Income base numbers suggest Tulsa 'could' support NHL..

[Hoss]

http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/on-numbers/scott-thomas/2011/08/houston-scores-high-for-the-nhl.html

While I'm sure this doesn't mean Gary Bettman and others will start luring Tulsa to the NHL, I found this is a little surprising.  Of the markets listed in this study, 22 made the 'Sufficient' rating.  Tulsa was 21st.  Of course, it's basing it on local income.  Other factors would have to come in to play I'm sure.

[Breadburner]

Of course it could...You just need the right corporate sponsorship.....

[Hoss]

Of course it could...You just need the right corporate sponsorship.....

What was even more surprising is that OKC was listed 47th and denoted as 'insufficient'.

[swake]

What was even more surprising is that OKC was listed 47th and denoted as 'insufficient'.

They already have an NBA team to pay for

[ZYX]

What was even more surprising is that OKC was listed 47th and denoted as 'insufficient'.

Because they have the Thunder and the study subtracted income already being spent on professional sports.

[Hoss]

Because they have the Thunder and the study subtracted income already being spent on professional sports.

But the article said that wasn't factored in.

EDIT: my mistake; didn't completely read the paragraph.

[Hoss]

They already have an NBA team to pay for

Don't you may we're paying for it?  As state taxpayers with the breaks they got to come here.

[swake]

Don't you may we're paying for it?  As state taxpayers with the breaks they got to come here.

Ah yes, the income tax rebate

[Laramie]

Tulsa definitely could support the NHL.  I have no doubt that if Oklahoma City can support an NBA franchise then Tulsa could support an NHL franchise.

Gary Bettman had his chance in 1997 to add Oklahoma City to the NHL; however, he felt that OKC could not build an NHL ready arena with less than $100 million.

The BOK Center is much more ready to host an NHL franchise than OKC's Chesapeake Energy Arena (aka:  Ford Center) was to become home to an NBA franchise.

Tulsa is ready and ripe for one major professional sports franchise!  The money is there and you would draw from Oklahoma City and Wichita to support an NHL franchise in Tulsa.

[Hoss]

Tulsa definitely could support the NHL.  I have no doubt that if Oklahoma City can support an NBA franchise then Tulsa could support an NHL franchise.

Gary Bettman had his chance in 1997 to add Oklahoma City to the NHL; however, he felt that OKC could not build an NHL ready arena with less than $100 million.

The BOK Center is much more ready to host an NHL franchise than OKC's Chesapeake Energy Arena (aka:  Ford Center) was to become home to an NBA franchise.

Tulsa is ready and ripe for one major professional sports franchise!  The money is there and you would draw from Oklahoma City and Wichita to support an NHL franchise in Tulsa.

I would love to see an NHL team here but the current economy I think stifles that notion for a while. Anybody with the last name of Lund, Funk or Ross would definitely need to stay out of it.

I think I'd be happier for the time being if we could get an AHL team and bring Wichita in with us to get the triangle back in play. Texas now has Austin,  Houston and San Antonio. Why not us?

Sent from my AT&T Atrix4G with Tapatalk

[Laramie]

I would love to see an NHL team here but the current economy I think stifles that notion for a while. Anybody with the last name of Lund, Funk or Ross would definitely need to stay out of it.

I think I'd be happier for the time being if we could get an AHL team and bring Wichita in with us to get the triangle back in play. Texas now has Austin,  Houston and San Antonio. Why not us?

Sent from my AT&T Atrix4G with Tapatalk

Tulsa is ready for the major leagues.  I kept hearing the same thing about Oklahoma City;  many nay-sayers kept thinking small and referring to how we supported our CBA franchise.

Hurricane Katrina dropped the Hornets in our laps and we couldn't believe the support we received from our community.

It is amazing how our skyline is transformating since the NBA relocationed the Seattle Supersonics to Oklahoma City:

http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0PDoX5.p1VOhhwAiVGJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBlMTQ4cGxyBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1n?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3DOklahoma%2BCity%2BSkyline%26ei%3DUTF-8%26fr%3Dyfp-t-701%26b%3D31%26tab%3Dorganic&w=1024&h=509&imgurl=farm7.static.flickr.com%2F6053%2F5902608928_27063538c8_b.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skyscrapercity.com%2Fshowthread.php%3Ft%3D594520%26amp%3Bpage%3D14&size=354.7+KB&name=Oklahoma+City+Skyline+-+July+4th%2C+2011+by+sseiyah+%2C+on+Flickr&p=Oklahoma+City+Skyline&oid=ebd4002c4e09b507113f49fc2f2e47a6&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-701&tt=Oklahoma+City+Skyline+-+July+4th%2C+2011+by+sseiyah+%2C+on+Flickr&b=31&ni=30&no=60&tab=organic&sigr=1217bpmn1&sigb=13b31c6lk&sigi=11o1chj3c&.crumb=/lfN.MzJSCF

Tulsa is ready"!

[stageidea]

Man, Having an NHL Team in Tulsa would be great!  I think that fits our demographic well and I think the city could certainly get behind it. 

[swake]

When the Oilers first came here they were a "major" league team. The old AHA was a competing league with the NHL. And back then the NHL only had a handful of teams.

The old Tulsa Colosseum was always sold out for hockey. I'm not sure what it's seating capacity was.

[BaltimorePoke]

Tulsa is the 54th largest MSA

Other southern NHL markets are (I'm excluding northern cities since they tend to support hockey better regardless of size)

LA - 2
Dallas - 4
Miami/Ft Lauderdale - 8
San Fransisco/San Jose - 11
Phoenix - 14
St Louis - 18
Tampa/St Petersburg - 19
Columbus - 32
Charlotte - 33
Nashville - 38

Tulsa would be the smallest southern market in the NHL by far.  I don't think the NHL is going to expand and any movement I think would go to SA, Houston, or Canada before they would move here. 

I do not doubt our city's ability to rally behind a top league professional team.  I believe if somehow we did get an NHL team, that they could do well here.  I know I would go to 2-3 games a year, but I just don't see it happening.

[Breadburner]

When the Oilers first came here they were a "major" league team. The old AHA was a competing league with the NHL. And back then the NHL only had a handful of teams.

The old Tulsa Colosseum was always sold out for hockey. I'm not sure what it's seating capacity was.

Random....