When you look at the model for the ECHL in Tulsa (no major league sports), it's not that different from OKC.
Facilities
Tulsa: Population (Urban 401,800, MSA 990,706)
BOK Center, opened 2008, capacity 17,096 ice hockey, construction cost 2008 $196 million
ONEOK Field, opened 2010, capacity 7,833, construction cost 2010 $39.2 million/$45 million in 2018 dollars
Stadiums:
University of Tulsa Chapman Stadium, Capacity 30,000
Hunter-Dwelley Stadium, Jenks, Capacity 10,000
Union Tuttle Stadium, Tulsa, Capacity 11,000
Oklahoma City: Population (Urban 643,648, MSA 1,383,737)
Chesapeake Energy Arena, opened 2002, capacity 15,152 ice hockey, construction cost 2002 $89.2 million 2010 upgrades $90 million. Total construction $179.2 million & $8,865,000 from 2017 GOBonds for repairs & upgrades.
Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, capacity 10,000 construction cost 1998 $34 million/$52.3 million in 2018 dollars
Stadiums:
Taft Stadium (OKCPS), Capacity, 7,500
University of Oklahoma Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Capacity 86,112
University of Central Oklahoma Wantland Stadium: Capacity 10,000
Sports franchises minor & major:
Tulsa: USL AAA soccer, TL AA baseball, ECHL AA hockey,
Oklahoma City: NBA basketball, NBA G-League basketball, USL AAA soccer, PCL AAA baseball...
Oklahoma City is very capable of supporting ECHL AA hockey. We have 1 million to support one major league sport with 390,000 more residents to support minor league hockey, baseball & soccer.
Although ice hockey failed on the AAA level AHL Barons, it probably had more to do with the timing of the franchise's re-entry into our market and ownership. ECHL will have established rivalries in Tulsa & Wichita.
We should be ready following 2020 where our estimated populations will be: Urban 650,000 & MSA will be 1,400,000.
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