Thunder: What do you think about Thunder Alley changes?

I was saddened to hear that eight citizens were shot the evening of the Thunder/Lakers Playoff game, butI am extremely upset that Mayor Cornett and the Thunder management decided to cancel the watch party. It's been a way for the fan that wasn't able to get a ticket to feel a part of the game. The frequent television shots of the crowd were great. There were NO problems in Thunder Alley. Have there been problems in Bricktown? Yes! Are the crowds large for the Arts Festival? Yes! Opening Night? Oh heavens, yes! are there problems during these events...YES! Have we cancelled ANY of them...NO! Help me understand, PLEASE! Oh, by the way were there any movies being shown at Harkins that night. Also, weren't there a couple of graduation ceremonies going on at the Cox Center? I guess it's impossible to think that the shootings could have been a result of any of those events. Perhaps a solution could be to set up the scanners and metal detectors in the street on either end of Thunder Alley. Hummmm? One last thought. I am a season ticket holder, so I have never hung out in Thunder Alley however, my 19 year old son decided to stay in Thunder Alley instead of coming inside. That's what Thunder Alley means to Oklahoma City Mr. Cornett!

Jim's right Jenni - Although you "heard" something else, it doesn't amount to squat. Great points have been made here. 1. State Fair continues despite its size, faithfully, every year. 2. Politics - this is a game for them, pushing their weight around and pressuring a franchise to cease, is border-line if not corrupt somehow. 3. The Almighty dollar: Businesses have definitely felt a blow, but whine about it, really? Grow a spine and do something with the extra revenue they have enjoyed from a team that "we" propell. Get a vendors liscence for a booth outside (Norman did it on campus corner and didn't cry about it, they adapted FOR Sooner fans), a food coach, be creative or get over it, being in business is about making something out of what customers want, not forcing them to re/enter their establishments because of narrow-minded business approach, or running to the mayor because "you" know him. Oh...one other thing, why would a franchise want to stop something that was so good?? From a business stand point, it makes ZERO sense, ZERO. It's like you saying "man, more people show up each time, and everyone buys lots of FRANCHISE MERCHANDISE, uh, all this success can't be good....let's shut it down." Please someone tell me how that works, I like to learn things so if I am missing out on something fill me in. *** Theron: What I've heard is coming from sources. I tend to take my sources fairly seriously. And while the Thunder no doubt saw the benefit of Thunder Alley, it also saw the potential danger. That shooting could've just as easily happened two blocks west of where it did, and it would've been right in front of the arena. That's the kind of thing the team wants to avoid, and it decided the cost of shutting down Thunder Alley to potentially avoid that was more important than the monetary benefits it might reap. Jenni

I think there has got to be a way to continue it. Maybe give out tickets to limit how many people can stay? I don't if that's possible, but if they can close the street off more, maybe. I don't know, I'm in tulsa, so was never able to go, but my friends and i had talked about watching a game out there if one fell on a friday or saturday night.

Finally someone said what we all know. Thanks Kevin - it couldn't be any more obvious that is the case.

The end of the watch parties in Thunder Alley is not about the shooting, crime, crowds, security, or even the safety of Thunder fans. It is because Bricktown merchants are crying foul that the watch parties are taking away their business o...n what should be their busiest nights. Thousands of fans were outside watching the game for free and not spending money inside their establishments on food, drinks, and whatever else during the Thunder games.

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