New Tulsa Roughnecks soccer logo for 2015 at ONEOK Park

[RecycleMichael]

ADVANCED NOTICE OF VERY IMPORTANT UPCOMING ANNOUNCEMENT FROM TULSA ROUGHNECKS FC!

ONEOK Will Install Orange Pitch Ahead Of Saturday's Matchup Vs. Austin Aztex
Apr 01, 2015  12:30 PM CST

Nice April Fool's joke

[TulsaRufnex]

Isn't it a better use to use the Drillers stadium rather than have two stadiums that only get used a fraction of the time?
It obviously worked the first time.

It just seems silly to build another stadium when we have so many underutilized ones already.   I guess as long as it isn't built with tax dollars....

Unfortunately, I think we're back in Field of Schemes territory.
I wish ONEOK would have been designed with both baseball and soccer in mind... but it wasn't.
I wish that the $25mil spent to downsize/modernize Chapman Stadium would have included a widened, soccer-friendly, multi-purpose field... but it wasn't.
And don't get me started on old Drillers Stadium... I think the county has no appetite to ever allow anyone to substantially update, modernize and/or expand it for soccer; truth be told, I still think they secretly salivate at the prospects of bulldozing it in favor of more surface parking for horse trailers and winnebagos.

John Klein: ONEOK Field holding up so far with 2 teams
Posted: Sunday, April 12, 2015 12:00 am
http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/johnklein/john-klein-oneok-field-impact-nearly-million-in-years/article_722cccd0-a742-5cf4-b3b3-a701b456f7f8.html

The Hubbards admitted they have looked into installing artificial turf at ONEOK Field, depending on how the field handles all of the use this summer.

"We've looked into it and we know the investment it would take from us," Dale Hubbard said. "It would make the transition very easy between the sports and the use would not impact it.

"Still, that's not anything we've decide to do or not to do. Let's just say we've looked at it."

Ideally, the Hubbards, and many Tulsa soccer fans, would love to have a soccer-specific stadium.

"We would love to have a stadium for the Roughnecks," Jeff Hubbard said. "I think it would be a terrific addition to everything that is happening in downtown Tulsa.

"A soccer stadium would be perfect for a lot of things. Certainly, long term that's something the city will have to consider for the long-term success of professional soccer in Tulsa."

Meanwhile, in Louisville....
http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/soccer/louisville-city-fc/2015/04/10/study-louisville-best-suited-for-mls-not-nba/25572097/

All along, it has been Estopinal's goal to build up a fan base in Louisville and take a similar leap up the US Soccer ladder. Of course, others are hoping to do the same. USL added 10 franchises this year, winding up with 24 in all.

One major obstacle involves building a soccer-specific stadium. Given what's happened this week, "It's definitely driven home we can't last long at Louisville Slugger Field," Estopinal said.

Would I like Major League Soccer someday in Tulsa?  Of course.  Some numbers don't lie.  

http://www.socceramerica.com/article/58225/english-fa-cup-audience-up-13-percent-on-fox.html
http://www.sbnation.com/2013/8/18/4633606/premier-league-improved-ratings-on-nbc-nbcsn
http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2015/04/14/nbcsn-coverage-of-manchester-derby-ranks-as-most-watched-premier-league-match-in-u-s-cable-television-history/
http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/news/2015/04/09/market61.html
http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/news/2015/04/09/market50.html

[TulsaRufnex]

Forgot one... top 10 tv markets for 2014 MLS Cup...  http://www.thebentmusket.com/commentary/2014/12/11/7377111/boston-providence-top-improved-tv-ratings-for-mls-cup-final-2014

[RecycleMichael]

I am going tomorrow night.

I will be the hooligan in the orange shirt on the Margaritaville Deck.   

[Laramie]

Tulsa is ripe for the MSL:

1. Population - 969,224  
2. Ownership -  ?
3. Facilities - new MLS-ready stadium (18,000 seats)  Cost range about $125 - $150 million.

Minor league soccer (NASL, USL) isn't always the best gauge to determine a city's potential to support any major league sport.   Those minor league numbers which are positive shouldn't be ignored.

Tulsa has a million population in its metro area.  An MLS style stadium would put you in 'consideration'  to obtaining an expansion or possible relocation (if available) franchise.  The geography of the MLS with teams in Denver, Kansas City & Dallas would favor Tulsa as a central location. MLS plans to expand by 4 teams (24) before 2020--the league could eventually be in 28 markets by 2025.   The league currently have larger markets (2 million metro) like Atlanta, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Sacramento, St. Louis & San Antonio currently on their radar because they want to improve the TV media footprint nation wide.

Rochester was among the smaller markets that wanted an MLS entry.   A franchise in Oklahoma isn't as far fetched as you might think.  Oklahoma City is marginal & risky at best with the NBA in town.

Tulsa has the financial potential available with people who could form an ownership group.  The whole city would get behind soccer on the major league level.  Tulsa's rich history of the old NASL could be repeated on the MLS level.

[davideinstein]

Roughnecks need to make a strong MLS run. We are demolishing OKC in attendance and we have two teams in town.

[davideinstein]

By the way, Atlanta and Minneapolis are already going to MLS. The issue with Tulsa will be the franchise fee. I have zero doubt that we could fill the stands.

[Laramie]

.
  Major League Soccer (MSL) to Tulsa in 2020'
.
Although minor league attendance is not always an accurate gauge, good attendance which is exhibited by the Tulsa Roughnecks FC shouldn't be overlooked along with its competition (Tulsa Athletics).  NASL Roughnecks of the late 70s & early 80s had averages of 12,000-16,000 to a high of 20,000 which is comparable to the MLS today.

Tulsa (969,224) has roughly 1 million in its metro area today which is an adequate base to support MLS.  Same concerns the NBA had with markets like Memphis (1,343,230), Oklahoma City (1,336,767). New Orleans (1,251,849) & Salt Lake City (1,153,340) which possess slightly over 1 million metro population.  NOLA supports both the NFL & NBA.  The million population markets in the NBA have shown they are capable thru their attendance and corporate support.   An MSL Tulsa Roughnecks franchise would gain name-recognition much like the NBA Thunder has done in OKC.

Roughnecks need to make a strong MLS run. We are demolishing OKC in attendance and we have two teams in town.

Good point!

Tulsa Roughnecks FC - 4-5-2
vs. Oklahoma City 03/28 - 8,335
vs. St. Louis 04/02 - 3,335
vs. Austin 04/04 - 5,067
vs. Seattle II  04/16 - 4,025
vs. Portland II  05/30 - 5,755  
Average Attendance = 5,303

In town competition:  TL - Tulsa Drillers attendance average 5,804
In town competition:  NPSL - Tulsa Athletics attendance average (?)

Oklahoma City Energy FC - 6-2-3  
vs. Seattle II 04/18 - 6,797
vs. St. Louis 04/25 - 4,383
vs.  Sacramento 05/23 - 3,717
vs. Austin 05/31 - 4,293
vs. Portland II - 3,133
vs. Vancouver II - 3,300
Average Attendance = 4,273

In town competition:  PCL - Oklahoma City Dodgers average attendance:  6,610

Sources:  

USL game stats:  http://www.uslsoccer.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPID=157014&SPSID=917141&DB_OEM_ID=32800&DB_OEM_ID=32800

PCL 2015 attendance:  http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=l_att&lid=112&sid=l112

TL 2015 attendance:  http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=l_att&lid=109

List of 381 largest Metro Area populations:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Metropolitan_Statistical_Areas

[Laramie]

.
Oklahoma City Energy FC vs. Tulsa Roughnecks FC - 6/13/15 - Taft Stadium
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MbnWzTiAJo4

[Jake]

The Roughnecks kind of suck.

[davideinstein]

The Roughnecks kind of suck.

They played the two best teams in USL this week. Jamieson, the guy who killed us last night, will be a star for the national team in a few years and the Republic are the defending champs. We're currently 11th in the West, but the latter half of the season has a much more favorable schedule. I think we'll compete for a playoff spot. Also, Mata is a great pick up for the team. I'll be there regardless, but the season is far from over.

[TeeDub]

Their home games (1-5-1) are worse than their away games (3-3-2.)

Probably means they need their own multi-million dollar stadium.

[Jake]

I understand this is their first year so I'm not distraught or anything. I'm just glad they exist. I enjoyed the game I went to and I like watching the games on YouTube.


Just stating that being 11th out of 12 team in the West isn't very good. We'll see how the rest of the season goes.

[davideinstein]

I understand this is their first year so I'm not distraught or anything. I'm just glad they exist. I enjoyed the game I went to and I like watching the games on YouTube.


Just stating that being 11th out of 12 team in the West isn't very good. We'll see how the rest of the season goes.

It's awful, but we could win the next two and be in playoff contention. We'll see how this short break goes.