The New York Cosmos are back. Can the Tulsa Roughnecks be far behind...?

[Hoss]

I'd noticed a lot of activity over there when coming or going from Lowe's the last couple of weeks.

As often as I've been to that Lowe's in the last month, I'm surprised I haven't run into you out there.

[Conan71]

As often as I've been to that Lowe's in the last month, I'm surprised I haven't run into you out there.

No kidding! It's my second er third home right now.  Just look for the grey Hyundai Sonata with it's donkey dragging the ground.

[Snowman]

It looks like things are about to get interesting in Tulsa:

Tulsa Athletics officials in discussions with NASL for pro soccer status

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/soccer/tulsa-athletics-officials-in-discussions-with-nasl-for-pro-soccer/article_516c8411-c551-5d95-b8d2-7e7f13be80cb.html

Posted: Thursday, May 1, 2014 12:00 am | Updated: 12:56 pm, Thu May 1, 2014.
By JOHN TRANCHINA World Correspondent

Tulsa Athletics co-owner Sonny Dalesandro, whose team will play USL-Pro's Oklahoma City Energy FC in a U.S. Open Cup match in May, says his soccer club has professional aspirations.

The Athletics, who compete as an amateur summer team in the National Professional Soccer League, say they are in discussions with the North American Soccer League, one of two professional soccer leagues a rung below Major League Soccer.

The Tulsa Roughnecks FC, backed by the Tulsa Drillers ownership group, are scheduled to begin play in USL-Pro (the other pro league below MLS) in 2015 at ONEOK Field.

"They've (NASL officials) been to Tulsa on a couple of occasions, and our field now meets the standards of the NASL," Dalesandro said Wednesday. "We stated about a year ago that our goal wasn't to start and end in the NPSL, and we're going to continue to press in the right direction to bring a major league sports franchise here."

The Athletics play the OKC Energy at 7:30 p.m. May 14 at Drillers Stadium, which has been renamed Athletics Stadium. The U.S. Open is the soccer championship of the United States.

The Athletics, who kick off their second NPSL season at home Friday against the Fort Worth Vaqueros, have worked to make Athletics Stadium more soccer-friendly, including a fresh green paint job and taking out some bleachers to stretch the field from 103 yards to the international standard of 110 yards.

"We are continuing to develop this stadium into the finest soccer-specific stadium that we can in Tulsa right now," Dalesandro said.

Did I miss something between the quotes, the stadium is not soccer-specific and is not exactly the design you would end up with if planned one from scratch.

[dioscorides]

Did I miss something between the quotes, the stadium is not soccer-specific and is not exactly the design you would end up with if planned one from scratch.

I don't think the NASL is as picky as MLS.  Here is a list of the stadiums currently used for NASL.  I noticed 3 or 4 that are baseball stadiums.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:North_American_Soccer_League_stadiums

[Hoss]

No kidding! It's my second er third home right now.  Just look for the grey Hyundai Sonata with it's donkey dragging the ground.

I'm usually looking for the bike rack.

[Conan71]

I'm usually looking for the bike rack.

Still there!  Will have to have you over for some home-brew once we get the new Ponderosa all settled in.

[TulsaRufnex]

http://www.tulsaathletics.com/news/tulsa-athletics-press-conference-april-30th-2014/




Tulsa Athletics press conference from the site of where the lower level first baseline seats were removed to expand the field...

[DowntownDan]

It looks like things are about to get interesting in Tulsa:

Tulsa Athletics officials in discussions with NASL for pro soccer status

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/soccer/tulsa-athletics-officials-in-discussions-with-nasl-for-pro-soccer/article_516c8411-c551-5d95-b8d2-7e7f13be80cb.html

Posted: Thursday, May 1, 2014 12:00 am | Updated: 12:56 pm, Thu May 1, 2014.
By JOHN TRANCHINA World Correspondent

Tulsa Athletics co-owner Sonny Dalesandro, whose team will play USL-Pro's Oklahoma City Energy FC in a U.S. Open Cup match in May, says his soccer club has professional aspirations.

The Athletics, who compete as an amateur summer team in the National Professional Soccer League, say they are in discussions with the North American Soccer League, one of two professional soccer leagues a rung below Major League Soccer.

The Tulsa Roughnecks FC, backed by the Tulsa Drillers ownership group, are scheduled to begin play in USL-Pro (the other pro league below MLS) in 2015 at ONEOK Field.

"They've (NASL officials) been to Tulsa on a couple of occasions, and our field now meets the standards of the NASL," Dalesandro said Wednesday. "We stated about a year ago that our goal wasn't to start and end in the NPSL, and we're going to continue to press in the right direction to bring a major league sports franchise here."

The Athletics play the OKC Energy at 7:30 p.m. May 14 at Drillers Stadium, which has been renamed Athletics Stadium. The U.S. Open is the soccer championship of the United States.

The Athletics, who kick off their second NPSL season at home Friday against the Fort Worth Vaqueros, have worked to make Athletics Stadium more soccer-friendly, including a fresh green paint job and taking out some bleachers to stretch the field from 103 yards to the international standard of 110 yards.

"We are continuing to develop this stadium into the finest soccer-specific stadium that we can in Tulsa right now," Dalesandro said.

This is great news!  I would love to see them make the jump.  Hopefully it can happen quickly or else the USL Pro team will get the advantage.  I don't think that Tulsa or OKC can support two professional soccer teams.  One of the leagues is going to have to take the foothold in this state.  I'm partial to the NASL myself and I hope they win out.