The NBA in OKC Megathread

[Kerry]

Very disapointed in that statement. I still think it will be OKC something.

[Intrepid]

New thread for the BOG vote:

http://www.okctalk.com/hornets-sonic...homa-city.html

[solitude]

Very disapointed in that statement. I still think it will be OKC something.

Remember the thread I started during the Relocation Comm. representatives press conference? It was clear to me then that this team would end up "Oklahoma" - even more so now.

[Nixon7]

Remember the thread I started during the Relocation Comm. representatives press conference? It was clear to me then that this team would end up "Oklahoma" - even more so now.

Sounds so collegiate. I've even heard people say that a few games should be played in Tulsa? How minor league does that sound? IT seems like OKC isn't truly a big league city. The state will rally around this team. There should be no worries there. I'm from SW Okla and I think this name NEEDS to be OKC.

[solitude]

Sounds so collegiate. I've even heard people say that a few games should be played in Tulsa? How minor league does that sound? IT seems like OKC isn't truly a big league city. The state will rally around this team. There should be no worries there. I'm from SW Okla and I think this name NEEDS to be OKC.

Agree 100%. See my new post in the announcement thread.

[Kerry]

If it is Oklahoma Somethings then Solitude called it. Are you getting lottery numbers that you might want to pass along.

[Kerry]

Bennet just said he was excited to build their new Oklahoma City name.

[Intrepid]

Bennet just said he was excited to build their new Oklahoma City name.

Actually, he stumbled and said Oklahoma first, then corrected himself and said Oklahoma City.

[solitude]

Actually, he stumbled and said Oklahoma first, then corrected himself and said Oklahoma City.

I don't think that was an accident. Keeps them both up in the air - Channel 9 described it as tripping up the name. He knows what he's doing. I wish somebody would have asked him the question directly and not just to Stern. But what Stern said we all KNOW comes from the discussions he went on to talk about regarding the state.

I propose we move this discussion to the announcement thread.

[Tex]

The Mayor just stated about 3 times that the team would bear the Oklahoma City name.

[solitude]

The Mayor just stated about 3 times that the team would bear the Oklahoma City name.

Please see my post in the other thread. I know, and have been told - personally - that Mick's confidence is his way of lobbying. He is acting like he assumes it will be OKC, is rightly stating that in public, saying it WILL be OKC as a way of putting pressure on Bennett and the NBA. Mick is as worried as many of the rest of us.

[metro]

Mick has no say so in this Tex, it's a private matter, not city matter.

[edcrunk]

i have no problem with it being OKLAHOMA and not OKLAHOMA CITY. bringing tulsa in the equation silenced critics like mark cuban.

[Intrepid]

i have no problem with it being OKLAHOMA and not OKLAHOMA CITY. bringing tulsa in the equation silenced critics like mark cuban.

How's that? He still voted no, and used his criticisms as the basis for that vote.

[BDP]

bringing tulsa in the equation silenced critics like mark cuban.

Naming the team OKLAHOMA CITY doesn't take Tulsa out of the equation in any way, just like naming the team the San Francisco 49ers doesn't take Oakland, Sacramento, Roseville, Stockton, San Jose, etc. out of the equation. It doesn't even take Santa Clara out the position of possibly hosting the team. Hell, even being three hours away in another state doesn't affect the market share the Dallas Cowboys get in Oklahoma.

Most teams are named after the city in which they are located and ALL teams draw from well beyond their municipal borders. It's a moot point as far as their market share goes, but naming the team Oklahoma City would be the only respectful thing to do for the city that paid for the facility in which they play and is now paying to make it a top tier facility.

[OKC PATROL]

According to Mick Cornett in an interview at 4pm with Kelley Ogle, "It WILL be Oklahoma City ____." He followed up by asking if he had ironed out all the kinks or something along those lines, and Cornett replied, "It was nonnegotiable."
Whoops didnt read the above posts. Anyway. It will be the OKC somethings and it should ONLY be the OKC somethings. Who cares about markets!! Tulsa should have no claim to this at all. I cant even believe it is being discussed after all the hard work OKC has done.

[HOT ROD]

i have no problem with it being OKLAHOMA and not OKLAHOMA CITY. bringing tulsa in the equation silenced critics like mark cuban.

Ed, Tulsa will be in the equation regardless what the name of the team is called. That is what the NBA saw when they came to the city. Oklahoma supports its teams; and really Oklahoma City's market is the state of Oklahoma.

Therefore, the Oklahoma City team should bear it's name since the city markets the whole state. In fact, Oklahoma City __ has Oklahoma in it's name already!!! unlike Tulsa this or Lawton that.

And I am positive, that Tulsa, Lawton, McAlister, wherever will support anything Oklahoma City irregardless that CITY is attached to the end of Oklahoma.

We need to make sure Oklahoma City gets the marketing recognition for taking on the risk (solely, with the Ford Center improvements and investors being from Oklahoma City). Even the Metro Area cities didn't take on risk, just the CITY!.

I'm very very sure that the team will be called Oklahoma City, Stern doesn't get a say in the name (and even if he did, he'd say what Bennett wants). Stern ONLY commented that it will be supported by the state -which is true, even if it were called Nichols Hills bla bla.

But the people paying tax for the arena hail from the City of Oklahoma City - so ....

Congratulations to Oklahoma City, look out for people trying to LEACH ON to your success!

[solitude]

There is just no question. Ron Thulin (and he worked with David Stern) said after the presser today that Stern would never go on record for "Oklahoma" as opposed to "Oklahoma City" - as he did today - without knowing it was a done deal for it to be the "Oklahoma" fill-in-the-blank. Stern even said that this very thing had been "part of the discussions" with the BOG and went on to praise the involvement of the state, etc.

I agree with Thulin. Stern's not goin on record saying it makes too much sense to be Oklahoma and then have the owners do something else. Stern runs that league with an iron fist and he knows it will be Oklahoma.

If it turns out to be Oklahoma City - it will be because of the intense pressure between now and then. Because, take it to the bank, as of this moment, right now, the plan is to brand this a state team. Are we going to say it doesn't matter? Or, are we going to be part of the pressure?

[Watson410]

Is there anyone we can E-mail or send letter to, just to start putting pressure on the right people NOW!?!? This is very IMPORTANT for OKLAHOMA CITY!! ( and of course Oklahoma as a state but the name needs to be OKC ______!!)

[bornhere]

Who do you think you're going to pressure? And how?

[edcrunk]

How's that? He still voted no, and used his criticisms as the basis for that vote.

i didn't say that it changed his mind, but it gave his argument no weight.

[solitude]

Hi Hot Rod, you must be having fun up there about now. Are you taking cover? We're with you in spirit.

Stern ONLY commented that it will be supported by the state -which is true, even if it were called Nichols Hills bla bla.

As for your comment above, I wish that was all he said. Here are his words, with my emphasis, from the transcript:

-------------------------
QUESTION: You've mentioned a number of times the importance of Tulsa's buy in to this plan to bring the NBA to Oklahoma City. Based on that, would you have a preference would you like to see this team be called Oklahoma City or Oklahoma? Does it matter to you?

COMMISSIONER DAVID STERN: I'm going to leave that to the politics of Oklahoma. I would guess that the current group would be under significant incentive and pressure to make it an Oklahoma franchise, and that would be a good thing.

But I wouldn't want to put any undue pressure on the ownership group. Although, there was a lot of discussion about the market size of Tulsa; its accessibility to Oklahoma City, and its support of many events in Oklahoma City, and the mayor was there to speak in favor of the application.

So there was some discussion in our meeting about what the actual size of the market is, whether it's simply the Oklahoma City market, or whether you add the additional numbers from Tulsa and it's suburbs, you really see a much larger market than just the Oklahoma City market.
-------------------------------

[edcrunk]

Ed, Tulsa will be in the equation regardless what the name of the team is called. That is what the NBA saw when they came to the city. Oklahoma supports its teams; and really Oklahoma City's market is the state of Oklahoma.

Therefore, the Oklahoma City team should bear it's name since the city markets the whole state. In fact, Oklahoma City __ has Oklahoma in it's name already!!! unlike Tulsa this or Lawton that.

And I am positive, that Tulsa, Lawton, McAlister, wherever will support anything Oklahoma City irregardless that CITY is attached to the end of Oklahoma.

We need to make sure Oklahoma City gets the marketing recognition for taking on the risk (solely, with the Ford Center improvements and investors being from Oklahoma City). Even the Metro Area cities didn't take on risk, just the CITY!.

I'm very very sure that the team will be called Oklahoma City, Stern doesn't get a say in the name (and even if he did, he'd say what Bennett wants). Stern ONLY commented that it will be supported by the state -which is true, even if it were called Nichols Hills bla bla.

But the people paying tax for the arena hail from the City of Oklahoma City - so ....

Congratulations to Oklahoma City, look out for people trying to LEACH ON to your success!

it's really not a big deal to me either way, buti don't believe in your assertion that we won't receive our props if "city" isn't attached to the name.

being a former dallasite... i never came across anyone who had a doubt of what city the TEXAS RANGERS reprazent.

[solitude]

being a former dallasite... i never came across anyone who had a doubt of what city the TEXAS RANGERS reprazent.

And what city is that? Did you, as a former citizen of Dallas think it was YOUR team?

Surely, you must know "Texas" was a compromise name. The team moved from Washington to DFW and placed the team in Arlington so it would be a DFW team. Hence, the name "Texas." We need not compromise with anyone. Actually, you're wrong on your premise as well. People in other parts of the country don't necessarily know that the Texas Rangers play in DFW. Because - they don't! They play in Arlington and are just as much Ft. Worth's team as Dallas (as I explained). I'm sure some people might think San Antonio, some may think Austin, WE KNOW because they're 3 hours down the highway and avid baseball fans know, but really - does the country at large know that the Texas Rangers play in Arlington, TX in Metropolitan Dallas-Ft Worth? Really, you make my point.

[betts]

Mick Cornett said rather definitively that the name would be Oklahoma City ______ in his press conference, but I just got a heads up e-mail from a well connected friend telling me not to be surprised if the name was Oklahoma _______. Personally, I'm more interested in alliteration, and I'm fine with whichever sounds best with the team name. I do like the ability to shorten Oklahoma City to OKC, though, and shortening Oklahoma to OK is not acceptable on a jersey, IMO.