When OKC made the announcement that the Seattle SuperSonics were moving to Oklahoma, the Vegas odds on whether our state capital could support a professional sports team wasn't exactly in favor. Even the majority of Oklahomans were like "Yeah, I don't know if that's going to work out or not."

That being said, the OKC Thunder sold out every single game for an entire decade. Now the Thunder is in the middle of a "rebuilding" period of time and it's easier to spot a few empty seats at each game, but the fandom is still strong.

While city officials are being pressured by Thunder ownership to either build a new arena under a veiled threat of our basketball team leaving, OKC just announced we're getting a new pro-sports team, and once again nobody knows what to think about it.

The OKC Spark is a professional women's fastpitch softball club set to kick off its inaugural season in June 2023, and the actual odds are, with OU's incredible and dominant softball talent located so close, the Spark will be shoo-in title contenders for a long time... provided the team can afford all of that talent, which casts the biggest doubt.

Because OU's softball program has been so dominant, with six NCAA championships, most of Oklahoma watches and supports state softball as they would any other college championship sport. At least this is true during the short period of time the college championship tournament happens... but how will things work out with a long, full season?

I'll bet everyone involved is currently stressed to the hilt over the excitement of this.

Honestly, every sport has fans. The Redhawks always had fans in the stands. The Dodgers still continue to sell tickets. Even OKC's Energy soccer team has been around for a decade, even though the 2022 season isn't happening due to stadium renovations (at least that's the story they've sold).

The question used to be "Can OKC support a professional sports team?" I think it has been answered. Now the question is "Can OKC support two professional sports teams?" and it's fairly loaded even though the Thunder are threatening to leave.

Of course, OKC will agree to build them a new arena to keep them around. They bring far too much money to Bricktown to let a few hundred million dollars get in the way... but the Spark aren't going to be playing in Bricktown. They'll make their home at the USA Hall of Fame Stadium on the OGE Energy Field - home of the NCAA softball tournament - located across town behind the OKC Zoo and Remington Park.

Will they succeed? I don't think it's all doom and gloom even though it has more seats than Bricktown Ballpark... but ultimately time will tell. Since the games are shorter and faster than baseball, it'll be a solid option for sports entertainment the kids will be able to endure.

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