Re: Convention Hotel
I don't agree that the sports and entertainment dollars dwindled, the dollars are still there and likely there's more since more jobs and people have been added to OKC since the arrival of the NBA. I would, however, state that people are making specific choices with their discretionary income since the choices are better than they were pre-NBA. Before the NBA, one had no choice but to go to Div I and All Sports Association events, today, there is 'better' options with the Thunder and people chose not to support Div 1 anymore.
I think this is normal for a city, actually. OKC was solely a minor league and collegiate city for so long, then in comes the NBA. Of course OKC will support the NBA, and because the product is so good (as in OKC has always had an elite team), then the fans see no reason to support the minor leagues/collegiate in the same way as they had before. Not less money but a conscious decision by many to only support the top tier of sport in OKC.
What the other teams/league need to figure out is how to bring back their support. Winning surely helps, as does anything that brings about media attention. This is where OKC is lacking IMO with the exception of the OU Sooners football team. This is what we need to change, not sit on our laurels blaming the NBA that OKC's other teams don't draw.
Oklahoma City, the RENAISSANCE CITY!
Bookmarks