The "Oklahoma City Plunder": Turner's Social Drama and Team Relocation

Authors

  • Matthew Morris

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6017/eurj.v5i2.8897

Keywords:

Fall 2009, social science, sociology, sports

Abstract

This essay frames the phenomenon of team relocation as a social drama defined by anthropologist Victor Turner. To support this view I examined the controversy surrounding the Seattle Supersonics' move to Oklahoma City, which occurred over a two-year period beginning in 2006 and ending in 2008. I provide a context for team relocation in the four major professional sports leagues of the United States and Canada as well as the specific context of the Supersonics controversy. I then analyze the situation as a social drama occuring between two parties: city officials and team owners. The media's role as an intermediary and the fan's role as an ibserver are also explored. I conclude briefly noting the impact of team relocation on the fans.

Author Biography

Matthew Morris

Matthew Morris, like his mother and Doug Flutie, is a native of Natick, MA and a graduate of Boston College. A Communications major and History minor, his past research has concerned doctor/patient relationships, new media, and European nationalism. He was the President of College Bowl for two years and once hit five half-court shots in a row in high school. He dreams one day of employment.

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Published

2005-11-15

How to Cite

Morris, M. (2005). The "Oklahoma City Plunder": Turner’s Social Drama and Team Relocation. Elements, 5(2). https://doi.org/10.6017/eurj.v5i2.8897

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 2 (2009)

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2015 Elements

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.