NOTHING BUT GREEN: Naming Tulsa's Indoor Football League franchise

Jul. 29—The vibrant sports scene in Tulsa is expanding.

During a press conference Tuesday at the BOK Center, Indoor Football League commissioner Todd Tryon announced Tulsa Oilers owner Andy Scurto purchased an expansion franchise that will begin play inside the arena in spring 2023.

The acquisition adds to an already spirited professional sports landscape in Tulsa, which includes the Oilers (ECHL), the Drillers (Minor League Baseball) and two soccer teams — FC Tulsa (USL Championship) and Tulsa Athletic (National Premier Soccer League).

Scurto and the Oilers bring indoor football back to Tulsa for the first time since the Oklahoma Defenders in 2014, and it will be the first indoor football tenant for the BOK Center since the Tulsa Talons in 2011.

There is just one thing missing — a name.

That task is being left to the fans, who can submit possible team names at tulsaindoorfootball.com. A vote of the finalists will be held in mid-August.

"Tell us your ideas for a team name, as well as why you think it's a good name, and the winners are going to get some season tickets," Scurto said. "We really would like everyone's help, and we hope soon we'll get some great submissions and we'll come up with a good name for the team."

Scurto noted that they'd like to find a local identifier to name the team, perhaps something related to the city's roots in oil like the other local franchises — the Oilers and the Drillers — have done.

With that in mind, restoring the Talons name from the days of the Arena Football League and AF2 isn't likely.

"In my opinion, the Oilers have such a huge brand around the concept of oil," Scurto said. "Talons just doesn't seem to fit with what we do. I don't want to sway the fans on what they submit — you're welcome to submit anything — but our current thought process is we'd like to stay with something around Oklahoma: oil, like Oil Barons. Something around that, just to kind of tie it in."

However, the Oil Barons is too similar to the Oklahoma City Barons hockey franchise that ceased operations in 2015.

Route 66 is a popular tourist attraction in Tulsa, but the 66ers name was already used by the Oklahoma City Thunder's minor league affiliate from 2005-2014. Roughnecks is another name that is oil-related and might be a common submission, but that was used by what is now FC Tulsa from 2014-2019.

Borrowing names from former local franchises should probably be avoided to avoid confusion and promote originality, and Scurto and the powers at be most likely feel the same.

In my attempt to help the owners, I've come up with a trio of names that are both original and pay homage to the Tulsa area.

GREEN COUNTRY RIVERMEN

I know what you're thinking — where is Tulsa? Well, I am glad you asked.

Using the city's name might seem like a foregone conclusion, but I don't think it is necessary to be attached to the franchise name.

After all, seven of the current 15 IFL teams use regionalized identifiers or nicknames rather than the cities they're based in (Arizona Rattlers, Bay Area Panthers, Duke City Gladiators, Iowa Barnstormers, Massachusetts Pirates, Northern Arizona Wranglers, Quad City Steamwheelers).

Green Country works because it is the popular moniker given to Tulsa and a vast majority of Northeast Oklahoma. Not only is it inclusive to all fans in this part of the state, but it also recognizes the lush foliage that lines the mountainsides and rolling hills that are so commonly associated with the Tulsa Metropolitan Area.

Using an inclusive name like Green Country as opposed to the exclusiveness of Tulsa would certainly go over well with supporters, and because it is linked to Tulsa, it doesn't take away from the city's importance within the franchise. Not to mention it has a nice ring to it.

I chose Rivermen because of the significance of the Arkansas River to Tulsa.

The name fits both geographically and demographically because the Arkansas River flows through the heart of Tulsa just outside of downtown, and countless outdoor recreation and seasonal entertainment opportunities are offered along the banks of the river.

The Arkansas River is arguably the attraction of all attractions in Tulsa because whether you're jogging, walking, biking or rollerblading, the over 26 miles of asphalt trails on both banks lead to the city's most-popular destinations.

As for the team colors, green and blue would be the obvious choices because they perfectly connect the brilliant foliage of Green Country with the rippling blue waters of the Arkansas River.

TULSA BLUE DOMERS

This one is a little less obvious, but one of Tulsa's nine downtown sections is the Blue Dome District.

The BOK Center doesn't lie within any of these areas in particular, but it is a walkable half mile from the Blue Dome District, which is understandably named after The Blue Dome, a former 1920s-era oil station located at 320 E 2nd St.

In addition to being named after one of the city's most-recognizable historical landmarks, it provides the oil tie-in Scurto favors.

This is similar to Notre Dame athletes and alumni being called "gold domers" because of the gold dome atop the Main Administration Building on campus. Notre Dame football players are also called this because of their gold helmets, so the Tulsa Blue Domers would similarly use all-blue head protection that takes inspiration from the shade used on The Blue Dome.

The word "dome" can also be a synonym for helmet, which is the primary protective instrument used in football. Not to mention indoor arenas are often called domes, so it fits perfectly in that regard.

With blue being the primary color used to represent the team, gold and white would serve as secondary colors given The Blue Dome's golden-white hue.

TULSA WILDERNESS

This is in reference to Tulsa's Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area, which consists of over 300 acres of undeveloped property that stretches along the Arkansas River.

Minutes from downtown, this quiet and secluded area is home to several marked trails that make up Turkey Mountain, as well as 25 miles of unmarked trails. That is a lot of wilderness to take in, hence the name.

It is a paradise for all trail lovers alike — from hikers to runners to mountain bikers — so if this name were to be adopted, I think a combo of two or three of the colors used to identify each trail (Red, Blue, Yellow, Pink) would suffice.

Green, black and maroon would be an adequate mix as well to accomplish a darker, more brooding look.

The ball's in your court now, Scurto.

I'll leave you with this song parody of "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)" by Pet Shop Boys:

I've got the name

You've got the team

Let's play lots of football