Rayo OKC

[dankrutka]

I think if we got an mls team they would merge the two teams and call it EnergyRayo. That would be the best pitch to the MLS

I doubt it. I think if a MLS team comes to OKC then you'll likely have a winner and loser, and I would think OKC would rally around the winner. Just my guess.

[Richard at Remax]

I am in the minority but I still don't think OKC should try for MLS. It's not the best players in the world and I don't think we should spend a ton of taxpayer money on a stadium for them. If the owners want it they should have to fork over the majority of the costs.

[jerrywall]

I am in the minority but I still don't think OKC should try for MLS. It's not the best players in the world and I don't think we should spend a ton of taxpayer money on a stadium for them. If the owners want it they should have to fork over the majority of the costs.

I agree. There's no reason for the city to carry the financial burden for a professional sport team. Unless we own it.

[AP]

I think if we got an mls team they would merge the two teams and call it EnergyRayo. That would be the best pitch to the MLS

Hopefully they would totally rebrand. I really dislike the current branding and name. I wish they had the rights to the OKC FC name.

[dankrutka]

I am in the minority but I still don't think OKC should try for MLS. It's not the best players in the world and I don't think we should spend a ton of taxpayer money on a stadium for them. If the owners want it they should have to fork over the majority of the costs.

I disagree because I think there are a lot of secondary benefits to having an MLS team. With a limited number of games, I think OKC could support an MLS team unlike MLB, NFL (which could be supported, but likely at the expense of OU/OSU), or NHL without also damaging Thunder attendance seriously. Also, if OKC wants to position itself as a growing, diverse city then soccer is a great way to to do so. In short, I'd say there's both a practical and branding benefit to a MLS team. If the city can make it happen then I think it's worth pursuing.

[d-usa]

MAPS would probably be the best way of paying for a stadium, and then it can be leased to an MLS team while also being available for additional events like concerts and high school soccer & football games.

[Laramie]

Oklahoma City could use a soccer & American football stadium. It wouldn't be built exclusively for a soccer team--there are a number of events which could be staged if we had a stadium seating in excess of 20,000. It does help to have an anchor tenant sign on long-term to help with costs and upkeep. If the city builds it; as they did for AAA baseball (The Brick) & NBA basketball (The Peake); then it could be used for other events/purposes--what's the difference?

Did our PCL AAA baseball & NBA major league basketball franchises shell out money to build a stadium or arena? Our NBA franchise helps brand the city's name; add to its quality of life and places our city among 30 unique cities in the United States & North America. We're the 41st largest metro area in the U. S., we're very fortunate to have a major league franchise call our city home.

A number of cities are ready and willing to provide an arena for an NBA franchise: Louisville, Anaheim, Norfolk-Virginia Beach, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Kansas City (rent free), Vancouver, Mexico City & Seattle (ready to build).

Professional soccer is gaining popularity as a spectator sport in the United States & North America. The MLS model isn't on par with the NBA when you look at profit sharing. Leagues like the MLS & NBA that have national television contracts provide an invaluable source to promote its member cities through television exposure.

We're not a big city like New York, Los Angeles or Chicago where teams are dying to get into their markets; however, we've proved to be one of the more profitable 'small-market cities' in the NBA.

Now, do I believe that we're on the MLS' current radar, NO! Could we obtain an MLS franchise--it's a long-long shot.

[d-usa]

I know that MLS is a big proponent of soccer specific stadiums, but I think Atlanta is one of the new markets that is building a combination stadium. I just don't know if we would have the numbers to support the need for an NFL sized stadium.

But I do think we could approach this similar to the way we did with the Peake and the way that San Antonio build their soccer stadium. Use MAPS to build a stadium, would be great if it could go into the producers coop near Bricktown, and build it as a very solid stadium for a USL/NASL team and it would be a great venue for secondary uses: state football championships, motocross, concerts, etc. And like the Peake and SA it can be build with expansion in mind so that it would be easy to maximize the impact for an MLS bid in the future.

[Laramie]

Build a stadium with an initial 12,000 seat capacity--capable of expansion. The NASL Rayo OKC would be quick to call the core of OKC home.

[gopokes88]

I am in the minority but I still don't think OKC should try for MLS. It's not the best players in the world and I don't think we should spend a ton of taxpayer money on a stadium for them. If the owners want it they should have to fork over the majority of the costs.

For now, but that will change in time. No one can compete with American cash once we get going. The total premiere league payroll just hit ~1.5 billion a year, (or one billion pounds) the nfl is at 5 billion and we have 3 other professional sports league plus college bball and football. If Americans embrace soccer, all signs point to yes, we won't be down for long. The cash will roll in and we'll attract the best in the world like we do in everything else.

[dankrutka]

Build a stadium with an initial 12,000 seat capacity--capable of expansion. The NASL Rayo OKC would be quick to call the core of OKC home.

Yep. It wouldn't hurt to build a stadium that has an expansion plan because an 8-10,000 seat stadium is all that is needed now, but if it's built with the plan to double in size, that could meet present and future needs.

[borchard]

I know @Laramie had posted it before. But look at what Sac Republic did. They initially built an 8,000 seat stadium for like $3,000,000. Last year they expanded it to 11,000,000. Now, people will say it's only a "temporary" stadium. But so what? They fill it to capacity and they even hosted the US Rugby team at it. I would LOVE to have a "temporary" stadium like they have for that little money.

[d-usa]

I know @Laramie had posted it before. But look at what Sac Republic did. They initially built an 8,000 seat stadium for like $3,000,000. Last year they expanded it to 11,000,000. Now, people will say it's only a "temporary" stadium. But so what? They fill it to capacity and they even hosted the US Rugby team at it. I would LOVE to have a "temporary" stadium like they have for that little money.

If Rayo or the Energy want to spend $3,000,000 and build a temporary stadium, then pay to expand the temporary stadium, then pay to build a bigger permanent stadium somewhere else, then more power to them.

If Oklahoma City wants to build a stadium, using MAPS money or otherwise, then they should begin by building a permanent stadium at the permanent location instead of wasting money on a temporary stadium.

[Laramie]

Sacramento:

Tower Bridge members will be provided with a pulley system for hoisting banners, an exclusive entrance into the 25,000-seat stadium and their own “beer hall” concession area, said Gerardo Prado, sports group director at HNTB in Kansas City, Kan., the stadium’s architect. Prado said the stadium will also feature a setup for battalion members to launch artificial fog.

Thinking big: Sacramento Republic FC updates stadium drawings | The Sacramento Bee

Oklahoma City isn't on the MLS radar; MLS expansion now target metro areas with around 2 million MSA populations.

[jerrywall]

I think we're at least a decade away. We have a surprisingly decent soccer culture, but between the two teams we're still drawing a total of less than 14k. With a professional stadium we might draw a bit more, but not the 20k or so we'd need to draw to support MLS.

I absolutely believe we COULD support MLS eventually though.

[dankrutka]

I think we're at least a decade away. We have a surprisingly decent soccer culture, but between the two teams we're still drawing a total of less than 14k. With a professional stadium we might draw a bit more, but not the 20k or so we'd need to draw to support MLS.

I absolutely believe we COULD support MLS eventually though.

Why do you think OKC would see less than a 50% increase in overall attendance if they moved from minor league soccer to major league soccer? I actually think OKC could support a team in terms of attendance currently. It's just getting everything into place from corporate support to a stadium that would be more difficult in my opinion.

[borchard]

I left the court hearing in El Reno regarding the sale of 3.2 beer at Ray OKC games a little while ago. When I left they were still taking testimony. As soon as I hear what the decision is I'll post it here. One thing that I thought was particularly ridiculous was when the sheriff's attorney made his opening statement and said they were afraid that by selling 3.2 beer at the games that Miller Stadium "would become just another Speakeasy"....

[borchard]

If Rayo or the Energy want to spend $3,000,000 and build a temporary stadium, then pay to expand the temporary stadium, then pay to build a bigger permanent stadium somewhere else, then more power to them.

If Oklahoma City wants to build a stadium, using MAPS money or otherwise, then they should begin by building a permanent stadium at the permanent location instead of wasting money on a temporary stadium.

Bonney Field was an approximately $3 million privately funded facility. It was a collaboration among Ovations Food Service, Republic FC and Cal Expo fairgrounds.

[d-usa]

We are halfway through the week, so the big reveal by the El Reno Newspaper should be coming any time now.

[OKCretro]

the tweets about the hearing are amazing.
Sheriff's side didn't even know that OU and OSU sell beer at football games.....

feel like I am reading tweets from the "footloose" movie

[jerrywall]

the tweets about the hearing are amazing.
Sheriff's side didn't even know that OU and OSU sell beer at football games.....

Unless they've changed they only "sort of" sell beer. Not to the general public, but only to the folks in the VIP/Suites sections.

[jerrywall]

I thought this tweet was interesting -

Canadian Co. clerk says her office received 103 protests to Rayo's beer permit, setting a record during her time in office.

[jerrywall]

No surprise here -

Judge rules in favor of Rayo, grants their request to sell beer on April 30. Team will have to apply again for future games.

[OKCretro]

^

At OU, they don't sell beer to anyone, including the club and suite levels.

The suites can have beer and other alcohol but it's not being sold per se.

unless this is a brand new law/rule in the last few weeks...
I bought several beers in the club level during the Iowa state game last year.

Saw several pictures on instagram at the OU spring game of people in the club level drinking bought beer as well

[OKCretro]

I thought this tweet was interesting -

yes i wonder if they will release the names of the people 103 people who were protesting. Were they actual residents of Canadian Co.?