How Could Conference Realignment Impact Oklahoma City?

By Jon Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- While most Oklahomans are focused on how conference realignment could affect OU and OSU, the potential breakup of the Big 12 also has the attention of downtown Oklahoma City businesses.

Oklahoma City's central location in the Big 12 makes it a prime location to host conference tournaments.  If there is a shift to the PAC-10, some fear Oklahoma City wouldn't be able to compete with larger cities like Los Angeles.  

Greg Powell, general manager of Bricktown Brewery, said he thinks the move would be negative.

"I see a conference where most of the schools are way out west of here and we're on the edge," he said. "Why make teams travel that far when you can meet probably closer to the middle?"

It's not only business owners concerned over the dismantling of the Big 12, city leaders also are concerned about conference realignment.  

"We have used our central location in the Big 12 to our advantage," Mayor Mick Cornett said. "We have great facilities, and that central location was key to us securing conference events."

Cornett said we would lose the advantage of a central location, the city could still try to attract other NCAA events.

"Although we'll host fewer conference championships I think the ones we do host we'll have a larger economic impact." Mayor Cornett said.

Cornett said a larger conference, like a potential Pac-16, means more schools and their fans would travel to Oklahoma City.

Get the latest on conference chaos on OKBlitz.com.