Recommendation on Oklahoma City's hockey future coming Tuesday

Monday, January 24th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A report due out Tuesday could weigh heavily in the decision over which hockey team calls Oklahoma City home next season. City Manager Glenn Deck is expected to make his recommendation Tuesday on whether the Blazers of the Central Hockey League stay or the Blades of the International Hockey League set up shop here instead.

Both teams have submitted bids to play in the Myriad and the city's future downtown arena. After Deck issues his report, the city council could decide the matter within a few weeks. Half the council members said they are backing the Blazers, regardless of Deck's recommendation. Four others say they are keeping an open mind.

Deck has promised to consider the desires of vocal Blazers fans who want their team to remain. The Blazers have called Oklahoma City home for eight years and are leading the Central Hockey League in attendance with an average of 8,605 fans a game. But the Kansas City Blades want to move to the city.

Though the team has lost millions of dollars in Kansas City, owner Dan DeVoss said Oklahoma City would be different. He promises the city better quality hockey and the prestige of being represented in a more prominent league. The Blades want 40 percent of arena concession sales and 35 percent of what the city gets for the corporate name of the future arena. But the Blazers, profitable since their start in 1992, are not asking for a cut of the naming rights.

The Blades, meanwhile, are touting a proposed affiliation with the National Hockey League's Dallas Stars, who have said the Blades will become their farm team if they move to Oklahoma. The Blades also boast of a tentative agreement with Fox Sports Southwest to televise five of 10 games next season. The team promises says a ticket will cost $2 more than it costs to see a Blazers