NHL in OKC?

[G.Walker]

Capstone Affluent Strategies CEO Pastor interested in NHL's Coyotes - L.A. Biz

[Richard at Remax]

Yes please

[bchris02]

Could OKC support a second major league franchise?

[Of Sound Mind]

Could OKC support a second major league franchise?

No, especially not NHL. I love the NHL and would love to have an NHL team here, but it's not happening. Not enough hockey support in this town to sustain anything. Purely a pipe dream.

[adaniel]

Could OKC support a second major league franchise?

No.

Seriously, can we just enjoy the Thunder and what they've done for the city instead of chasing something new that won't be supported?

I can guarantee you, the effect of a city going from 0 to 1 professional team is FAR greater than from 1 to 2.

[Bill Robertson]

I'm a huge hockey fan. I type this as I sit in my office looking at my shelves of Blazer, Barons and Colorado Avalanche memorabilia. Still, OKC doesn't need and couldn't support an NHL team. If not for the NHL teams having to have farm teams the Barons probably wouldn't still be here.

[G.Walker]

We had similar comments re the NBA in OKC when Hornets temporarily relocated here, now look, LOL.

[Tydude]

look at the attendance for the barons its horrible.

[Teo9969]

Hockey in OKC right now is a bad idea.

In 20 years, it may be another story. So few in this state care about hockey. It's not really in schools, it's never talked about on the college level, it's never played on television, and the worst thing about hockey, is that the season happens at the exact same time that the NBA season occurs.

I understand the Blazers attendance sucking...that was just crap hockey. But until we can get the Baron's attendance up, there's no way to think that we can support an NHL team.

[SoonerDave]

Thought the NHL in general was suffering from expansion fatigue, and struggling to get any kind of decent TV rights contract...no offense to the hockey fans, but I'm not sure why we'd want to risk that right now.

Generally, rule of thumb that's come up repeatedly in the NFL threads is 1 pro sports franchise per 1M people. The greater OKC area is around 1.3M right now, so supporting any other pro franchise right now is a pretty dicey idea IMHO, and particularly so with the NHL.

[Dubya61]

Hockey in OKC right now is a bad idea.

Disagree. Major league professional hockey in OKC right now is a bad idea (although I think that's what you meant -- it's just that I love watching live hockey and wouldn't want it that thought to be agreed with like the "you're going the wrong way" comment in Planes, Trains and Automobiles).

I understand the Blazers attendance sucking...that was just crap hockey. But until we can get the Baron's attendance up, there's no way to think that we can support an NHL team.

Blazers attendance did NOT suck -- until there was a better competitor for the live sports dollar. The Blazers attendance (at its peak) was often much better than some NHL attendance. Agreed, we're talking about comparing the Blazers average attendance with the Hartford Whalers average attendance for the same year, but it's still a fact that Blazers attendance set records for that level of hockey. There are many that would say that Blazers attendance numbers was attributable to give-aways and as such made the Blazers a financial disaster. I wouldn't know about that. I paid for every game I attended and loved it. I don't know anybody who received free tickets except throught the occasional radio give-away, etc. Even the Thunder give away a few tickets here and there. Further, I would hesitate to call Blazers hockey "crap" hockey. Live hockey with a regular stable of players that don't change out with the host club (non-farm club -- what do you call who the Edmonton Oilers are to the OKC Barons?) every other week is a lot of fun to watch. Agreed, the Barons are on a different level (and we pay for that in higher tickets) and NHL talent is a much better level, as well, but you really pay for that, too. Also, Barons attendance IS increasing and they are only in their second (or third) year of play with a year sabbatical of live hockey in OKC.
I cannot conceive that OKC could support a second major league team at this time and certainly would not want to have to pay NHL prices to watch live hockey.

[Bill Robertson]

We had similar comments re the NBA in OKC when Hornets temporarily relocated here, now look, LOL.

I hope you're being sarcastic. If not, this is completely different. The Hornets attracted a huge following. Proving that OKC was ready for the NBA. The Barons, and AHL hockey is good hockey, would barely fill the center sections of the lower bowl if everyone sat together.

[Achilleslastand]

I went to a fight once and a hockey game broke out.

[Hawk405359]

I think we need a decent amount of growth before we could seriously look at supporting a second pro league. We need to re-establish the hockey fervor that we once had, and I think we need more people and money so that we're not relying on the entirely same crowd.

[dankrutka]

I think we need a decent amount of growth before we could seriously look at supporting a second pro league. We need to re-establish the hockey fervor that we once had, and I think we need more people and money so that we're not relying on the entirely same crowd.

Most studies show that a city needs around a million people per pro franchise (of course there are variables). So, OKC needs approximately 700,000 more people to support another pro franchise.

[bchris02]

We had similar comments re the NBA in OKC when Hornets temporarily relocated here, now look, LOL.

The NHL is not the NBA. The next pro-sports franchise OKC goes after should be the NFL, and that won't be viable for another decade or two.

[Hawk405359]

Most studies show that a city needs around a million people per pro franchise (of course there are variables). So, OKC needs approximately 700,000 more people to support another pro franchise.

It may be a decent rule of thumb, but to be honest, I don't know how exact I'd believe that is. When it comes to sports, not every person is the equal. You don't just need bodies in a city, you need bodies with a ton of money. If an arena was never more than a third full, but you had the money to fill out all of the press boxes, than you'd probably be viable.

[Teo9969]

People need to remember that OKC is a sports crazed city. 1.75M is probably the target for OKC to start looking at another sports franchise.

I'd rather get a viable opera company before another sports franchise...but that's probably just me...

[MikeLucky]

The NHL is not the NBA. The next pro-sports franchise OKC goes after should be the NFL, and that won't be viable for another decade or two.

... or five...

[jedicurt]

if an NHL team should come to Oklahoma, i think it should be Tulsa... I don't think the NHL would get the draw it deserves in OKC with us having the Thunder. But i think it might do fairly well in Tulsa, and would finally give them their Pro Sports Team

[RoboNerd]

Honestly I can't see the NHL succeeding here unless the owner was willing to lose his shirt for his hobby.

[dankrutka]

It may be a decent rule of thumb, but to be honest, I don't know how exact I'd believe that is. When it comes to sports, not every person is the equal. You don't just need bodies in a city, you need bodies with a ton of money. If an arena was never more than a third full, but you had the money to fill out all of the press boxes, than you'd probably be viable.

Which is why OKC should be more cautious. OKC is probably very low in per capita wealth compared to other cities. So, OKC may need more than that 2 million figure.

[Jake]

The NBA and NHL season's occur at the same time, one of the team's attendance numbers would be affected.

OKC can get one in 20 years. Right now would be a bad idea.

Maybe Tulsa could get one sooner. That way the BOK Center could have a tenant. The Tulsa Coyotes don't sound too bad.

[dankrutka]

if an NHL team should come to Oklahoma, i think it should be Tulsa... I don't think the NHL would get the draw it deserves in OKC with us having the Thunder. But i think it might do fairly well in Tulsa, and would finally give them their Pro Sports Team

I agree. Tulsa is in a much better position to have an NFL franchise than OKC is to have a second pro franchise... It's not even close really.

[bchris02]

People need to remember that OKC is a sports crazed city. 1.75M is probably the target for OKC to start looking at another sports franchise.

I'd rather get a viable opera company before another sports franchise...but that's probably just me...

Maybe Maps 4 can include a new NFL-ready stadium.

I agree that since the NBA and NHL have their seasons at the same time, bringing an NHL franchise to OKC would hurt the Thunder. Tulsa should go after the NHL.