2015 OKC Energy FC

[borchard]

My point was to direct this to posters here who ALSO have posted in the past in the barons forum with an argument that goes something like this, "the barons failed because too many people were Blazers fans, and not true hockey fans". "All those knuckle-dragging Blazers fans just can't appreciate talent when they see it".
Seeing the story about the Cosmos beating NYCFC made me wonder if these same posters would say that about Cosmos fans? I mean, hell, don't they know REAL talent when they see it? Why on Earth would anyone support a washed-up team of has-beens and never-will-bes like the Cosmos?! When there is "world-class soccer going on 20 miles away with NYCFC? Or even RedBull? Why would they not want to go see David Villa, Myx Diskerud, or Bradley Wright-Phillips play, instead of the beer-league Cosmos?" blah blah blah
Well, for whatever reason, there ARE Cosmos fans. And after the game the other night, there may be quite a few more. If you are running the Cosmos, or NYFC or RedBull for that matter, do you really care if there are "true" soccer fans out there? What the hell does that even mean? Wouldn't you rather have Cosmos fans? or NYCFC fans? or RedBull fans? There should be NO reason you would go to Shuhart Stadium, on Long island, to watch this team when you could go to Yankee Stadium and see NYCFC. Or go to RedBull Arena and see them? But people do.
"I guess they just don't want soccer to succeed..."
The reason the barons aren't around anymore isn't because they couldn't find enough HOCKEY fans. It's because they couldn't create enough BARONS fans!
And if the Energy ever succeed here they need to create a lot more ENERGY fans, than soccer fans. That's what the Cosmos have been trying to do. It's what Sacramento Republic have been doing. And it is definitely what the Energy need to do.

[kwhey]

I love how that seems to piss you off. Lol.

[borchard]

Why should I be mad? Theyre gone arent they? :-)

[Tydude]

NASL loss Taft so they went to Millers Stadium in Yukon Oklahoma.NASL just wants Money from OKC Soccer Ownership group thats why the lawsuit is out there

[warreng88]

Did anyone notice the four pods in front of the stadium? What are they for?

[kwhey]

Why should I be mad? Theyre gone arent they? :-)

I'm not the one that wrote a long post about still being butthurt about people calling the old Blazers hockey knuckle dragging hockey (which it was whether you like it or not).

Plus you comparing NYC to OKC is laughable. But have fun with that.

See you at the next game in OC Blues gear.

[Tydude]

I am being told that NASL can't get Taft Stadium back from McLaughlin what i am hearing is that he owns the rights to play in the stadium.NASL does not own the rights at all so if NASL wins the lawsuit there is no way they can get to play in Taft Stadium

[Laramie]

I am being told that NASL can't get Taft Stadium back from McLaughlin what i am hearing is that he owns the rights to play in the stadium.NASL does not own the rights at all so if NASL wins the lawsuit there is no way they can get to play in Taft Stadium

NASL would be foolish to attempt to push this though the courts. They have already obtained in excess of $2 million from McLaughlin, what more do they want?

On June 5, 2015, the NASL filed suit in New York seeking damages from Tim McLaughlin (as primary owner and guarantor of OKC Pro Soccer LLC) for the team’s withdrawal from the NASL. According to the complaint, OKC paid $2,145,154 in fees and dues in an attempt to settle its account with the NASL. And the league believes that amount wasn’t sufficient under the contracts, and wants the owner to pick up the difference.

NASL Lawsuit vs Former OKC Owner Explained (kind of) - Articles - Articles - Homepage - Northern Pitch

[kwhey]

NASL would be foolish to attempt to push this though the courts. They have already obtained in excess of $2 million from McLaughlin, what more do they want?

NASL Lawsuit vs Former OKC Owner Explained (kind of) - Articles - Articles - Homepage - Northern Pitch

It obvious butthurt from the NASL. They know they are a league in danger of either losing or sharing their Division II status with the USL. They are flailing..

[borchard]

NASL discontinues lawsuit against former OKC ownership - Twice a Cosmo

Apparently some financial remuneration was agreed upon.

[Laramie]

NASL discontinues lawsuit against former OKC ownership - Twice a Cosmo

Apparently some financial remuneration was agreed upon.

Good move on the part of the NASL. They wanted OKC for name-recognition because the league will eventually lose Minnesota & possibly San Antonio to the MLS.

Tulsa would be better suited for the NASL with a competitive franchise. Tulsa has two minor league teams (USL, NPSL-Athletics); they still outdraw our OKC Energy FC with a Roughneck team that has a gloomy record on the turf.

Taft Stadium is not the answer to promote soccer in OKC. If soccer is to survive, the atmosphere & environmental amenities has to improve. OKC would be smart to experiment with the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark to play their home games in 2016 where Bricktown could provide that soccer ambience. A soccer specific stadium will have to be built on the riverfront if our city wants to get to the next level.

Borchard, you had a blueprint of a soccer field layout for 'The Brick.' Would you be so kind as to post it on OKCTalk.

[borchard]

Basically this would be it. I had to redo it. Sorry for the non-artistic quality

[kwhey]

NASL discontinues lawsuit against former OKC ownership - Twice a Cosmo

Apparently some financial remuneration was agreed upon.

Told you it probably wouldn't go to court. These things usually never do.

[kwhey]

The team has hit a stretch of bad form. 4 losses in a row (3 in the USL) and head to Carson to play LA Galaxy II on Sunday.

Still in 5th in an extremely crowded Western Conference.

[kwhey]

Good move on the part of the NASL. They wanted OKC for name-recognition because the league will eventually lose Minnesota & possibly San Antonio to the MLS.

Tulsa would be better suited for the NASL with a competitive franchise. Tulsa has two minor league teams (USL, NPSL-Athletics); they still outdraw our OKC Energy FC with a Roughneck team that has a gloomy record on the turf.

Taft Stadium is not the answer to promote soccer in OKC. If soccer is to survive, the atmosphere & environmental amenities has to improve. OKC would be smart to experiment with the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark to play their home games in 2016 where Bricktown could provide that soccer ambience. A soccer specific stadium will have to be built on the riverfront if our city wants to get to the next level.

Borchard, you had a blueprint of a soccer field layout for 'The Brick.' Would you be so kind as to post it on OKCTalk.

Soccer in a baseball stadium blows. The turf in the area of the field is never in good shape. No to soccer in a baseball stadium.

[Laramie]

Soccer in a baseball stadium blows. The turf in the area of the field is never in good shape. No to soccer in a baseball stadium.

Oh so true, baseball stadiums provide poor site lines and game viewing. Tulsa currently use ONEOK Park (baseball) which is downtown closer to more bars, clubs & food establishments. There is preliminary talk about building a 10k seat soccer specific stadium in Tulsa near ONEOK Park & the Blue Dome district. Our rivals the Tulsa Roughnecks are blowing us away in attendance over 1,000 more average per game; plus Tulsa has a franchise in the NPSL (Athletics) competing at the old Drillers' ballpark.

Taft Stadium will not make the grade to market the USL soccer to its full potential. There aren't any restaurants in the area of Taft Stadium to heighten that pre-game experience.

Mentioned this because it would be a good way to test the atmosphere downtown before they build a stadium; maybe 2 or 3 games next season. We do remember that conversation or was that a lot of talk & hype about a stadium and the MLS of which we are all so familiar from the Funk camp's next level routine.

The tail-gate experience is nice; however, you could also do this in Bricktown near the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Some fans long for that total fan experience pre game; Bricktown would provides that.

[borchard]

Even back when I thought the team I supported would be around, I thought that Bricktown Ballpark would be a great temporary venue. Even after they announced they were going to play in Yukon, I thought that the first team to move out of their high school football stadium, and get downtown, would ultimately win. Now that OKCFC isn't around my feeling hasn't changed. The energy need to move downtown, as soon as possible. Whether the sightlines are optimal, or not, is completely irrelevant to me. And irrelevance is the point. They need to become MORE relevant to the city. Bricktown Ballpark would NOT be the ultimate solution, but it WOULD give them a presence in arguably the most highly trafficked area in the metro.
Maybe they should even look into putting up a temporary stadium, ala Vancouver

It was built for ~$14 million and seated 20K.
Even Sacramento built Bonney Field, which is a temporary stadium. They even had to expand it in the offseason due to their success. And they are also making money off of it for other things, like international Rugby tournaments, so it's not just a one-trick pony.
I don't know. Stay in Taft. Don't. i don't really care.

[Laramie]

We spent $12.5 million to renovate Taft Stadium. Just think what $50 million might get us if Vancouver spent $14 million to build the stadium pic above. Just think, $25 million for land acquisition/utilities and $25 million should get us the bare bones minimum. There's enough parking downtown to accommodate a 20,000-25,000-seat venue.

[Tydude]

Track Installation at Taft Stadium will leave some fans displaced | News OK

[C. B.]

i don't really care.

Clearly. You don't care.

[kwhey]

Back home this Saturday!!!!

[elitespy]

The Grid just put this up on their facebook page

This is an announcement from the Grid Officers:
For the past season and a half The Grid has been cheering on the Energy with the best we could muster. We've been given commendations by other groups, and opposing players. We've been called the loudest and rowdiest even by the USL president. Saturday night against the Orange County Blues FC that all changes.
First, some backstory. Way back before the Energy had even signed Jimmy on as head coach a group of guys who barely knew each other got together at the 51st St. Speakeasy. We had no idea how to run a supporters group, we just knew we needed to be a part of one. We all had a passion for soccer and that was enough. Sean Tolbert would become our fearless leader. He was the first to get the ball rolling.
Chants have always been a core part of any supporters group and none of us had any clue what do about that. The idea came to us to just let the group adopt or create their own organically. It worked great, everyone got involved and we grew. At first the Front Office, they loved us. They told us what a good job we were doing in getting fans involved, the players loved us, and Jimmy loved us. After a few games in, and the surveys came back, we started to get some flack for the language in our chants.
Sean being a proud supporter of free speech, made use of it when saying that he wouldn't censor the group. And that has rang true for over a year. We have a new president this year but the rhetoric has been the same: Get rid of the “vulgar” chants. While the answer remained the same, the way in which the “request” was phrased was less friendly each time. When the Energy called for the Grid to join them in a “discussion” with Jimmy and Sporting KC's group The Cauldron and it mostly centered around getting rid of vulgar chants we knew the writing was on the wall.
As officers we came to a hard decision that we would no longer condone some of the most vulgar chants, but instead would let members know it was at their own risk. This came at a cost, causing strife within the group. Our now former president, Dave Radar, stepped down because he didn't want to be the one censoring others. Our spirits were low but were ready to carry on.
Less than one day later our interim president, Joseph Pugh, got the following message from Jason Hawkins,the general manager of the Energy (This message has not been edited):
"Procedures tomorrow night will be (assuming there is organized profanity) will be:
1) 1st offense - As Grid president you will be administered a warning for the group
2) 2nd offense - you will be removed (however should you indicate that you have done what you can or that the offending parties are not part of the Grid if individuals are identified then they will instead be removed
3) 3rd offense and beyond - Repeat removal procedure
4) Post game letter sent to anyone removing telling them that should they be removed from another game that they are subject to loss of all of their season ticket holder privileges for the remainder of the year and will be evaluated again for 2016”
We had already bowed to their wishes with no concessions promised. We made it public that The Grid would no longer condone vulgar language and anyone doing so would be without our permission. It is the Energy's right to enforce these rules. But for the sudden about-face of policy after we extended an olive branch could not be taken as anything less than a affront to The Grid, its members, and especially its interim president.
Holding him personally responsible for the actions of those we would have to deem no longer within our group is ridiculously unfair and insulting to us after making a one-sided compromise on how they feel we should behave.
To make our point clear that treating your most loyal fans in this manner won't be accepted. We have decided as a group to attend the next match, and maybe more, in complete silence. First, a public apology to the group and Joseph Pugh must be made. And we must come to an understanding based on mutual respect on how issues should be handled. There was no respect in the manner in which we received this message.
For anyone else also in the stands that feel as we do, we ask that you also remain silent during the match.

[elitespy]

And now there is a NewsOK article on it.

Oklahoma City Energy FC tells supporters to tone it down, silent protest planned | News OK

[bradh]

Well if the track had been done already and The Grid wasn't being moved to the regular stands this likely would be a non issue.

[Laramie]

Oklahoma City Energy FC tells supporters to tone it down, silent protest planned | News OK

These are tough times for The Grid. You know those guys, the Oklahoma City Energy FC supporter group. That chanting, singing, always-boisterous, sometimes vulgar group of fans in the south end zone at Taft Stadium.

You can support the OKC Energy FC with enthusiastic cheers; vulgarity can sometimes get totally out-of-control where it spills over into other sections. I stop taking my 2 grandsons to the games because of the language--it's soccer, so I'm not one to complain.

I thought that the first team to move out of their high school football stadium, and get downtown, would ultimately win. Now that OKCFC isn't around my feeling hasn't changed. The energy need to move downtown, as soon as possible. Whether the sightlines are optimal, or not, is completely irrelevant to me. And irrelevance is the point. They need to become MORE relevant to the city. Bricktown Ballpark would NOT be the ultimate solution, but it WOULD give them a presence in arguably the most highly trafficked area in the metro.
Maybe they should even look into putting up a temporary stadium, ala Vancouver
It was built for ~$14 million and seated 20K.
Even Sacramento built Bonney Field, which is a temporary stadium. They even had to expand it in the offseason due to their success. And they are also making money off of it for other things, like international Rugby tournaments, so it's not just a one-trick pony.
I don't know. Stay in Taft. Don't. i don't really care.

We have to look at the logistics of these cities. USL Sacramento (2,244,397) & NASL San Antonio (2,328,652) both have metropolitan areas that exceed 2 million. USL OKC (1,343,230) metro has 1 million less than either of those cities. Both cities have name-recognition through the NBA as does OKC. Sacramento & San Antonio will be on the MLS radar for the first wave of expansion (2020).

Had faith that OKC (2020 population estimate 1.5 million) would eventually reach MLS status sometime after 2020 when the league could have a 2nd wave of expansion possibly with the addition of 2 - 4 more teams. Let's hope that the issue with the vulgar language can be addressed without a complete disaster for the fans, the Grid supporters group and the OKC Energy FC organization.