66ERS GAMES MOVING TO DOWNTOWN TULSA

[bmuscotty]

Newly-renovated Convention Center to be home of NBA D-League team

Tulsa, Okla., August 13, 2009 - The Tulsa 66ers, members of the NBA Development League and affiliate for the Oklahoma City Thunder, announced today the franchise has completed a contract to play at the Tulsa Convention Center, beginning in the 2009-10 season. The 66ers will also relocate the team's business office and staff to 2727 E. 21st St., Suite 500 in Tulsa.

"The Convention Center provides an ideal downtown Tulsa location for the 66ers," said Clay Bennett, Chairman of the Oklahoma City Thunder, which owns and operates the NBA Development League team. "With significant improvements underway at the facility, 66ers fans can expect an exciting game environment in a convenient and fan-friendly venue."

"The 66ers' move to downtown Tulsa is great example of Clay Bennett's continued commitment to the area," Dan Reed, NBA Development League President, said. "As we enter the second year of the Thunder's ownership of the 66ers, I'm excited that fans in Tulsa and throughout Oklahoma will have the opportunity to watch top Thunder prospects and world-class basketball in the very affordable, family friendly environment that the newly-renovated Convention Center will provide."

"Downtown Tulsa is experiencing a new kind of energy with our Convention and BOK Centers, ONEOK Field and many entertainment districts," Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor said. "We're glad to have the Tulsa 66ers back in the heart of downtown to provide the complete sports scene for our city and region."

The Convention Center, located at the corner of Seventh and Houston, is in the midst of a multi-million dollar renovation project, including the following improvements:

• A major makeover to the exterior of the south entrance
• New Terrazzo flooring on the main level
• Three new High Definition LED video boards
• Six suites, including a 40-seat party suite
• Updated arena concourse, concession stands and restrooms
• Brand new Robbins All-Star Basketball Floor

"We are excited to partner with the Tulsa Convention Center and SMG Management," 66ers President Jim Brylewski said. "The centralized location will benefit the 66ers franchise as the downtown area continues to grow. We hope to continue to spur the growth of downtown and beyond as the preeminent sports and entertainment hotspot in Green Country."

Last season, the 66ers were utilized to provide development and playing time for Thunder players Kyle Weaver, D.J. White and Shaun Livingston. "The 66ers continue to be a great resource for our basketball program," said Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. "We view the 66ers as an extension of our team and will continue to rely on them to help develop and improve our roster moving forward."

The 66ers season consists of 24 regular season home games from late November through mid-April.

http://www.bokcenter.com/news.asp?id=10&pid=184&task=display

[dbacks fan]

Just curios as to what the attendance was like when they were at the Pavilion?

Could be a boom for the restaraunt and bars downtown if the have a 66ERS and an Oilers game on the same night.

[Conan71]

The Tulsa World article said this morning that the S'PANK owes the 66'ers over $100K still from this season.  The team is suing for over $200K.  Makes you wonder how the S'PANK is doing financially.

"The 66ers played last season in the SpiritBank Event Center in Bixby. The one-season relationship with the arena ended with an ongoing lawsuit regarding more than $100,000 the team claims it's owed. The 66ers filed a lawsuit seeking more than $200,000 in compensatory damages from SpiritBank Center's ownership group."

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=410&articleid=20090814_227_B2_TeTlae937101

[rwarn17588]

Makes you wonder how the S'PANK is doing financially.

In a guess: badly.

I think Bixby got a little too uppity about its growing-suburb status and overreached with this venue. The SpiritBank Center is little more than a glorified pole barn, fighting for also-ran acts that can play in the region's myriad casinos for more money.

Combine that with the BOK Center booking a slew of great shows and the cool-and-historic cachet of Cain's Ballroom, along with a sagging economy, you've got a venue that's going to have to beg for even the scraps that are left.

[cannon_fodder]

And on the heals of the rabid trials and tribulation of the Spirit Events Center (which, fwiw, is a nice looking development) and the remodeling of the Tulsa Convention Center, Broken Arrow is trying to sell the need for a convention center to its residents.

Glad the 66ers are back in town.  I'll definitely use them as an excuse to check out the new convention center.  The games were fun at the Pavilion, worth checking out a game or two for sure. . . 

[Laramie]

How well I remember the Tulsa Convention Center aka: Tulsa Assembly Center, being an OKC Blazer fan I made many trips up to Turnpike to see a loud and rowdy Tulsa crowd that was never kind or showed its visitors any love  , so this should be a perfect setting for an NBA Development experience for Tulsa, one that should be more comparable to the Tulsa Fast-Breakers of the old CBA.

The Tulsa Convention Center will be small enough so that the crowd isn't lost in a sea of empty seats and we already know that it can be loud.

Good move by the Tulsa 66ers and good luck in 2009-10 season.

[TheTed]

Just curios as to what the attendance was like when they were at the Pavilion?

Could be a boom for the restaraunt and bars downtown if the have a 66ERS and an Oilers game on the same night.

They never got many fans at the Pavilion. The place was desolate. Their official attendance numbers may have been respectable but like all the local minor league franchises and ORU basketball, official attendance and butts in seats are frequently miles apart.

But I'm ecstatic to have the 66ers downtown.