Daily Oklahoman article: http://www.newsok.com/cgi-bin/show_article?ID=1031293&TP=getsports If you need assistance logging on: email: random@mail.com pwd: mlsinokc Now they want to finalize ownership before they start a season ticket drive. Tulsans, here's your chance to turn it around on us about unidentified owners. I hope not, but we may be screwed. Sometimes Funk & Co. piss me off.
It's actually very simple now. Whoever was the #2 investor behind Express Sports pulled out for whatever reason. That's it, plain and simple. Who knows why they pulled out? Maybe they couldn't showcase their product because of MLS Sponsor Agreements. Maybe they lost money from investments in China. Maybe they decided to invest in Manchester United. Sachin
It's interesting that the overall price seems to be $50 Million. And here we are thinking that a $10 Million entry fee was a steel when it apparently will take more than that. I'm not sure someone pulled out as much as other people possibly wanted in which would in turn make the the risk for Express Sports less. The way it sounds, ownership and a debt-free stadium or a little more important than season tickets.
Oh, gee... "mystery investors" in OKC too... My take on this... a profitable stadium in Harrison for the Mutts for 2005 will be pivotal when it comes time to announce if ANYONE gets a team in 2005.
I still think $10 million is the entry fee... stadium $$$ has never added up in my opinion (even with the idea of Wantland's "infrastructure")... add that to $2 million per year for league losses and a lack of control of player personel compared to other pro sports, and voila... NOPE. Season tickets are just as important... if not 7500, something is needed to make sure the team doesn't become a drag on the league... all three aspects need to come together by this fall. And Skelly Stadium in Tulsa would be just as financially viable an option for MLS as a brand new Wantland in Edmond (not preferable to a proposed SSS in Tulsa).
the $50 million isn't for one year but to run the operation for several years to come. also, because the idea of mls in okc is becoming more and more realistic, people are starting to want and invest and get involved in it. we'll have to see.
Yeah, the ownership issues could be a lot of things. Could be that someone wants to buy a larger chunk than Funk/Express want to give up. Though I'm not a big fan of the mystery investor thing, that's how it goes sometimes.
Financially viable in the short term because of what should be extremely favorable lease terms... new stadiums have to be paid for by SOMEBODY... but, yes, there are plans for Tulsa that include a refurbished convention center, a new arena that could host NCAA March Madness games and concerts, etc., an outdoor ampitheatre and the soccer specific stadium itself. Obviously, SSS in Edmond or Tulsa would be better in the long term interests of the league...
NOPE. Didn't mean to imply they already had or that it would be a "done deal." Truth is, we're in a political waiting game/consensus building phase for this project. Mayor LaFortune (R) has former mayor Roger Randle (D) working on putting the pieces together... They know MLS has time constraints but have yet to present details of the plans-- a 1-cent sales tax has been mentioned with a new 14K indoor arena in either the downtown area or southeast Tulsa/Broken Arrow... the 22,500-seat soccer stadium in either the downtown area or southeast Tulsa/Broken Arrow-- soccer stadium was mentioned as having $10 million in costs coming from private sources with the remainder publicly funded. Proposals with locations need to be presented soon so the city/county can have time to educate the voters and set up the bond issue before any MLS "deadlines"... EXPECT 30-60 DAYS!