Kyle Dierking 
OKBlitz.com Mobile Journalist

TULSA, Oklahoma - Blue could be the theme for the Shock's first season in Tulsa.

Blue was perhaps the mood after the team's tough start.

Blue also symbolizes the empty seats that occupy the lower bowl of the BOK Center.

"We're not where we want to be but it's going to take some time to build, but we're exactly where we thought we'd be into the season," said Shock President Steve Swetoha.

Right now, the Shock has the WNBA’s worst record and is averaging a little more than 4,700 fans per game.

The only franchise lower than Tulsa in the attendance department is the Chicago Sky, who has ranked last in attendance all four years they've been in the league.

"We don't care about anybody else at this point; we're doing it the right way," Swetoha said. "With the time we have in the offseason with our team now in place on and off the court, we have a better chance of getting to where we want to be with the number of seats sold."

Said Shock guard Kiesha Brown, "We're filling up the bottom bowl pretty well but there's still some blue seats that are pretty empty."

Brown has played for seven different teams in her nine-year WNBA career and she's been impressed with Tulsa's fans.

"With the WNBA being here and the only professional, major league sports team here, I think it's very important,” Brown said. “It's just exciting for the fans to come out and continuously support us."

But what's the Shock's solution for putting more butts in the BOK Center seats? Swetoha says the team's going to release a new ticket plan in a few weeks that will "reach anybody and everybody."

"Some people have said our ticket prices are too high. We've already lowered our club pricing for our season ticket renewals this year," Swetoha said. "With the time we have in the offseason with our team now in place on and off the court, we have a better chance of getting to where we want to be with the number of seats sold.”

The sports world took notice when the franchise hired former Arkansas and Tulsa coach Nolan Richardson to be the team’s head coach and general manager.

Shortly before the season the Shock added another big name in former track star Marion Jones.

Both have gained the franchise notoriety nationally with features in publications like Sports Illustrated and New York Times Magazine, but has it translated into ticket sales?

“We're still trying to figure out if Marion has sold us tickets; we know Nolan has sold us tickets, but I think once our players are more involved in the community and our fans our engaging with our players, we hope that all 11 will sell tickets for us," Swetoha said.

"For us the future is bright. It may not look like it right now. For us, we know it's going to happen, it's not a sprint, it's a marathon for us and so that's really how we're approaching our business."

WNBA ATTENDANCE 

THRU 7/22/10