Already, Thunder Isn't Selling Out in OKC

We're less than two weeks into Oklahoma City's first real NBA season, the first two weeks the fans of OKC have had a team that's really their own. OKC hosted the Hornets famously well, selling out the Ford Center and giving Chris Paul's young squad one of the most devoted home crowds in the league.

This OKC team isn't so good. The Thunder, 1-4 and not expected to win more than 20-25 games, are much less compelling than those old Hornets, despite the presence of Kevin Durant. Watching a losing team just isn't that fun. So should it really come as a surprise that OKC has already failed to sell out a home game? Its second home game, held last Sunday night, drew 1,000 less fans than capacity. Its second game ... on a weekend ... in its first season. Sure, the opponent was Minnesota. But there are (unfortunately) a lot of Minnesotas in today's NBA.

Of course, 18,000-and-change fans is more than have attended recent Sonics games in Seattle. And it's been noted that the team could sell more season tickets if it wanted, and clear away all those extra single-game tickets. And the economy is putting a damper on recreational spending across the board. But considering the backbone of Clay Bennett's argument in relocation was that Seattle fans didn't really care about the Sonics, it's pretty damning when Game #2 in OKC doesn't sell out.

By the way, the undefeated Hawks visit tonight. Think we'll get non-sellout No. 2?

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-09-2008 @ 12:58PM

Steve H said...

Only 17,000 + tickets sold against Minnesota for a Sunday night game? OMG - the thunder are doomed! Could you be a bigger moron?

11-09-2008 @ 3:16PM

jacks said...

No doubt the Thunder is in deep trouble tonite, with the Hawks coming in to destroy them. Maybe they can get something going with the next vistor.

11-09-2008 @ 6:42PM

Andrew said...

is this a joke? No offense, but I don't know many teams who would be able to get 18,000+ fans for a game against the frickin Timberwolves..let's be honest, some of you media guys are mad because of the Sonics leaving Seattle so you are just trying to create a story about a non-issue.

leave Thunder fans alone..and I'm not even a Thunder fan. It still was an extremely HUGE crowd, sellout or not. Gee

11-09-2008 @ 11:48PM

pstargalac said...

You're right, Andrew, the media has it in for your thieving, despicable, embarrassing, and unabashedly evil basketball team. And so do the rest of us. Get used to it.

I wish nothing but the worst on Bennett, the Thunder, and anyone who would give them a single dollar after what they did.

11-10-2008 @ 12:29AM

Seattle Goodness said...

Yep, not a sellout. They missed by nearly 900 tickets. So there batting .500 in their first 4 games. Good thing they moved to a city with all that interest in it's only professional team. Yes, that was sarcasm. It'll be interesting to see the attendance numbers near the end of the season once the fascination of a new team ends.

11-10-2008 @ 8:42AM

Matt Moore said...

Oh, hey Tom, good job blasting the citizens of Oklahoma there. They only sold roughly 4,000 seats than the Sonics did on average last season.

Wait.

When OKC inevitably dips below the putrid 13k that the diehard, never-say-die, come-early-be-loud-stay-late, storied, awesome Sonics fans managed to dreg up last season (or even the 15 k the season before that), then I think we can hammer them.

But really? Banging them for not showing up to watch Randy Foye and Mike Miller? Really?

11-10-2008 @ 8:47AM

Ziller said...

Dude, SECOND HOME GAME IN OKC. It's not a good sign for the next few years, is it?

Yeah, it's still more fans than another awful team would draw for a Wolves game. But we were sold an excuse that Seattle didn't care about basketball any more, that OKC was much better for the NBA than Seattle. Failing to sell out the second regular season game in the new city ... that's an auspicious start. And it must be noted.

11-12-2008 @ 11:02PM

Matt, I understand your point, but in the Sonics last season in Seattle, Clay Bennett stripped the team down to nothing. Ray Allen was traded, Rashard Lewis left via a sign and trade, and everyone had the feeling the team was leaving. Plus, the Sonics were blowing everyone off...that come from the top on down. Sonic players were all over the local sports radio station. The last season in Seattle, I don't think a single player went on air live from the studio. Clay and company was doing everything they could to promote apathy.

Secondly, Seattle has more choices for their sports dollar than OKC. There's the Mariners, Seahawks, Storm and, now in 2009, Sounders FC. The Thunder is the ONLY choice for OKC when it comes to pro sports.

So when the Sonics looked like they were leaving and had no real proven talent to cheer for, of course the numbers fell off. Kevin Durant was a rookie, an exciting rookie, but still a guy who couldn't carry the team until the end of the season. And the season before where they averaged 15K? The arena only holds 17K. Plus, that was the season good old Howard Schultz sold the team to Clay Bennett and everyone thought they were going to leave.

Lastly, Minnesota has some good players. Al Jefferson is an All-Star in the making. First round pick Kevin Love was one of the best players in college hoops last year. As for the rest of their squad, sure there are no real superstars, but it's still the NBA. Fans in OKC should be able to appreciate that on its merit alone.

11-10-2008 @ 5:50PM

You were'nt "sold" anything. From day one Bennet said he would move the team if they did not build a new arena- and we all know how that turned out. Furthermore, OKC isn't exactly a shiney new NBA market. You want a telling stat for local fan support? Look at the Hornet's 2nd year numbers AFTER we knew they were leaving town- we STILL finished in the league's top 10. If you want to worry about the next team to pull up stakes and move, how are the King's numbers these days? Good thing the Maloofs don't know anybody in Vegas.

11-10-2008 @ 9:46PM

michaelmoose said...

Having been a season ticket holder for the sonics I have to admit nothing inspires apathy more than this team, but OKC fans haven't even gotten to the hard part when reality sinks in around January.

Step up, embrace the team and enjoy it while you can. You never know when your next season could be your last.

11-12-2008 @ 11:16PM

Make that 3 out of 5 home games...not a sellout tonight. OKC facing the Magic. They came up about a grand short again.

11-14-2008 @ 12:02PM

Glenn said...

Clay should have known that nothing good would come of taking a team in a dishonest way.

I love the Thunder, and am an avid fan already and have been at all home games, but I've never had a good feeling about the way they came over here. Hopefully we'll win a couple of games and the people will start piling in, but I'm a believer in reaping and sowing, and I really think that Bennett was on dangerous ground when it became obvious in his emails that he intended to move the team all along. Karma. It sucks.

11-14-2008 @ 12:05PM

Derek said...

All that fraud, embezzlement and deception for THIS???? LOL

Can't sell out home game number 2 for goodness sake!

Clay sure risked a lot for a complete failure of a move.

11-16-2008 @ 3:42AM

Keth said...

The NBA is in a world of hurt. Charlotte is failing, Memphis will be gone as soon as they can wiggle out of their 'iron clad lease' and the Hornets will soon be on the brink again with Shinn looking to slip out of NOLA as quickly as he would slip out of slacks in his office with a pair 'honey bees'...Bennett, Aubrey, Tom Ward and their crew lied from the get go and it's sad and 'not right' for the people of Seattle, the Sonics players and the 100+ full-time staffers and more than 500 part-timers who lost their jobs. The players don't like OKC and only 15% of the full-time staff elected to go as well...it just doesn't make sense that the NBA will thrive in OKC -Instant Karma's Gonna Get You (Clay Bennett)

11-18-2008 @ 4:56AM

t smith said...

Yes I'm Fron Buffalo New York
, And I am a OKC Fan all the way. Love the underdog. Lets go
gang stay on that band wagon, whish I was there. I follow the stats daily and will and will and will. Some day I hope to watch'em play. From the Buff to OKC "LETS GO THUNDER"!!!!!!

11-20-2008 @ 3:04PM

lsessex said...

SEATTLE GET OVER IT AND CHEER FOR THE OTHER 2 HORRIBLE TEAMS YOU HAVE THERE IN TREE HUGGING LAND!!!

11-20-2008 @ 11:42PM

jack said...

I'm from Seattle and very upset that Oklahoma city took the Sonics without taking the Mariners and Seahawks with them,We should have demanded a package deal.Now Oklahoma city has only 1 crappy team and we still have 2.

11-22-2008 @ 6:13PM

JOHN shea said...

we have waited for along time to have a pro team of any kind in this
state . I for one am proud to have the thunder here i will not give up on them just because they are loosing. if they ioose every game this
season istill will be very proud to say that they are my nba team.
we as fans cant wish to have every thing at once. they are a very
young team and i know we would like more wins but just be patiant
they will come. so dont give up on our team so early if we do we as
a state will never have a pro team in any form. so go to the games
and support our okc thiunder team because we dont need to loose
them i dont want to be just a collage fan and i want to be a fan of our pro. team. also if any body that reads this we need to leave
collage sports in collage we dont need to be yelling boomer sooner
or go cowboys at the thunder games we are there to support them.
last comments please dont let what ive said make you mad all i want
is for all us oklalhomams to stay behined our team no matter what.
l