to bring up per capita income is a little silly. If they were much concerned with that, I'm sure they'd be packing their bags for a city in Orange Country right now.

Edit: And someone mentioned Chicago adding a second team. The Chicago Metro is around 9.5 million. So even half of Chicago is over 4 times more populated than Tulsa.

[UrbanNebraska]

It would be nice to have an NBA version of "Bedlam" in Oklahoma but I dont know.. It would also be nice for the city of Omaha, Nebraska to get an NBa team, they definitely would sell out every game night.

Bring the Kings coming back to Omaha! Us and KC actually shared the franchise in the mid 70s if you guys didn't know that. We used to be an NBA town.

As others had mentioned though Omaha would pack the place, we averaged 15K+ for a mid major basketball team this past season. Trouble is "Omaha" doesn't move the dial like KC, Seattle, St. Louis, Orange County ect.

Not expecting a major league franchise anytime soon, I accepted that. MLS is probably our best bet.

[betts]

Not going to happen. The entire state of Oklahoma has a population not much larger than Seattle. We're lucky to have one team. Tulsa has the WNBA, and that's about as good as it is going to get for the forseeable future.

[dankrutka]

Tulsa is not an option and neither is KC. Kansas City and Denver are the two most oversaturated pro sports markets in the country. They can barely support the teams they have. The most likely desitnations are Anaheim or possibly Seattle.

[BoulderSooner]

tulsa ... no ...

KC Louisville seattle all would be way way ahead of tulsa .... that being said the kings if they leave are going to Anaheim

[Tydude]

the state is small to support to NBA Team

[G.Walker]

tulsa ... no ...

KC Louisville seattle all would be way way ahead of tulsa .... that being said the kings if they leave are going to Anaheim

I just don't seem them putting that many NBA teams so close to each other, you will have Kings, Clippers, and Lakers all right there together.

[Skyline]

WNBA Draft today!!

Tulsa?? Your on the clock, with the #4 overall pick.

[BoulderSooner]

I just don't seem them putting that many NBA teams so close to each other, you will have Kings, Clippers, and Lakers all right there together.

the NBA can NOT stop a team from moving to any city ... (the NFL/NHL can't either) only baseball with their trade exemption can ..

Anaheim is going to give the kings owners a great deal and IMHO they will move in a year

[Snowman]

the NBA can NOT stop a team from moving to any city ... (the NFL/NHL can't either) only baseball with their trade exemption can ..

Anaheim is going to give the kings owners a great deal and IMHO they will move in a year

While not legally, but they can make them pay large amounts of cash to move and since the price may vary between cities incentivize where they go.

[G.Walker]

the NBA can NOT stop a team from moving to any city ... (the NFL/NHL can't either) only baseball with their trade exemption can ..

Anaheim is going to give the kings owners a great deal and IMHO they will move in a year

That is not entirely true. The final decision is up to the NBA Relocation Committee, which is headed by our very own Clay Bennett, see post #1.

[OklahomaNick]

This discussion is just silly.
The NBA is not nor probably never will come to Tulsa.
Not that I don't think we could support it, its that the demographics would not allow it.
We sold the NBA relocation committee on Oklahoma's demographics and not just OKC when the Sonics moved here.

[Jersey Boss]

I just don't seem them putting that many NBA teams so close to each other, you will have Kings, Clippers, and Lakers all right there together.

Knicks, Nets, and 76'ers?