The Copper & Blue, an Edmonton Oilers community

I want Oklahoma City to have the best brand of hockey that it can support. I feel like we're a really good hockey market, we've supported hockey in the past and I think our market has matured to the point where we deserve and can support a higher level of play. We almost got an NHL franchise in 1998. We came right on the edge of getting one, but I think Columbus got the franchise. We were in the final running for it but didn't get it. I think that was reflective of the growing market and the fact that we've supported hockey. In 2005, when I was seeking a major league sport, I was in New York meeting with Commissioner Bettman and Commissioner Stern, then Katrina occurred and ultimately things took off in a different direction. I was seeking an NHL franchise or an NBA franchise at that point, but hockey was in a work stoppage at the time.