croco

Fans show their enthusiasm at Ford Center open house

By Mike Jeffries
Staff Writer

When the Ford Center opened its doors to the public at 2 p.m. on Saturday, all kinds of people flooded through the turnstiles.

Some wanted the chance to skate on the same ice the Blazers do. Some wanted to see if it really was all that hard to kick an Arena League field goal. Some wanted a chance to sink the game-winning shot on the hardwood. Some just wanted the free food.

And some, like Dan Curtsmith and his son Colton, wanted to sit in every section of the Ford Center they could.

"We're big NBA fans,” said CurtSmith, an Oklahoma City resident. "We want to see where the best place to watch the game will be.”

The 11,000-plus ticket requests is evidence Oklahomans are head-over-heels excited about Oklahoma City's new NBA endeavor, and Saturday was the perfect day for fans like the Curtsmiths to check out the team's new home.

"Well, I think this is a great place for them to be,” said Tonya Murphy of Edmond. "It's a nice building and it's big enough.”

Ford Center officials are busy making sure their nice building is in tip-top shape for professional sports.

In March, voters overwhelmingly approved a $100 million Ford Center renovation project, and although the building won't be finished before the NBA tips off in November, plans are in the works.

"Our number one priority right now is getting the lighting and wiring right,” said Tim Linville, director of sales and marketing for the Ford Center. "When the building was built, it was up to NBA standards. But those standards have changed, mostly because of the demand for high-definition television.”

Linville said the Ford Center might have to close its doors to concerts and other events next summer for construction.

http://newsok.com/fans-show-their-en...?tm=1215921481

croco

So how much enthusiasm is in the city right now ? Can you feel the vibe about having an NBA team already or does is it still feel unreal ?

HKF

This is going to be like the Utah Jazz. This team will be one of the best supported in the league.

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oksportsguy

Just thought I'd share, this a story someone on the local board posted. They are from Lawton(OK's third largest city:

"Yesterday, I went to OKC with my family to attend the Ford Center All-Access Tour. I wore my red Valentine's Day special OKC Hornets CP3 jersey. I was stopped by about 3 people asking me where I got the jersey from (which I looked at them kind of quizzically because doesn't every sports store in the malls in OKC have at least one of these jerseys?). Then I went to Target on 122nd and I had a guy stopped me in the parking lot and ask, "Are those the new colors?" Then I went to pick up my to go order at PF Changs and the to go girl was asking me about the team. I was very impressed that so many people had their radars set on this team. I think we will do just fine in the up coming years, as far as attendance goes. GO OKC TBD'S!!!!!!"

That pretty much sums up the atmosphere around here

croco

Well, that answered my question.

thaKEAF

At least it seems like the city is welcoming the team with open arms. I remember people having "NO NBA" signs in their yard before the Grizzlies came.

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Real Chaos

jc4

The pf chang near quail springs mall is a good chinese restraunt but they cost too much me and my parents went there