One of the things you learn about a market is that some are unique. You can always lump them all into one catagory and say 'if it doesn't work in a larger city then it won't work in a smaller one.
Using the model of minor league sports as a gauge for major professional sports doesn't always fit the mold; this can sometimes be misleading. There are many variables to be considered. New Orleans for example based on its population and demographics is an overextended market to support both the NFL and NBA franchises. There are exceptions to the rules.
Sure in your opinion it's a fantasy or pipedream as most people like to put it.
What harm is there in posters expressing their opinions? The year 2020 could bring about a complete demographic transformation for Oklahoma City.
I know the NFL is a different animal and on a mega level than the NBA.
How well in my recollection (late 80s) posters were saying that Oklahoma City would never get an NHL franchise. We finished high in the NHL expansion derby in 1997. That pipedream or fantasy didn't die. Nashville was one of those cities poised to get an NHL expansion fanchise in 97 along with Atlanta, Minneasota (St. Paul) and Columbus. Raleigh, N.C. was able to relocate the Hartford Whalers to their city during that same period. Houston and Oklahoma City were said to have been left out in the cold. We leap-frogged the NHL all the way to the NBA.
IMO: Nashville, Raleigh and Columbus would have preferred to NBA over the NHL.
In our brief experiment with the New Orleans Hornets we far exceeded the standard for housing a temporary NBA team. That opened the gates for the relocation of the Supersonic to our city. The new OKC Thunder was the result of that NBA transplant. We wil begin our eighth year hosting the NBA and our OKC NBAThuner resume looks impressive:
2008-09 Oklahoma City Thunder 97.7 (18,693)
2009-10 Oklahoma City Thunder 98.9 (18,003) arena reconfigured and downsized to 18,203
2010-11 Oklahoma City Thunder 99.7 (18,148)
2011-12 Oklahoma City Thunder 100.0 (18,203)
2012-13 Oklahoma City Thunder 100.0 (18,203)
Source:
2012-2013 NBA Attendance - National Basketball Association - ESPN
Mayor Mick Cornett summed it up by saying that smart cities plan ahead...
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