Okay, can mommy and daddy (TOA & USL-1) stop arguing long enough to recognize the opportunity that is knocking for a really good stadium situation in Tulsa, OK? The political wheels are turning........ I'd love to say more...... but..... "It's classified. I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you."
Scroll down on the link below, watch the video.... please do NOT take the survey, as this is for Tulsa, Tulsa County and the metro area citizens to decide. USL-1 could be "first-tenant" at this site. And we've got non-soccer fans and the general citizenry potentially on our side for this one.... Survey to query residents on Drillers Stadium use http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/arti...articleid=20090911_298_0_Thecor37670&allcom=1 Here's an updated article...... Ballpark's fate on deck Online survey asks public to weigh in on site's future http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=16&articleid=20090912_16_A1_Drille175649
Sorry, USRufnex, I don't follow you. Are you saying that you want them to rebuild Drillers Stadium for soccer or leave it as is/slight modification for soccer? Can soccer be played there now? I would assume your not for turning it into another mall.
Rebuild? In this economy? Nah. Only minor modifications would be needed for USL-1, if any. And that will be more politically popular in Tulsa than building a stadium for MLS was a few years back... It's possible you'd want to remove some of the lower level seating to allow for stands that are closer to the field of play.... The league and any ownership group would have a better idea of whether removing some of the lower level seats would be worth the trouble and/or expense. Nice grass field. Setup would likely be similar to Puerto Rico's USL stadium.
Could work. All you need is somebody is somebody with a bunch of $$$ to buy a team and fix up the stadium, if the city or whoever would let them do it.
I've always heard it was around 10,000. Since the baseball team doesn't need that much space the new stadium should seat about 6,000 or so.
old ballpark.... cap. 10,997 new ONEOK Park in downtown..... will hold about 6,000. Well, all "secrets" aside, the political situation in T-town is really good for something like this right now. After the county tore down Bell's Amusement Park, they lost the confidence of the citizenry. If USL-1 wanted the city of Tulsa or the county to build a stadium for them, that would be hugely unpopular right now. Especially after some of the latest bad publicity on the new ballbark. Especially in this economy. The general public is already skeptical about the Drillers move to downtown, the old ballpark is in good condition...... keep that grass field, no football lines, reasonably good capacity. Wish us luck, the next few weeks/months will be critical.
Well ultimately, the question is, is there any pro soccer investor interested in the town? USL has been absolutely horrible in "targeting" markets. Its always been about a investor coming to USL, its never the other way around. Except of course, when Marcos asked his college buddy to buy the league for him.
Well, it's kinda odd here. Hard to say where this is going. There have been "investors" in the past, but they typically have been a day late and a dollar short. http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0909/658376.html This time seems different. There's some politics that seem to be on our side this time. Anytime politics is on your side, the money shows up from places you wouldn't expect.... Fingers crossed.
Not that my opinion means jackshit, but I think Tulsa would be a great USL-1 market and I think could make it a lot easier to get other Midwestern markets to come on board knowing there'd be some games where the travel costs wouldn't mean schlepping to one of the coasts.
Not that my opinion matters much either... but adding a city like Tulsa could really open some doors... OKC, Omaha, St. Louis (unless they go the TOA route). Plus it would make things better for Minnesota and Austin (still large distances, but busing instead of flying is now feasible). Otherwise, without some more teams in the middle sector, Minnesota and Austin are going to wither on the vine.
I agree with the previous two posts. Although not in the exact middle between Austin and Minnesota, but close enough. It might encourgage new teams both north and south of there.
I would have 4 season tickets for sure. In all seriousness, I think Tulsa would benefit greatly, especially after the tearing down of our amusement park fiasco a few years back. Also, I think OKC having success with the Thunder (NBA) helps USL and other leagues look at Tulsa as a viable market. It would be great to have some more regional rivalries but I know Tulsa would be supportive of the team just like with the Rufneks. Just go out to a top flight youth match in the area and you will see a bunch of people with no allegiance to either team. I put in my .02 to Tulsa, I hope this happens.
What kind of crowds do you expect a USL 1 team in Tulsa could attract? Do you really think all those fans who signed up when MLS was suppose to come to town would go and see a USL 1 team week in week out? It would be great if they did! I'm just not too sure. I think maybe a quarter of all those fans who came to the MLS game. Maybe 4000? Still not bad for a USL team! What crowds did the Roughnecks get back in the day?
3,000-4,000 is realistic. If the team is operated really well, it could be higher. There's a lot of potential in Tulsa. If OKC was also in the league, it would make for a great rivalry. I think you are right. 1978 -- 11,256 1979 -- 16,426 1980 -- 19,787 1981 -- 17,188 1982 -- 14,554 1983 -- 12,415 1984 -- 7,797 Except for the last season, they were always in the top half of the NASL in regards to attendance.
It would be a great rivalry and could happen one day. I just don't see it happening any time soon. But I'd be glad to be wrong
Has anyone not thought of creating a facebook page and website like San Antonio have done? I'm sure that might create a bit more interest in bringing a USL team to Tulsa. http://www.crocketteers.com/
Two reasons why this is still an uphill battle..... let's just say the ball isn't in our court right now.... WNBA expansion to Tulsa and New Arena Football 1 offices in Tulsa Once again, there is a case that could and should be made for the county to not bulldoze the ballpark at the Fairgrounds.... I just don't see any other venue that has any decent chance to compete with the entrenched interests of Chuck Lamson and the Drillers; or the interests of these new OKC-based owners who have the scratch to buy BOTH the arenaball Talons and push the expansion WNBA team... David Box and Bill Cameron. If $$$ ain't on your side, it ain't gonna happen.
Yeah, I think the crocketteers have about 100 people on their facebook page; Tulsa has 200 on their WNBA facebook page..... IMHO, I don't think a couple hundred people on a facebook page are gonna have the same effect as getting millionaires, multi-millionaires, and politicians on your side...... But maybe that's just me. You can try a facebook page yourself.... more than happy to support it. I got this one: http://www.tulsaroughnecks.com
Pull a Sons of Ben-like stunt. Get a bunch of loud soccer supporters, attend the highest level available in Tulsa (Unv of Tulsa, Oral Roberts, Rogers State etc?). And once there, start chanting and making it known they you want pro soccer to return to Tulsa. Good luck!