Oklahoma City Thunder 2021-22 season

[Jake]

This is a tweet about the Denver Nuggets and their low local TV ratings, but was pleasantly surprised to see OKC towards the middle of the league during a rebuild.

https://mobile.twitter.com/HarrisonW...0fa29ce5413f43

[Southsider2]

This is a tweet about the Denver Nuggets and their low local TV ratings, but was pleasantly surprised to see OKC towards the middle of the league during a rebuild.

https://mobile.twitter.com/HarrisonW...0fa29ce5413f43

Thanks for sharing that is good to see. A very close friend of mine lives in the burbs of Denver. He's long-held the gripe that it's hard to catch Nugget games because Altitude is only available on DirecTV.

[Laramie]

Thunder 129 @ Indiana Pacers 125 - OT

Box score https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401360716

Attendance: 15,182

[Laramie]

Monday, February 28,
Sacramento Kings @ Thunder 7:00 PM
Bally Sports, Oklahoma
Paycom Center, OKC

[Laramie]

Sacramento Kings 131 @ Thunder 110

Box score https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401360744

Attendance: 13,945

[Laramie]

Wednesday, March 2, 8 PM
Thunder @ Denver Nuggets
Bally Sports, Oklahoma
Ball Arena, Denver, CO

[Richard at Remax]

Easily the poorest attended game I've ever been to. Might have been 5,000 people there.

[Richard at Remax]

dup

[Anonymous.]

Yes the tank is definitely damaging for attendance. But the bright side is you can get into games insanely cheap. I saw OKC-PHX tickets for less than $5. And since the arena is so empty, you can buy 300s and then just move down to the lower bowl after scoping out an empty area.

[Urbanized]

The tank obviously hurts, but average actual attendance in mid-size and small markets across the league has been in the ~7500 range most of this season, due in large part to COVID. Paid attendance is one thing, actual is another. Major market haven't struggled quite as much.

[BoulderSooner]

The tank obviously hurts, but average actual attendance in mid-size and small markets across the league has been in the ~7500 range most of this season, due in large part to COVID. Paid attendance is one thing, actual is another. Major market haven't struggled quite as much.

the thunder despite what they say has not had a real sell out (even tickets sold) in several years .. .

they did a great job of alienating season tickets holders last season ..

[HangryHippo]

the thunder despite what they say has not had a real sell out (even tickets sold) in several years .. .

they did a great job of alienating season tickets holders last season ..

Because they cared about a pandemic?

[BoulderSooner]

Because they cared about a pandemic?

because they wanted to lose as many games as possible ... but yeah being the only team in the entire NBA to not have fans at games is not reading the room very well ..

[Bellaboo]

because they wanted to lose as many games as possible ... but yeah being the only team in the entire NBA to not have fans at games is not reading the room very well ..

No. The Lakers and Trailblazers did not have fans for the first part of the 2020 season. And IIRC the Thunder allowed limited fans but not sure of the capacity ?

[Laramie]

Let's not forget those who mocked the pandemic initially like Utah's Rudy Gobert--now a believer and supporter.

Thunder are averaging a solid14,500 thru 30 home games (28th in NBA ahead of Pacers, Kings and slightly behind San Antonio Spurs. Indianapolis , Sacramento & San Antonio are all markets above 2 million + MSA with 600,000 or more population than OKC. Indianapolis has two major league franchises [NFL (Colts) & NBA] their support is in a state that boast 6.875 million lager than Maryland, Missouri, Wisconsin & Colorado with close to 3 million more than the State of Oklahoma.

IIRC the Thunder' initial goal 2008 was break-even (12,500) when the team arrived.

Still a lot of lower court side expensive season ticket seats not renewed after the 2020 season with 'no fans' limited mostly to team players' family & few friends.

[BoulderSooner]

No. The Lakers and Trailblazers did not have fans for the first part of the 2020 season. And IIRC the Thunder allowed limited fans but not sure of the capacity ?

the thunder were the only team in the entire NBA to have 0 fans at games for the entire season in 2020/2021

this is a fact .. source me as a season ticket holder .......

[dankrutka]

Easily the poorest attended game I've ever been to. Might have been 5,000 people there.

I was at the game on Monday and didn't think it was only 5,000. I think it was a couple thousand more than that.

In the end, it's hard to know why attendance is low, but it's certainly a perfect storm including pandemic (which has pushed away cautious and reckless fans) and rebuilding team. Having said that, the team is not trying to lose and they're fun to watch. I am 100% on board with the Thunder's strategy. Their best chance at being good again is to get a high draft pick. That's the reality of small market life in the NBA. But they're a fun team to watch with a lot of young, talented players in SGA, Dort, Giddey, and Tre Mann. They just need another star. Finally, most OKC fans may not have been to games in other markets, but low attendance is way more common than many think. I attended a 76ers-Pelicans game years ago with probably 3,000 fans in attenance. I attended a Jazz-Thunder (with KD and Russ) game that was probably 10,000 for a top opponent. I hope fans return and enjoy this team... OKC is incredibly fortunate to have them.

[dankrutka]

Easily the poorest attended game I've ever been to. Might have been 5,000 people there.

I was at the game on Monday and didn't think it was only 5,000. I think it was a couple thousand more than that.

In the end, it's hard to know why attendance is low, but it's certainly a perfect storm including pandemic (which has pushed away cautious and reckless fans) and rebuilding team. Having said that, the team is not trying to lose and they're fun to watch. I am 100% on board with the Thunder's strategy. Their best chance at being good again is to get a high draft pick. That's the reality of small market life in the NBA. But they're a fun team to watch with a lot of young, talented players in SGA, Dort, Giddey, and Tre Mann. They just need to draft another star and you're likely getting that player in the top of the draft.

Finally, most OKC fans may not have been to games in other markets, but low attendance is way more common than many think. I attended a 76ers-Pelicans game years ago with probably 3,000 fans in attenance. I attended a Jazz-Thunder (with KD and Russ) game that was probably 10,000 for a top opponent. I hope fans return and enjoy this team... OKC is incredibly fortunate to have them.

[Urbanized]

^^^^^^
100% agree

[clz46]

I am a season ticket holder and was at the game after missing some due to the pandemic. I watch them on television even when we have to call Bally sports to get them to show the Thunder game. We currently have 6 or 7 players out with injuries. So given that I think we are hanging in

[kukblue1]

For me I work an evening shift. So in order for me to go to games I have to miss time off work. I think there are others (not sure) but others that by the time they get off work they don't want to head back out. I don't mind missing for good teams or players but the Kings isn't one of them. In fact cause of Spring Break I had to sale my tickets for the Memphis game coming up on Sunday in a couple weeks. First time I have sold my tickets in a while. Still got less than face value but people want to go see Morant. Also the Warriors game was a great crowed. So I think it has more to do with the fact who they are playing. I'll be interested to see what the get for the Pistons. Awful team but Cunningham might be a bit of a draw. Not many including my self will be there during the week to see them play the Magic but the following week I'll go to see the Hawks and Trae Young.

[king183]

Does anyone know the details of how tv deals come together? The switch to Bally Sports for Thunder games has been terrible. I can't imagine the Thunder front office would be happy with Bally, but I have no idea if they have any control over it or what they could possibly do to create a better product.

[Rover]

Does anyone know the details of how tv deals come together? The switch to Bally Sports for Thunder games has been terrible. I can't imagine the Thunder front office would be happy with Bally, but I have no idea if they have any control over it or what they could possibly do to create a better product.

Haven't noticed any difference from when it was Fox. So what are you so upset about?

[Laramie]

Thunder 119 @ Denver Nuggets 107

Box score https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401360757

Attendance: 15,167

[Laramie]

Friday, March 4, 6:00 PM
Thunder @ Minnesota Timberwolves
Bally Sports, Oklahoma,
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN