MLS in Tulsa, Part Deux: World Cup Edition

[USRufnex]

Since it's unlikely we'll hear much about the proposal for a "Downtown Soccer Stadium" in the east village anytime soon, might as well split off into a general discussion of whether MLS in Tulsa would be a good fit and what it would bring to the city.  Tulsa's fallen off the radar screen for an expansion team.  However, everybody thought Tulsa's bid was DEAD last summer at this time;
Then came this story in late August 2005 that surfaced in the Tulsa World:
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=050828_Ne_A1_Plann42774&archive=yes

Then seemingly out of nowhere, a Tulsa group was courting MLS at MLS Cup in Frisco, TX last November and the rest of the story, well... here's hoping the story isn't over... yet... http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=051118_Ne_A1_Citym117&archive=yes

The World Cup has overshadowed a couple of nice developments.  The Chicago Fire play their first game at Toyota Park tonight:

And the Rochester(NY) Rhinos of the USL played their first home game at PaeTec Park (ed: now Marina Auto Stadium) last week:


EDIT:  8/9/2009: only to update a couple of links/pics which no longer work

[FOTD]

Are Americans Becoming Soccer Fans?
Parochialism Persists, But Ticket Sales, TV Ratings and U.S. Team Heroics Show Progress

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203609204574317122524606410.html


It's blooming Oklahoma....and Tulsa deserves this more than any other sports program outside of college football.

Can we please get ahead of the curve instead of playing the last one in the game?

[Renaissance]

$40 million for an expansion franchise.  What would a soccer specific venue cost? 

[brianh]

It seemed like everyone played soccer in Tulsa back in the early 80's. If we get a team, we should name it Tulsa United, not lightning, thunder, twisters or anything like that. It would certainly be better attended than the WNBA(though I am not against that). The field should be near or in Chandler park.

[FOTD]

Chandler....we already have a place at 15th and Yale....

[TURobY]

Chandler....we already have a place at 15th and Yale....

I've been suggesting it to the County Commissioners. I recommend that you do as well.

[FOTD]

I've been suggesting it to the County Commissioners. I recommend that you do as well.

They'll only listen if sent a "cam pain" contribution....no thanks.

[swake]

They'll only listen if sent a "cam pain" contribution....no thanks.

That is not true of Karen Keith at all.

[TURobY]

I've actually gotten a lot of response from Karen Keith, Fred Perry and Terry Simonson.

It's a shame, FOTD, that you are too apatheic and cynical to be involved in local matters. You're energy and gusto, when aimed, are admirable and could be a real asset to the Tulsa area.

[waterboy]

Why not put a facility on the West Bank of the river around 23rd? The amphitheatre is probably going away. It could serve multiple uses for concerts, festivals and local club use. Get rid of the concrete plant or the Public Works stuff and make good use of the land.

Soccer has a strong following here and we should tap into it.

[Oil Capital]

$40 million for an expansion franchise.  What would a soccer specific venue cost? 

Probably around $75 Million plus land.

[BierGarten]

Why not put a facility on the West Bank of the river around 23rd?

Well, for the time being, the reason that won't happen is because the mayor's office could seemingly care less about the west bank.  It isn't in the IDL!

New mayor coming into office soon...  Maybe the city and new mayor could reconnect with the Branson Landing guys who whose proposal for the west bank was simply ignored by the current higher ups.  A Tulsa Landing that included an MLS stadium sounds like an awesome idea to me.

[Conan71]

Why not put a facility on the West Bank of the river around 23rd? The amphitheatre is probably going away.

On the amphitheater, it's not a matter of "if" it's "when".  My source is pretty solid.  Also look for the lagoon to get filled back in.  (Lagoon in, lagoon out.  Main Mall in, Main Mall out).

If that concrete plant is worth developing and could be profitable as something else, let a private investor pay the plant owners their exhorbitant ransom.  Meanwhile, there's a city M & E facility I believe we were promised would be consolidated out with the OneTech purchase and moving maintenance ops to the old downtown airpark or was this just another iffy promise made by proponents of the 2007 river tax scam?

I'd be all for putting a multi-use stadium on the west bank, just so long as it goes on land we already own, or is part of a privately-funded MUD.

[cannon_fodder]

+1 on all counts Conan.

[Renaissance]

I'm curious if Kaiser still holds the option on the apartment complex over there.  All those river plans seem so long ago . . .