University of Oklahoma Sports

[mugofbeer]

SPORTS: I'd be OK if they played a couple of weeknight games in OKC. Weeknight games wouldn't harm local business much.

[SEMIweather]

I'm convinced OU used the two OKC "home" games this year as a trial balloon for potentially moving an entire season of games to Chesapeake once they finally get around to doing major renovations on the LNC. I'm not really sure they have another option at this point now that the UNP arena fell through. The LNC is in desperate need of a facelift sometime in the next decade.

[dankrutka]

I'm convinced OU used the two OKC "home" games this year as a trial balloon for potentially moving an entire season of games to Chesapeake once they finally get around to doing major renovations on the LNC. I'm not really sure they have another option at this point now that the UNP arena fell through. The LNC is in desperate need of a facelift sometime in the next decade.

I see the location of the LNC as a big barrier. It's in a concrete dessert near nothing to do that pretty much requires driving in and out of traffic each way. They should have never poured all that money into the practice gyms and instead just tore down LNC. Then they could have built a new 6,000 seat arena on campus in the parking lot east of the football stadium next to track and field. Honestly, if they needed a temporary home just using McCasland probably works fine for most games... maybe move the big ones to Chesapeake. OU basketball fans have never been great, but with the Thunder, support has cratered. To me, the only two solutions are (a) a much smaller arena (I think 6,000 is good) and (b) more amenities that go beyond basketball. The options aren't great. I am glad the UNP arena fell through though... if UNP was well developed that would be one thing, but they would basically be adding an arena to a strip mall. No thanks.

[mattyiceokc]

I see the location of the LNC as a big barrier. It's in a concrete dessert near nothing to do that pretty much requires driving in and out of traffic each way. They should have never poured all that money into the practice gyms and instead just tore down LNC. Then they could have built a new 6,000 seat arena on campus in the parking lot east of the football stadium next to track and field. Honestly, if they needed a temporary home just using McCasland probably works fine for most games... maybe move the big ones to Chesapeake. OU basketball fans have never been great, but with the Thunder, support has cratered. To me, the only two solutions are (a) a much smaller arena (I think 6,000 is good) and (b) more amenities that go beyond basketball. The options aren't great. I am glad the UNP arena fell through though... if UNP was well developed that would be one thing, but they would basically be adding an arena to a strip mall. No thanks.

McCasland is absolutely not an option for games. They played a couple games there in the last decade and attendance was even worse than a normal game at the LNC. More than half of the seating is just bleachers with no back. Concessions were scarce. I couldn't imagine a major college basketball team playing in an arena without a video board for replays, etc.

I've been to just about every home game for the past 20 years. I probably wouldn't go to many games if they played at McCasland, and I bet most season ticket holders would feel the same way.

[Jersey Boss]

Winning on a consistent basis is what fill seats. The LNC was rocking in the late 80's and 90's irrespective of driving to and from the arena.
The NCAA lists OU average attendance at 10K+ for 2018 http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_bask...Attendance.pdf

I'm sure that is paid and not actual. That also shows what the potential is for a consistently winning program. A 6k facility is a joke.

[dankrutka]

OU has won in recent years and the attendance was still not that great. OU has a couple of the most exciting players in recent memory in Buddy and Trae and there still wasn't near the excitement there was in the early 2000s. There is no way OU averaged near 10,000 in 2018. If this OU team was ranked in the top 10 I think the attendance would only be marginally better. Things. Have. Changed. I think 6,000 is the right number going forward.

[Jersey Boss]

OU has won in recent years and the attendance was still not that great. OU has a couple of the most exciting players in recent memory in Buddy and Trae and there still wasn't near the excitement there was in the early 2000s. There is no way OU averaged near 10,000 in 2018. If this OU team was ranked in the top 10 I think the attendance would only be marginally better. Things. Have. Changed. I think 6,000 is the right number going forward.

Which is opinion, I get it. My perspective is of someone that has been to 90% of the home games since the late 80's and is a fan. The team still did averages better attendance this year at LNC versus the Chesapeake arena with all it's added amenities and interesting places around it. 8 o'clock start times on a weekday do nothing for filling seats.
More games than not had over 6k in the seats. The majority of those in attendance are not students. That was true in every era and is true in fb as well. Should the University relocate the bb facility it needs to respect the transportation and parking needs of the majority of paying customers or there will be more decline.

[HangryHippo]

I strongly disagree that McCasland is not a solution. They could easily play most of their games there and it would be a terrific environment.

[Jersey Boss]

I strongly disagree that McCasland is not a solution. They could easily play most of their games there and it would be a terrific environment.

How many games have you been to this year?

[Rover]

I strongly disagree that McCasland is not a solution. They could easily play most of their games there and it would be a terrific environment.

McCasland isn't terrific in any way. Lloyd Noble is way more comfortable and with good sight-lines, bathrooms, concessions, parking etc.

[PhiAlpha]

McCasland isn't terrific in any way. Lloyd Noble is way more comfortable and with good sight-lines, bathrooms, concessions, parking etc.

Yeah a few years ago over a 2 or 3 season period, they played a game or two at McCasland and while it was really cool, definitely wasn’t something that was sustainable over a full season. It is a really nice facility after all the renovations but not up to par for Division I college basketball.

Now if they could built a facility on the empty lots where the old apartments stood south of the duck pond...that would be huge. OU owns all of that property and it’s been sitting empty for about the last decade.

[PhiAlpha]

McCasland isn't terrific in any way. Lloyd Noble is way more comfortable and with good sight-lines, bathrooms, concessions, parking etc.

Double post

[Roger S]

Great win in West Virginia Saturday should guarantee we make the dance.

It is still ok to talk about sports in here right? Or is talking sports in a sports thread racist now?

[soonermike81]

Did y’all see Neville Gallimore crush it at the combine? Kid got after it!

[Jersey Boss]

Tomorrow's game at the LNC should be a real barn burner. Texas has improved since the last time the teams met where OU beat them in Austin. Both teams have identical conference and overall records. Both teams have a shot at a 20 win season. A very compelling match up. I was going to go to Dallas to see the Rangers beat the Stars, but I can't miss this one.

[Roger S]

Tomorrow's game at the LNC should be a real barn burner. Texas has improved since the last time the teams met where OU beat them in Austin. Both teams have identical conference and overall records. Both teams have a shot at a 20 win season. A very compelling match up. I was going to go to Dallas to see the Rangers beat the Stars, but I can't miss this one.

Yeah... I think Smart may have salvaged his job with the way that team has turned around..... I was really expecting KSU and Texas to be looking for new coaches next season.

[CloudDeckMedia]

OU just announced that they are closing their Italy study abroad program this week due to Coronavirus concerns.

http://www.ou.edu/web/news_events/ar...navirus-arezzo

[AP]

This thread is in the Sports forum, right?

[Roger S]

This thread is in the Sports forum, right?

Yes but the terrorists have won.

[Jersey Boss]

Pete/Martin could you clean this thread off non sports related posts? Please .

[Martin]

Pete/Martin could you clean this thread off non sports related posts? Please .

good idea. i moved a bunch of recent posts over to the 'racism in america' thread. let's limit this thread to discussing university of oklahoma athletics.

[The Shadow]

How many games have you been to this year?

Exactly!!!!!!!

The people wanting to play in the field house are people who never attend bb games. It's mostly people who call in on the radio.

I'm a long time season ticket holder and I've got people around me that have had their seats since the LNC opened.

They tried the field house experiment a couple years ago and it obviously didn't work very well, because they never did it again.

I'm curious if they will have any more games at the Peake. I kinda thought it was a little chippier crowd last week (8:00 PM, they got booze not just beer) than the LNC.

Btw, Texas Sucks.

[SoonersFan12]

I hope Sooners will sweep Donghorns to make the tournament tonight

[SoonersFan12]

I hope Sooners will sweep Donghorns to make the tournament tonight

Tough loss, make your damn free throws or Sooners would not lost on a 3 point game winner! Sooners need to defeat Frogs today

[SoonersFan12]

What a comeback win and a monster game by Reaves with 41 points tonight! Now on to West Virgina on Thursday night!