Oklahoma City-Tulsa unite behind NBA

[Laramie]

Oklahoma City's near neighbor, Tulsa, eager for new team

ESPN:

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor congratulated Oklahoma City officials on Tuesday for landing an NBA franchise and said there's no reason people in her town can't support the state's pro basketball team.

Taylor, speaking at a Rotary Club luncheon in downtown Oklahoma City, said that what benefits Oklahoma City also benefits Tulsa. She said that's why she was glad to support Oklahoma City's efforts to attract a major-league franchise.

That process was realized last Friday, when the NBA Board of Governors voted 28-2 to approve the relocation of the Seattle SuperSonics to Oklahoma City, pending the result of a federal court case in Washington state.

Seattle officials want the team to fulfill the final two years of its lease there, while the team's Oklahoma City-based ownership group would prefer to negotiate a buyout to that lease. The Sonics are legally bound to come to Oklahoma City under a lease that takes effect as soon as the Seattle lease is fulfilled.

"It really puts Oklahoma on a national map, and that's what's important, and it continues to grow the economy of Oklahoma City, which helps Tulsa," Taylor said of the Sonics' impending move. "We are the two most significant contributors to the state economy. Anything that we can do to help Oklahoma City's economy expand is good for Tulsa."

Tulsa and Oklahoma City are connected by an 86-mile-long turnpike, but the state's two largest cities have long had what sometimes has been a not-so-friendly rivalry. Both Taylor and Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett said that 20 years ago, it would have been unlikely for leaders in one town to support a major initiative of the other.

But Taylor, who grew up in Oklahoma City, didn't hesitate when officials from Oklahoma City and the SuperSonics asked her to be a part of the team's March 25 presentation to members of the league's relocation committee.

Her presence -- and the role Tulsa-area residents could play in supporting an Oklahoma City franchise -- was noted by NBA commissioner David Stern. During a press conference following last Friday's vote, Stern mentioned Tulsa a half-dozen times.

Stern said the owners learned "how close Tulsa is" to Oklahoma City "and how many citizens of Tulsa will consider the team to be, and did consider the [New Orleans] Hornets when they were there ... a state franchise."

Cornett said 10 to 20 percent of the Sonics' ticket sales in Oklahoma City will come from the Tulsa area, and Taylor noted that it's "90 minutes door-to-door" from Tulsa to Oklahoma City. Those numbers are why Cornett said it only made sense to include Tulsa leaders as part of Oklahoma City's presentation to the NBA.

"When you talk to NBA owners, the idea of people driving 1½ hours to an NBA game is something they're comfortable with," Cornett said. Including Tulsa as part of the team's sphere of influence meant the owners would "see a larger metropolitan area that they're more comfortable with."

But just because the team will be marketed throughout Oklahoma does not mean that Oklahoma City officials aren't somewhat territorial, at least when it comes to how the team will be identified. Stern said Friday the team might consider using "Oklahoma" as its name, noting that "you really see a much larger market than just the Oklahoma City market."

Cornett quickly squashed such a notion, pointing out that Oklahoma City's signed lease with the Sonics stipulates that the team name be "Oklahoma City."

"We had allowed ourselves through the years to be branded through our tragedies," Cornett said. "I wanted Oklahoma City identified with something more positive ... to increase Oklahoma City's identity and branding, which had never been done before."

Taylor said she has no problem with the team calling itself "Oklahoma City."

"I understand that. I wouldn't want the Tulsa Drillers to be called the Oklahoma Drillers," she said, referring to her city's minor-league baseball team. "I know different states have dealt with that issue, but I think the most important thing is that Oklahoma has shown that it can be home to a major-league team. It's exciting for all of us."

Clay Bennett, the chairman of the Sonics' ownership group, said the team believes it should be named Oklahoma City, "but it will be an Oklahoma asset. It will be marketed statewide, and we believe it will be supported statewide."


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[Renaissance]

Seriously a dick move by Cornett with the team name thing.  Talk about talking out of both sides of your mouth.

"Yes, we want it to a be a state franchise.  But no way in hell is it going to be named after the state."

[Hoss]

I will NEVER support a team from down the pike as long as dick Cornett feels like that about it.

Hell, I thought Humphreys was bad!

[cannon_fodder]

quote:and did consider the [New Orleans] Hornets when they were there ... a state franchise.

I didn't know anyone that was interested in the Hornets when they were in OKC.  That is probably in large part because no marketing effort was made, at all, to the Tulsa area.  But it doesn't change the outcome.

Also, call the team whatever you want to.  Have a blast.  But don't take my money for your NBA team and then get snotty about it.

/still irritated on pro-sports handouts.

[In_Tulsa]

I can tell you OKC would have never got the team without Tulsa. I know I will never go to an OKC game. I can't wait to see what happens.

[TURobY]

Meh, I could drive to OKC, or I could walk to TU and see pretty much the same thing. I think I know which one I will choose.

[cannon_fodder]

quote:Originally posted by In_Tulsa

I know I will never go to an OKC game.

I probably will.  

I don't hold it against OKC.  I'm not a rabid "hate OKC" person.  I enjoy visiting OKC for events or to take a day trip with company to see the sites.

So I'll end up there for a game every other year (Go Bulls!) or some such thing.  Just the experience will be entertaining (the point).  But I don't think many Tulsan's will be "supporters" of the new franchise int he merchandising, watching consistently on TV, or going to games weekly.    Just my thought.

[Goodpasture]

I think there will be a pretty good business opportunity with the OKC team, what ever the name is.......just market stuff around the state without the "City" on the logo.......selling things to Lawton, Enid, Weatherford, Ponca, and Tulsa would be a LOT easier that way........

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by Floyd

Seriously a dick move by Cornett with the team name thing.  Talk about talking out of both sides of your mouth.

"Yes, we want it to a be a state franchise.  But no way in hell is it going to be named after the state."

This is the number 1 reason I don't want to go to an OKC NBA game.

[Hoss]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by Floyd

Seriously a dick move by Cornett with the team name thing.  Talk about talking out of both sides of your mouth.

"Yes, we want it to a be a state franchise.  But no way in hell is it going to be named after the state."

This is the number 1 reason I don't want to go to an OKC NBA game.

Absolutely.  For those of you 'not holding it against' OKC for doing this, that should the prime reason you should.  Cornett is an...I'll stop right there.

OKC is a cesspool.

[jiminy]

I thought I read that they weren't going to be playing any games in Tulsa either.  You'd think if they really wanted to build support here, that would be the first step.

[bugo]

Boycott the team.  If they get enough pressure, the name can be changed.  Teams have changed their names without moving before.  Remember the Phoenix Cardinals?

[jiminy]

Maybe we should picket.  That would be something if more people came from Tulsa to picket than to see the game.

Dibs on the "No taxation without representation" sign

[cannon_fodder]

Dibs on the "God Hates the Oklahoma City Sonics" sign.

In other news...  the WSJ reported that the new owners reported to the Court yesterday that a move to OKC will result in a profit of $18,000,000 in the first year.  So they don't need the $12mil in first year state funds.

[Laramie]

My understanding is that 2,300 of the 12,000 season tickets that were sold in 3 weeks came from the Tulsa area.

Now, I'm hearing that there were no marketing of the Hornets in Tulsa.  

It would be great if Tulsa could get its own NBA team.

What a rivalry with Oklahoma City!

I have good things to say about Tulsa.  It is the most beautiful and clean of any of the 50 largest cities.

Good luck on luring the NHL, you're have Oklahoma City's support as well.