Hasn't anyone found it strange that the first 5000 season tickets went to corp.......

[freethrow]

Did anyone besides myself notice that when the first group was allowed in to purchase season tickets that the arena's best tickets had already been sold? The first 25 to 30 rows all around the arena were gone before the first group got in.

I don't think Clay Bennett is treating his Oklahoma fans any better than his Seattle fans. He allowed the corporations in that morning to pick any seats that they wanted. Not just the suites, but the seats that all of us wanted. The first 4 to 5000 season tickets. This will also knock out some of those people from getting their season tickets and they will be put on the list of partial game plans.

This is going to be really sad for the team because the group of fans that support the team game after game will not be close enough to really get to support their team. The corporate seats are different people every week that sit there on their hands and go, "oh who is that?" dah. Plus half the time that aren't filled or they are late getting there. This is a really sad situation.

[Karried]

I didn't find it strange so much .. but it did irk me to no end that I ended up with crappy seats because I got the short end of the straw and had a late appt date.

But, I know Corporations are a big deal in ensuring overall successful ticket sales.... so I try not to let it get to me too much.

I figure Clay wasn't sure the 'little guys like us', would be as rabid or enthusiastic as we were. He let the bigwigs have first shot because he wanted to make sure those who could afford those primo seats would be there first with open checkbooks.

[KDisNotNice]

I don't think the Thunder handled this any different than most if not all other NBA teams. Rich people get first pick at just about any thing in this world.

[Karried]

I wanna be rich

[RicanThunder]

Honestly, I wasn't going to buy those seats anyway, so it doesn't really bother me.

[okcnba]

Didn't find it annoying, and totally expected it. That's how it is in any successful NBA arena.

[Brandon Rush]

If they give that much money as corporate sponsors they SHOULD have an chance to buy the tickets they want...

[RicanThunder]

If they give that much money as corporate sponsors they SHOULD have an chance to buy the tickets they want...

True, sponsors are the life blood of a revenue stream. Fans buying tickets is nice, but pro teams would be nowhere without corporate sponsorships.

[Jimmy Early]

If they give that much money as corporate sponsors they SHOULD have an chance to buy the tickets they want...


I agree that the money people should get their choice of seats, and I also think they have the right to sit on their hands and talk on their cell phones. Just SHOW UP - we crazies in Loud City will bring the noise and get the rich folks into it. But it irks ME to no end when the money people usurp the tickets and then don't show up to the games or give their tickets to someone that would (see: lower bowl, Lloyd Noble Center).

[Trueblood]

FWIW, they only bought up 2,200 to 2,500 season tickets.

[Betts]

FWIW, they only bought up 2,200 to 2,500 season tickets.

Tru dat. I have mixed emotions. On the one hand, it is upsetting to see that one had no chance to get certain tickets, no matter how early your appointment. And I will echo Jimmy's statement about the fact that it will be really upsetting if those seats are empty, ala what happens at Lloyd Noble. On the other hand, without sponsors, ticket prices would be far higher and we'd all be sitting in Loud City anyway. So, I consider sponsors a necesary evil. But they'd better be in their seats come game time.....

[JWil]

I have no problems with it. For the most part, those companies will be reliable and keep their tickets. And with the amount of money corporate sponsors are pumping and will pump into this team it's a good thing for us regular fans. The heartbeat of any team is its corporate sponsors. We saw that with the Hornets. It was a big reason that worked out and the NBA realized there was enough business here to sustain a franchise. The fans packing the place helped, but the core revenue stream for teams is from corporations.

I'd be quick to re-think if I were wanting to get on here to complain about them getting first dibs, because those companies will play a big part in whether this permanent team in OKC deal works.

[RicanThunder]

Tru dat. I have mixed emotions. On the one hand, it is upsetting to see that one had no chance to get certain tickets, no matter how early your appointment. And I will echo Jimmy's statement about the fact that it will be really upsetting if those seats are empty, ala what happens at Lloyd Noble. On the other hand, without sponsors, ticket prices would be far higher and we'd all be sitting in Loud City anyway. So, I consider sponsors a necesary evil. But they'd better be in their seats come game time.....


Not Betts using the "Tru Dat". We got a gangsta girl on our mist. Bow down. WEST SIDE!!!!

http://bp1.blogger.com/_w_SY60du2Dc/Rs7-QkxXEOI/AAAAAAAAAY8/pBxwQmTXrXk/s400/westside3.jpg

[Karried]

o no u di int! LOl... I won't say I didn't catch that! You go Girl!

[freethrow]

I know two people that were in the first group and approximately the first 25 rows were gone. I agree the corporations support is important but that is what the suites are for. The fans should at least have a shot at some of the close up seats. In New Orleans the fans have the close up seats and the corps have the suites and then seats farther up. When the Hornets came to OKC we at least got a chance to have seats 3 rows from the court!

[freethrow]

Prove it. And I don't talk text so speak English.

[Zerobb1972]

How many members are there in the PBC, and if I am not mistaken they all run corporations in the OKC area, I am sure that many of those early-bird ticket sales went to them and they should, they own the team. So no I don't find it strange. Let it go. There is no conspiracy here. Its not just Clay's team, he is the face and the Chairman but there are others with large stakes in the team also.

[Karried]

Prove it. And I don't talk text so speak English.

Who are you talking to? And what sort of proof are you demanding and why?

Are you really interested or just wanting to vent?

[Trueblood]

Tru dat. I have mixed emotions. On the one hand, it is upsetting to see that one had no chance to get certain tickets, no matter how early your appointment. And I will echo Jimmy's statement about the fact that it will be really upsetting if those seats are empty, ala what happens at Lloyd Noble. On the other hand, without sponsors, ticket prices would be far higher and we'd all be sitting in Loud City anyway. So, I consider sponsors a necesary evil. But they'd better be in their seats come game time.....

This is true. That was a big problem in New Orleans. In the 3 years prior to Katrina, NO saw it's best attendance in the inaugural season. The problem was that the corporations who bought tickets right behind the benches never showed up to the games. When you would watch the highlights, all you would see was what was happening on the court as well as the first three rows behind the benches. They were always empty, giving the impression that the entire arena was probably empty as well despite a decent attendance mark that year.

[Betts]

There were still some front row tickets available when I went on Tuesday at 6 p.m. I know, because I bought them, although I probably won't be sitting in them. Since we had a huge group that sat together when the Hornets were here, we all bought tickets at our scheduled lottery times and then sat down and horsetraded, so people could have a bit of a choice.

And again, we all need to look at the big picture. This team isn't just going to be here for one or two years. They're hopefully going to be here through my lifetime. When you buy Sooner season football tickets for the first time, you don't even get a choice of where you're going to sit. You get lousy seats the first year, and over time you build up priority points and can keep moving annually until you're happy with your choice. Next year, there will be seats opening up in every area of the Ford Center, and people who are season ticket holders will be able to move if they'd like. It took me 8 years to get the OU football tickets I call my "forever seats". We need to be patient and know that eventually we will be able to get our forever seats to the Thunder as well.

[thunderfan315]

Without corporations there would be no team. They should be able to have whatever seats they want. ENOUGH WITH THE COMPLAINING!!!

[Crysis]

If they give that much money as corporate sponsors they SHOULD have an chance to buy the tickets they want...

true dat, true dat

[Doug Loudenback]

Without corporations there would be no team. They should be able to have whatever seats they want. ENOUGH WITH THE COMPLAINING!!!
AMEM, brother! One interested in the Thunder has to wonder why, especially having made the point the first time, it is necessary to spend any time, especially LOTS of it, griping about what was instead of just being grateful for what we have, but easily could NOT have had. It seems kinda like a little kid in a store with his mom:

Little Kid: "Mommie, I want that!"

Mom: "No, you can't have it."

Little Kid: "But I want it! That's not fair."

Mom: "Sorry, it's not gonna happen. Are you sure you want me to bring you to the store with me next time.?"

Little Kid: "Braw ha ha. I hate you, Mommie! I want that right NOW!"

Mom (to herself): "Sometimes I wonder why I ever wanted to have kids. Oh, well ... thank you, God for this little turd ... help me with patience, please. I know that he'll grow up in a few years, and then he'll thank me. Right?"

Little Kid (to himself): "I'm gonna call DHS when I get home. I'll show her that she can't be mean to me like that and get away with it! Who needs a mom, anyway?"

[Wooldoor Sockbat]

AMEM, brother! One interested in the Thunder has to wonder why, especially having made the point the first time, it is necessary to spend any time, especially LOTS of it, griping about what was instead of just being grateful for what we have, but easily could NOT have had. It seems kinda like a little kid in a store with his mom:

Little Kid: "Mommie, I want that!"

Mom: "No, you can't have it."

Little Kid: "But I want it! That's not fair."

Mom: "Sorry, it's not gonna happen. Are you sure you want me to bring you to the store with me next time.?"

Little Kid: "Braw ha ha. I hate you, Mommie! I want that right NOW!"

Mom (to herself): "Sometimes I wonder why I ever wanted to have kids. Oh, well ... thank you, God for this little turd ... help me with patience, please. I know that he'll grow up in a few years, and then he'll thank me. Right?"

Little Kid (to himself): "I'm gonna call DHS when I get home. I'll show her that she can't be mean to me like that and get away with it! Who needs a mom, anyway?"

I still prefer Barons.

[Jimmy Early]

I still prefer Barons.

Now THAT'S funny!

:D

[OKThunder]

It's now all water under the bridge. We all did what we had to do. I'm not even an official season ticket holder but I have season tickets. Like Betts put it -- give me a couple of years and they will be in my name where I want to be!!:p

[Thunderus]

Sponsors did not select tickets Monday morning...they did it the week before without having to go to the Ford Center...

[Thunderhead]

I think we were truncated. That'll show us.

[Doug Loudenback]

I think we were truncated. That'll show us.
I think that's called being "Thunderstruck!" :D