Short by about 12,000
I was disappointed.
I blame it on P.J. Carlesimo.
It was the Thunder coach who threw out the number — “15,000.”
I remember thinking when he said it Saturday that there was no chance Monday’s open practice would draw that many fans. But then I had 24 hours to think it over and at some point Sunday began to think that far-fetched figure could be a possibility.
Instead, I walked into the Ford Center and saw an estimated 3,000 fans seated in the lower bowl to watch Oklahoma City’s NBA team drill, stretch and scrimmage.
It was a nice crowd that I would have been impressed with had those five digits not been floating around in my cranium the past 24 hours.
Talking with a national writer throughout the scrimmage, I shared my humble opinion with him about OKC fans. I suggested this city has tasted the big time and no longer flocks to see open practices. No longer craves anything but “the real thing.” Had the Hornets not played the better part of two seasons here, I figured, perhaps Monday’s practice would have drawn 15,000. It’s not unheard of even in long-standing NBA cities.
Michael Ravina, the Thunder’s PR whiz who left Golden State for his current position, remembered the Warriors hosting an open practice and receiving a flood of loud and proud fans. That was the season after the team’s magical run to and in the playoffs, when Golden State upset Dallas in the first round.
Maybe I’ve got it backwards. Maybe OKC will draw packed houses for practices when the team evolves into a playoff mainstay.
Maybe not.
Maybe there will come a day when OKC really thumbs its collective noses at preseason ballgames and such. When 16,410 on a Tuesday night against the Clippers will be the exception not the rule.
What do you think?
-DM-
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Comments
There was no real push on this practice for big numbers. I thought PJ’s number was overly optomistic as soon as I read it. I would expect to see the details like this grow over the next two years as the organization comes up to speed.
I’ve been really impressed with the off court team they’re putting together and believe the owners want nothing less than the best of the best in NBA experience for OKC.
On a side note, Potatoes are good. I like baked, boiled, fried, grilled, sauteeded, scaloped, etc. I can’t remember a potato dish that I didn’t like. I’m an OKC Potato fan. Any friend of the potato is a friend of mine.
When I read 15,000, I remember wondering if he meant 1500. I went to the Hornets open practice, and I think there were more people at practice last night. This is not a bellwhether of interest, IMO. I don’t think this was very well publicized. No e-mail was sent to season ticket holders, or at least I didn’t receive one. My ticket rep called me Monday morning and didn’t even mention the practice. I talked to a bunch of friends about it yesterday, and they’d not even heard about it. A lot of the Thunder news in the paper has taken a backseat to college football. So, I think we don’t need to read too much into this.
On the other hand, the people who didn’t go missed a great experience. It was fun to meet the players, and it was really interesting to watch a practice and scrimmage.
Glenn makes a point that I didn’t consider but could certainly be part of it.
The vibe I get from the season ticket holders I know is that many are waiting breathlessly to see the “game experience” and how it compares to the Hornets. If the team would have promised an unveiling of a mascot I bet there would have been more people there. It makes no sense to me but I know there are a lot of people like this out there. It’s almost like people “know” the ownership group more than the players and are eager to see what kind of product they are going to put together.
I think the entire organization did a great job last night though and made some new basketball fans. It was awesome to walk right in the door and shake PJ Carlesimo’s hand and to get pictures taken with some of the players. As the team develops its personality and as fans get to know the players it will become more about the basketball and you’ll get more people to come to a basketball practice.
While I generally share Philip’s love of potatoes, I have to say that scalloped potatoes are the exception.
As far as DM’s question, I think the date and time had a lot to do with it. There just wasn’t enough time to leave work, go pick up the kids and drive back to the Ford Center by 5:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Rather than looking at it as there “only” being 3,000 in attendance for a practice, think about it this way: Only 8,000 showed up for a preseason game between the Celtics and Cavs.
[...] Thunder? Bucks? Nets?7th: Cleveland Plain Dealer. Mo Williams and Andre Miller got beef.8th: Thunder Rumblings. P.J. didn’t quite get the crowd he expected for Monday’s open OKC practice.9th: YB, via Game On. [...]
Did anyone actually hear PJ say 15,000? I thought it was a misprint in the newspaper when I read it because that is a ridiculous estimate.
Asa Seattleite who has followed the Sonics since their inception, I repeat what I said a number of months ago: Oklahoma City does not deserve the Sonics! The city has suffered more than enough…
Also, Clay Bennet’s pants are still on fire…
i didnt go because he said 15,ooo fans so i thought it might be a hassle and too crowded for just a practice so i didnt go. by him saying that it hurt the attendence and rose expectations adversly making it a unqualified disapointment