With the recent discussion linking SKC to the OKC Energy as a potential co-affiliate alongside Orlando City in 2014, a new thread is born.
If this Danish article is to be believed, SKC will have OKC Energy as an affiliate. http://www.dr.dk/Sporten/Fodbold/2013/12/19/172259.htm Here's Google's translation of the last paragraph.
Good find, thanks for sharing! This is great news on many fronts. Great for SKC, great for SKC developing players, great for Oklahoma City, great for Jimmy.... Talk about a win-win-win-win scenario. And again, props to SKC ownership who I'm certain will have had a large role in all of this if it comes true.
And it's official, we have 2 affiliates this year, Oklahoma City and Orlando. Nielsen is coaching OKC. 2 players to each
Tulsa never had a chance; it does not start with O, and the word "City" is unlikely to appear in the team's name. Those are evidently non-negotiable requirements for any SKC affiliate in USL Pro. I suppose that Omaha City remains a future possibility ...
I believe that's the plan as things are scheduled. From the little I've read on the boards here it seems like many are supporting the PDL team, which is becoming the NASL team in this whole thing.
This is correct. The USL begins play in 2014 and the NASL team begins play in 2015. There is a vocal group on BS that support the NASL for several reasons. What seems to be the biggest reason is past dealings between the two different FOs. There is some bad blood there and sides have been chosen and because the way past business dealings have been handled, many, on BS, have chosen to support the NASL team. With that being said, the Energy FO has been on a full on media and community blitz, with TV ads, some of which were shown during the MLS Cup Finals, radio, and print, as well as out in the community, at soccer parks, sponsoring watch parties, giveaways st local businesses and community events, etc. So as it stands now, at least to me, as an impartial participant who is just happy to see soccer in the city I grew up in, the Energy is doing everything right to gain a strong and passionate fan base. Most people in the city know nothing about the NASL team and believe the Energy is the only game in town. I think the affiliation with SKC and the addition of an in state rival in Tulsa in 2015 will set the Energy up for success.
So is Jimmy's position head coach and tech director, in the mold of PV? Or am I foolish to think OKC Energy will have the scale to split the roles? Jimmy, HC & waterboy....
Just some new from the OKC front. Preseason is underway and they've gone 2-0 vs a couple of college teams. 1-0 on Saturday vs University of Nebraska-Omaha 4-1 on Wednesday vs Oral Roberts University Still no hint of loans coming this way though with a little less than a month til the season is officially underway.
For comparisons sake, we announced the 4 to Orlando last year on March 14th. So the announcement could be coming at any time now.
http://www.sportingkc.com/news/2014/03/duke-and-kempin-join-okc-energy-fc Duke and Kempin to OKC confirmed.
How are Sporting getting away with only loaning half as many players as they promised? I thought the USL season had started.
We've loaned three... they all played this week. http://www.downthebyline.com/2014/04/all-three-loaned-players-debut-sporting.html
I thought so too. I'm not sure what's going on with the fourth one. As of now, Orlando is getting shorted a player - best I can tell.
Okay, hadn't heard that Kempin had been returned to OKC. That's good. But why isn't Orlando getting a second player right now?
Maybe Orlando and KC decided that 1 was enough. Or maybe with the roster shake up that Vermes knew was coming he decided to hold off and another will go there eventually.