Rayo OKC

[borchard]

Saw this on Twitter:
.@JaxArmadaFC has signed both the @USL Defender of the Year and MVP in Bryan Burke and Matt Fondy. #NASL

If any player in USL is good enough, they will be bought by a NASL team

[borchard]

Last night's Meet And Greet was great!
On one side of the picture is Marvin Chavez, a World-class veteran, who is very excited to be part of Rayo OKC
On the other side is Hugo Rhoads, a rookie joining his very first professional team, who is very excited to be part of Rayo OKC
In the middle is me. A soccer nut that has been waiting for this to happen for three years, who is VERY excited to have guys like this come be part of Rayo OKC!

[Laramie]

Cocina De Mino Restaurant on South Penn in OKC hosted this Rayo OKC meet & greet event.

Hugo & Marvin appeared excited to be in Oklahoma City, the whole place was energized with people especially those of Latino origin, a market in Canadian & Oklahoma counties just waiting to be tapped--Rayo OKC definitely got a spigot aimed at this community.

NASL Rayo OKC got an indirect free kick last night. Talked with several people who were excited to see the presence of Rayo OKC. Brad Lund along with a number of print & tv media personalities were present.

A true atmosphere of excitement could be felt throughout this event. T-shirts, banners, back packs & flags were available along with free food & beverages.

[borchard]

@JaxArmadaFC has signed both the @USL Defender of the Year and MVP in Bryan Burke and Matt Fondy.

If you really want to see the best young players you need to watch the NASL this year.

[Lord Helmet]

Are they selling Rayo stuff yet? I'd like to get a scarf to add to my collection but live in Denver so...

[borchard]

Are they selling Rayo stuff yet? I'd like to get a scarf to add to my collection but live in Denver so...

Check out the online store:
RayoOKC - Home

[TreyDoggg]

treydoggg was there last night in the shadows. Great event. Great to see the variety of fans that came out. no doubt rayo is going to capture the hispanic market with gusto.

[borchard]

Something from Twitter:
From @NASLoffical "Three of @RayoOKC's first 14 signings have been included on World Cup squads. That's more than any other #NASL club. "

[borchard]

What national team? There are national team players playing in USL as well.

Three of @RayoOKC's first 14 signings have been included on World Cup squads. That's more than any other #NASL club.

I would assume that's more than any USL team, as well

[bradh]

who's the keeper?

[borchard]

who's the keeper?

Rayo OKC has signed two keepers so far;
Daniel FernandesHe's 6’5 and has played for nine different clubs in four different countries around Europe in his career. He has played for Greek side PAOK FC as a starter. He made 86 starts in three years. He also played in the Bundesliga for VfL Bochum. His most recent club was the Greek side Panthrakikos FC where he was on loan from the Dutch FC Twente.

They have also signed Caleb Patterson-Sewell He's 6-3 and has played professionally since 2009. He's played with Carolina Rail Hawks and Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

[borchard]

Had a great time yesterday at Skinny Slims with 4 of the new members of Rayo OKC. Billy Forbes, Caleb Patterson-Sewell, Hugo Rhoads, and Ian Sventasson all came out. Conditioning starts this week, and the first, official day of practice is the 18th. I really can't wait to see how this team gels. Even if I was not already sold out in my support for Rayo OKC, I would buy tix just to see them play, knowing the caliber of players that they have been signing.

[borchard]

Just saw that Ft. Lauderdale Strikers just signed Matheus Carvalho, a 23yr old forward who played in the Champions League last year for AS Monaco! Definitely not a "has-been" "on his way down". The talent level of the NASL teams is really getting ratcheted up. Interested to see if NY Cosmos can actually get Fernando Torres, as reports are saying.

[Laramie]

Meet Rayo OKC Roster


Marvin Chávez, Height: 5′ 5″ - Age 32, Midfielder, Winger

The 32-year-old La Ceiba, Honduras native was named an MLS All-Star in 2012 after leading San Jose in assists with 13 on the season.

The North American Soccer League’s (NASL) Rayo OKC has inked Marvin Chávez to a contract for the 2016 season.

The veteran winger has six years of international experience. Chávez played in the 2014 World Cup for Honduras. He played in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2009 and 2013 and he played in the Copa Centroamericana in 2011.

News | Rayo OKC

[bradh]

borchard, I find it interesting that your angle is "check out the quality of player in NASL" when you couldn't be bothered to be told how much better AHL hockey was than the Blazers, and everyone had to hear you talk about 8,000 fans showing up to watch the junior Blazers. If Rayo does not succeed, are you going to blame OKC for not knowing what "good soccer is?" Again, this is not a slight at Rayo, but your whole push is quality of the roster, but that didn't seem to matter in hockey. The Energy certainly don't have the loyal following yet that the Blazers did, but if that two year head start ends up being too much for Rayo to overcome, it will prove that I guess this city will hitch their wagon to the first show that comes in to town despite what comes later (unless that later arrival is the top tier...I know this is a point of contention for some NASL fans though, as they think they're equal to MLS).

[Laramie]

Meet Rayo OKC Roster


Daniel Fernandes, Height: 6′ 5″ Age 32, - Caleb Patterson-Sewell, Height: 6′ 3″ Age 28
Goalkeepers

[bradh]

Have ticket prices been announced for single games?

[jerrywall]

Have ticket prices been announced for single games?

The website says $12 to $40.

[Laramie]

Have ticket prices been announced for single games?

https://www.rayookc.com/season-tickets

[borchard]

borchard, I find it interesting that your angle is "check out the quality of player in NASL" when you couldn't be bothered to be told how much better AHL hockey was than the Blazers, and everyone had to hear you talk about 8,000 fans showing up to watch the junior Blazers. If Rayo does not succeed, are you going to blame OKC for not knowing what "good soccer is?" Again, this is not a slight at Rayo, but your whole push is quality of the roster, but that didn't seem to matter in hockey. The Energy certainly don't have the loyal following yet that the Blazers did, but if that two year head start ends up being too much for Rayo to overcome, it will prove that I guess this city will hitch their wagon to the first show that comes in to town despite what comes later (unless that later arrival is the top tier...I know this is a point of contention for some NASL fans though, as they think they're equal to MLS).

I guess that knife cuts both ways. I endured troll after troll for my love of the AA Blazers, and not for the AAA barons. I was lumped in as a "rube", a "hick", a "redneck", an "idiot" who just couldn't comprehend quality hockey. And then, those same people started supporting, basically, Double AA soccer. And now I'm the one touting AAA soccer. I haven't seen anyone who wants to own up to their switching sides in that debate. But I guess I'm supposed to? Whatever. If you've read my posts (and apparently you have) then you know that my animosity towards the barons/energy has as much to do with the ownership, as it does anything else. I met one of the owners of Rayo OKC almost 3 years ago. Sean Jones had no reason to reach out to me, but he did. Since then he has always kept me in the loop as to what was happening, when he could. EVERYONE I have met since then has had nothing but good things to say about Sean. I want this to succeed for him, as much as I want it to succeed for any other reason. He is passionate about soccer. He eats, breathes, and sleeps it.
And nobody (in Rayo OKC at least) thinks that the NASL is equal to MLS. They see it as an alternative. And I do to.
And actually, I wasn't the one to start that topic. One of the Energy Trolls posted a comment that said, "The NASL is a third-rate league. Talent proves that"
Well, I just wanted to prove that he has NO idea what he's talking about. If you want to support them, go ahead! But don't be deluded like that jackass and make asinine comments about the talent level of the league.
Support whomever you want.

[bradh]

I appreciate the honest response. It was just an observation. Like I've said, I'm an Energy season ticket holder, and while I'm not so flush with cash that I can afford season tickets to two squads, that doesn't mean I won't go and watch a Rayo game or two (and actually root for them, you know, instead of wearing Timbers or Sounders gear).

[borchard]

I appreciate the honest response. It was just an observation. Like I've said, I'm an Energy season ticket holder, and while I'm not so flush with cash that I can afford season tickets to two squads, that doesn't mean I won't go and watch a Rayo game or two (and actually root for them, you know, instead of wearing Timbers or Sounders gear).

Hopefully the two teams will get to meet in the US Open Cup this year. No matter what stadium it is played in it will be something Oklahoma City has never seen before.

[AP]

Interested to see if NY Cosmos can actually get Fernando Torres, as reports are saying.

What a fall from grace for El Nino.

[d-usa]

My main reservation with Rayo OKC is that right now it just feels like it is very heavily marketed as Team "Look at These Resumes of The past" OKC. But I also realize that this approach is somewhat of a necessity when you are a team with no record whatsoever and you are truly forced to advertise on the past of your individual players instead of the past of your team. I know that even established teams like to focus on the past record of any new acquisition, but "look at his resume, he will fit in great into our team resume" still 'feels' better than "look at all these resumes that never worked together". I think that seeing how the team will be marketed next year will make a big impact on how people view them as a "team" instead of "bunch of players", if that makes sense.

As far as team support, I'm back and forth. I was a fan of the Oklahoma City FC when they played in the PDL and I had a ton of bad feelings towards the Energy FC, especially towards the ownership group considering their history with the Blazers/Barons. But, despite the ownership, the Energy have grown on me and I like them. I'm also a FC Dallas fan, so that development didn't hurt my support at all.

I'm going to catch a few Rayo OKC games as well, but Energy FC will probably remain "my" OKC Team. That won't mean that I'm anti-Rayo (unless they end up playing each other in the Cup) and this city is certainly big enough for two teams. Especially since the leagues are structured different and the teams will have different dynamics with the Energy having an MLS affiliate that will see players move up and down.

Best of luck to Rayo OKC, I'm looking forward to another good team in the city and I hope there will be a friendly rivalry.

[Tundra]

I just like their (Rayo) uniforms better......Gawd who picked green?