I think it would be a good idea for us to start brainstorming (perhaps we could contact the Chamber) and start organizing an official OKC Welcomes NBA party. Show the Sonics players how excited we are and how nice and good fans we are. They didn't get much love in Seattle, even before Bennett. Let's have a bigger showing of support than Seattle showed at the SOS rally. Let's let the new team know we're behind them all the way.

I think a welcome part would be great idea, I think a welcome part should happen when the new name is announced have a big parade and have the new team colors everywhere and products sold during the event...

That is a Great idea.....if it comes together let us know where it will be and we'll be there.

__________________
" You've Been Thunder Struck ! "

I'm in.

And I want a t-shirt.

Do it.

My family and I would be there for sure.

I'm in. I want a t-shirt too.

i'm in and i would also like a t-shirt!!!!!

Oklahoma City is to be commended for its support of the New Orleans-Oklahoma City Hornets, its overwhelming support by voters for Fabulous Ford Center upgrades (stay tuned)!

Oklahoma City, I am a proud resident.

I'm in.

who should be contacted to help organize this event, the city needs this and us who live in the okc metro and all around oklahoma needs this. Plus this one event could bring good needed money to the city.. I cant wait, I see the future and the future looks good, bricktown will have a second wind and grow even more, plus i see more hotels and entertainment for downtown...Finally it is okc's time to show that we are a major city and oklahomas time to shine ..Great job to the members who helped bring this nba team to us..THANK YOU

Just speculating but I sense our horizon will soon be seeing the clouds of an invitation only meet the players exclusive mixer for the high dobbers crowd, probably at the cowboy hall of fame, and another for the masses to be held downtown at the arena.

Where's our Tshirt inventor guy?

Seriously, we do need a great first impression for the team...

How about a huge Welcome NBA (since we don't know their names yet) billboard as you exit the airport or do they take buses?

At the very least a few banners to make them feel welcome!

__________________
" You've Been Thunder Struck ! "

so, just make the "one for the masses" bigger, better, and louder...

Socialist!

(Just kidding)

I like your idea - one big party!

I agree I would luv to be there to support the teams arrival. I am waiting for merchandise to.

Sounds like a great idea. I'm in...

I will bring you 3 of the loudest boys in Oklahoma to welcome them.

Somebody needs to mention this to Mayor Cornett and the Chamber - they will make it happen.

Be sure to tell them where the idea came from and that there is already a basic audience of 4000 or so posters on OKC Talk who likely would show up, much more once the OKC media promotes it.

I vision a big huge parade and festival for a day, with people driving into downtown honking their horns all day and night, and pedestrians walking, shouting, and celebrating OKC's arrival FINALLY as a major league city.

We need to make sure the welcome party is more than just somebody talking at a podium though. Have it be an event that includes everyone, a true celebration! A party, complete with refreshments so everyone can be involved. I dunno.

I just want to be sure it is not done half-assed. We need to think big time from now on OKC. Enough of this, we'll seed it and wait and see stuff (like the airport, Bass Pro, so on). GO BIG TIME from the start - that way first impressions will be lasting!

Make the nay sayers in Seattle and larger markets eat their words, wishing they had the support (and earning power) of Oklahoma City. Give them a 'preview' with a World Class Welcoming Party!

If someone want's, I dont mind to email the mayor and chamber officials - but it would be even nicer if an OKC resident or two did it; since it's your team and vested interest ultimately.

You're a major league city now (for real). Now, PROVE you belong!

__________________
Oklahoma City, RENAISSANCE CITY!

in working on setting something up I'm meeting with chamber on Monday

I see the new team's jerseys,shirts and hats being super hot hard to get items...and yall thought the tickle-me-elmos at christmas a couple of years ago was insane

Great Metro.

Feel free to use any of my suggestions as your own.

Here is Canada's take, globesports.com: Oklahoma City gets ready to rejoin major leagues

Note their headline, "Rejoin Major Leagues".

They're the ONLY media outlet so far that got this right, since this is NOT OKC's first major league team: The first could be considered to be the Oklahoma Outlaws - that Tulsa shared with OKC. But the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets definitely were the first major league team to have OKC's name.

__________________
Oklahoma City, RENAISSANCE CITY!

How did Oklahoma City "share" the Outlaws?

And the first major league team in Oklahoma was the Tulsa Ice Oilers in the 1929 American Hockey Association, which was at the time a competing league to NHL. Tulsa even played NHL champion Blackhawks in 1930 in a non sanctioned championship between the leagues. Oklahoma City had a team in the AHA some years later but by then the league had decided to stop trying to compete and be a minor league associated with the NHL.

thank you swakelander for the history lesson on tulsa's first pro sport team in our thread discussing okc.

Also, in the mid '90s we had the Oklahoma Coyotes of Roller Hockey International. This is slightly a bigger deal, though!