Sports to fill BOK Center

[lawyer2be]

Since the NBA is out of question now with OKC getting the Sonics and the NHL probably being a long shot. What other sports do you guys feel Tulsa might be able to support in our new Arena. Here are some leagues that could be options:

Women´s Basketball (WNBA): In recent years the league has gone to non-NBA owners in some markets and non-NBA cities so this could be a possibility. www.wnba.com

Indoor Lacrosse (NLL): This league has really taken off in some non-traditional lacrosse markets and might work here too. for more infor take a look at www.nll.com

Indoor Soccer (MISL): Since MLS might be a long shot now, why not Indoor Soccer? www.misl.com

What do you guys think?

[lawyer2be]

sorry the website for MISL is www.misl.net

[mrB]

quote:
Study targets Tulsa's interest in WNBA franchise

By LYNN JACOBSEN World Sports Writer
7/22/2008
Last Modified: 7/22/2008  3:19 AM

Survey to measure local companies' sponsorship interest.

A study is under way to gauge interest in the potential expansion of the Women's National Basketball Association to Tulsa...

...<entire Worldarticle>>>

[lawyer2be]

Thanks for the link, I was not aware of that article.

[TUalum0982]

I don't think Lacrosse or Womens basketball would be a good fit. I don't think enough people in this city care about womens basketball and I don't think enough people know the rules of lacrosse.  Lacrosse really isnt that popular in the midwest.  It is more popular on the east coast, correct??

[guido911]

quote:Originally posted by TUalum0982

I don't think Lacrosse or Womens basketball would be a good fit. I don't think enough people in this city care about womens basketball and I don't think enough people know the rules of lacrosse.  Lacrosse really isnt that popular in the midwest.  It is more popular on the east coast, correct??

Yeah, I hear lacrosse is especially popular in Durham, North Carolina.

[JoeMommaBlake]

We do not need a pro sports team in this town. Let's work on booking as many music acts as possible. WNBA? Seriously?

Is that league still going?

I'd rather be a legitimate music and arts town (which we have a chance to be) than a mediocre sports town (which is the best we could ever hope for).

[TheTed]

The WNBA is pathetic. I'm not sure there'd be more fans at a WNBA game than an Oilers or Talons game.

It's too bad TU has a new basketball arena. It'd be freaking sweet to see them playing downtown 15-20 dates a year, following the Creighton model. Creighton plays in Omaha's new downtown arena and draws 16,000 a game.

[TheTed]

I can't pass up the opportunity to post this WNBA video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FGI7R0u3TQ

[cannon_fodder]

TheTed:

Tulsa played in the Expo Pavilion for years.  After that they played in the Convention Center for more than a decade.  It just isn't the same as having a facility on campus, also - it meant they had to have graduation and other ceremonies at the convention center.  For many reasons, a new arena was a must.

Not too mention, 8,000 people in an 18,000 seat arena just looks sad.  Turn on the WNBA sometime, horrible atmosphere even when they have a good crowd.

Speaking of the WNBA, they are fighting hard but losing the battle.  Early on their attendance averaged 9.8K, then it jumped to over 10 for a couple seasons, hung steady at 9 for a few, and over the last 3 years has trailed into the 7,500 range.  

The new franchise in Chicago averages below 4,000 (less than the Drillers or Tallons).  
http://womensbasketballonline.com/wnba/attendance/sbsatten.pdf

I have little interest in the WNBA, and apperently not many other people do.  Cleveland, Miami, Orlando, Portland and Salt Lake all went out of business.  Phoenix started with an average of 14,000 fans, and are down into the 7K range now.  Washington averaged 16K the first season they opened, and are in the 7,000's now too.

Come what may, I certainly wouldn't mind.  But the interest in the WNBA seems to be wanning.   Though, I readily admit, they appear have a nice group of hardcore fans.


Indoor lacrosse and indoor soccer just seem strange.  I don't think there is a lacrosse team in the city/region, so the draw would be VERY limited.   But it appears to draw well in the cities it has taken root.  The league averages is near 10K per game, but Colorado at the top is near 18K and San Jose at the bottom is near 3k.  So the disparity is amazing:
http://www.gregs-mom.com/NLLAttendance.htm

[SXSW]

With the NBA in OKC that will book up the Ford Center at least 40 nights a year.  So that allows the BOK Center to attract the traveling music tours that would normally stop at the Ford Center on those dates.  That in addition to tours that may go to OKC and Tulsa.  Also drawing big events like the NCAA tournament and bigtime speakers will keep the BOK Center busy outside of the Talons/Oilers games.  Plus it is highly likely that we will see at least one preseason OKC NBA game in Tulsa every year.

OKC will be more of a sports town with the NBA, AAA Redhawks, and of course OU football/basketball in Norman.  Tulsa has the potential to be more of an arts and music city with a great large arena venue and several smaller ones, all downtown.

[guido911]

Let's rethink this WNBA thing:

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3501154&categoryId=2378529


Girlfight!!!

[OurTulsa]

Unfortunately I don't see a sports franchise establishing in Tulsa and filling the BOK.  What I can see is a steady series of tournaments.

I hope Tulsa can establish some good annual basketball tournaments between the BIG XII, Conf. USA, and Horizon leagues tournies, NCAA's, and holiday tournies featuring good regional match-ups...Would love to see something that brough KU vs. LSU, Arkansas vs. OSU/OU, Memphis vs. OU/OSU, Illinois vs. Texas, Iowa vs. T-Tech.  

Something annual like that would draw good crowds from outside Tulsa, however only for a long weekend, but still something good.

However, in the long run, I'm with Joe on the idea of promoting a serious music and artistic culture...We've got tons of assets already in place working to make that happen and I see a bright future.  Will that fill the arena?  The occasional concert, I guess.  I'll support that culture this weekend at D-Fest...great music happening there!  Joe, you gonna sell pizza outside your joint?

[The Cynic]

quote:Originally posted by lawyer2be

Since the NBA is out of question now with OKC getting the Sonics and the NHL probably being a long shot. What other sports do you guys feel Tulsa might be able to support in our new Arena. Here are some leagues that could be options:

Women´s Basketball (WNBA): In recent years the league has gone to non-NBA owners in some markets and non-NBA cities so this could be a possibility. www.wnba.com

Indoor Lacrosse (NLL): This league has really taken off in some non-traditional lacrosse markets and might work here too. for more infor take a look at www.nll.com

Indoor Soccer (MISL): Since MLS might be a long shot now, why not Indoor Soccer? www.misl.com

What do you guys think?

To be honest, I always thought the NHL would be a good fit for Tulsa.  We should be a large enough market for one major professional sports franchise (but only one).

And, I think the ex-Sonics are crazy if they don't try to schedule 3-5 games in Tulsa as "home games".  If I remember right, the Celtics used to do this not too long ago.  Easy sell for everyone involved.

Then again, I thought they should be naming the new NBA team "Oklahoma xxxxxxxx" rather than "Oklahoma City xxxxxxx".

[PonderInc]

quote:Originally posted by JoeMommaBlake

We do not need a pro sports team in this town. Let's work on booking as many music acts as possible. WNBA? Seriously?

Is that league still going?

I'd rather be a legitimate music and arts town (which we have a chance to be) than a mediocre sports town (which is the best we could ever hope for).

I agree that Tulsa should focus on arts and music rather than sports... but I have to take this opportunity to point out that the OU-OSU women's basketball matchups outdrew the OU-OSU men's basketball games last year.  

Women's sports have finally reached the point where an entire generation of young women have grown up with real opportunities in sports.  1) their entire lives have been post Title IX, and 2) girls teams are finally getting women coaches who actually played the sport in college. (Not some washed-up football coach put in charge of the girls basketball team...or worse...some dad who last played in Jr High.)

So the caliber of play is constantly improving, and the population that considers women's sports valid is increasing by the day.

My biggest problem with the WNBA is that they play in the summertime...which just seems wrong to me.  But, perhaps it's good, b/c kids are out of school, arenas are air conditioned, parents want kids out of the house, and the price of admission is typically affordable for families....

Given some time, you never know...