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Hopefully not long. I'm not even a Sonics fan and I'm bitter about what Bennett and Stern did to Seattle.

At least a decade, easily. Fan support is going to be great for at least the first season. The real test will be if this team struggles to contend (which they more than likely will at least for a year or two) how the fans come out.

Plus, if this turns into a failed experiment and the team struggles to succeed financially or in the standings, the NBA is going to be extremely reluctant to move them with all that went into getting them there.

some quick numbers:

Seattle area population 3.2 mil- about 1.06 mil per professional sports franchise.

OKC/Tulsa area population combined 2.1 mil- 2.1 mil per professional sports franchise.

I don't know what that means but I guess it could be used to somewhat counter the "small market" argument.

It isn't hard to get people to come to games and corporations to plop down ad and box seat money in the one team towns. It will be just as successful as the other one team town teams.

snaquille oatmeal wrote:some quick numbers:

Seattle area population 3.2 mil- about 1.06 mil per professional sports franchise.

OKC/Tulsa area population combined 2.1 mil- 2.1 mil per professional sports franchise.

I don't know what that means but I guess it could be used to somewhat counter the "small market" argument.

Why would you divide by 3 for Seattle?

Baseball isn't a factor when the sonics are playing (especially this year...man the M's stink)
And Seahawks sold out their entire season in 30 or so minutes iirc, but they only overlap for about half the season.

the 1.06 to 2.1 numbers look like an invented statistic to make OKC look like a better destination

snaquille oatmeal wrote:some quick numbers:

Seattle area population 3.2 mil- about 1.06 mil per professional sports franchise.

OKC/Tulsa area population combined 2.1 mil- 2.1 mil per professional sports franchise.

I don't know what that means but I guess it could be used to somewhat counter the "small market" argument.

It's not like people choose one team and don't pay attention to the rest. You can make the argument that the Sonics were the first professional team in the city, and because of that, should have a larger contingent of fans than either the Mariners or the Seahawks. They also have a more storied history than the other two.

College sports are also much more prevalent in Oklahoma City with OK State and OU, than in Seattle. So, this population argument isn't a good one.

It isn't like free agents were flocking to Seattle either. Free agency is about money, not who has the best Sushi and alt-weekly paper.

I think it will last a while

after a team moves, they usually have a long lease and what not that will keep them in town for a while.

OKC is one of the oil capitols of the world. Its a boom town with very inexpensive houseing and many new very good paying jobs being created every day. OKC is one of the few places left where a high school drop out can make as much money as an MD. The fact that the team can get TV deals in KC, StLouis, Little Rock and Witchita and fans can make that 1 game a yr pilgrimage from those citys makes it look pretty good. I can already see a Red River rivalry developing. The OKC team just needs to tap into that Big 12 basketball fan base.

I have been to OKC a few times and its a nice city with alot of potential. Very nice people who remind me of what America used to be.

DelaneyRudd wrote:Free agency is about money, not who has the best Sushi and alt-weekly paper.

WHOOOAAAA buddy, now your steppin on toes.

hipsters=free agency draw

Warspite wrote:OKC is one of the oil capitols of the world. Its a boom town with very inexpensive houseing and many new very good paying jobs being created every day. OKC is one of the few places left where a high school drop out can make as much money as an MD. The fact that the team can get TV deals in KC, StLouis, Little Rock and Witchita and fans can make that 1 game a yr pilgrimage from those citys makes it look pretty good. I can already see a Red River rivalry developing. The OKC team just needs to tap into that Big 12 basketball fan base.

I have been to OKC a few times and its a nice city with alot of potential. Very nice people who remind me of what America used to be.

Regional out of state cities in the west aren't usually that big of deal for the NBA. It's more of an NFL thing. People won't drive hours for a NBA game on a weeknight, and TV deals are too small to make a dent in the revenue sharing model.

farzi wrote:

snaquille oatmeal wrote:some quick numbers:

Seattle area population 3.2 mil- about 1.06 mil per professional sports franchise.

OKC/Tulsa area population combined 2.1 mil- 2.1 mil per professional sports franchise.

I don't know what that means but I guess it could be used to somewhat counter the "small market" argument.

Why would you divide by 3 for Seattle?

Baseball isn't a factor when the sonics are playing (especially this year...man the M's stink)
And Seahawks sold out their entire season in 30 or so minutes iirc, but they only overlap for about half the season.

the 1.06 to 2.1 numbers look like an invented statistic to make OKC look like a better destination

I guess you did not read the part where I said "I don't know what this means".

let's be clear about something, I am not saying that my argument is entirely correct or that it is the only argument there is. what I am saying is that it can be used to somewhat support the overall argument of the "small market" issue.

for example, the population was divided in their choice of support for their favorite professional team. they chose the Mariners and Seahawks over the Sonics.


on the basis that most people in Seattle decided to elect politicians that would rather support the Seahawks and the Mariners than their beloved Sonics while in OKC they would not have to make that choice because there is only one team there.

like I said I don't know what those numbers mean, they can be used in different ways or they can not be used at all.