OKC Energy FC News thread

They are going to be playing the first string starters in the OKC Energy vs Chivas Match

 

First String U23's perhaps

 

2016 LH USOC
May 11 in Clinton, MS
Mississippi Brilla (PDL) 2
CD Motagua of New Orleans (LA) 0
Goals by Eduardo Cruz and Ignacio Flores mean Brilla will be at home against the USL's OKC Energy FC in the second round.

 

Thank you for posting these.
I attempted to post earlier, but I was unsure which exact topic and which exact forum to use.
The public scrutiny and ridicule was just too stressful, so I opted not to post.
I apologize in advance if this post is not formatted or located correctly.

 

Tulsa is among my favorites cities; however, your posts of late are getting a bit stale.

You dwell too much on the past.

You continue to come on here and talk about Tulsa's soccer boom 25 & 50 years ago. PDL & NPSL is bush league.

I don't doubt that the potential is there for Tulsa. Tulsa doesn't have 'name-recognition' or the future growth in its metropolitan area as OKC with its 2015 estimated 1,358,452 residents (41st) & a growth rate of +8.42% with 631,346 (27th) in the central city .

Tulsa probably has achieved a milestone closing in on a million residents of 981,005 in its metro with a growth rate of +4.64% with 403,505 in its central city as of 2015.


If the MLS ever come to Oklahoma, the central most populated area in the state is where it will likely take roots. It will have the support of Tulsa & Oklahoma City with a 91 mile turnpike that separates the states two most populated cities.

USL OKC Energy averaged 4,219 & NASL Rayo OKC (Yukon) averaged 3,712 for a combined metro total of 7,931; both teams had locally televised home & away games: kenn.com blog - http://www.kenn.com/the_blog/?p=8105

Energy FC ownership continues to say that they eventually hope to have MLS here around 2020. Could or couldn't happen; however, at least there is talk about the future:

​

Local investors purchase Producers Cooperative Site in downtown Oklahoma City
http://www.energyfc.com/news_article/show/691147?referrer_id=2427256

 

"....your posts of late..."

You just now quoted something I posted SIXTEEN MONTHS AGO.

I am frustrated that a very bad third division USL team calling itself the Tulsa Roughnecks has majority owners with a profound conflict of interest; and minority owners who'd like their Tulsa club to be subservient to their future OKC MLS bid.

I am deeply disappointed that a second division NASL team played at Yukon High School rather than Tulsa University's Chapman Stadium. I am not surprised that Brad Lund gave away substantial numbers of tickets in order to pad attendance to make it look like Rayo OKC was doing just fine-- that is, until the Spanish Inquisition came calling to Yukon and figured out Lund/SOS were only selling 1,200 tickets per game.

I supported and will still support the owners of the NPSL's Tulsa Athletics and our loyal sponsors, one of whom had the $$$ to be majority owner of a Tulsa NASL club... even after they ultimately decided against losing millions of dollars in the NASL in order to compete directly with the Drillers' soccer team. At the end of the day, I am thankful to still have a soccer club in Tulsa that I can be justifiably proud of.

Not only am I proud that my NPSL club still exists (crowds of about 3500 for both our season opener and the game against FC Wichita last summer)... proud that the 4 team conference they started in 2013 expanded to eleven clubs this past season... and that the conference will be adding two clubs (possibly more) which include a second defection from PDL.

I look forward to a grudge match in the US Open Cup against the dumpster fire known as the Roughnecks and/or a possible future rematch against Energy FC.

 

USRufnex,

Great post!

As Oklahomans, we are all proud. Just where are we with the future of the current NASL?

Time to get ready for the Oklahoma's future. Nice new soccer specific stadiums in Tulsa & OKC would do wonders for the community, fans & the game.

 

USL owners frustrated with USFF sanctioning delay
by James Poling Published: January 5, 2017
http://newsok.com/article/5533300

Quotes from Funk Jr:

"I'm flummoxed why this vote is taking so long," OKC Energy co-owner Bob Funk Jr. said. "The strength of independent USL clubs meeting or exceeding all Division 2 requirements, it is the strongest application U.S. Soccer has received. More than 2.5 times the number of teams meet or exceed the standards for Division 2."

"Our bid and the NASL's issues are mutually exclusive"

"USL stands on its own right. We stand strong and firm that we should be Division 2 based on merit."

"We've earned it. It's cut and dry as that. Do we qualify for Division 2? Yes. Is there anything holding us back from Division 2? No, I don't think there is anything that should hold us back."

"The failed expansion strategy NASL had in this market is an example of a mistake in the NASL's approach to rush and get into markets that they would have a competitive issue in or be decisive"

"Our league has taken steps to make responsible decisions from a business standpoint to avoid all of that. All of our ownership groups have been deliberate to meet all of those requirements."

 

[video=youtube;errbOp0qLaw]
Oklahoma City Energy FC advances to the WC finals to face the Swope Park Rangers (Kansas City); defeating San Antonio FC 4 - 1 in a shoot out following 1 - 1 tie after regulation.

 

It's been a really fun and impressive run the last couple months. Once we got everyone back and healthy in addition to adding Angulo, we started playing really well. I know it'll be tough this weekend, but I think we're as good as anyone right now when we play our game. Stingy defense and timely offense has worked beautifully! I can't wait to see how tomorrow night goes, wish I could go!

 

Whoof. Painful result against Swope Park. I hate that we let them bracket our season like that.

As disappointed as I am, I'm trying to take the long view. Two conference finals and three playoff appearances in our first four campaigns...there are lots of other teams out there who would love to have that level of success. We may not have won any silver this year, but let's hope to come back strong next year!

 

Yeah, that was pretty tough to watch. We definitely had our chances in PKs, but like you said, we've done a pretty damn good job these first four seasons. I'm interested to see which moves we make on the roster, whether or not we end up affiliates with an MLS side again, etc. The MLS affiliation hasn't been as great as I expected, but it could still prove beneficial if done correctly.

I'm contemplating getting season tickets for 2018. I'll either get season tickets to Energy or FC Dallas, and I've been weighing the options the last week or so. FC Dallas provides quite a few perks for season ticket holders. Does anyone here have any specifics on what Energy usually offers to season ticket holders? Any feedback is appreciated!

 

Energy parted ways with Manager Jimmy Nielsen yesterday. I'm pretty surprised and can only hope we get another good manager at the helm. Nielsen did a damn good job with the club, and I wish him the best!

Hey, I hear Caleb Porter is available! Hehe

 

https://www.soctakes.com/2017/11/21/okc-energy-fc-notes-nielsens-departure-clubs-coaching-search/

a few notes about what happened and Nielsen’s future

 

Hopefully the NASL finally goes away after years of elevator movement (up and down). It looks like USL has put together a good set of teams across two conferences and MLS has gotten on board with either reserve squads (the II's) or affiliations. OKC Energy FC should be the squad to support if you hope for a MLS franchise someday.

Getting ESPN+ to show USL matches should also help grow this league and sport.