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Current Video:OKC Mayor talks NBA lockout|

FOX Business talks with Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett about the state of the NBA.

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Automatically Generated Transcript (may not be 100% accurate)

As you know the NBA has canceled the first two weeks of the season eliminating about a hundred games for NBA teams but. Listen it is not just the players who were suffering cities are losing millions of dollars in revenue along with an untold number of businesses whose -- rides on a season. Joining us now -- a Fox Business exclusive is Mick Cornett is the mayor of Oklahoma City. Where they have the Chesapeake Energy arena and they've got the Oklahoma thunder who isn't going to be playing at least for these first two weeks and there. What's happening -- already starting to see some repercussions from this. Well I don't know the we're seeing it yet but you got a lot of disappointed fans certainly we have citizens who work at the arena on game night they're gonna miss out on the revenue. I know commissioner stern didn't wanna have to cancel these first two weeks of the season so it's all very regrettable but we get hit from an economic impact and certainly the ability to. Sell our brand you know it display our brand Oklahoma City across the world on the NBA platform so we're missing out and in mold more ways than one. I need you to put a number on us a dollar figure how much per game does the city stand to lose what each game as -- well I think the. Economic impact per game is just over a million dollars. Now fortunately were on some level of a boom time economy our our economy is probably as strong as anyone in the country may be the strongest we have the lowest unemployment the nation. And things are really good here in fact the arena is is under construction because we're expanding at this part of our NBA relocation deal with with the league. But still you know million dollars is a million dollars into the economy and we can withstand a couple of games because that's what we're losing from the first two weeks cancellation. But if this goes on and if this were to somehow become the whole season. It be a significant economic impact and as I mentioned it would also impact our ability to sell Oklahoma City you know to look to a worldwide audience. Short to the tourists but but I am just going back of the envelope -- the whole season you could lose more than fifty million dollars here. Yeah that's no fun and you know. Our economy could withstand it better than most but no economy is is gonna say that's enjoyable. Now you guys were able to get a tax passed it's one cent sales tax to overhaul and and add some some. Fancy things to the stadium or the arena you tell me are you hearing from taxpayer saying. Why did I what -- -- -- this I mean a penny you could say can be gay but having people are worried at their upset I'm sure. Well that's right I mean there's no question that the city still owns the arena and these improvements will help concerts and other things but they got it because it one of an NBA basketball team. They didn't want a team that was gonna sit out a regular season but I -- not I don't think at this point we we -- we're blaming the owners or or or that the commissioner's office like. Think at this point the players have to become realistic that the owners have to have a better deal here lightning who have tired of the table are you blaming the players I I think they've been misled -- the players have been misled by other agents and -- if you think that the commissioner and the owners wanted to start canceling games I I I just can't imagine where that that line of thinking would come from. I mean there there wounding the game itself they're lending their league. That this is gonna have long term repercussions of it keeps going. There could it actually increase your unemployment rate you're -- about a 5% rate which is very good compared to art good national rate which is more than 9% obviously but. If the entire season goes how would this affect that 5% unemployment rate. Well I think I don't know that it would affect it you've got these part time workers who show up on game nights and certainly at at this point I don't think the team is going to be laying off any employees and I can't imagine Kevin Durant lining up in the unemployment line. But if any of those things were to happen I guess you would start to see unemployment lines start to increase. Mayor before we go who do you root for sure Vonnie -- our -- would have a fit if I didn't ask you was at University of Oklahoma or Oklahoma State. Well I'm a graduate of Oklahoma but I spent twenty years in the media and I kind of lost either any bedlam alliance there that. I'm I'm a journalism graduate of the university of look. Oh all right good opt out that a pitcher Bobby thank you make it's great to see you. You've been good to see you too little luck of the court that the mayor of Oklahoma City standing to lose more than fifteen million dollars restaurants have sprouted up it's a huge deal for the city. And clearly the Oklahoma thunder should be back in there at least of the fans have their way in the city as well.

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