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What's the Encore to the Oklahoma City Thunder?

By
Real Estate Agent with The Virtual Real Estate Team 104556

A new era begins Wednesday in Oklahoma. Our new NBA team starts playing in the Ford Center. I have linked an excellent article about how this happened from The New York Times. It points out that The Thunder will not make a huge financial impact on Oklahoma City especially in light of the 20 Billion that Devon and Chesapeake Energy Companies bring to the state. It does point out that Oklahoma City is the new role model for the NBA. As someone who grew up in Oklahoma City I completely understand David Stern's reasoning. Oklahoma City in the 1950's and beyond has been a cultural and intellectual wasteland. One of it's chief industries was telemarketing. Why? The high divorce rate caused a fertile recruiting ground for low paid single mothers who could work on a flex time schedule. As the article points out, The Murrah Building Bombing caused a unification of the city to recreate it into a new identity so we wouldn't be the city of domestic terrorism insanity. The unity crossed economics, race, and geography. We funded the two MAPS projects that revitalized downtown Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma City school systems. We expanded out airport for more direct flights that appeals to business men who want to relocate, and we created an empowerment zone that gave significant tax breaks to companies like Dell Computers to come to a lower cost market with a capable work force. Our housing market is still stable with only 6% of MLS listings being distressed properties. However, we can still become complacent.   The resurgence of the energy industry that flourished until 1982 has brought incredible wealth to Oklahoma is softening. Some predict oil going down to $45 a barrel and natural gas which has gone up in inventory to also slide. We did the above things to not be dependent on energy. We have a lot more work to do to go from an emerging city to a vibrant city that has a balanced economy. As I previously blogged, when I go around Houston shopping I realize that a CEO's wife is going to tell her husband about what she likes to do that is better in Houston than our city. When we went to Whole Foods yesterday not only did we get better good in one place, we also got vitamins, aloe juice, and supplements that i would have to go to a health food store for in OKC, and bread that only a Oklahoma City bakery could satisfy me with. My apartment is in walking distance from five significant museums, IMAX theaters, three parks, and bike trails. We are moving in that direction but we need to pick up the pace. One professional sports franchise does not transform a city although it is a major accomplishment. Higher pay for our teachers, changes in liquors laws to allow even Walgreen's to sell wine which is a convienience, having more amenities to attract business all create jobs that increases consumer spending that brings in more jobs. Although Starbucks is not the factor it once was, when Seattle based Boeing moved to Chicago instead of Dallas there were obvious factors like the flight schedule from airports, office vacancy rate, but the number of Starbucks locations was considered in the process. It was not that quality of coffee made the difference, it was more an indicator of what this showed was beyond the obvious factors. Out anti-intellectual, anti-growth s has diminished, but it has not gone away. It is time to push down on the accelerator pedal to go to the next level. Go Thunder!!! Go Oklahoma City!!!     

Comments (1)

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Apostille/Authentication/Embassy Legalization, Notary Public, Loan Signing Agent & Process Server Services - Austin, TX
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Thanks for the great information.Feather Pen

Dec 08, 2008 09:40 AM