Alright, there are two games down in Oklahoma. It is certanily a shorter drive than Milwuakee so I expect more people to go to these two. On April 5th the game is against Dallas. http://www.hotels.com/property.jsp?...sPageNumber=1&z_property=&qKey=O2113511282896 The Baymont Inn is right off I-44. Currently the price for 4 adults in 1 room is $45.95 Broken down it is about $12 a person. That is about the best rate we are going to get. If we do this right, it won't matter how we sleep because I am sure some will pass out. The first game is on March 29th versus Columbus in Edmond(Oklahoma City). Similar lodging arrangements.
I found out I wont be working many weekend, so it looks like I'm in for these trips. Not sure about March 29, but definitely April 5.
Another cheaper option is priceline. No guarantees on location, but I've never had a bad priceline experience...
Ditto that here. I'd like to be in for whichever rodies happen. FYI, my last priceline hotel room was a nice $30 room (with pool/hottub) in Columbia, MO. Question: Is there anything in OK that would justify spending an entire week down there?
Re: Game Sites What field/facility will these two matches be played at? What time of the day/evening/nite?
I would love to hear where they are playing in Tulsa. Less than an hour and half away from me, unlike the usual 2 1/2....anyword on price? time? Paul
I haven't seen the Wizards press release on these games yet but I did get some info on them from Soccer America's MLS Confidential. The OK games are something of an attendance test for expansion teams in that area. Didn't we just contract the league last year? Hey Paul, you could get a team close to home yet! What would be some good names for an OK based team? The Tulsa Panhandlers! "EXPANSION DUELS: Two cities in Oklahoma will get the chance to impress MLS by staging exhibition matches in early spring. Pitting cities against each other is a rather ruthless tactic but MLS officials, with a long list of potential expansion sites and a shorter list of prospective investors, made the decision months ago to let cities square off. Edmond and Tulsa are set to fire the first salvos in the Panhandle State's skirmish, with Hunt Sports Group offering the services of their teams. Kansas City and Dallas play April 5 in Tulsa, a week after Columbus and Kansas City play March 29 in Edmond, a suburb north of Oklahoma City. Tulsa averaged five-figure crowds during the days of the NASL Roughnecks, who won the league title in 1983. All three teams are operated by the Hunt Sports Group, which hosted representatives of one potential investor group at the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final at Columbus Crew Stadium. Each investor group, none of which has been publicly identified, is linked to a potential expansion market. Cities not on a list of serious candidates for the next round of expansion are Seattle, Houston and Philadelphia, according to a source. Markets combining local ownership groups and soccer-specific stadiums currently lead the chase over larger facilities that would be shared with NFL teams."
Tulsa For us uninformed types... What is a "Skelly Stadium"? College? High School? Public Park? What kind of seating... and lighting does that place offer?
1) Location and times for both games have been announced. I can't remember where it is in email, but everything is under discussion in the MLS: Stadiums and Expansion forum. Or you can just PM Mike Segroves, he has the info for sure.
Skelly Stadium From what I know and can remember, Skelly is the home of the University of Tulsa's football teams and men's and women's soccer. I went to a soccer camp there once, and the seating is simple aluminum benches. Capacity is around 40k, and the best part is that its artifical turf(Fieldturf, installed summer 2000), despite being an outdoor stadium. The turf they use to have there was not too bad, but I haven't been on the new stuff. Overall, its not a great soccer stadium, if MLS does expand into Tulsa, I hope they build something else to play in.
http://tulsahurricane.ocsn.com/genrel/013003aaa.html Game's on at 2:00 PM. Tickets go on sale Monday, February 3rd, with reserved tix at $14, groups of 25 or more (should be us with no problem) for $6. Not sure if the Wizards front office is organizing something, but I'd be happy to be the point man on this trip.
> WIZARDS ANNOUNCE PAIR OF PRESEASON EXHIBITIONS > Preseason Plans Include Two Matches in Oklahoma Against MLS Opponents > > KANSAS CITY, MO (January 30, 2003) - Kansas City Wizards General > Manager Curt Johnson today announced the Wizards will play two exhibition > matches in the state of Oklahoma prior to opening the 2003 Major League > Soccer season. Kansas City will travel to Oklahoma City and Tulsa to face > MLS opponents in the two weeks prior to their MLS season opener on > Saturday, April 12th when they host D.C. United. > > The Wizards first preseason exhibition will be Saturday March 29th > in Oklahoma City. Kansas City will face the Columbus Crew at Wantland > Stadium on the University of Central Oklahoma campus in nearby Edmond, > Oklahoma. Kickoff for the March 29th match will be announced at a later > date. On Saturday, April 5th, the Wizards will travel to Tulsa to face the > Dallas Burn at Skelly Stadium on the University of Tulsa campus. Kickoff > for the exhibition in Tulsa is slated for 2:00 p.m. CT. > > "We are thrilled to be able to play these exhibition matches in > Mid-America as we have in years past," said Johnson. "It is especially > exciting to play in a cities like Tulsa and Oklahoma City that have such a > rich soccer history and so many youth players involved in the sport." > > Tickets for the March 29th match against the Columbus Crew in > Oklahoma City will go on sale on Monday, February 3rd. They range in price > from $10 to $30 and can be purchased by calling Express Sports at > 405-235-7825. > > Tickets for the April 5th match go on sale Monday, February 3rd and > range in price from $7 to $10. They can be purchased through the > University of Tulsa ticket office by calling 918-631-GoTU (4688) or > through Carson Attractions at 918-584-2000. > > Kansas City will begin the first leg of their preseason preparation > next week when they travel to South Africa for a two-week training tour. > The Wizards will leave on Tuesday, February 4th and will take part in the > inaugural Nkosi Johnson International Soccer Challenge, playing three > matches against some of the top teams in South Africa.
I'm up for the 29th for sure. I would rather go to the Tulsa game, but my boss already planned his vacation for that week, leaving me SOL. Can we see a show of hands for intrest in either or both games? me: aye OKC, nay Tulsa
Tulsa is a little closer, and I have to believe that Dallas fans are more likely to make the trip to Tulsa than Crew fans showing up in OKC. If I had to pick one, then the Tulsa game would get my vote. Although I'm not even sure I can/will make either game.
I have friends in OKC so it would be cheaper to stay there for me-I probably won't be able to get away for 2 weekends-so Tulsa no, OKC yes
Bump... Talked with Ryan Haas in the office last night. The word is that the office will be looking to get a package together which includes tickets, etc.... He also offered to act as a go-between so that we can get cheaper bus rental, as the Wizards have negotiated a trade deal with a local charter service. Now... What that means to you the fan can be two things. One: It is too expensive, besides, part of the fun is driving. Two: It is a good deal, because we can get drunk on the bus and at the game and not have to worry about driving. NB - I plan to be heading to the game early, and would be happy to haul a keg and BBQ stuff down, so we can have a somewhat traditional tailgate prior to the game. I imagine that would be easier anyway, due to my proximity to Tulsa. Thoughts? Also, on Monday I am going to order a block of 25 tickets for BOTH games, in Edmond and Tulsa. If you're interested, you'll owe me the cost of your ticket. (edit) Caveat -- If you want a ticket, please PM me. That will keep the off-topic traffic to a minimum, and give me a method of accountability.
No. But if you want to spend a couple days, I'd reccomend: 1. The Murrah Building Memorial 2. Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Museum (not as hokey as it sounds;amazing western art collection) 3. Noble Museum of Natural History in Norman 4. New Art Museum downtown (forget the name) 5. The Blue Belle Saloon in Guthrie for drinks and dinner. Opened a couple days after the Land Run, Good steaks. 6. Remington Park if the horses are running (not sure of the schedule, though). I posted a thread in this forum about hosting a small get together for anyone coming to Edmond for the game. Everyone's welcome. Nothing fancy, just a place to have drinks and chat before and after the game.