Empty stadiums....

[jthomasou78]

Does it look like to anyone else that these stadiums are really empty. /how much more money does the NCAA make by having these games in football stadiums. why not an NBA arena you can sell out?

[walkoffsooner]

I think arena's bid to have the the games. Makes no diff. to ncaa

[sooner ngintunr]

I was thinking the same thing. Why Glendale when PHX is right there.

On a positive note, I have heard that certain tickets are less expensive because of the expanded seating.

For the Final Four I read that student tix for all 3 sessions are $20, not per game it is for all 3 games!! Of course there are only 500 per side. Great seats behind the basket though.

[soonerfan28]

I've been wtching Missouri and UCONN on the internet and when they went to half time it looked like it was at least half empty. I know thats when people are hittin the concession and bathrooms, but still looked really empty.

[ouwapiti]

womens games are particularly empty....baylor vs louisville looked like less than 1000 fans????

[sooner ngintunr]

I have a real hard time thinking that if they held a Sweet Sixteen in Tulsa it would be empty. Last nights game looked empty until the UNC fans started showing up. Whats up with Glendale?? If I had Tickets I wouldn't miss any of the sessions.

I bet the OU women is packed tomorrow.

[soonerfan28]

If they had it in Tulsa I know that the BOK would be full every game.

[sooner ngintunr]

If they had it in Tulsa I know that the BOK would be full every game.


My thoughts too!! Shoot, I'm kind of pumped about the Conf USA tourney here next year. Sweet Sixteen and I'd be going nuts!!

[soonerfan28]

I think we'll be able to show that Tulsa can handle some big time events.

[StoopTroup]

I think we'll be able to show that Tulsa can handle some big time events.
Once the Ballpark downtown is finished...I'm hoping we can get the tractor pulls back.

[Sooner04]

The only discounted student seats are at the Final Four. They're expecting close to 70,000 in Detroit so that's why they allowed for $20 student seating near the court. I attended the regional finals in Houston last year and even though my seats sucked they still cost almost as much as those in the REAL prime real estate.

The NCAA would rather sell 30,000 tickets in a 70,000 seat NFL stadium than 20,000 in an NBA arena. When they're holding first and second round games in the Metrodome you can see what the future will hold.

[sooner ngintunr]

The only discounted student seats are at the Final Four. They're expecting close to 70,000 in Detroit so that's why they allowed for $20 student seating near the court. I attended the regional finals in Houston last year and even though my seats sucked they still cost almost as much as those in the REAL prime real estate.

The NCAA would rather sell 30,000 tickets in a 70,000 seat NFL stadium than 20,000 in an NBA arena. When they're holding first and second round games in the Metrodome you can see what the future will hold.


I understand the logic for the FF, in fact I like it, but why for the SS? They obviously aren't selling 30,000 tix for these games, not even for the EE.

It makes it look like no one is there, perception is everything. The perception is that no one is at these games.

[soonerfan28]

I really think that if you give cities that are hungry for some big time sports(Tulsa) a chance to have these games then you'll see huge turnouts every night. I know the economics need to be there but it would still work in Tulsa.

[StoopTroup]

The NCAA had regionals here before at the Mabee Center. It held 12,000 folks and usually was sold out.

The Thunder played an exhibition here in Tulsa October 13th, 2008. There was 9,560. Capacity for Basketball is approximately 17,839. You would have needed to sell 8,279 more seats to have sold it out. I'm betting the NBA was not to impressed with Tulsa's interest in Pro Basketball. Now if OU, oSu, TU or even ORU were to be in an NCAA Regional here against a group of Top Seeded Teams...you might see some Sellouts especially if Fans from those Teams were to travel here in numbers. It might take a Blackout of TV coverage to sell it out otherwise.

It's easy to say The BOK could handle the event...but getting Tulsans out to buy up tickets with it on TV might be a whole different thing.

[Mjcpr]

If Tulsa gets any NCAA games, it won't be the Sweet 16, it will be for the games of the first weekend I'm sure.

[soonerfan28]

If Tulsa gets any NCAA games, it won't be the Sweet 16, it will be for the games of the first weekend I'm sure.

You gotta start somewhere.

[soonerfan28]

The NCAA had regionals here before at the Mabee Center. It held 12,000 folks and usually was sold out.

The Thunder played an exhibition here in Tulsa October 13th, 2008. There was 9,560. Capacity for Basketball is approximately 17,839. You would have needed to sell 8,279 more seats to have sold it out. I'm betting the NBA was not to impressed with Tulsa's interest in Pro Basketball. Now if OU, oSu, TU or even ORU were to be in an NCAA Regional here against a group of Top Seeded Teams...you might see some Sellouts especially if Fans from those Teams were to travel here in numbers. It might take a Blackout of TV coverage to sell it out otherwise.

It's easy to say The BOK could handle the event...but getting Tulsans out to buy up tickets with it on TV might be a whole different thing.

I agree w/what you're saying, but I think with an NCAA round you'll get people from not only Tulsa but other places as well and Tulsans will be able to pick up the extra tickets.

[StoopTroup]

There's the way you want it to be and there's the way it really is. I'd love for the NCAA to hold one here and I think they will eventually. When they do...it will be a first round tourney...and what you think better happen or it will dry up here again and the BOK can continue to hold concerts and hockey games.

[John Kochtoston]

Part of the reason you're seeing Regionals at U. of Phoenix Stadium (Glendale) and Lucas Oil Field (Indy) is that those places either are scheduled to have a Final Four soon (Indy) or will likely be bidding on one soon. The NCAA likes to have a "test run" in venues a few years before they actually host the FF. That's why these games are in football arenas.
Dunno about Minny and the Triple H Dome. I'm pretty sure the Metrodome has hosted a FF before, but I could be misremembering.

[StoopTroup]

Part of the reason you're seeing Regionals at U. of Phoenix Stadium (Glendale) and Lucas Oil Field (Indy) is that those places either are scheduled to have a Final Four soon (Indy) or will likely be bidding on one soon. The NCAA likes to have a "test run" in venues a few years before they actually host the FF. That's why these games are in football arenas.
Dunno about Minny and the Triple H Dome. I'm pretty sure the Metrodome has hosted a FF before, but I could be misremembering.

Even more reason why the BOK will see a first rounder and maybe if it is successful more than once and people are impressed with accommodations and the ease of traveling in and out of Tulsa...you might see a Sweet 16 Tourney held here...I'd say it's a long way off if ever.

Put a massive Hotel/Casino down there...and you might see it happen even earlier is my guess.

[royalfan5]

Part of the reason you're seeing Regionals at U. of Phoenix Stadium (Glendale) and Lucas Oil Field (Indy) is that those places either are scheduled to have a Final Four soon (Indy) or will likely be bidding on one soon. The NCAA likes to have a "test run" in venues a few years before they actually host the FF. That's why these games are in football arenas.
Dunno about Minny and the Triple H Dome. I'm pretty sure the Metrodome has hosted a FF before, but I could be misremembering.

I believe the HHH Metrodome is the only venue to have an All-Star Game, Super Bowl, and Final Four. Also, being that the NCAA is allergic to leaving a dollar ungrabbed, if they thought they would make more money doing it another way they would.

[bri]

The NCAA made the decision a few years back that the Final Four would always be held in some cavernous football stadium so they can wring as much money out of it as possible. You know, 'cause that eleventy brajillion dollars they get from CBS and their "corporate champions" just aren't paying the bills. But anyway, it looks like they're spreading that sh*tty mandate to regionals as well. Soon enough, all that venues like the Ford Center, FedEx Forum, BOK Center, AAC, etc will be allowed to host are subregionals.

[sooner ngintunr]

The NCAA had regionals here before at the Mabee Center. It held 12,000 folks and usually was sold out.

The Thunder played an exhibition here in Tulsa October 13th, 2008. There was 9,560. Capacity for Basketball is approximately 17,839. You would have needed to sell 8,279 more seats to have sold it out. I'm betting the NBA was not to impressed with Tulsa's interest in Pro Basketball. Now if OU, oSu, TU or even ORU were to be in an NCAA Regional here against a group of Top Seeded Teams...you might see some Sellouts especially if Fans from those Teams were to travel here in numbers. It might take a Blackout of TV coverage to sell it out otherwise.

It's easy to say The BOK could handle the event...but getting Tulsans out to buy up tickets with it on TV might be a whole different thing.

But 12,600 showed up for OU vs TU. And that was the day after OU (FB) Big 12 CG in KC. If it would have been played on a different day, alot more would have showed (including me). Don't try to compare NBA preseason with NCAA Sweet Sixteen.

If it would have been a Sweet Sixteen session I'm sure 5,000 more would have showed easily, no doubt.

[Mjcpr]

I went to that OU game. If they are to host an NCAA sub-regional, they better get a way better stats program for the video board. The video/stats board is fantastic at the BOK center, in fact, it is supposedly a top of the line jobber.....but the stats/graphics (points, rebounds, fouls, etc) they had on there during the OU game looked like something from the BASKETBALL cartridge on the Atari 2600.

[soonerfan28]

The Final Four will be at JerryWorld before you know it.

[Sooner04]

I went to that OU game. If they are to host an NCAA sub-regional, they better get a way better stats program for the video board. The video/stats board is fantastic at the BOK center, in fact, it is supposedly a top of the line jobber.....but the stats/graphics (points, rebounds, fouls, etc) they had on there during the OU game looked like something from the BASKETBALL cartridge on the Atari 2600.
I was there and noticed it too. It looked like they could flip a switch and start playing PONG on those boards. Very nice arena though. Definite possibility for a first/secound round destination.

The Final Four hasn't been held in a true basketball arena since it was in East Rutherford in 1996. I doubt it will be long before all regional finals are held in domes too, and I can't say that I blame them. If they can get 30,000 to buy all-session passes then that's just more money in the coffers.

[John Kochtoston]

The Final Four will be at JerryWorld before you know it.

It's already been booked. 2012 I think.

[bri]

Next time we do upgrades on OMS, let's put a retractable roof on it. We'll have a Final Four in no time.

[badger]

Tulsa will be hosting the C-USA tourney next year and after we prove how awesome we are at hosting it, we'll get a Big 12 tourney or a First/Second round tourney before long for the men and a Sweet 16/Elite 8 round for the women.

It would be interesting to hear feedback from coaches and athletes on the football venues for basketball games. The Final Four (wimmen's edition) in 2002 was at the Alamodome and they had a big blue curtain blocking off half of it on the non-television side :rolleyes:

[StoopTroup]

But 12,600 showed up for OU vs TU. And that was the day after OU (FB) Big 12 CG in KC. If it would have been played on a different day, alot more would have showed (including me). Don't try to compare NBA preseason with NCAA Sweet Sixteen.

If it would have been a Sweet Sixteen session I'm sure 5,000 more would have showed easily, no doubt.

If that OU v TU Game had been a first rouond game...I have no doubt that it would have been sold out. What I'm saying is until Tulsa can show up to the BOK with a sold out game for say Ohio State v Seina and Lousiville v Morehead St and Utah St. v Arizona and Wake forest v Cleveland....I don't think the NCAA will hold it here.

Show them they can make Teams happy about playing in Tulsa and then have folks saying we gave them great accommodations and that the Downtown Casino was awesome and that they even got to see a Baseball Game down the street and a music festival near this place named McNellies....then you'll have them in your back pocket.

Until then...your dreaming more than likely.

[sooner ngintunr]

I was shocked that there was 17,000 on hand for the UNC game on friday. Place didn't look like it had that many people there. I guess they are selling the tickets, the seats still look empty though. I think it hurts the perception.

I Wonder if it hurts "the feel" of the game. I would think 17,000 in a true BB arena would be way louder and more fun than in a huge dome with 17,000.

Like a previous poster said, these are warmups for arenas that will eventually host The FF. I don't think the SS and EE are going to be played much in BB arenas anymore.

[StoopTroup]

I heard this story about some lady that didn't even know about College Basketball but had decided to fillout a bracket. She picked Memphis to go all the way. Why? As she stated...Jazz was invented in Memphis and they have great b-b-q. Now...create a place in Downtown Tulsa peole rave about...and you'll be turning big events away as you can't find a place in the schedule for them.

[StoopTroup]

It would be cool if Tulsa would build a Larger Dome somewhere in the City also for the Talons. Arena Ball is awesome and should be supported more IMO. Then a place like that can be used for huge events like a Final Four or Wrestling/boxing, monster trucks, Chili Bowl etc...

THE QT DOME ! ! !

There...I said it...now build it!

[badger]

It would take a lot for Tulsa to vote for another tax. Vision 2010 apparently took initiatives across the city - not just the BOK Center - to get people to vote for it. There had to be something for everybody. The river tax the mayor et al tried to get passed in 2007 (2008?) did not have something for everyone and areas not immediately next to the river voted it down. I just don't see Tulsa passing an initiative for another arena without everyone getting a piece of the pie once again. A majority of voters will NOT buy the "tax revenue from a new center will benefit everyone" argument. It will take far more.

[bri]

It wasn't even city-wide; we had to make Vision 2010 a county measure and divert funds to crap like new parks in suburbs just to convince the rustic types to pull their heads out of their *sses and approve the package.