Does Oklahoma Have A NFL Team?

No, Oklahoma does not currently have an NFL team. However, there have been several proposals to bring a team to the state, including one to build a stadium in Oklahoma City.

The NFL in Oklahoma

Oklahoma does not have its own NFL team, but the state has a long history with the league. The first NFL game was played in Oklahoma in 1902, and the state has been home to a number of NFL teams over the years.

The state of professional football in Oklahoma

Oklahoma has a long and rich history with professional football. The state has been home to several successful teams, including the Oklahoma Outlaws of the United States Football League (USFL) and the Oklahoma Wranglers of the Arena Football League (AFL). However, Oklahoma does not currently have a team in either the USFL or the AFL.

The most recent attempt to bring a professional football team to Oklahoma was in 2006, when businessman Calvin Stephens tried to create an expansion team in the Arena Football League. Stephens’ proposal was approved by the league, but he was unable to secure financing for the team. The team would have been known as the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz.

While there is no professional football team currently playing in Oklahoma, the state does have a strong college football tradition. The University of Oklahoma Sooners and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys are both nationally ranked programs with passionate fanbases.

The history of the NFL in Oklahoma

The National Football League (NFL) is the highest level of professional American football in the United States. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA), with the league changing its name to the National Football League in 1922. The NFL expanded to its current size of 32 teams in 1965.

Oklahoma has a long and storied history with the NFL, dating back to the earliest days of the league. The state has been home to several NFL teams, including the Oklahoma Outlaws, Oklahoma City Blazers, and Tulsa Oilers. However, Oklahoma has never had a team that calls the state home on a permanent basis.

The first NFL team in Oklahoma was the Outlaws, who played their home games in Oklahoma City from 1974 to 1975. The team was part of the World Football League (WFL), which was a short-lived professional football league that operated from 1974 to 1975. The Outlaws were not affiliated with an NFL team and only played one season before folding along with the rest of the WFL.

The next NFL team to call Oklahoma home was the Tulsa Oilers. The Oilers were a charter member of the American Football League (AFL), which began play in 1960. The team played their home games at Tulsa’s Skelly Stadium and won one AFL Championship during their time in Oklahoma (in 1964). The Oilers left Oklahoma for Houston following the 1971 season and became known as the Houston Oilers. They would eventually move again and are currently known as the Tennessee Titans.

The most recent NFL team to play in Oklahoma was the Oklahoma City Blazers. The Blazers were an expansion team that began play in 1984 as part of the United States Football League (USFL). The USFL was a short-lived professional football league that operated from 1983 to 1985. The Blazers played their home games at Memorial Stadium and had moderate success, winning two division titles during their three seasons of existence. However, like most other USFL teams, they folded when the league ceased operations in 1985.

Since 1985, there have been multiple attempts to bring an NFL team back to Oklahoma, but all have so far been unsuccessful. In 1993, businessman David Letterman unsuccessfully tried to purchasethe then-struggling Los Angeles Rams and move them to Oklahoma City. In 2008, businessman Clay Bennett unsuccessfully tried to purchasethe Seattle Seahawks with intention of moving them to his hometown of Norman, Oklahoma; instead, Bennett ended up movingthe Seahawksto his other hometownof Seattle, Washington following legal disputes with then-Seahawks owner Paul Allen over stadium renovations

The Oklahoma City market

As the 26th largest television market in the United States, Oklahoma City is often overlooked by the NFL. With a metro population of just over 1.3 million, it is the 122nd largest metropolitan area in the country. That said, the city has been thrown around as a potential market for an NFL team on several occasions.

The potential for an NFL team in Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City is the largest city in the state of Oklahoma and is home to nearly 1.4 million people. The city is also the capital of Oklahoma and is the economic and cultural center of the state. Oklahoma City is home to many professional sports teams, including the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder, MLS’s FC Dallas, and the Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. The city also has a strong college sports presence, with the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys both calling Oklahoma City home.

Despite all of this, Oklahoma City does not have an NFL team. The city has been mentioned as a potential market for an NFL team on several occasions, but has never been able to lure a team to move there. The closest that Oklahoma City has come to getting an NFL team was in 2013 when the City was awarded an expansion franchise in the now-defunct United Football League. The UFL franchise, however, folded before ever playing a game.

There are several reasons why Oklahoma City has never been able to land an NFL team. First and foremost, the market is simply too small. At 1.4 million people, Oklahoma City is only the 44th largest television market in the United States. This makes it significantly smaller than other markets that have recently been awarded NFL teams, such as Los Angeles (2nd), Houston (5th), and Minneapolis (14th). Secondly, despite being home to several professional and collegiate sports teams, football has never really taken off in a big way in Oklahoma City. Finally, unlike some other small markets that have successfully hosted NFL teams (e.g., Green Bay), Oklahoma City does not have a wealthy or deep-pocketed ownership group that could help offset some of the challenges associated with operating an NFL team in a small market.

The support for an NFL team in Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City has shown strong support for an NFL team in the past. In fact, the city was one of the finalists for the St. Louis Rams franchise in 2016. While the Rams ultimately chose to relocate to Los Angeles, Oklahoma City remains one of the strongest markets for an NFL team.

There are a number of reasons why Oklahoma City is a strong market for an NFL team. First, the city has a population of over 1.3 million people, which is large enough to support an NFL team. Second, Oklahoma City is home to a number of large corporations that could potentially serve as corporate sponsors for an NFL team. Finally, Oklahoma City has a rich tradition of supporting professional sports teams, as evidenced by the strong fan base for the city’s NBA franchise, the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Tulsa market

The potential for an NFL team in Tulsa

Tulsa has been mentioned as a potential market for an NFL team on several occasions. Most recently, in 2020, former NFL player Troy Aikman said that Tulsa could be a good market for an NFL team. However, there are several factors that would need to be considered before Tulsa could become a viable option for an NFL team.

population:
Tulsa has a population of just over 400,000 people. This is not a large enough population to support an NFL team. An NFL team needs a population of at least 1 million people to be viable.

corporate support:
In order for an NFL team to be successful, it needs the support of local businesses. Tulsa does not have the same level of corporate support that other markets have. This could make it difficult for an NFL team to be successful in Tulsa.

stadiums:
Tulsa does not have a stadium that meets the requirements of the NFL. An NFL stadium must have a minimum seating capacity of 65,000 people. The largest stadium in Tulsa, Skelly Field at H.A Chapman Stadium, has a capacity of just over 30,000 people. This means that Tulsa would need to build a new stadium if it were to ever host an NFL team.

The support for an NFL team in Tulsa

From an article published in October 2019 in the Tulsa World, it appears that support for an NFL team in Tulsa is strong. The article cites a poll that was conducted by the St. John Sprint Polling Center which found that 74 percent of Oklahomans would support a Tulsa-based NFL team. This number jumps to 82 percent when considering only respondents from the Tulsa metro area.

The article also cites Steve Wilks, president of the Greater Tulsa Sports Commission, who notes that there have been informal discussions with the NFL about the possibility of a team in Tulsa. However, he cautions that there is still a lot of work to be done before anything comes to fruition.

The feasibility of an NFL team in Oklahoma

Oklahoma has a rich football history. The state has produced many great players and has a large fan base. It seems like a natural fit for the state to have its own NFL team. However, there are a few obstacles. First, Oklahoma does not have a suitable stadium. Second, the state does not have a large enough market. Third, Oklahoma does not have a history of success with professional sports teams. Let’s take a closer look at each of these obstacles.

The financial feasibility of an NFL team in Oklahoma

## The financial feasibility of an NFL team in Oklahoma

###1. Would an NFL team in Oklahoma be profitable?
Yes, an NFL team in Oklahoma would be profitable. The state has a large population and a strong economy, and the market is currently underserved by the NFL. There is significant interest in football in the state, and a team would likely generate strong ticket sales and merchandise sales.

### 2. What would be the start-up costs for an NFL team in Oklahoma?
The start-up costs for an NFL team in Oklahoma would include the cost of constructing a stadium and acquiring players. The stadium would need to seat at least 65,000 fans, and it would need to have suites and other premium seating options. The cost of construction would depend on the location and design of the stadium, but it would likely be around $1 billion. The cost of acquiring players would depend on whether the team chose to go through an expansion draft or free agency. If the team went through an expansion draft, they would need to pay a fee to the league of $600 million. If they chose to go through free agency, they would need to sign players to contracts worth a total of $150 million.

### 3. How much revenue could an NFL team in Oklahoma generate?
An NFL team in Oklahoma could generate significant revenue. The state has a large population, and fans would likely be willing to travel to see games. The team could also generate revenue from naming rights for the stadium, suites, and sponsorship deals. Based on these factors, it is estimated that an NFL team in Oklahoma could generate annual revenue of $500 million.

The political feasibility of an NFL team in Oklahoma

Despite the state of Oklahoma having no NFL team, the possibility of the state gaining a team is not entirely out of the realm of possibility. In fact, there are a number of factors that could make an NFL team in Oklahoma a reality.

First and foremost, the state has a large population base. According to the most recent Census data, Oklahoma has a population of over 3.9 million people. This makes it the 28th most populous state in the country, ahead of states like Oregon, Kansas, and South Carolina, all of which have NFL teams.

Secondly, Oklahoma also has a strong economy. In 2018, the state had a GDP of over $200 billion, making it the 27th largest economy in the country. This puts it ahead of other large states like Wisconsin and Virginia, both of which have NFL teams.

Finally, Oklahoma also has a rich college football tradition. The state is home to two major college football programs in Oklahoma State and Oklahoma Sooners. These programs have produced numerous NFL players over the years, including stars like Adrian Peterson and Josh Norman.

While there are definitely obstacles to an NFL team in Oklahoma (namely, obtaining funding for a new stadium), it is not an impossible feat. With a large population base and strong economy, as well as a rich college football tradition, there is definitely potential for an NFL team in Oklahoma.

The logistical feasibility of an NFL team in Oklahoma

Oklahoma is home to two major cities, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, which respectively rank 28th and 45th in terms of population in the United States. As such, there is potential for an NFL team in Oklahoma. However, there are several logistical issues to consider.

For one, neither Oklahoma City nor Tulsa currently have a suitable stadium for an NFL team. The closest thing either city has is Tulsa’s Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium, which has a capacity of only 30,000 people. It would need to be significantly expanded or a new stadium would need to be built in order for an NFL team to call it home.

Another issue is that Oklahoma is currently not home to any major professional sports teams. The only teams that play in the state are minor league or collegiate teams. This could make it difficult to generate enough interest in an NFL team, as there would be no other professional teams for fans to support.

Finally, there is the issue of competition from other cities who are also vying for an NFL team. Oklahoma City and Tulsa are both small markets compared to some of the other cities that have been mentioned as potential locations for an NFL team (such as Las Vegas or San Antonio). This could make it difficult for either city to attract an NFL franchise.

Overall, while there is potential for an NFL team in Oklahoma, there are several logistical issues that would need to be overcome first.