OU’s SEC move paying off financially for city of Norman

NORMAN, Okla. (KFOR) - One of history’s most storied football programs comes to Norman Saturday. It’s the last home game in what’s been quite the disappointing first season for the Sooners in the SEC, but the conference move has been anything but disappointing for the city of Norman.

It’s been over two decades since the Crimson Tide came rolling into town. KFOR was there as the Alabama faithful made the trek and parked their RV’s in Norman back in 2002. Despite Oklahoma’s lackluster season, city officials said they expect more of the same for this year’s clash of the crimsons.

"We knew it would have an impact, but it's exceeded all of the expectations that we had,” President and CEO of Visit Norman Dan Schemm said. “So it's really been great."

Schemm said the conference move has impacted the city in several ways.

"We saw massive spikes in total spend and hotel average daily rates in our occupancy and everything,” he said.

That’s for the Tennessee weekend back in September. Schemm said total spending was up 50 percent compared to the previous 3 games before. Of that number, 56 percent was spent locally.

"They're really helping our locally owned mom and pop businesses," he said.

Back in ’02, both programs were in different universes. Oklahoma was two years removed from a national title and number 2 in the country while Alabama was unranked. Despite that, Bama fans were out in full force when Oklahoma came out on top 37-27. OU fans are hoping for some Sooner magic and the same outcome this go-round with their season having not gone as planned.

However, for Schemm and the city, it’s a financial plan coming to fruition.

"All of the things that we thought would happen are happening and we're excited to see how it continues,” he said.

Schemm said they will continue to keep track with the SEC traveling for basketball, baseball and even gymnastics. The Sooners will kickoff against the Tide at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.