OKC prepares for NBA visit

It's the next big step in making Oklahoma City an NBA city and it happens Tuesday.

Monday, March 24th 2008, 7:35 pm

By: News 9


By Alex Cameron, NEWS 9

It's the next big step in making Oklahoma City an NBA city and it happens Tuesday.

NBA commissioner David Stern and members of the league's relocation committee will be in town to see for themselves if we're ready to host our own franchise.

The city will be showing and telling the NBA folks all about Oklahoma City and what it offers a potential franchise.

Landscaping crews did their best to put a little spit shine on the Ford Center Monday.

"Little spit shine and try to make it look a little more presentable, just make it look nicer," said Chris Mitchener of Centennial Landscaping.

Part one of the presentation will be inside the Ford Center, where officials say the NBA group will see how the city plans to make the arena one of the best in the country.

The rest of the presentation will take place at the Skirvin, where a group of heavy hitters, including Governor Henry, Mayor Cornett, and Sonics owner Clay Bennett will try to convince league officials that Oklahoma City can and will support the Sonics.

Chamber of Commerce president Roy Williams will join in the presentation. His message will be economics. He will talk about how Oklahoma's economy is growing and that it's diversified enough to host an NBA team.

"If they're going put a franchise anywhere, they want it to be there really forever, and the burden of proof is on us to show them, well, in Oklahoma City that would be a smart choice," Williams said. "You get one shot at this, there isn't going to be another NBA franchise coming behind this one, at least that we're aware of, so we want to do this one right, and so we're working very hard to get it right the first time."

To make sure they get it right Tuesday, the group had a couple of rehearsals Monday. We won't get to see firsthand how it goes, as both the presentation at the Skirven and the tour here will be closed to the media.

The commissioner will be holding a press briefing Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. The press conference will be streamed live on News9.com

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