Could Phoenix Coyotes make Tulsa their new home?

[dbacks fan]

I suppose a Tulsa NHL team could do the same, but they would have a barrier that OKC did not.  Tulsan's as a whole aren't big hockey fans.  We at least had a good base of basketball fans through our college teams.  There just aren't many Tulsans or Oklahomans that grew up playing hockey and cheering on hockey players.

On this I will disagree somewhat, there are a lot of people in the Tulsa area that my brothers and I played hockey with from the late 60's into the early 80's, and one former Tulsa Oiler Player Andre Champagne, are still in the Tulsa area, and while they may not all be people that would by season tickets, they more than likely still go to Oiler games and would support an NHL team. I know of some that have been involved in hockey in some form with their own kids and still have that passion for the game. I think that if Tulsa got a team that had the potential as an expansion team, or a team being moved for other reasons that is turning the corner and doing well would work. The one thing to keep in mind about the Coyotes is that they are an improving team, and while they are owned by the NHL they have a budget cap that they have to operate under, they can still make changes and trades as long as they operate in that budget. It's possible, but you would have to find some dedicated investors to purchase the team.

[Hoss]

On this I will disagree somewhat, there are a lot of people in the Tulsa area that my brothers and I played hockey with from the late 60's into the early 80's, and one former Tulsa Oiler Player Andre Champagne, are still in the Tulsa area, and while they may not all be people that would by season tickets, they more than likely still go to Oiler games and would support an NHL team. I know of some that have been involved in hockey in some form with their own kids and still have that passion for the game. I think that if Tulsa got a team that had the potential as an expansion team, or a team being moved for other reasons that is turning the corner and doing well would work. The one thing to keep in mind about the Coyotes is that they are an improving team, and while they are owned by the NHL they have a budget cap that they have to operate under, they can still make changes and trades as long as they operate in that budget. It's possible, but you would have to find some dedicated investors to purchase the team.

There are a lot more than just one or two former hockey players living in town.  I know Garry Unger still has a home here.  Doug Lawrence and many, many other former players from this area live here.

I can remember my grandparents taking me to many hockey games during my youth.  I can remember you couldn't get a seat downtown when the league was revived.  Even on weekday games it was difficult.

Tulsa has a long hockey history.  Longer than many might think being in this part of the country.  I knew many friends in grade school that played.  There are mens leagues.  Hockey is played at the junior level, bantam and mite level, high school level here.  You just don't hear about it because Oklahoma is football/basketball country.  Doesn't mean hockey at that level doesn't exist.

[DaniHall]

Sure we can...If it was not for Hurricane katrina anniversary passes....OKc would never have had a B-ball group.....Just goes to demonstrate how elements can perform out......No one would have given Okc a opportunity without that group camping outdoors out in Okc for a season.....Okc still hurts though.... Grin