66ers to Bixby?

[TulsaSooner]

Saw on the news last night Bixby is set to announce a team that will play in their new arena (I had no idea they were even working on a new arena)and the rumor is that it will be the 66ers.

Thoughts?  

Judging by their crowds, I'm guessing it won't be a big deal to very many but it could work out well for the 66ers and Bixby.  They would be hard pressed to have smaller crowds than what they had in Tulsa.

http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=7846645

[TheArtist]

I don't think the 66ers were getting the crowds and attention here in Tulsa. If Bixby rallies behind them they will do better there.

And yes Bixby is building a really neat Arena/ shopping/ office/ hotel area. I thought it looked kind of plain when I first saw the renderings, but when I took a peek at it a while back, I think its going to do quite well. Some big trees, lamp posts, some infill around it and they will have thier own Utica Square or Bricktown type area. Will be a nice place to visit. May draw a good chunk of people away from Woodland.

Some pics I took a while back. There is also an inner courtyard or "square" area with shops around it right across from the Arena, but I couldn't get pics because the road wasnt done at the time.

[sgrizzle]

Not really bad for Tulsa, as a successful team 200 yards outside Tulsa is better than an unsuccessful one at the fairgrounds. Not to mention both locations are Tulsa County, but not city. I think it proves that no matter how much the county seems focused only on the fairgrounds, they really don't care if they have any tenants or not.

[TURobY]

Tulsa 66ers likely to move to Bixby next season

By Glenn Hibdon, Tulsa World
2/9/2008  6:10 PM

It appears the Tulsa 66ers will be moving to SpiritBank Event Center in Bixby for the 2008-09 NBA Development League season. The building, part of a new development, is located near 105th Street and Memorial Drive.

A press conference has been called for 11 a.m. Tuesday at the event center where a permanent tenant will be announced.

Sixers team president Jono Helmerich confirmed that negotiations are under way to relocate the team from Expo Square Pavilion, its home for three seasons.

"There is a distinct possibility that we could move, yes sir," Helmerich said. "It would be by virtue of the new building and a better financial situation. They have been courting us heavily the last few years."

"Since this is the last year of our lease, we want to look at other options. It would be prudent to look at other options," said 66ers majority owner David Kahn. "I've seen the new building once and I think they are doing a really nice job of building an intimate, fan-friendly venue that would be a perfect place for all sporting events and concerts. They're doing a nice job."

Helmerich had no criticism of the Expo Square Pavilion.

"If we move it won't be because the fairgrounds didn't give us want we wanted. I love playing there," said Helmerich. "The new building is higher profile and comparable in size to where we're playing. It will give us a better opportunity to do some of the things we want to do and increase attendance."

Like Helmerich, Kahn praised the fairgrounds and playing in the Pavilion. He said a move would be purely a business decision.

"I can't say enough nice things about the folks there and the building. I have no problems, no bone to pick with them," Kahn said. "It's a tremendous facility and the people treat us wonderfully, but we have to do a lot of analyzing and evaluate our options."

Tim Remy, developer of SpiritBank Event Center, would not confirm or deny the 66ers would be a tenant in his building. "They have looked at south Tulsa and so has the hockey team and the football team. Everybody has looked at us," said Remy. "The arena will seat from 3,500 to 5,000, depending on the event. For basketball it will seat from 4,000 to 4,500. I have no comment (about the 66ers). There will be an announcement on Tuesday addressing our events coming up." Previous Tulsa World news stories have reported that the event center can host a variety of events, including concerts, basketball, boxing and arena football. The seats retract to reveal 165,000 square feet of floor space for trade shows and other events.

Luxury office suites at the center will provide tenants with skybox suites and a private elevator. The $50 million public-private development also includes Regal Plaza, an upscale shopping center. It features a sports bar, day spa, nail salon, sandwich shop, clothing and other stores.

The Bixby City Council approved an incentives package for the development. The developer will receive a 1-cent rebate from Bixby's 3.5-cent sales tax for up to 10 years, or until $5.5 million is collected, according to past World articles.

[Breadburner]

No loss....

[CoffeeBean]

Too bad the 66ers don't draw well enough to consider the BOK arena.

[TheTed]

quote:Originally posted by CoffeeBean

Too bad the 66ers don't draw well enough to consider the BOK arena.

Neither do the Oilers but they'll be playing at the BOK Center.

[EricP]

Great, every town in Oklahoma can have a huge arena and they can each have a total of 15 fans show up to events, rather than one packed centralized arena

More sprawl Maybe by the year 2020 we will be building the new SUPER AWESOME suburbs in a 50 mile radius from downtown Tulsa and we can all use 5 gallons of gas to get to work every day.

[Breadburner]

quote:Originally posted by TheTed

quote:Originally posted by CoffeeBean

Too bad the 66ers don't draw well enough to consider the BOK arena.

Neither do the Oilers but they'll be playing at the BOK Center.

They draw a hell of alot more than the 66er's.

[TheTed]

quote:Originally posted by Breadburner

quote:Originally posted by TheTed

quote:Originally posted by CoffeeBean

Too bad the 66ers don't draw well enough to consider the BOK arena.

Neither do the Oilers but they'll be playing at the BOK Center.

They draw a hell of alot more than the 66er's.

2,000 people vs. 4,000 people. Both are nowhere near filling up even the lower level at the BOK Center.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by TheTed

quote:Originally posted by Breadburner

quote:Originally posted by TheTed

quote:Originally posted by CoffeeBean

Too bad the 66ers don't draw well enough to consider the BOK arena.

Neither do the Oilers but they'll be playing at the BOK Center.

They draw a hell of alot more than the 66er's.

2,000 people vs. 4,000 people. Both are nowhere near filling up even the lower level at the BOK Center.

I thought the lower level was around 5,000.

[Breadburner]

The Oilers attendance will get a boost from the new arena....Lol..the 66er's dont average 2,000 fans....

[cannon_fodder]

I've been to exactly one 66er game and must admit it was a lot of fun.  There were maybe 3000 people there and the guy I was with (who goes all the time) said it was the most fans he'd ever seen.  There was some kind of dance school thing so all the kids parents were there...

The article says the new events center seats 3500 for basketball, so not an issue with seats.
- - -

Though I didn't support them much I'm still disappointed.  Every time one more thing moves South it leaves less people with a reason to venture into the city.  With the Riverwalk, Bixby with this development, the Bass Pro area for BA... soon the 'burbs will have no reason to visit the "big city" and we'll have no reason to take their tax dollars.  They come, work, and leave.  Death for the core of a city.

Why couldn't downtown land a massive mixed use development like this?

[TheArtist]

Why cant downtown land a development like that?

Demographics.

[cannon_fodder]

Well then that leads us to the chicken or the egg argument. Can we significantly improve the downtown demographics without new offices and retail?  Will retail move in without improved demographics?

But you're of course right Artist.  But I don't have to like it!