Is there room for another major league sports team in Oklahoma?

[Laramie]

We can have the Thunder, but they need to be supported by the whole state, The OKC market is not large enough. Everyone has to get involved into the act.

It does take the whole state to support the Thunder.  OKC market according to Commissioner David Stern; he warned that he didn't believe that the Oklahoma City market alone could support an NBA franchise.  Of the 13,300 season tickets sold in Oklahoma City last season; 3,000 season ticket holders were from the Tulsa area.  
We are bigger that Salt Lake City; yet they support the NBA and MLS (Real Salt Lake).  Utah has consistently sold out the 19,911-seat Energy Solutions Arena and has an MLS team which has averaged 18,500 which is above the current MLS average attendance of 17,700.

During the first few years of NBA basketball in Oklahoma City when the Hornets occupied OKC (post Katrina); the team averaged 18,100 & 17,900; the Thunder has averaged 18,203 the last two seasons.

It will take a whole state to support NHL, MLS and NBA regardless of which city plays host.  Tulsa is currently the size of Salt Lake City when they first entered the NBA in 1979.

If OKC is capable; Tulsa is just as competitive.

[sauerkraut]

Only for the Thunder and only if both OKC & Tulsa support it. Either city alone is too small a market. It'll take both.

[TulsaRufnex]

Don't look now, but.....

Major League Soccer In The Works For Oklahoma City
Posted: Jul 17, 2013 8:28 PM CST
http://www.newson6.com/story/22870027/major-league-soccer-in-the-works-for-oklahoma-city

OKLAHOMA CITY -  A Major League Soccer stadium is coming to Oklahoma City. A metro sports marketing company is partnering with local developer ADG Inc. to begin designing what will soon be the home to a MLS franchise.

The same firm who designed the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, now in its 15th year of operation, will also design the new soccer stadium. The vision to build an MLS stadium has been a three-year-long process.
------------------------------------------------------

"You know, I think there's probably a tremendous market in Oklahoma City for Soccer," said Anderson.

The plan is to design and build a 7,000 seat stadium with the ability to expand to seat 20,000. That's the minimum size for a major league soccer franchise to be considered.

"For Oklahoma City, bringing USL PRO is a conjugate path for the future to bring in a MLS team," said Darren Ransely, Director of Creativity and Entertainment for Prodigal.

Ransley says OKC will have a United Soccer Leagues team in Spring 2014, owned and operated by the company.
-------------------------------------------------------

At least 10 different locations for the stadium are being looked at including near the Oklahoma River. For more information on professional soccer in OKC, go to www.prodigal.com

[Laramie]

I don't know what to think of Funk's lastest move.  He's been known to talk big dreams in the past and never advance to the next stage.  Certainly, he doesn't need the attention.

We have seen some success in OKC with sports in general; this risk (two teams) could bring both the USL-Pro and the NASL down in Oklahoma City.  

OKC has never been a strong soccer market from the professional leagues standpoint.  

The hispanic population in OKC has increased dramatically--could some of them have come here to get away from soccer.  On the otherhand, we do have a lot of mens, boys & mixed league playing soccer in the metro.  The question is this?  Will they become fans of soccer and/or continue with the interest and development of family participants?

[TulsaRufnex]

A little light reading...

Major League Soccer to Add Four Teams by 2020
By Dave Martinez on July 31, 2013
http://www.empireofsoccer.com/major-league-soccer-to-add-four-teams-by-2020/

With the recent addition of New York City FC as the league’s 20th team, MLS has added 10 clubs since the beginning of the 2005 season, leading to a remarkable and rapid transformation of professional soccer in North America. According to Commissioner Garber, “these expansion clubs have contributed to the vitality of our League, bringing passionate fans, new traditions and committed owners with new ideas.”

The process to determine a future MLS expansion market will be selected on the basis of multiple criteria. Factors taken into consideration include:

    · Committed and engaged ownership;

    · A comprehensive stadium plan;

    · Demonstrated fan support for professional soccer in the market;

    · Support from sponsors, television partners and other constituents;

    · Geographic location;

    · A strategic business plan for the launch and successful operation of the club.

Okay... so the info below is a couple of years old (2011) with methodology regurgitated from Sports Business Journal's stuff they trot out every couple of years... but... enjoy...

Could Your City Give a Sports Team a Good Home?
October 31, 2011
http://wagesofwins.com/2011/10/31/could-your-city-give-a-sports-team-a-good-home/

[Laramie]

This is a very interesting chart and figures you have displayed and it would give some new owner thinking about relocation some point at which to begin
his/her research.  It definitely paints a pretty picture of Tulsa.

Could Oklahoma end up with a second NBA team?  How long will the New Orleans Pelicans (Hornets) remain in the 'Big Easy' before the NBA gives them the
green light to relocate.

Concerns about Tulsa?

The only obstacle would be that there is an existing team within a 100-miles radius.   This is one of the claims that is being made about Louisville being too
close to Indianapolis (106 miles); yet, both of these cities are located in two different states.


Tulsa comes out as No. 17 by Sports Business Journals research survey:

http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/on-numbers/scott-thomas/2011/08/22-markets-have-nba-potential.html 

Bleachler Report had these cities.     

1. Kansas City
2. Pittsburgh
3. Seattle
4. Anaheim
5. San Jose
6. St. Louis
7. Las Vegas
8. Louisville
9. Omaha
10. Paris

Source:  Bleacher Report
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/848540-nba-potential-cities-for-relocation-or-expansion

Here are some overextended sports markets of which some are listed in two of the above reports as having potential:

Pittsburgh, Kansas City & St. Louis also came out the top 10 among already OVEREXTENDED Markets.

http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/on-numbers/scott-thomas/2011/08/denver-is-most-overextended-market.html

These surveys have merit depending on the criteria being used in which to gather the information presented.
   

[dbacksfan 2.0]

OKC has never been a strong soccer market from the professional leagues standpoint.  

Maybe because it's not sponsored by Skoal and Copenhagen?

[Laramie]

Maybe because it's not sponsored by Skoal and Copenhagen?

LMAO!  Thanks for reminding me.  I took my first and last dip of Copenhagen returning with one of my Sonic manager colleagues from Dallas to OKC.  He dipped that stuff religously

My head was on fire!

[TulsaRufnex]

Orlando City could join Major League Soccer as early as 2015
Lions launch online petition drive for fans to support MLS bid
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-orlando-mls-soccer-expansion-0914-20130913,0,6740979.story

SI.com reported on Friday that "Orlando City, a USL Pro club that claimed its second championship in three years on Saturday before nearly 21,000 fans at the Citrus Bowl, appears destined for MLS. Assuming an October vote on using an existing tourism tax to fund the final quarter of the club's $80 million downtown stadium project goes well, MLS should be ready to announce Orlando's addition by the end of the year."

Phil Rawlins, president of Orlando City, said the club is confident it will enter the MLS once the stadium deal is finalized.

"Completing this final step would secure a Major League Soccer team before the end of 2013," Rawlins said in an email to the Orlando Sentinel. "A vote is expected by both the County and City Commissioners in the coming weeks. We look forward to continue to work closely with them and encourage our fans to let their elected officials know they support this project."

Orlando 2013:


Tulsa 2003: