Oklahoma City Blazers possibly to return in 2016

[Laramie]

If & when an ECHL franchise is granted (relocation or expansion) to OKC; where will they play?

The Cox Convention Center Arena (13,399) is older than the Chesapeake Energy Arena (18,036) (ih capacity). The Peake was originally design suited for ice hockey when OKC was in pursuit of the NHL .

Brad Lund's name has been mentioned as a person to head a group to bring back the Blazers in 2016. Tulsa & Wichita both play in their newer downtown arenas; they frequently use the lower bowl because attendance at those cities average in the neighborhood of 5,000-5,500 which doesn't require upper bowl usage.

Tulsa BOK Center (17,096) Cost: $196 million Opened & completed 2008 - 37 luxury suites
Wichita Intrust Bank Arena (13,450) Cost: $206 million Opened & completed 2010 - 22 suites & 300 premium seats.
Oklahoma City Cox Convention Center Arena (13, 399) Cost: $23 million/$60.2 million upgrades. Opened 1972 Upgrades1999/2010.
Oklahoma City Chesapeake Energy Arena (18,036) Cost: $185 million with NBA upgrades. Opened 2002 & upgraded 2012 - 3,380 club seats & 49 private suites.

[borchard]

Still butthurt about the knuckle dragging. Lol. Go watch your OKC FC women play before tens of people.

Wow! Now you're making fun of women. You're just a prince, aren't you?
I guess I could check on season tickets for the Baro...Oh yeah, that's right :-)

[kwhey]

If & when an ECHL franchise is granted (relocation or expansion) to OKC; where will they play?

The Cox Convention Center Arena (13,399) is older than the Chesapeake Energy Arena (18,036) (ih capacity). The Peake was originally design suited for ice hockey when OKC was in pursuit of the NHL .

Brad Lund's name has been mentioned as a person to head a group to bring back the Blazers in 2016. Tulsa & Wichita both play in their newer downtown arenas; they frequently use the lower bowl because attendance at those cities average in the neighborhood of 5,000-5,500 which doesn't require upper bowl usage.

Tulsa BOK Center (17,096) Cost: $196 million Opened & completed 2008 - 37 luxury suites
Wichita Intrust Bank Arena (13,450) Cost: $206 million Opened & completed 2010 - 22 suites & 300 premium seats.
Oklahoma City Cox Convention Center Arena (13, 399) Cost: $23 million/$60.2 million upgrades. Opened 1972 Upgrades1999/2010.
Oklahoma City Chesapeake Energy Arena (18,036) Cost: $185 million with NBA upgrades. Opened 2002 & upgraded 2012 - 3,380 club seats & 49 private suites.

I'm pretty sure the Thunder will make sure no other team plays in that building.

[Richard at Remax]

Since the City owns the building and they know how important it is having people support businesses downtown/bricktown I wouldn't be surprised if they told the Thunder to let this happen. It would maximize what they are getting out of the CHK as well as making it a better hockey environment. Moving to state fair arena would draw less than the Barons games. It's not an ideal part of town and there is nothing to make a night out of it. I loved going to places in bricktown before Barons games to grab a bite. Can't do that over there.

[kwhey]

Since the City owns the building and they know how important it is having people support businesses downtown/bricktown I wouldn't be surprised if they told the Thunder to let this happen. It would maximize what they are getting out of the CHK as well as making it a better hockey environment. Moving to state fair arena would draw less than the Barons games. It's not an ideal part of town and there is nothing to make a night out of it. I loved going to places in bricktown before Barons games to grab a bite. Can't do that over there.

The city needs to sack up and not tell the Thunder to let it happen. They need to tell them that it WILL happen. The Thunder don't own the arena (although they like to think they do). They will complain the ice would affect the basketball court (which doesn't seem to be a problem anywhere else) and the city will cave to the Thunder.

[drinner-okc]

I don't know when (or if) it expires, but then the Arena was built the City signed an agreement with SMG (Stadium Management Group) for the Arena, Myriad, and State Fair Arena. SMG makes all final decisions who plays, where.
This was done to put the Arena in a pool with other venues that size to bring in Concerts and other entertainment.
As a Blazer fan that DID NOT want to move to the Arena, we were told SMG's intentions were no more sporting events were going to happen at the Myriad, and SFA. (this was changed for the AHL)
The city charges the Hockey team to convert to ice. the costs for the new arena were nearly 10x what the CHL was originally charged in 92. Bob Funk Sr. told me that himself one night the year before the upper sections were curtained off.
Even though there were no fans on the 3rd level, SMG charged the Blazers for a full crew of ushers & concession stand workers.

[borchard]

I know SFA is not the sexiest place to have your team, due to many factors. But if you ever saw a Blazers game there back in the day, the sightlines were pretty good. The only REAL problem back then, before hockey mandated the nets go up, was that the seating rises pretty steeply. And if you are sitting behind the goal, you don't have to go very high until your head is above the glass! I saw several people get hit with pucks during games back then. Of course now that is a non-issue, with the advent of the protective netting behind the goals.
I went to a game in Memphis, in the Mid-South Coliseum, and sat in the upper level behind the goal. Turns out, the seats were ABOVE the goal, not so much behind it. The seat next to me got pinged a few times during the game. Makes you REALLY pay attention to the game! :-)

[Dubya61]

Other than not having an ice-making capability now, I don't understand why the SFA is considered such a non-starter.

[OkieHornet]

always loved watching the blazers at state fair arena more than any other arena here. had a real "barn" feel to it.

parking was always close, plentiful, and free.

[White Peacock]

Haven't heard a peep about this in months; pipe dream abandoned?

[Laramie]

Haven't heard a peep about this in months; pipe dream abandoned?

ECHL Tulsa & Wichita now play in very plush arenas comparable to the Peake. Doubt if you'll see the return of the Blazers' anytime soon unless they can play in the Chesapeake Energy Arena on nights the Thunder don't play. Fans see the Cox Convention Center as bush league.

The recent addition & success of the Oklahoma City Energy FC soccer & the Oklahoma City Dodgers will make it difficult to compete for the sports dollars in a small market the size of OKCs.

OKC's market is strong enough to support NBA, USL & PCL for now. The window of opportunity for the return of ice hockey will be 2020 when OKC metro population exceed 1. 4 million.

[MagzOK]

So hockey has died twice now in OKC, so let's bring another team? Maybe I don't get it.

[shawnw]

Basketball had previously died before it finally took hold :-P

[OKCretro]

So hockey has died twice now in OKC, so let's bring another team? Maybe I don't get it.

You must be new to the city b/c hockey has died her at least 4 times......

[baralheia]

The Blazers are playing this weekend, actually. They're in the Western States Hockey League now. They'll be playing three games against the Cheyenne Stampede at the Blazers Ice Centre - tonight at 7:30PM, tomorrow at 3:00PM, and Sunday at 2:30PM.

Oklahoma City Blazers Hockey - Western States Hockey League

[White Peacock]

The Blazers are playing this weekend, actually. They're in the Western States Hockey League now. They'll be playing three games against the Cheyenne Stampede at the Blazers Ice Centre - tonight at 7:30PM, tomorrow at 3:00PM, and Sunday at 2:30PM.

Oklahoma City Blazers Hockey - Western States Hockey League

Respectfully, that's not the Blazers we're talking about.

[Snowman]

You must be new to the city b/c hockey has died her at least 4 times......

Wasn't at least one of those due to the league collapsing.

[kwhey]

The Blazers are playing this weekend, actually. They're in the Western States Hockey League now. They'll be playing three games against the Cheyenne Stampede at the Blazers Ice Centre - tonight at 7:30PM, tomorrow at 3:00PM, and Sunday at 2:30PM.

Oklahoma City Blazers Hockey - Western States Hockey League

That is the Junior Blazers.

[BigTulsa]

ECHL Tulsa & Wichita now play in very plush arenas comparable to the Peake. Doubt if you'll see the return of the Blazers' anytime soon unless they can play in the Chesapeake Energy Arena on nights the Thunder don't play. Fans see the Cox Convention Center as bush league.

That's simply not the case. Many ECHL teams play in smaller arenas. Look at Wheeling and many others. The CCC would actually be considered a better than average venue (although not on par with the better arenas in the league, including the BOK, IBA and Orlando's arena).

[BigTulsa]

One more thing of note; today is the deadline for teams wishing to join the ECHL to apply. If nothing is heard by this evening, unless an extension is granted, then no team in 2016-2017 unless a team is relocated.

[Laramie]

BigTulsa,

Hopefully we'll hear something soon. An ECHL OKC franchise could probably survive with Tulsa & Wichita as rivals. Brad Lund who runs Sold Out Strategies (SOS) had expressed interest in getting a group together to back an Oklahoma City 2016 entry into the ECHL.

NBA Oklahoma City Thunder's success has captured the Lion's share of the sports market in Central Oklahoma. The Thunder ranks among the top NBA franchises @ 13th behind San Antonio & Portland among 30 NBA franchises: Forbes Welcome

The OKC Dodgers (AAA baseball) were impressive with an average attendance of 6,941 in its inaugural year.

USL Oklahoma City Energy has had a healthy growth with its fan base (2015 attendance average 4,635). NASL Oklahoma City (RAYO OKC) soccer franchise is scheduled to make its debut in 2016.

The OKC market may have reached its saturation peak for minor league sports.

[Mel]

I know SFA is not the sexiest place to have your team, due to many factors. But if you ever saw a Blazers game there back in the day, the sightlines were pretty good. The only REAL problem back then, before hockey mandated the nets go up, was that the seating rises pretty steeply. And if you are sitting behind the goal, you don't have to go very high until your head is above the glass! I saw several people get hit with pucks during games back then. Of course now that is a non-issue, with the advent of the protective netting behind the goals.
I went to a game in Memphis, in the Mid-South Coliseum, and sat in the upper level behind the goal. Turns out, the seats were ABOVE the goal, not so much behind it. The seat next to me got pinged a few times during the game. Makes you REALLY pay attention to the game! :-)

Good times. Made you pay attention to the game.

[Urbanized]

WWWWWAAAAATCHH the pucckkk...

[Laramie]

My preference to watch an ice hockey game is the State Fair Arena (SSF) vs. the Cox (Old Myriad). As Bouchard mentioned; there was something about the atmosphere of the place.

Glad I wasn't able to witness a hockey game at the old Stockyards Coliseum, that place was awesome (a Cathedral coliseum) for the weekly Friday night wrestling events--the fun we had riding the old Exchange Avenue Bus to the historic coliseum and walking back home if we missed that last 10:45 p.m. bus. Many of the wrestling fans were clad & down with their overalls, look like they had just gotten off work from the Packingtown establishments.

[White Peacock]

The topic of reviving the Blazers as an ECHL franchise has been pretty quiet lately. I'm guessing the think-tank decided it wasn't a wise venture.