NBA's Seattle Supersonics relocate to Oklahoma City.

[Laramie]

[Laramie]

July 3rd

Oklahoma City Thunder completed its 15th season of the franchise in OKC and the 57th in the NBA. The 16th season will bring some competitive player challenges for 2023-24 season and roster.

The future is bright for OKC in the NBA. A new arena is on the horizon within the next decade and an invested ownership group who oversees this franchise valued at $1.88 billion--originally purchased for $350 million.

Best of luck for the Oklahoma City Thunder and the NBA.

[Laramie]

Quality of Life big league sports helped transform OKC's imagine in 2006. Cities similar in size small markets (Milwaukee, Memphis, New Orleans and Salt Lake City) peers elevated OKC to the next level.

Credit MAPS Initiative approved in 1993 as the catalyst for Oklahoma City's road to transformation.

Unfortunately the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans had to temporarily call Oklahoma's largest city home due to Hurricane Katrina:

Oklahoma City Hornets 2007 - 17,833
Oklahoma City Hornets 2006 - 18,168

It gave Oklahoma City a trial run opportunity to support an NBA franchise.

Note: New Orleans Arena was inactive for two seasons. The team listed 'Pelicans' in NBA attendance for two seasons 2006 & 2007 played in Oklahoma City's Ford Center.

NBA Attendance: https://www.espn.com/nba/attendance/_/year/2006

.

[PoliSciGuy]

Quality of Life big league sports helped transform OKC's imagine in 2006.
.

Can you cite some examples or data to back this claim up? How did this transformation manifest?

[Laramie]

OKC’s Ongoing Transformation: https://www.405magazine.com/okcs-ong...ransformation/

48. Oklahoma City, OK MSA 1,083,346 958,839 124,507 13.0%
US Metropolitan Area Population: 1990-2000 - http://www.demographia.com/db-usmet2000.htm

IT Infrastructure
The Oklahoma City Thunder: https://interworks.com/case-studies/...-city-thunder/

Oklahoma Gazette - May 15, 2012: https://www.okgazette.com/news/thund...-image-2960122

The Oklahoma City Thunder is another quality-of-life amenity, a big-league entertainment option. As we recruit employers and employees from other parts of the country, they think one of two things as they consider relocation: “I have to move to Oklahoma City” or “I get to move to Oklahoma City.” We believe these types of amenities and cultural opportunities are moving the needle toward the latter.

Sports Economics - The Economic Impact of the NBA's Thunder
on Oklahoma City: https://scholarworks.uark.edu/cgi/vi...ontext=econuht

Devon Energy CEO Larry Nichols looks back at company's 40 years: https://www.oklahoman.com/story/busi...s/61247072007/

"When we were trying to recruit people to come to Oklahoma City, even a decade ago, it was very difficult. Now it’s a very interesting proposition, and the city has grown incredibly and the reputation of the city has grown incredibly.

"Now in the last year or two we’ve gotten so much press, the effort to get them down here is less than it was five years ago. They’ve read about us, they’ve seen the stories about the Hornets, about the Thunder — that gives us credibility in being major league. They read stories in the New York Times about the growth of downtown or they’ve talked to someone who has been here. It’s a gradually changing yet perceptively changing momentum.”

"When we went public in 1988, we had a market capitalization of about $80 million. We were told by investment bankers if we could get that up to $200 million, we will have arrived. A couple of years later we got up to $200 million, and then we were told get to $500 million and we would be in the big leagues. And then we got there. But if (in 1988 when we went public) you told me we would end up a $1 billion market cap company, much less a $30-plus billion market cap company. ... I would have laughed. I would have just plain laughed.”

.

[Laramie]

Just wanted to mention the 1997 National Hockey League Expansion Derby. The NHL expanded by four new franchises:

Nashville is the only city of the four with an arena currently considered suitable for major league hockey, and its team would begin play in the 1998-99 season. Atlanta would start the following season, and Columbus and Minneapolis-St. Paul would join in 2000. The league decided against franchise bids from groups in Houston and Oklahoma City.

OKC passed MAPS in 1993 - Yes 33,367, 54.58 %. The Downtown arena, originally planned for a 19,500 seat arena which was later included in a second vote (MAPS for HOOPS) to finish the arena funding, the proposed center piece for MAPS.

Oklahoma City lost out on its NHL expansion bid (Oklahoma RedHawks) led by former Mayor Ron Norick who crafted the blueprint for the original Metropolitan Area Projects Plan (MAPS).

The NHL rejected OKC's bid because they felt Oklahoma City couldn't build a quality NHL arena on a $89 million budget. The 4th and final expansion franchise selected was Columbus, OH backed by Nationwide Insurance. Ohio's capital city submitted a $175 million arena plan which included an 18,500 seat NHL arena with basketball seating for 19,500.

Columbus, OH in 1990 had a MSA population of 1,345,450 vs Oklahoma City 958,839. In 2000, Columbus grew by 194,707 to 1,540,157. Oklahoma City registered 124,507 new residents with a population of 1,083,346.

The Downtown arena was built at a cost below $90 million (debt free) opened in 2002, our city was ready to welcome the state's first big league sport. The new 19,193 seat arena (basketball) did possess a capacity for just over 18,000 for ice hockey.

Although OKC had hoped to bring major league ice hockey to the city, it wasn't the last opportunity.

The planning of the original downtown arena had initial problems with seats and cup holders which eventually led to a configuration of 18,203 NBA capacity.

Charlotte Hornets relocate to New Orleans.

Efforts to build a new arena--critical to the team’s survival in Charlotte, according to co-owners Shinn and Wooldridge--failed when a referendum was voted down. The Hornets’ average attendance was 11,286, worst in the league at the 19,925-seat Charlotte Coliseum.

In most respects, the Hornets were a model expansion franchise for most of their 14 years in Charlotte. The community, renowned for its support of college basketball, embraced the team in the first few seasons. Tickets were difficult to come by and the Hornets led the NBA in attendance.

In 1990 (pre Katrina) New Orleans had a MSA population of 1,285,270 which peaked to 1,337,726 in 2000.

Following Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans' NBA team, the Hornets, were forced to relocate temporarily to Oklahoma City: The team played the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons in Oklahoma City as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets.

Louisville, a city that hoped to host the Hornets after Hurricane Katrina, offered 18,865 seat Freedom Hall to the Hornets, lost out to Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City expanded its population ahead of Louisville in the 2000 census. Having served as a temporary home for the NBA Hornets, the Hornets drew a whopping 18,168, far exceeded the 12,000 needed to break-even to support the NBA. All eyes were on Oklahoma City as the home for an NBA franchise.

[Dob Hooligan]

Couple things I recall from the Hornets relocation that helped sell OKC over Louisville and Kansas City---

OKC and New Orleans both had Cox Cable, so TV rights were an easy transfer.

Pepsi had "Pouring rights" for both the Ford Center and the New Orleans Arena, a likewise easy transfer.

OKC "Booster group" guaranteed revenue for the NBA. Some base amount with a revenue split if it went over the target. It did. OKC group netted a few million dollars IIRC.

[chssooner]

Couple things I recall from the Hornets relocation that helped sell OKC over Louisville and Kansas City---

OKC and New Orleans both had Cox Cable, so TV rights were an easy transfer.

Pepsi had "Pouring rights" for both the Ford Center and the New Orleans Arena, a likewise easy transfer.

OKC "Booster group" guaranteed revenue for the NBA. Some base amount with a revenue split if it went over the target. It did. OKC group netted a few million dollars IIRC.

Louisville didn't have an arena that was NBA-level. They had Freedom Hall. Kansas City has Kemper Arena. They are both old dumps of arenas. So I don't know how these were the main competitors.

While everything you said may be true, the Ford Center was built in 2002. Those other arenas were dinosaurs, and not really capable of an NBA team being there.

[jn1780]

OKC’s Ongoing Transformation: https://www.405magazine.com/okcs-ong...ransformation/

48. Oklahoma City, OK MSA 1,083,346 958,839 124,507 13.0%
US Metropolitan Area Population: 1990-2000 - http://www.demographia.com/db-usmet2000.htm

IT Infrastructure
The Oklahoma City Thunder: https://interworks.com/case-studies/...-city-thunder/

Oklahoma Gazette - May 15, 2012: https://www.okgazette.com/news/thund...-image-2960122



Sports Economics - The Economic Impact of the NBA's Thunder
on Oklahoma City: https://scholarworks.uark.edu/cgi/vi...ontext=econuht

Devon Energy CEO Larry Nichols looks back at company's 40 years: https://www.oklahoman.com/story/busi...s/61247072007/





.

I see an NBA team as fertilizer to growth. The Thunder ownership certainly saw the benefits the Thunder would bring to the companies they owned. I scored several free thunder tickets when I worked Loves. I'm sure Chesapeake employees had even more opportunities than I had.

[Laramie]

NBA In Seattle: 'SuperSonics' Name Not A Given For New Or Relocating Franchise: https://seattle.sbnation.com/2012/2/...nics-team-name

Regardless what happens with any new team, NBA fans will just be happy to once again have local basketball. But it would certainly not hurt anything if the Seattle SuperSonics made their triumphant return.

[BoulderSooner]

NBA In Seattle: 'SuperSonics' Name Not A Given For New Or Relocating Franchise: https://seattle.sbnation.com/2012/2/...nics-team-name

yep would not be "free" for seattle .. they would need to buy it or trade for it

[April in the Plaza]

would be great if Seattle could get a team so they could stop talking about ours.

[Dob Hooligan]

Guys, looks like that story is from 2012. That a long time ago and things change fast in the NBA. Heck, James Harden and Kendrick Perkins were probably on the Thunder then.

[jn1780]

Guys, looks like that story is from 2012. That a long time ago and things change fast in the NBA. Heck, James Harden and Kendrick Perkins were probably on the Thunder then.

I'm sure the Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant will do great things for the Thunder and never leave. Hopefully, he doesn't become injury prone as he gets older.

[Laramie]

Guys, looks like that story is from 2012. That a long time ago and things change fast in the NBA. Heck, James Harden and Kendrick Perkins were probably on the Thunder then.

Correct it is from a long time ago. But once the NBA begins talking about expansion with Seattle being on their radar, you know this scab will be picked to death and its wound reopened once Seattle is granted an NBA expansion franchise.

Oklahoma City has supported the NBA from its initial trail run with the New Orleans-Oklahoma City Hornets in 2006 and 2007. Remember, the attendance was so good here, owner George Shinn didn't want to leave. You had cities like Kansas City (Sprint Center 2008) and Louisville (Freedom Hall) offering 'free rent' after the franchise was officially relocated to OKC. Louisville blew its opportunity for the ABA Kentucky Colonels to move to the NBA from the old ABA when the leagues merged in 1976.

When the Supersonics were allowed to relocate to OKC, the NBA did specify that improvements and upgrades had to be made to the bare bones minimum Ford Center. The MAPS for HOOPS (Extension of an existing MAPS initiative) was approved by voters to add money toward improvements to the Ford Center and build an NBA practice facility--it insured that the Supersonics would be here long term.

Our previous efforts to attract an NHL expansion or relocation franchise failed. Raleigh was able to lure the NHL Whalers from Hartford, a city as close to Boston as Oklahoma City was to Dallas. OKC's relocation efforts received a 28-2 vote in favor--opposed by Paul Allen, Portland and Mark Cuban, Dallas.

The Oklahoma City-Tulsa combined TV viewership markets were promoted by then Mayor Mick Cornett as one--at the time the two largest TV markets in Oklahoma had a viewership estimated at 1.2 million.

Portland will renew its Pacific Northwest rivalry with the Emerald City. Seattle will renew its fight with Oklahoma City.

.

[BoulderSooner]

Correct it is from a long time ago. But once the NBA begins talking about expansion with Seattle being on their radar, you know this scab will be picked to death and its wound reopened once Seattle is granted an NBA expansion franchise.

Oklahoma City has supported the NBA from its initial trail run with the New Orleans-Oklahoma City Hornets in 2006 and 2007. Remember, the attendance was so good here, owner George Shinn didn't want to leave. You had cities like Kansas City (Sprint Center 2008) and Louisville (Freedom Hall) offering 'free rent' after the franchise was officially relocated to OKC. Louisville blew its opportunity for the ABA Kentucky Colonels to move to the NBA from the old ABA when the leagues merged in 1976.

When the Supersonics were allowed to relocate to OKC, the NBA did specify that improvements and upgrades had to be made to the bare bones minimum Ford Center. The MAPS for HOOPS (Extension of an existing MAPS initiative) was approved by voters to add money toward improvements to the Ford Center and build an NBA practice facility--it insured that the Supersonics would be here long term.

Our previous efforts to attract an NHL expansion or relocation franchise failed. Raleigh was able to lure the NHL Whalers from Hartford, a city as close to Boston as Oklahoma City was to Dallas. OKC's relocation efforts received a 28-2 vote in favor--opposed by Paul Allen, Portland and Mark Cuban, Dallas.

The Oklahoma City-Tulsa combined TV viewership markets were promoted by then Mayor Mick Cornett as one--at the time the two largest TV markets in Oklahoma had a viewership estimated at 1.2 million.

Portland will renew its Pacific Northwest rivalry with the Emerald City. Seattle will renew its fight with Oklahoma City.

.

seattle expansion is not "on the radar" vegas and seattle have already been selected as the 2 expansion cities ..

[Dob Hooligan]

seattle expansion is not "on the radar" vegas and seattle have already been selected as the 2 expansion cities ..

Adam Silver did not say that was true this week. He said the NBA has a couple other markets they are talking to other than Las Vegas. I know Bill Simmons says it's a done deal, but I will believe it when Adam Silver says it.

I've been following the NBA to Las Vegas for 20 years, and it doesn't fit the previous NBA pattern. I realize anything is possible with Las Vegas, but it just doesn't pencil out. And the OVG proposed arena attendance numbers are nonsensical.

[Sonicthunder]

I think Seattle is a done deal.. supposedly according to my uncle who is a Seattle kraken season ticket holder said they got and email stating they’re accepting deposits for Sonic season tickets..he is a known BSer but the kraken did something similar to prove to the NHL they’ll support the team if chosen

[BoulderSooner]

Adam Silver did not say that was true this week. He said the NBA has a couple other markets they are talking to other than Las Vegas. I know Bill Simmons says it's a done deal, but I will believe it when Adam Silver says it.

I've been following the NBA to Las Vegas for 20 years, and it doesn't fit the previous NBA pattern. I realize anything is possible with Las Vegas, but it just doesn't pencil out. And the OVG proposed arena attendance numbers are nonsensical.

actually silver said this week that it will be seattle and vegas .. go listen to any national nba pod ..

[Sonicthunder]

actually silver said this week that it will be seattle and vegas .. go listen to any national nba pod ..

He kinda said it but he didn’t

[Laramie]

If it's true, then they would have revealed how much money each of the 30 NBA franchises will receive from the two expansion franchisees.

Which two cities, their ownership and where they will play.

How much money will the Thunder receive and when will the expansion draft be held.

NBA Expansion: Commissioner Hints At Expanding League In 2024 As Seattle And Las Vegas Eye Teams: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbu...h=1de4e1c27d8d

.

[BoulderSooner]

If it's true, then they would have revealed how much money each of the 30 NBA franchises will receive from the two expansion franchisees.

Which two cities, their ownership and where they will play.

How much money will the Thunder receive and when will the expansion draft be held.

rumors say the 2 franchises fee's will bring in 7-9+ bill combined

[Laramie]

Rumor: $7 billion or $9 billion combined, okay got it. Let's say it's the lower $7 billion fee for the two franchises:

That will bring in a bundle ($233,333,334 million) for the Thunder ownership group. Some of which could go toward a new Oklahoma City arena development on the 4 square block PSM site. Oklahoma City will be able to 'partner' with the Thunder and the City to get this completed.

Plus, the Thunder will receive 'Naming Rights' money from the Corporation that pays the naming rights fees on the new arena.

How will this affect the current 15 year agreement signed off in 2021 - Paycom Center from Chesapeake Energy Arena agreement. Talk about
moving parts.

[Dob Hooligan]

rumors say the 2 franchises fee's will bring in 7-9+ bill combined

Not being argumentative, but, man! Incredible amounts of money! I'll try to sober up enough by tomorrow to run through the many money trails in the NBA and the story lines.

[Jersey Boss]

Rumor: $7 billion or $9 billion combined, okay got it. Let's say it's the lower $7 billion fee for the two franchises:

That will bring in a bundle ($233,333,334 million) for the Thunder ownership group. Some of which could go toward a new Oklahoma City arena development on the 4 square block PSM site. Oklahoma City will be able to 'partner' with the Thunder and the City to get this completed.

Plus, the Thunder will receive 'Naming Rights' money from the Corporation that pays the naming rights fees on the new arena.

How will this affect the current 15 year agreement signed off in 2021 - Paycom Center from Chesapeake Energy Arena agreement. Talk about
moving parts.

All the more reason(s) for the ownership group to pay for the majority of the physical plant they have first dibs on.