F.C. Tulsa dreams Major League Soccer (MLS)

[JeffM]

Lost in translation?

F.C. Tulsa dreams Major League Soccer (MLS)
http://www.lasemanadelsur.com/index.php?articleID=3584&lng=eng

In recent talks at the Tulsa City Hall, the possibility that the old Drillers baseball stadium would become the home of the F.C. Tulsa is becoming a reality.
The stadium which has a capacity of 12000 people would be donated and transformed into a soccer stadium. "That is going to be incredible," Chavez said. "Something similar happened in Costa Rica with the Highlanders stadium, it used to be a baseball stadium."

[TheArtist]

Would love to see this happen.

[Teatownclown]

GREAT! Thanks for posting this!

Edit to add:Is the Tulsa Whirled sports page not the worst?

Mavs!

[Conan71]

I don't mean to poo poo the source, but talks at Tulsa City Hall?  The stadium belongs to Tulsa County, the City of Tulsa wouldn't have much, if any sway in any decision like that and since the facility is owned by the tax payers of Tulsa County, I don't believe it would be "donated".

I'd be happy with them getting a very cheap lease deal and getting pro soccer back here, but Chavez' account of what is going on is highly suspect.

[stageidea]

I think a soccer team would be great for Tulsa.  But I agree with, Conan71, I don't know how much faith I can put in comments by Chavez. 

[rdj]

They (assuming it is same group) made presentations to the committee Comm Perry convened several years ago.  At the time they didn't have the cash.

The Drillers paid nearly nothing in the way if lease.   I don't think Andrus or county commissioners will allow another lease that bad.  The horse shows are too profitable to allow a loss leader on a hard corner that could be a hotel, retail or horse barns.

The thing to watch for is the Big Splash lease.  It is close to being up for renewal soon. 

[JeffM]

I'm pretty sure the group is at least a variation on the same theme from a couple of years ago..... I was hoping last year sometime during/after the men's World Cup to setup a presentation on the new NASL soccer league for the Tulsa Club.... FC Tulsa could be a good reserve squad for a high level team in a league one level below MLS..... just got the impression last summer that the money wasn't really there for a proper startup.... will post my conclusions from last year and an updated salespitch later.... http://www.nasl.com

....too busy singing with a buncha twentysomethings opening Evita this Saturday to continue the pro soccer at the old ballpark obsession.... ;-)

[Conan71]

I'm pretty sure the group is at least a variation on the same theme from a couple of years ago..... I was hoping last year sometime during/after the men's World Cup to setup a presentation on the new NASL soccer league for the Tulsa Club.... FC Tulsa could be a good reserve squad for a high level team in a league one level below MLS..... just got the impression last summer that the money wasn't really there for a proper startup.... will post my conclusions from last year and an updated salespitch later.... http://www.nasl.com

....too busy singing with a buncha twentysomethings opening Evita this Saturday to continue the pro soccer at the old ballpark obsession.... ;-)

What's your take on Chavez' comments?  Everything he claims contradicts what common sense about city and county government and the ownership of the current empty ballpark.

[JeffM]

...which is why I started the thread with "Lost in translation?"  

The county has, to my knowledge, wanted any use of the old ballpark to be a "temporary lease" year-to-year--- so any expensive idea of "converting" the ballpark to a soccer stadium makes about as much sense as putting lipstick on a pig....

Wonder what the lease terms are with RBI?
http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/local_news/tulsa-county-approves-lease-contract-for-old-driller-stadium
http://www.urbantulsa.com/gyrobase/Content?imageIndex=2&oid=oid%3A34591

[Laramie]

Would love to see an MLS team in Tulsa.  The Roughnecks were a very successful franchise.  It appears that many of the cities in the defunct North American Soccer League are getting MLS franchises:  The Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers and the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Why not the Tulsa Roughnecks?

I understand that MLS requires an outdoor stadium with a grass field?  Are there any other facilities in Tulsa which could be expanded to accommodate 20,000-25,000 besides Driller Stadium?  

Utah's MLS Real Salt Lake entry plays in a new 20,500-seat stadium (Rio Tinto Stadium) in suburban Sandy, Utah.  Construction cost of the stadium was right about $115 million:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Stadium


MLS franchises now run about $20 million and there is also the possibility of relocation for the Tulsa market.

Tulsa would be a very strong market for MLS.

[JeffM]

Tulsa hasn't been on MLS's radar for a number of years now.... the last cities to get MLS teams had local ownership that paid $40 million.... the next city may pay an expansion fee of $75 mil to $100 mil.... http://www.mls-rumors.net/16735/2011/05/video-mls-commissioner-don-garber-on-expansion-20th-team-could-cost-as-much-as-100-million

Back when MLS officials were visiting Tulsa in the summer of 2001, Brad Lund/Bob Funk/Express Sports diverted them to OKC and the two cities had dueling MLS exhibitions games in the spring of 2003... KC-Columbus drew 9300 in Edmond, while the KC-Dallas game the following Saturday afternoon at Skelly Stadium drew over 14k... Tulsa got around 3500 season ticket deposits from that game alone, towards a season ticket drive that ended with about 5000 commitments.... but LaFortune/Vision 2025 dropped the 22k capacity soccer stadium from the list of civic improvements, only to revisit the idea in 2005 when it appeared Lamar Hunt was never going to get a stadium built in KC... an East End "mixed-use" deveopment with a soccer stadium financed by the creation of a TIF district  became an East End "mixed use" ballpark, then a fight between the DC people and WalMart, then it became.... well, what we see today....

[radkins]

That would be awesome, but I won't hold my breath.

[Laramie]

Tulsa is much better suited for MLS than OKC especially since the Thunder (Seattle Supersonics) relocated there.

Tulsa has strong numbers to support a bid for expansion or relocation and with no major professional sports (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL) an MLS franchise would have that area all to itself.  You would also have a lot of people traveling from Wichita and Oklahoma City to attend games.

[TulsaRufnex]

Tulsa in 2003....
Interview with former Tulsa Roughnecks GM Noel Lemon

Wichita in 2011
Wichita Wings will return to MISL
http://www.kansascity.com/2011/03/04/2698595/wichita-wings-will-return-to-misl.html
http://misl.uslsoccer.com/teams/2011-2012/36617224.html#MAIN

San Antonio in 2011...
San Antonio Scorpions