Updating the Oklahoma City AHL franchise situation
by Derek Zona on Jan 14, 2010 11:00 AM PST
in News
22 comments
Some additional details have emerged on the new AHL franchise in Oklahoma City. Prodigal Hockey, LLC owner Bob Funk, Jr. recently told the AP
"We’re close. We have some things to finalize, and there are some approval processes that need to be gone through, but I think we’re really close to getting something done."
The AHL Board of Directors will meet during the AHL all-star break, January 18th and 19th, and it's expected that the "approval processes" that Funk spoke of will be at the top of the agenda. Expect an announcement in the coming days.
OKC Slackers was the first to mention the marketing surveys by an Edmonton-based company that are being conducted this week, beginning with ex Oklahoma City Blazers season ticket holders, but branching to others in the Oklahoma City community. Some additional details about the survey:
Banister Research & Consulting Inc. is conducting the surveys as "independent market surveys". The scripted questions revolved around the level of interest in hockey including questions about how many games the respondent will would attend during a season should an AHL team play in Oklahoma City and how interested the respondent is in professional hockey returning to Oklahoma City. One of the questions asked was if the respondent or any family member has played organized hockey in the last two years. Banister is also inquiring about a Founder's Club. If a Founder's Club was established, would the respondent purchase a three year season ticket package. Included in the package is premium parking for all three season, the respondent's choice of premium seats, team merchandise, and a plaque designating the respondent as a Founder's Club member.
Finally, they've inquired about team names. The OKC Slackers board was strongly against "Oilers" as the Tulsa Oilers were the Blazers biggest rival. Early respondents were asked about the "Oil Cats" as well. The choices have changed a bit, as the Banister employee asked about: the Oklahoma City Rail Kings, the Oklahoma City Blazers and the Oklahoma City Oilers.
If you're a betting man, place your money on an Oil-based name for the new franchise, specifically the Oilers, Oil Kings or Oil Barons. The reason for my confidence? A whois search turns up the following domains as privately registered to a P.O. box in Oklahoma:
http://www.okcoilers.com
http://www.okcoilkings.com
http://www.okcoilbarons.com
Also registered to that same P.O. Box? http://www.prodigalhockey.com
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“Oilers” and “Oil Kings” are taken in Edmonton, and “Oil Cats” sounds fucking stupid. “Roughnecks” is a Calgary lacrosse team, so that’s right out. So, “Oil Barons” it is.
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Pretty much, eh. But that’s okay with me. The Oil Barons could use former Oiler owners as rotating mascots!
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 14, 2010 12:33 PM PST up reply actions
Ifexisitng names are out, the Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL) have dibs.
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by Bruce McCurdy on Jan 14, 2010 1:13 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah, somehow I don’t think fans/accountants will find that as confusing (unless they live in Fort McMurray).
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 14, 2010 2:27 PM PST up reply actions
FYI
“Barons” was one of the supposed short-listed names for the Sonics/Thunder when they relocated here. I understand the fanbase’s reluctance to an Oil-based name due to the proximity and history with Tulsa. I’m personally just pulling for “Barons”. Drop the “Oil” part though. OKC has a rich petroleum history so at least it makes more sense than Thunder…
The Avalanche, clearly, are down with No PP.
As opposed to the Thunder’s d-league team, the Tulsa Route 66ers? Or worse, Tulsa’s new WNBA franchise that retained their Detroit nickname – the Shock…the Tulsa Shock – that makes less ense than the Oklahoma City Thunder. Of course, I didn’t like the Thunder name because its shared with that disgrace of a hockey team from Wichita that’s probably hated more in OKC that Tulsa.
OKC Nicknames
“Slackers” is lame, it makes no sense. “Slickers” was the nickname of a minor-league soccer franchise the city had i the 1990’s. “Oilers” has been associated wth Tulsa since 1928, when they became the southernmost franchise in the US.. They played originally in the American Hockey Association, which, during the Originl Six era, was considered on par with the NHL. THey were often called the “Ice Oilers” because the city’s baseball tea was also named the “Oilers” I would oppose the use of “Roughnecks” for an OKC team because it was the name of Tulsa’s naSl soccer team, who were the last NASL team to win the championship. While I don’t thin “Oil Barons” or “Oil Kings” would be a good name for the OKC team, i would personallly like to see the team go way back to the beginning of professional hockey in OKC, which was in 1933, when the city entered the AHA as the Warriors. I’d really like to see the name revived as OKC enters a new chapter in its lomg hockey history..
Giggle
I read all of those as follows:
OK Coil Kings
OK Coilers
OK Coil Barons
But I can be pretty juvenile. Good work on this story guys.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
"Oil Blazers"
I still don’t get why the Oilers are looking for a local owner if they already own the AHL franchise? I know it may be about local business contacts (as HF4L mentioned in a previous O’City post), but I doesn’t make sense to my little brain. The Oiler’s already do most of the GM work for their AHL team (but that hasn’t been a success recently), so it is at most hiring a few extra people for the office (a GM, an assistant GM, a president, and another marketing guy: all which would be based out of O’City, and the business folks could be locals).
As for the name: How about the Oil Blazers? I mean if they want this to be a success at the box office, go out and buy the name and old jersey from what ever fool owns them. Add a little Oiler crest on the sleeve, and it would be an automatic success. The O’City residents would get there own team jersey backs (now in the fancy Reebok stylez), and they could even sell a bunch of them in Edmonton (just think about owning your very own official Oiler’s Hanson Brothers jersey)?
one of the founders and most prolific writers of Bringing Back the Glory
I’ll take a shot at it. They’ve got an established ownership group (or his son) in an established market with an established venue, with established sponsors.
They’re falling into a great situation for their AHL affiliate, like falling into Chris Pronger. Why would they strike out on their own, in Council Bluffs, or Cheyenne when they can waltz into a perfect situation?
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Exactly. The Funks have been hella-successful running minor-league hockey in this market. Makes more sense to get in bed with the guys who know the area than to not.
The Avalanche, clearly, are down with No PP.
I wouldn’t really consider the Funks that successful. The Blazers folded and in an interview
Funk Jr. basically said he lost like $6 million over the past 9 years. 1) How the hell do you do that, and 2) Why didn’t you get out sooner. He basically said they gave too much free stuff away over the years.
So are they selling the AHL team to these folks? Or just a share (minority or majority)?
Maybe I would sell them a 60% share of the roadrunners. That way the Oilers still maintain a significant portion of the team, hence some (a little bit of) control. Then sign a long term lease (with a exclusive hockey clause) with the Cox Center.
one of the founders and most prolific writers of Bringing Back the Glory
So are they selling the AHL team to these folks? Or just a share (minority or majority)?
I’m not sure of the details. I’m still digging as to whether it’s a newly-minted franchise or if the Roadrunners are being sold to Prodigal Hockey.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Also Prodigal could be buying stock in the franchise. Then be the managing partner for the franchise.
by HF4L on Jan 14, 2010 4:47 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Mascot
If they use the Roughnecks theme, the mascot could be called Pump Jack.
by HF4L on Jan 14, 2010 4:46 PM PST via mobile reply actions
There’s no way they’d use that. When things go wrong, or the team is bad, you do not want a mascot named “Pump Jack” around.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
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