Oklahoma City and its future with the NBA....

[JoseA]

The New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets play their last game in Oklahoma City Friday, but though the team will resume playing full time in New Orleans next season, NBA commissioner David Stern said the league will return to OKC.

As for which franchise might permanently relocate to Oklahoma City in the future, Stern said, "I don't have a team to send, and I can't tell you what date. But it is my expectation that the NBA has not played its last game in Oklahoma City."

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So what do you all think of Oklahoma City getting an NBA team? Do they deserve one?

I think Oklahoma City did a pretty decent job of welcoming the Hornets and I wouldn't be suprised if they are given an NBA franchise. And I think it will happen, I will make a bold prediction.
The NBA adds two teams: Oklahoma City and Las Vegas

[bedir than average]

Unfortunately for me, the only way OkCity gets a team is if the Sonics deal for a new stadium in Renton falls through and then they flush 40 years down th toilet.

[John F]

OKC is ripe for a NFL team. The plains is football mad... Though I can see the Chiefs and the Cowboys fighting hand over fist to keep OKC from securing a franchise.

[JoseA]

Good point John, Oklahoma City would be a great place for an NFL franchise. Look at how popular the Oklahoma Sooners are. Another Big 12 state that loves football is Nebraska. I know they don't have any major cities, but I think a small markert team could survive there pretty well. Maybe Lincoln?

[John F]

Omaha would sooner get a team, not the college town of Lincoln.

Market size doesn't matter as much with the NFL as it does with the other sports. You don't need as many fans attenting almost daily with games. It's a once-a-week event for a few months a year. 8 home games and maybe the playoffs spread out over 20+ weeks is a lot easier to draw repeat attendance.

That's why Green Bay survives, that's why Jacksonville is viable... It's why teams could live in OKC, Omaha, Boise or elsewhere that is low-population.

...The NFL wouldn't profit from it, though, as much as a team being in LA.

[bedir than average]

We get a lot of OkCity noise up here. Heard an interesting thing from one of the writers out in OK. They said that the people of the state have never had a single team to unite around and that is a major reason for the success of the Hornets while in OkCity. In the past the division of Oklahoma or OkState was so big, but the people of the state have somewhat united concerning the Hornets.

The NFL is for certain going to LA before anywhere else.

[John F]

Originally Posted by bedir than average

The NFL is for certain going to LA before anywhere else.

...and yet Houston beat LA for the last expansion.

It's a matter of how united a city is and how committed. LA is happy with USC and UCLA and college football to compliment the NBA, MLB, MLS and the NHL...

The NFL itself needs to pay up if they want a team in LA... not vice versa. That's something pro sports leagues don't tend to do.

[bedir than average]

Except the NFL. The NFL is the primary source of funding for the new Giants/Jets stadia.

[John F]

You got link proof for that one, bedir?

[bedir than average]

NFL Owners Green-Light Jets-Giants Finance Plan

The Jets and Giants won unprecedented approval from the NFL on Tuesday to borrow as much as $715 million each to help them build their new stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., the cost of which is pegged at $1.6 billion —making it the most expensive stadium in U.S. history.

The league's owners, meeting in Phoenix this week, voted 31-1 to authorize both teams to borrow almost five times the $150 million a franchise is typically permitted under league rules and to carry the debt for as long as 25 years because of the high cost of building a stadium in the New York market.

[JoseA]

More:

The NBA isn't expected to expand any time soon. But there is speculation the Seattle SuperSonics, whose new owners are from Oklahoma, might move to Oklahoma City if a new arena plan isn't reached in Seattle soon. Although Las Vegas, San Jose and Kansas City have also shown interest in acquiring an NBA franchise, Oklahoma City is optimistic it is the front-runner should a team move.

Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett said there is a "real chance" Oklahoma lands a franchise in the next year or two.

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I have to agree, Oklahoma City does seem like a front runner because they took on the Hornets when they needed help. That gesture severely helped their chance of getting an NBA franchise...

[bedir than average]

Well that and the Sonics owner is from OkCity.

By the way the WA state legislature will not allow a vote on the new stadium.

[chicagochill95]

Originally Posted by bedir than average

NFL Owners Green-Light Jets-Giants Finance Plan

I feel sorry for Buffalo.

They also applied for a new stadium, but were turned down.

So they were the lone vote of no (and I don't blame them) for the New York stadium.

I guess that's what happens when you're one of the top markets.

It's kind of sad actually.

[NationalsFan-MD]

I'd like to see Oklahoma City get an NFL team. They already have an af2 team in the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz.

The NBA in Oklahoma City? Hey, why not?

What about the NHL in Oklahoma City?

[Joe Strummer]

NHL should not be in Oklahoma City! You want another Phoenix in the NHL?