Does professional soccer have a future in Tulsa?

[TulsaRufnex]

So, the Hubbard brothers/Tulsa Drillers are at the end of a three year commitment to USL soccer in Tulsa at ONEOk Park.
What's next? New owners? Would Funk Jr/Prodigal/OKC Energy FC divest or take over as majority owners?

And Sonny Dalesandro and Dr. Tommy Kern find Tulsa Athletic stuck at LaFortune Stadium for year five of their existence (and beyond?).
You'll have to excuse me, but matches played on artificial turf with permanent lines and tailgates next door to a high school parking lot at a stadium that doesn't serve beer leaves much to be desired.

Conference Championship Finals Highlights 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykXmVN_hnUc

Seems like this was eons ago...

John Klein: ONEOK Field impact? Nearly 2 million in 5 years
   By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist Apr 12, 2015
http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/johnklein/john-klein-oneok-field-impact-nearly-million-in-years/article_722cccd0-a742-5cf4-b3b3-a701b456f7f8.html

Ideally, the Hubbards, and many Tulsa soccer fans, would love to have a soccer-specific stadium.

"We would love to have a stadium for the Roughnecks," Jeff Hubbard said. "I think it would be a terrific addition to everything that is happening in downtown Tulsa.

"A soccer stadium would be perfect for a lot of things. Certainly, long term that's something the city will have to consider for the long-term success of professional soccer in Tulsa."

Instead of the usual preseason work toward baseball's opening day, the Drillers staff has been preparing for hosting three USL soccer matches for the Roughnecks at ONEOK.

It included a sellout for the season opener against Oklahoma City.

"It wasn't just a sellout," Dale Hubbard said. "We turned away hundreds of fans.

Before.


After.
http://www.newson6.com/story/35677591/usa-bmx-headquarters-to-relocate-from-tulsa-fairgrounds

[RecycleMichael]

Tulsa Roughnecks doing great. They have an affiliation with a MLS team, are averaging 4,000 a game attendance, and have an active local fan club with their own podcast
http://www.tulsaroustabouts.com/category/tss/

The team has played well and lost in extra time to FC Dallas (US Open defending champs) just last week .

Tuesday June 27th they play again in Tulsa (Twofer Tuesday) which means tickets are BOGO and even select concession items are $2.

Come to that game and I will buy you a beer.

[TulsaRufnex]

Tulsa Roughnecks doing great.... are averaging 4,000 a game attendance, and have an active local fan club with their own podcast
http://www.tulsaroustabouts.com/category/tss/

Sorry but no, Tulsa Roughnecks FC are not "doing great."  
They've lost 4 of their last 5 and currently sit in 11th place out of 15 teams in the USL's Western Conference at a mark of 5 wins, 7 losses, 0 ties.
But after winning only 5 games in all of last year, anything remotely competitive this season is an improvement.

Michael, if I were to spot you at an Athletic game, I'd buy you a beer, but, unlike Energy FC matches at OKC public schools' Taft Stadium, beer sales are forbidden at TPS's LaFortune Stadium.



I went to five Roughnecks FC games last season, and have already attended close to that many so far this year. Other than sitting behind the goals or roaming around the concourse, ONEOk has, by far, the worst viewing angles I've ever been forced to endure in attempting to watch a soccer game.



And ever since the final months of last season, the crowds at ONEOk Park are about half what they drew the first season.
Which is less butts in seats than what my Tulsa Athletics drew in 2013 and 2014 at the old ballpark.

https://twitter.com/TheSoccerTour/status/859059600892493824
The Soccer Tour‏ @TheSoccerTour

How to announce attendance:
1. Count tickets sold
2. Count tickets distributed
3. Pull larger number out of your donkey


FC Cincinnati actually drew over 30,000 fans for their last US Open Cup game against MLS's Columbus Crew, a match they hosted, won, and now they'll be playing Tulsa's affiliated club, MLS's Chicago Fire, in the next round of the cup. Cincy came out of nowhere to become a contender for the next round of MLS expansion in large part due to the kinds of crowds they've been drawing at University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium...



Wish we had a modestly sized college football stadium like Cincy... oh, wait... we do...

[Conan71]

Roughnecks at Skelly was such a great show...always.

[TulsaRufnex]

Wednesday night on ESPN...



FC Cincinnati shows there is no limit to what American soccer can become
On Wednesday night, over 32,000 people showed up to watch a minor-league team play in a scarcely covered secondary competition. It was incredible.
by Kevin McCauley@kevinmccauley Jun 29, 2017, 12:12pm EDT

https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2017/6/29/15891714/fc-cincinnati-chicago-fire-2017-us-open-cup

We have the U.S. Open Cup — the perfect vessel for stories like FC Cincinnati's — to thank for bringing us this moment. Like other more famous cup competitions around the world, the U.S. Open Cup allows anyone to qualify and starts with amateur teams, then gradually introduces higher level teams with each round. Fourth-division teams face qualifiers in the first round, then second- and third-division teams enter, then MLS teams join the party in the fourth round, when only a handful of smaller teams remain.

Amateur teams very rarely make it far enough to face off against MLS sides, but Christos FC bucked the trend this season, beating two semi-pro sides and pro team Richmond Kickers to earn a matchup with D.C. United. The amateur squad named after a Baltimore liquor store did not beat the Black and Red, but they did score the opening goal of the game. The reactions of their friends and family produced one of the best sports videos you're going to see this year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-FBc-6IdQk

[TulsaRufnex]

Meanwhile in Little Rock...

Rangers melting pot leading LR soccer to new heights
http://www.thv11.com/sports/rangers-melting-pot-leading-lr-soccer-to-new-heights/452903763

Tulsa Athletic will be hosting Little Rock Rangers in the regular season finale on Saturday, July 8th at 7:30pm.
It will be VFW Appreciation Night at LaFortune Stadium.

[Conan71]

Wednesday night on ESPN...



FC Cincinnati shows there is no limit to what American soccer can become
On Wednesday night, over 32,000 people showed up to watch a minor-league team play in a scarcely covered secondary competition. It was incredible.
by Kevin McCauley@kevinmccauley Jun 29, 2017, 12:12pm EDT

https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2017/6/29/15891714/fc-cincinnati-chicago-fire-2017-us-open-cup

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-FBc-6IdQk

^^ This is just cool as smile!

[TulsaRufnex]

[TulsaRufnex]

Several times before the start of the 2013 season, Sonny and a couple of others consistently mentioned the NPSL's Detroit City FC as a template for what they wanted to do at the old ballpark.
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/2015/09/10/detroit-city-fc-wants--move--hamtramck-stadium/71999716/

Tonight in Detroit at Keyworth Stadium (yes, they are allowed by the local public school system to sell beer there).

[TulsaRufnex]

Regular season finale.
Saturday's match will be VFW Appreciation night as we honor those who have fought for our freedom. Proceeds from ticket sales will go towards our local VFW Post.

[TulsaRufnex]

The equivalent of a AA or AAA baseball team playing the Yankees or Mets... from Univ of Cincy's Nippert Stadium... single elimination tourney semi-finals...

http://www.ussoccer.com/lamar-hunt-us-open-cup/open-cup-tournaments/2017-usoc/2017-us-open-cup-semifinals-final/20170815-us-open-cup-semifinals-fc-cincinnati-vs-new-york-red-bulls

Announced attendance at a college football stadium in Cincinnati: 33,250



Why not Tulsa?

Crowd of more than 30,000...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3cE9w82Bow

Crowd of over 26,000...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzlzaoRyF5M

Crowd of over 30,000...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUVhlSCpA84

[Laramie]

Austin, Texas?

The Columbus Crew, one of MLS's original teams, is angling to move its franchise to Austin, Texas, SI.com has learned.

Columbus owner Anthony Precourt is set to announce in a press conference on Tuesday that he will move his team to Austin in 2019 if a downtown soccer stadium for the Crew cannot be finalized in the next year.

Columbus Crew Angling Toward Relocation to Austin in 2019:  https://www.si.com/soccer/2017/10/16/columbus-crew-austin-texas-anthony-precourt-stadium?utm_campaign=sinow&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&xid=socialflow_twitter_si

[Laramie]

Not sure how long the USL will give our two state USL teams to get soccer specific stadiums:

United Soccer League has a goal to have each of its clubs playing in or building soccer-specific stadiums that meet USSF standards by 2020.

Taft Stadium in OKC doesn't meet the specifications for a soccer specific stadium:

The Energy also recognizes that Taft Stadium is not viable long-term because it does not meet United States Soccer Federation standards. Taft is only 67 yards wide, three yards short of the minimum USSF standard. Funk Jr. confirmed that the club is unable to host U.S. Open Cup games at Taft because the pitch is too narrow.

Oklahoma City Energy MLS soccer stadium plans.


   

Wheeler Park district master plans.

The Wheeler District is a new community in the center of Oklahoma City, located along the southern bank of the Oklahoma River less than two miles from the downtown. The 180 acre site was previously the Downtown Airpark and Capital Hill, a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood, is located just south of the site...  ...The Wheeler District is a new urban village that will grow over time to become the most walkable, bikable neighborhood in the region that focuses on family and modern pioneers with a range of housing options and building types not available elsewhere in the City.

OKC Energy moving forward with Major League Soccer stadium plans after Co-Op acquisition falls through:  http://newsok.com/article/5555634

Wheeler Park area emerges as top candidate for soccer stadium:  http://newsok.com/article/5555631

[Laramie]

.

2017 United Soccer League  Attendance as of October 15, 2017
http://www.kenn.com/the_blog/?p=9186




2017 USL teams with an attendance average of 3,000 or better:

FC Cincinnati............................    16    339,164  21,198
Sacramento Republic FC.............   16    185,104   11,569
Louisville City FC.......................    16    137,801  8,613
San Antonio FC.........................    16    114,430  7,152
Rio Grande Valley FC Toros.........    16    113,076  7,067    
Phoenix Rising FC......................    16    98,020    6,126
Tampa Bay Rowdies...................    16    94,306    5,894    
Reno 1868 FC...........................    16    88,950    5,559
Ottawa Fury FC.........................    16    86,839    5,427    
Richmond Kickers......................    16    74,636    4,665
Saint Louis FC...........................    16    73,139    4,571
OKC Energy FC..........................    16    68,685    4,293
Tulsa Roughnecks FC..................    16    61,619    3,851
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC .   16    54,222    3,389
Charleston Battery......................    16    50,400    3,150
Bethlehem Steel FC....................    16    48,837    3,052    

           

[Laramie]

"A fool and his money are soon parted".

Is MLS A Ponzi Scheme?  

It's a bit of a strange course for a sports league that isn't exactly lighting it up in terms of attendance, viewership, or revenue. MLS may be allegedly growing in popularity—you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a claim of its popularity with urban millennials—but it's still miles behind the England's Premier League and Spain's La Liga and Germany's Bundesliga and probably another half-dozen leagues around the world in terms of both talent and viewership. And as far as North American sports leagues go, it's a distant fifth behind the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL. When Forbes last looked at MLS finances, it had to perf[orm mathematical contortions to explain why franchise values are rising even as annual losses continue to mount.

https://deadspin.com/is-mls-a-ponzi-scheme-1797509617?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_facebook&utm_source=deadspin_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow