Sonics to OKC? Seriously?

"Blazer Fan Dan" <BlazerFanDan.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:e9575a4d-62fe-484d-a952-aaf81d7e83b7@t12g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
> On May 1, 6:50 pm, "Terraholm" <TerraholmSPAM....RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> > If he moves the team to OKC... I predict it to be a failure with-in 5
>> > years.
>>
>> Why? Same size and only pro sports team as Portland, SLC and San
>> Antonio.
>> And like Portland and Utah it will be a state wide market.
>
> Cept that Portland's metro population is twice the size of OKC


Off topic... I love Portland. Great city.
 >> Stay informed about: Sonics to OKC? Seriously? 

Don't Taze Me, Bro! wrote:
> "Terraholm" <TerraholmSPAMNOT DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:67vhf4F2q6fhsU2@mid.individual.net...
>> It was the smallest market in the league for a long time and
>> succeeded. And Texas has two other teams.
>
> Sure... back when the ABA existed and when basketball games were
> affordable and where small time business men could invest in them.


Nope... in the last 10 years when they were campaigning for and got a new
arena. With the help of Clay Bennett the new owner of the sonics that was a
spurs partner at that time.
They were the next smallest market to SLC.

>
>
>> They have an arena and tax support passed by a wide margin to
>> upgrade it. They had good attendance for the Hornets and the NBA
>> does not approve a move unless they have a good percentage of season
>> tickets committed.
>
> Yeah, but the Hornets thing could have been a flash in the pan. I
> mean, its worth a try, but expect an owner to be looking for an arena
> deal. Owners can make huge profits with a city that is willing to pay
> for a 300+ million dollar arena...

No one had a better arena deal than the Hornets in NOLA when they moved
there into an existing arena that needed an upgrade. NOLA even after katrina
is still jumping though hoops for him... low overhead can create increased
profit as much as increasing revenue...looks like they are staying another
ten years with the deal Shinn is negotiating now.

>The Ford center cost 89
> million...

And the people of OKC just voted for a penny sales tax for 100 mil in
improvements and to build a 20 mil practice facility.

>The owner may very well just be using OKC as a layover...

Bennett was the one that rescued the Hornets. This group of owners he put
together was just thrilled with having an NBA team in OKC and wanted the
Hornets to stay and tried to buy them. When Stern and Shinn let it known
that would not happen they went out and bought a team to bring home. There
was never any intention to leave the team in Seattle. Check out the emails
coming out in Schultz's law suit to try to null the sale.

> It's possible. I still guess 5 years.. but I don't mind if it
> works... I mean.. I would be one of the few who would actually drive
> to OKC to see the Mavs play there, but only because I know some
> people there and would have free places to stay.

The NBA committee has been researching it for a year so I suspect they have
a pretty good handle on the support and prospects for the team in OKC.

Louisville IIRC bided for the last expansion team and lost in the board
voting?


--
Laurel T
“On the bright side, if your team sucks
it might as well be in Miami.” Barkley
 >> Stay informed about: Sonics to OKC? Seriously? 

brink wrote:
> "Don't Taze Me, Bro!" <No2Exists1.DeleteThis@Earth71.net> wrote in message
> news:MOuSj.8194$zw6.7314@trnddc06...
>>
>> "Terraholm" <TerraholmSPAMNOT.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:67vab8F2qaifbU1@mid.individual.net...
>>
>>>> If he moves the team to OKC... I predict it to be a failure
>>>> with-in 5 years.
>>>
>>> Why? Same size and only pro sports team as Portland, SLC and San
>>> Antonio. And like Portland and Utah it will be a state wide market.
>>
>> San Antonio is the 4th fastest growing city in America with 2 million
>> regional residence. That does not include Austin which has another 2
>> million people.. plus tons of college students.
>>
>> Portland has 2 million people in its metropolitan area... and I don't
>> think Paul Allen would move them if he was losing money.
>>
>> SLC has the entire Salt Lake Valley... which is about 2.2 million
>> people... That does not include Provo (to the south) and Ogden (to
>> the north). Also, SLC, according to Forbes, is the fastest growing
>> business city in the country right now... which means patrons.
>>
>> Those cities are all growing and have larger populations than the
>> Oklahoma City area which has 1.2 million citizens...
>> Lastly, I cannot see Oklahomans spending a lot of their money on
>> basketball games. The per capita income is 19,098... Does the owner
>> think OKC can afford to build them a shiney new arena that can
>> compete with other NBA teams?
>
> They already have a new arena!
>
>>
>> I just think St. Louis sounds like a better bet.
>
> Why? No facility in place, there doesn't seem to be a great demand
> for it...

Not in place but might be by the 2010-11 season when right now the sonics
can officially move. They have a new 250 mil arena being built downtown as
nice as many NBA ones for seating, advertising, restaurants, and luxury
suites... but UofL I think has an exclusive lease as the anchor tenant.


--
Laurel T
A coach after being informed, that like
players, their drug tests would include
banned performance enhancing drugs:
"Does that include Viagra?"
 >> Stay informed about: Sonics to OKC? Seriously? 

Blazer Fan Dan wrote:
> On May 1, 6:50 pm, "Terraholm" <TerraholmSPAM....RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>> If he moves the team to OKC... I predict it to be a failure with-in
>>> 5 years.
>>
>> Why? Same size and only pro sports team as Portland, SLC and San
>> Antonio. And like Portland and Utah it will be a state wide market.
>
> Cept that Portland's metro population is twice the size of OKC

For a current TV market of 400K...
 >> Stay informed about: Sonics to OKC? Seriously? 

On May 1, 6:15 pm, "Don't Taze Me, Bro!" <No2Exis....RemoveThis@Earth71.net>
wrote:
> I can see some reasons why. I mean, its a smaller big city. The owner has
> ties to Oklahoma. He can capture the entire attention of a city that does
> not have a pro sports team...
>
> However, if I were an owner. I would take my chances in St. Louis. I think
> St. Louis can handle a basketball team.
>
> The population of the St. Louis regional area, is roughly 3 million.
>
> The population of the Oklahoma City Regional area, is roughly 1.2 million.
>
> St Louis has an urban community that would constantly provide for the
> team... I can only see Oklahoman's keeping their eye on OSU and OU sports.
>
> If he moves the team to OKC... I predict it to be a failure with-in 5 years.
>


They already have an arena built. That's a big deal right there.
 >> Stay informed about: Sonics to OKC? Seriously? 

On May 1, 6:50 pm, "Terraholm" <TerraholmSPAM....TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Don't Taze Me, Bro! wrote:
>
> > I can see some reasons why. I mean, its a smaller big city.
>
> So going from a city of 3 mil to a smaller market of  here is a plus
>
> > The population of the St. Louis regional area, is roughly 3 million.
>
> > The population of the Oklahoma City Regional area, is roughly 1.2
> > million.
>
> But here is a minus? =)
>
> > If he moves the team to OKC... I predict it to be a failure with-in 5
> > years.
>
> Why? Same size and only pro sports team  as Portland, SLC and San Antonio.
> And like Portland and Utah it will be a state wide market.

And Sacto.


>
> --
> Laurel T
> "If Jordan loves the game so much,
> why does he keep quitting?"
> Cal Ripken
 >> Stay informed about: Sonics to OKC? Seriously? 

On May 1, 7:15 pm, "Don't Taze Me, Bro!" <No2Exis....DeleteThis@Earth71.net>
wrote:
> "Terraholm" <TerraholmSPAM....DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:67vab8F2qaifbU1@mid.individual.net...
>
> >> If he moves the team to OKC... I predict it to be a failure with-in 5
> >> years.
>
> > Why? Same size and only pro sports team  as Portland, SLC and San Antonio.
> > And like Portland and Utah it will be a state wide market.
>
> San Antonio is the 4th fastest growing city in America with 2 million
> regional residence. That does not include Austin which has another 2 million
> people.. plus tons of college students.
>
> Portland has 2 million people in its metropolitan area... and I don't think
> Paul Allen would move them if he was losing money.
>
> SLC has the entire Salt Lake Valley... which is about 2.2 million people....
> That does not include Provo (to the south) and Ogden (to the north). Also,
> SLC, according to Forbes, is the fastest growing business city in the
> country right now... which means patrons.
>
> Those cities are all growing and have larger populations than the Oklahoma
> City area which has 1.2 million citizens...
>
> Lastly, I cannot see Oklahomans spending a lot of their money on basketball
> games. The per capita income is 19,098... Does the owner think OKC can
> afford to build them a shiney new arena that can compete with other NBA
> teams?


They already have an arena. Remember when NO has to move out after
Katrina? They played in OKC.


>
> I just think St. Louis sounds like a better bet.
 >> Stay informed about: Sonics to OKC? Seriously? 

Don't Taze Me, Bro! wrote:
> I can see some reasons why. I mean, its a smaller big city. The owner has
> ties to Oklahoma. He can capture the entire attention of a city that does
> not have a pro sports team...
>
> However, if I were an owner. I would take my chances in St. Louis. I think
> St. Louis can handle a basketball team.
>
> The population of the St. Louis regional area, is roughly 3 million.
>
> The population of the Oklahoma City Regional area, is roughly 1.2 million.
>
> St Louis has an urban community that would constantly provide for the
> team... I can only see Oklahoman's keeping their eye on OSU and OU sports.
>
> If he moves the team to OKC... I predict it to be a failure with-in 5 years.
>

of course St Louis has had NBA and ABA teams in the past with limited
success.
 >> Stay informed about: Sonics to OKC? Seriously? 

On May 1, 10:17 pm, "Don't Taze Me, Bro!" <No2Exis....TakeThisOut@Earth71.net>
wrote:
> "Blazer Fan Dan" <BlazerFan....TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote in messagenews:e9575a4d-62fe-484d-a952-aaf81d7e83b7@t12g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>
> > On May 1, 6:50 pm, "Terraholm" <TerraholmSPAM....TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >> > If he moves the team to OKC... I predict it to be a failure with-in 5
> >> > years.
>
> >> Why? Same size and only pro sports team as Portland, SLC and San
> >> Antonio.
> >> And like Portland and Utah it will be a state wide market.
>
> > Cept that Portland's metro population is twice the size of OKC
>
> Off topic... I love Portland. Great city.

I'm partial to it myself.
 >> Stay informed about: Sonics to OKC? Seriously? 

In article <MOuSj.8194$zw6.7314@trnddc06>,
Don't Taze Me, Bro! <No2Exists1.DeleteThis@Earth71.net> wrote:
>>> If he moves the team to OKC... I predict it to be a failure with-in 5
>>> years.
....
>Those cities are all growing and have larger populations than the Oklahoma
>City area which has 1.2 million citizens...
....

Having attended 4 NBA games in OKC (the NO-Dal games), I can say from
experience that the city can definitely support an NBA team - and proved
it from the Hornets' temporary stay there (and, remember, the Hornets were
a below .500 team for those 2 years). Those that I talked to at the games
were very excited to have the team and it was a great atmosphere.


>I just think St. Louis sounds like a better bet.

But St. Louis has other professional teams, from which an NBA team would
have to compete with for the residents' entertainment dollars; while OKC
would become a one-sport town, along the lines of San Antonio and Portland
(which show lots of support for their teams, even in down years).


patricia


--
Patricia Bender pbender.DeleteThis@eskimo.com
For NBA stuff: http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/index.html
For Mavs stuff: http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/mavs.html
 >> Stay informed about: Sonics to OKC? Seriously? 

"PeterL" <po.ning.DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:70ed173f-3fd6-4d44-bf30-1e975f5923b3@k1g2000prb.googlegroups.com...
On May 1, 6:15 pm, "Don't Taze Me, Bro!" <No2Exis....DeleteThis@Earth71.net>
wrote:
>They already have an arena built. That's a big deal right there.

Sure, but even if you add 100 million in improvements to that arena, it is
still one of the lowest costing arenas in the league. But it sounds like the
group just wants to keep a team in OKC... and, I don't mind that much. If it
works, it works.
 >> Stay informed about: Sonics to OKC? Seriously? 

On May 1, 7:15 pm, "Don't Taze Me, Bro!" <No2Exis....RemoveThis@Earth71.net>
wrote:
> "Terraholm" <TerraholmSPAM....RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:67vab8F2qaifbU1@mid.individual.net...
>
> >> If he moves the team to OKC... I predict it to be a failure with-in 5
> >> years.
>
> > Why? Same size and only pro sports team  as Portland, SLC and San Antonio.
> > And like Portland and Utah it will be a state wide market.
>
> San Antonio is the 4th fastest growing city in America with 2 million
> regional residence. That does not include Austin which has another 2 million
> people.. plus tons of college students.
>
> Portland has 2 million people in its metropolitan area... and I don't think
> Paul Allen would move them if he was losing money.
>
> SLC has the entire Salt Lake Valley... which is about 2.2 million people....
> That does not include Provo (to the south) and Ogden (to the north). Also,
> SLC, according to Forbes, is the fastest growing business city in the
> country right now... which means patrons.
>
> Those cities are all growing and have larger populations than the Oklahoma
> City area which has 1.2 million citizens...
>
> Lastly, I cannot see Oklahomans spending a lot of their money on basketball
> games. The per capita income is 19,098... Does the owner think OKC can
> afford to build them a shiney new arena that can compete with other NBA
> teams?
>
> I just think St. Louis sounds like a better bet.

I think Seattle sounds like the best idea.
Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma, Everett, Olympia, Bremerton, how's that
for market size!
 >> Stay informed about: Sonics to OKC? Seriously? 

On May 1, 8:51 pm, "Terraholm" <TerraholmSPAM... DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote:
> Don't Taze Me, Bro! wrote:
>
> > "Terraholm" <TerraholmSPAM... DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
> >news:67vab8F2qaifbU1@mid.individual.net...
>
> >>> If he moves the team to OKC... I predict it to be a failure with-in
> >>> 5 years.
>
> >> Why? Same size and only pro sports team  as Portland, SLC and San
> >> Antonio. And like Portland and Utah it will be a state wide market.
>
> > San Antonio is the 4th fastest growing city in America with 2 million
> > regional residence. That does not include Austin which has another 2
> > million people.. plus tons of college students.
>
> It was the smallest market in the league for a long time and suceeded. And
> Texas has two other teams.
>
>
>
> > Portland has 2 million people in its metropolitan area... and I don't
> > think Paul Allen would move them if he was losing money.
>
> Have to stretch it to Salem...
>
>
>
> > SLC has the entire Salt Lake Valley... which is about 2.2 million
> > people...
>
> SLC area is 1.2 mil.
>
> >That does not include Provo (to the south) and Ogden (to
> > the north).
>
>  The Wasatch front inluding those towns 40 miles to each is 1.8 mil.http://www.saltlakecityutah.org/aboutsaltlake.htm
>
> The entire state is 2.7 mil... OK  has 3.7
>
>
>
> > Lastly, I cannot see Oklahomans spending a lot of their money on
> > basketball games. The per capita income is 19,098... Does the owner
> > think OKC can afford to build them a shiney new arena that can
> > compete with other NBA teams?
>
> They have an arena and tax support passed by a wide margin to upgrade it.
> They had good attendence for the Hornets and the NBA does not approve a move
> unless they have a good percentage of season tickets committed.
>
> > I just think St. Louis sounds like a better bet.
>
> Other teams will become available. OKC already had a test drive.
>
> --
> Laurel T
> When rats leave a sinking ship,
> where exactly do they think they're going?"
> - Douglas Gauck

Actually you could say Portlands market stretches to Eugene. And with
the Sonics leaving Seattle the Blazers will gradually win over some
fans in Washington!
 >> Stay informed about: Sonics to OKC? Seriously?