OKC Mayor Race 2014

[CaptDave]

Yep. I'm saying "Mick brought us the Thunder" is about as accurate a statement as "Al Gore invented the internet" with one major difference, Al Gore was involved in the early stages paving the way. Mick wasn't.

Similarly, without the voters who actually voted in the MAPS referendums, Ed would not have his windmill to joust.

[Laramie]

Howard Schultz's greed deserves most the credit. He could have sold to a local for less $ but he was like a crow to a shiny object when Bennett waved cash under his noes.

Edgar: Schultz' group sold to the highest bidder; would you classify that as greed?

Larry Elliott, CEO of Oracle offered Schultz' group $400 million to purchase the Seattle Supersonics back in 2006 with full intent to move the franchise to San Jose, CA. Schultz knew that the NBA wouldn't approve an NBA team for an area to have three franchises (Oakland-San Francisco, Sacramento & San Jose) in a 100-mile radius.

Elliott's bid was contingent upon relocation of the franchise from Seattle to San Jose. Howard Schultz knew this wouldn't fly with the NBA; he valued the impact this would have on Starbucks' reputation.

The Oklahoma group led by Clay Bennett was awarded the Seattle Supersonics for $350 million. Schultz' had a side note attached to the sale which he knew wasn't binding. Bennett's group made a pitch to get a new arena in Seattle which failed and the owners requested relocation to Oklahoma City which was approved by the NBA Board of Governors. The Supersonics relocated to Oklahoma City for the 2008-09 season.

The Hornets wanted to stay in Oklahoma City. The NBA knew that local ownership was in the best interest for operating a franchise. Hornets left OKC and returned to New Orleans.

MAPS for Hoops initiative (arena upgrade, practice facility) was passed to upgrade the downtown arena in OKC to NBA standards. We have the NBA as a result of the work spearheaded by Mayor Mick Cornett. True, Hurricane Katrina's devastation of New Orleans led to the temporary relocation of the New Orleans Hornets to OKC; however, many predicted that Oklahoma City would draw 12,500 per night at best.

Oklahoma City far exceeded the expectations of the NBA averaging 18,168 in 2005-06 and 17,833 in 2006-07 before returning to New Orleans.

Let's not overstate the conservation figures often used to gauge Oklahoma City's potential.

Oklahoma City's geographic location and additional convention center space will allow us to compete for the more conventions as we continue to add quality hotels downtown. Money from out-of-state being brought into our community will hasten our growth; not money that is being recirculated within our community.

Now whether or not the convention center pays for itself directly is another question. One thing that having a quality convention center will do for Oklahoma City is help get the word out (marketing, advertising), spur hotel development, create jobs, attract more businesses and development which will have a far more economic impact than the convention center itself.

The Business Of Basketball - Forbes

[Edgar]

Edgar, your ignorance would be laughable if it weren't so sad. You're talking to people who lived through this and know precisely what happened. Read "Big League City" if you want to educate yourself. The Washington legislature and the city of Seattle's refusal to build a new arena is the primary reason the Sonics moved here, which was preceded by Mayor Cornett's persistant courting of the NBA and acumen in seizing the opportunity to host the Hornets when Katrina made the New Orleans arena unusable. If it weren't for the voters who approved MAPS I, the MAPS arena update and Mayor Cornett, the Thunder would not be here. Most people who are losing $20 million a year on a business cannot be called greedy for wanting to break even. Howard Schultz was foolish, perhaps, to think that he could operate a team in the black, given the ridiculously bad contract the Sonics had with the city of Seattle, but it is ignorant to call him greedy. And there were no Seattle buyers at the time he sold to Bennett et al. The only other potential buyer was in San Jose and insisted on moving the team immediately there upon purchase.

Wasn't it Brad Lund who ha dthe brainstorm after katrina? Should have never ran the man out of town. He knows how to put on a show.

[Dubya61]

Wasn't it Brad Lund who ha dthe brainstorm after katrina? Should have never ran the man out of town. He knows how to put on a show.

He's not been run out of town. From his bio on Sold Out Sports web page:

Brad Lund has served in an executive capacity in the Oklahoma City market for the past 19 years. He currently is overseeing Oklahoma City’s efforts to land a world-class Grand Prix in downtown OKC. Lund is actively involved in the local tennis community as director of Friends of OKC Tennis, OKC Tennis Classic, and the Oklahoma City Open USTA Pro Circuit Futures.

From 1992-2008, Lund was the lead executive for one of North America’s most respected minor league hockey franchises – the Oklahoma City Blazers. During his tenure with the Central Hockey League franchise, the Blazers posted the top attendance average in all of minor league hockey (9,123). The franchise set numerous industry benchmarks, including leading the CHL in attendance in each of the 16 seasons under Lund’s helm, and ranking number-one in all of minor pro attendance on five occasions.

Lund, 45, was a key player in establishing the 2001 merger between the CHL and Western Professional Hockey League (WPHL). He served on the league’s Board of Directors and Franchise Advisory Committee for eight consecutive seasons (2001-2008), and was honored as CHL Executive of the Year on three occasions.

Lund also has had executive and marketing roles in Professional Bull Riding (PBR Tour), Davis Cup Tennis, WTA Tennis, Major League Soccer (MLS), and has hosted two CHL All Star Games, and four NHL Preseason Games. He was a special assistant to the Oklahoma City Mayor’s Office for the relocation of the New Orleans Hornets to Oklahoma City following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Prior to entering into professional ice hockey, Lund worked in the University of Oklahoma’s Athletic Department as a Student Assistant (1984-89); then served a two-season stint as the Director of Basketball Operations for the CBA’s Oklahoma City Cavalry.

Brad is married to Irma of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and has a stepson Henry Litchfield, a second-year student at Tulane Law. Irma is currently in her 22nd year of employment with Kansas City-based Cerner Corporation.

You can see in the bolded part that he was part of the effort to bring the Hornets here, but he was working with the Mayor's office in that regard.

[mkjeeves]

For clarity about why I got involved in this topic to start with, this post was in another thread before my post in this thread where credit for the Thunder being a great success was given to two people and one group:

Thank you Mayor Cornett and Clay Bennett. Thank you Thunder fans!!!!

Then this was posted by the same person only it read differently originally when I started to post about it. It first said "Without Maps 1 and Mick Cornett the Thunder wouldn't be here."

Betts obviously saw the need to reword it thus, and my response followed.

Edgar, your ignorance would be laughable if it weren't so sad. You're talking to people who lived through this and know precisely what

happened. Read "Big League City" if you want to educate yourself. The Washington legislature and the city of Seattle's refusal to build a new arena is the

primary reason the Sonics moved here, which was preceded by Mayor Cornett's persistant courting of the NBA and acumen in seizing the opportunity to host the

Hornets when Katrina made the New Orleans arena unusable. If it weren't for the voters who approved MAPS I, the MAPS arena update and Mayor Cornett, the

Thunder would not be here. Most people who are losing $20 million a year on a business cannot be called greedy for wanting to break even. Howard Schultz

was foolish, perhaps, to think that he could operate a team in the black, given the ridiculously bad contract the Sonics had with the city of Seattle, but it

is ignorant to call him greedy. And there were no Seattle buyers at the time he sold to Bennett et al. The only other potential buyer was in San Jose and

insisted on moving the team immediately there upon purchase.

I'm glad you reworded that. I don't remember if Mick was a rep or a TV personality during Maps 1 but he didn't have anything substantial to do with what was and is first and foremost to bringing the team here.

Were it not common around here to step on all the work done over the last few decades by other than Mick, and instead sing Mick's praises as if having an NBA team here were all about him, I wouldn't have said a word about it.

I did say something about the taxpayers in the other thread, and sometime later Betts acknowledged them.

[mkjeeves]

being obtuse

For clarity about why I got involved in this topic to start with, this post was in another thread before my post in this thread where credit for the Thunder being a great success was given to two people and one group:

Thank you Mayor Cornett and Clay Bennett. Thank you Thunder fans!!!!

Then I find this posted shortly after by the same person only it read differently originally when I started to post about it. It first said "Without Maps 1 and Mick Cornett the Thunder wouldn't be here."

Betts obviously saw the lack of clarity and need to reword it and this was the result, with my response following.

Edgar, your ignorance would be laughable if it weren't so sad. You're talking to people who lived through this and know precisely what

happened. Read "Big League City" if you want to educate yourself. The Washington legislature and the city of Seattle's refusal to build a new arena is the

primary reason the Sonics moved here, which was preceded by Mayor Cornett's persistant courting of the NBA and acumen in seizing the opportunity to host the

Hornets when Katrina made the New Orleans arena unusable. If it weren't for the voters who approved MAPS I, the MAPS arena update and Mayor Cornett, the

Thunder would not be here. Most people who are losing $20 million a year on a business cannot be called greedy for wanting to break even. Howard Schultz

was foolish, perhaps, to think that he could operate a team in the black, given the ridiculously bad contract the Sonics had with the city of Seattle, but it

is ignorant to call him greedy. And there were no Seattle buyers at the time he sold to Bennett et al. The only other potential buyer was in San Jose and

insisted on moving the team immediately there upon purchase.

I'm glad you reworded that. I don't remember if Mick was a rep or a TV personality during Maps 1 but he didn't have anything substantial to do with what was and is first and foremost to bringing the team here.

Were it not common around here to step on all the work done over the last few decades by other than Mick, and instead sing Mick's praises as if having an NBA team here were all about him, I wouldn't have said a word about it. Now, lets see how many days we go before it happens again.

I did indicate in the other thread the taxpayers got passed over, and sometime later Betts acknowledged them.

[kevinpate]

your repeating yourself self again again

[Edgar]

He's not been run out of town. From his bio on Sold Out Sports web page:


You can see in the bolded part that he was part of the effort to bring the Hornets here, but he was working with the Mayor's office in that regard.

Obvious he's not running the hockey any more. You can take a nap in the place.

[warreng88]

Obvious he's not running the hockey any more. You can take a nap in the place.

nm

[mkjeeves]

your repeating yourself self again again

That's helpful. Thanks.

[CaptDave]

Were it not common around here to step on all the work done over the last few decades by other than Mick, and instead sing Mick's praises as if having an NBA team here were all about him, I wouldn't have said a word about it. Now, lets see how many days we go before it happens again.

I did indicate in the other thread the taxpayers got passed over, and sometime later Betts acknowledged them.

Who exactly is stepping on all the work done by previous mayors? I haven't seen anything negative about Mayor Humphries and Mayor Norick. The only negativity or attempt to step on anything I see with regard to MAPS is from the Shadid camp.

Of course Mayor Cornett's predecessors deserve a huge amount of credit for having the vision to set the city on this path using MAPS as the vehicle. The people that actually voted for MAPS in all its iterations and with all its imperfections deserve credit. It is also undeniable that Mayor Cornett deserves much of the credit for the NBA taking a serious look at OKC. Before his tenure, the focus of the aspirations for a professional team for the MAPS arena was the NHL. A combination of unfortunate and providential circumstances came together that permitted OKC to capitalize on the groundwork Mayor Cornett had laid at the NBA offices in New York. Constantly attempting to shift credit away from where it is due is a fairly transparent tactic.

[Dubya61]

Obvious he's not running the hockey any more. You can take a nap in the place.

There are many who would say the the Barons are a much more successful enterprise than the Blazers. It all depends on how you measure success. If it's purely flesh in the seats, the Blazers were more successful. If it's a better level of hockey or interaction with the major league or income, the Barons are the more successful. Prodigal Hockey certainly built on what the Blazers did, but the Barons are better hockey and business.

[mkjeeves]

Constantly attempting to shift credit away from where it is due is a fairly transparent tactic.

Exactly. Perfect example:

Quote Originally Posted by betts View Post
Thank you Mayor Cornett and Clay Bennett. Thank you Thunder fans!!!!

Glad we're on the same page now.

[David]

Come on, Betts. Don't you know that the only step that ever matters is the very first step? That's why I give all credit to the Thunder being here to the land run. If it wasn't for those settlers none of us would be here so nobody alive deserves any credit.

[shawnw]

Come on, Betts. Don't you know that the only step that ever matters is the very first step? That's why I give all credit to the Thunder being here to the land run. If it wasn't for those settlers none of us would be here so nobody alive deserves any credit.

In other words, thank you Sooners for the Thunder :-P

[David]

In other words, thank you Sooners for the Thunder :-P

Hah!

[shawnw]

They deserve none and Washington is the only person we should be talking about.

Washington? That hack. Let's give credit to John Hanson, the first president of the United States under the Articles of Confederation. :-P

[CaptDave]

Exactly. Perfect example:



Glad we're on the same page now.

No, you are still quite a ways off.

[CaptDave]

Exactly. Most our Founding Fathers were very late to the mission, relatively speaking. Several not even getting involved until they were invited to the Convention.

I'm just glad no one is ever trying to give them any credit. They deserve none and Washington is the only person we should be talking about. Or was it Columbus? Oh drat, now I'll have to go find a quote that tangentially supports my position. I can't recall my history well enough.

Washington? That hack. Let's give credit to John Hanson, the first president of the United States under the Articles of Confederation. :-P

No - Myles Standish deserves all the credit! Or was it Thor Heyerdahl or one of his ancestors?

[shawnw]

No - Myles Standish deserves all the credit! Or was it Thor Heyerdahl or one of his ancestors?

Hey, I'll take that (Standish), he and I are directly related!

[kevinpate]

Y'all keep going back and back and pretty soon, you're gonna have to find yourself in the far, far, right, holding hands pew-side and singing to God be the Glory, for the things He has done.

[Bellaboo]

Thunder, are you kidding me - It has to be James Naismith that gets all the credit......

[soonerguru]

So again, Are mkjeeves and edgar Ed's last remaining holdouts here? Can we put LandRunOkie in his camp? Can't think of anyone else. The poll of site users was quite illuminating.

Perhaps there should be a "Friends of Ed Shadid Post Here" thread, so Edgar and mkjeeves can give each other verbal high fives while trying to suggest Mick Cornett is the apotheosis of evil, and since they will be the only ones posting there, we won't have to have them gum up the works in all the other threads they troll in.

[Plutonic Panda]

I only made it to page 3 before I had to stop reading that non-sense. The hotel is going to increase local economic output by $669 million? Why are we just building one of these? We should build 20 if you believe that number.

On-going hotel operations are estimated to create and/or maintain 674 local jobs, increase local economic output by $669 million, and increase local income by over $204 million.

The economic development spurred by the hotel and its workers. The number seems a bit exaggerated.

[mkjeeves]

The number seems a bit exaggerated.

That could never happen!