We’re about halfway through the 2008-09 season and after 42 games, Oklahoma City has notched just eight wins on its belt. But while we can dissect midseason stats of this kind and that kind, let’s look at something that the Thunder are actually one of the tops in the league in — attendance.
Back in 2005, OKC fans were tagged for being incredible. And deservedly so. People were shocked at the support thrown at the displaced Hornets. Then when the team returned another year, the support continued. The Hornets left with our hearts in their pockets, but the NBA returned to Oklahoma City — and the support has been stronger. After 23 games at home, the Thunder are averaging 18,617 fans a night, just seven people behind what defending champion Boston averages. The Thunder have completely sold out nine games on the season and on average, there’s a butt in 97.3 percent of the Ford Center’s seats. (And no, Jim Traber’s butt doesn’t count as two.)
Doug from dougdawg.blogspot.com has kept up with OKC’s attendance in easily accesible spreadsheet form. And as much praise as OKC got for supporting the Hornets, right now, we’re outdoing ourselves. Have a look:
The Thunder rank ahead of the Spurs, the Rockets, the Magic, the Hawks, the Nuggets, the Hornets, the Suns and the Heat. Granted, a couple of those team’s seating capacity doesn’t match the Ford Center, but regardless, OKC is putting more fans in the stands than them. And on top of that, one Knicks’ beat writer said the Ford Center was, “The loudest NBA arena I’ve ever been in.” And we only had 18,487 there for that one. But thanks anyway.
Now I know what you’re thinking. Talk to me in four years if the team is still 8-34 halfway through the season. You’re excited now. It’s the first season. You better fill the house. Of course, attendance numbers are high partially due to the fact that this is the inaugural season and people are excited. But look at other inaugural seasons around the league in recent years. The Grizzlies relocated from Vancouver in 2001 and for the 2001-02 season, the Grizz averaged just 14,390 fans per game, good for 25th in the league. In their first season in the Big Easy, the New Orleans Hornets finished 19th in the league in 2002-03 averaging 15,650 per game. The Charlotte Bobcats averaged just 14,431 their first season back in Charlotte, which ranked 29th. And some may say, “Well those teams were pretty bad though.” Ahem. Please. We’re talking about the Thunder here folks.
Can you even begin to imagine what the Ford Center will look like when the team is 27-15 at this point? It will be insanity. Add in the fact that the team is freaking fun to watch play and you might be able to get a Super Bowl ticket easier than you can a Thunder/Timberwolves ticket. OK, that’s probably a major exaggeration, but you get the point.
A couple things do work in OKC’s advantage: 1) The downturn in the economy really hasn’t hurt OKC. Forbes called Oklahoma City the most recession proof city in the country. 2) The Excitement Factor and 3) The team is dang fun to watch. So what that the Thunder is in the smallest market in the country. The market may be small, but the support is big-time. This fan base is rabid and that’s only going to push the team to play better and for ownership to keep a competitive roster. And the more OKC continues to support the team, more stories about Loud City fans being “the loudest in the league” will keep popping up and we can hopefully get away from the black mark that was the Seattle situation.
So why do OKC fans like to bring up attendance? Is it to fluff our ego and puff out our chests? Heck yes it is. We’re dang proud of the way we support this team. It’s something we hang our hat and no matter what the win-loss column says, the Ford Center will always be rocking. Does it really matter? No. But when you’ve spent the last three years telling everyone how awesome you are, you need to back it up. And we have. So we’re going to let you know.
Nice work with this blog. Excellent post, as most of them are. Keep up the great work -
some of it has to do with that other then ou/osu football on saturdays there is nothing else to do during the week. basketball isnt as big as football in the state but if oklahoma keeps putting out nba talent itll get there and wed love to see homegrown players playing for the thunder or against them and be able to say i saw him drop 41 when he was in high school. im glad the thunder is doing great and i know if not for the recession i myself would be at more games
Uh oh, Royce. Looks like Bricktown Boy who hangs his hat in New Orleans is looking for a new place to haunt, and he has landed here.
Because I look back at those times and cringe. I miss George.
Why don't you ever mention "Unsportsmanlike Conduct" when you talk about your time at The Daily? SERIOUSLY!!!
If we can keep our nucleus intact (Durant, Westbrook, Green) then I don't think it's a stretch to say we will be competing for a playoff spot in two years. And who knows, maybe a big free agent sign or luck in the draft will speed up that process. In the NBA you never know. Look at the Heat who had the worst record in the league last year, to where they are now.
Great website. I especially like the name. Simple and to the point. Looking forward to the future. May the force be with you!
Personally, I think the best thing for OKC to do right now is extend Scotty Brooks contract past this year and begin bringing consistency and stability to a franchise that has changed its ownership, front office, coaching staff and location in the past two years. I also have a feeling that Presti leaned towards P.J. because they had both come from a successfully run franchise in the Alamo.
Nobody knew. We were all clueless. P.J. was just another recycled coach that never was really successful. But my best guess is because he was supposedly "defensively minded" which is something Presti wanted and also because he was probably OK with all the move talk to Oklahoma. When they interviewed people they may have said, "The team is likely to be moving in a year... are you alright with that?" and some may have pulled out as a result. I really have no idea though. That's just speculation. Because hiring P.J. really didn't make sense to me.
As was said in this thread at okcthunderfans.com, http://www.okcthunderfans.com/vforum/showpost.php?p=13217&postcount=42 , IF attendance at the January 26 New Jersey Nets game is 18,801 or better, Okc will actually overtake Boston for 11th place in paid attendance. But, whether it happens then or later in the season, I fully expect that it WILL happen. Then, we can take aim on Golden State which presently holds the 10th attendance position at 18,850. It's not really like this is the 1st NBA season ... it's Okc's 3rd, the 1st for the Thunder. Yes, "You're doing fine, Oklahoma ... City." The table in Royce's article is updated with each Thunder home game at http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2008/08/okc-2008-2009-schedule-results.html .
Speaking of change, when Presti hired Carlisemo to coach SEA/OKC i was like why?, why the hell him? Obviously it didnt work out as the marriage barely lasted more than a year. With change coming quickly in the franchise once it moved to OKC, i never got a good explanation as to why anyone who hire someone as insane as P.J.?
Nailed it AD. There's such a big misconception about OKC. If you've got a wife and kids, this is where you want to be. And with how much OKC has changed over just the last five years, it may be even more different in 2013.
not a great destination... yet.
that may change over the next couple of years... it will depend on what the free agent considers important to them... bright lights perhaps not... great community... absolutely.
Thanks Brian. I recently graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in journalism. I wrote for OU's student paper covering basically every sport for three years. I do the blogging thing in my spare time as I try and find my way in this profession. It's hard to get a break in this field.
Royce, your a very good writer. Do you write in your spare time or are you a sports journalist at a newspaper in OKC?
Well, as a Cubbie for the last 16 years, I know what support gets. It gets freaking fun seasons, some playoff appearances, a great, dedicated fan base, but obviously no trophies. It may hurt that we haven't even played for the real deal in 63 years, but still there's a reason I'm still a fan and a reason I'll be on my sofa come opening day with my lucky Cub hat and Sandberg jersey. Obviously, like you said, OKC isn't on the top of free agent's lists, but that just means management will have to be shrewd and make cost effective moves. Small market teams have won championships, but like you said, you just have to be smart.
Ask Cubs fans about what support gets them. OKC is going to have a tougher time than some places in putting together a winner because it is not a top destination. That said neither is a place like Utah, but the margin or error is less that's for sure.
More than the actual number of people, I think the 97.3 percent of capacity is the impressive figure. Also, consider that the tickets aren't discounted. Several teams sell season ticket packages that average substantially less than $10 per seat.
Great article! It made me even more proud to be an Oklahoman!
Well, I meant that in terms of the rest of the league. OKC has been less hard hit than say, Detroit.
And my friends and I have talked about it a lot. I can't even imagine what a playoff game in OKC would be like. Holy crap.
actually Royce I would argue that the economy is indeed decreasing our attendance... could you imagine how many more people would be at the Ford Center if the economy were still rock'n and roll'n... We have 18,600 showing up now... just imagine when our record is better, our players are more experienced, and the team is even more entrenched in our community... wow