Real Estate Boosted By OKC's NBA Team

By Colleen Chen, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The buzz surrounding the NBA moving to Oklahoma generated real estate interest early on, but brokers said the name announcement has taken it to a whole new level.

Once the announcement was made, the calls began escalating at places like Brewer Entertainment, which manages about nine buildings in Bricktown.

"With the announcement of the name, you're looking at probably a 75 percent increase in property real estate and business," Chris Clifton of Brewer Entertainment said.

Sperry Van Ness, another company which manages buildings, has also received more attention.

"I've been probably getting about 25 percent to 35 percent more calls on properties here in Bricktown," said Sami Misallam of Sperry Van Ness Real Estate.

The growing trend has made landlords more selective about their tenants.

"With the increase in interest because of the NBA, they do have that many more people and therefore that many more ideas floating around," Misallam said.

The difference about the interest since the name release is who it's coming from. More interest came from national companies who needed the name, a final stamp of commitment, to be sure they were interested.

"I'm not at liberty to say, but you will be very pleasantly surprised with what is out there and who is interested in coming," Clifton said.

The Coyote Ugly Saloon will soon take over the former J. Franks on the Bricktown canal. Brad Baker with NIA Sullivan group assisted in securing the deal.

"This is probably the first national tenant to come here," Baker said.

The bar hopes to be open by March.

Clifton expects a significant change in the Bricktown community with six months.