ORU's Dr. Terry Shannon Featured as National Expert on “Best Cities for Soccer Fans”
Tulsa, Oklahoma, June 3, 2024—WalletHub, a noted consumer website, recently featured Oral Roberts University’s (ORU) Dr. Terry Shannon, Associate Professor of Sport Management, in its analysis of the "Best Cities for Soccer Fans (2024)". Dr. Shannon was selected as a national expert, along with representatives from Florida State University, New York University, the University of Michigan, and Washington State University.
As a panelist, Dr. Shannon noted that professional soccer in the U.S. is growing, with demand for professional soccer players projected to increase by 36% (from 2018 to 2028). He also pointed out that Major League Soccer is one of the fastest-growing sports leagues in North America. However, there remains a major challenge facing soccer in the United States.
“The biggest issue,” said Dr. Shannon, “is the shortage of high-level soccer coaches. Many youth soccer coaches are parents without a deep understanding of the game. There’s also the high costs associated with joining American soccer clubs versus the lower costs in other countries.”
ORU’s home city, Tulsa, had a Top 40 (#31) ranking “by City Size” (i.e., Large Cities), making it the highest-ranking “soccer” community in Oklahoma. As more and more people move to Tulsa, competitive sports, such as soccer, are becoming a greater priority. Last year, ORU made a commitment to its student-athletes by opening the new Mike Carter Athletic Center (MCAC). At almost 50,000-square-foot feet, the new MCAC houses practice courts, administrative and coaches offices, and a 10,000-square-foot indoor sports performance area.
“In terms of sports,” said Dr. Shannon, “ORU has done a lot to put Tulsa in the national spotlight. In 2021, Men’s Basketball made the Sweet 16 as a 15-seed, upsetting Florida and Ohio State. Last year, ORU Baseball was one of the biggest stories in college sports, with the team winning its Super Regional in Oregon and making it to the eight-team College World Series. And last fall, the ORU Men’s Soccer team achieved a Top 25 ranking in the nation.”
Along with its influence in athletics, ORU is contributing to Tulsa’s national reputation for the arts and filmmaking. For 2024, MovieMaker Magazine ranked Tulsa a Top 20 “Best Place to Live and Work as a Moviemaker: Big Cities.” To serve Tulsa’s growing community of artists and filmmakers, ORU, this September, will be opening the new 78,000 square foot Peggy V. Helmerich Media Arts Center (MAC), which will house ORU's theatre, dance, music, and digital media departments.
To read more about ORU, you can visit www.oru.edu.
UNIVERSITY BRIEF
ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 15 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor’s level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 152 nations in the last four years to be whole leaders for the whole world.
The Wall Street Journal ranked ORU as the #8 university in the nation for student experience and one of America's Best Colleges (2024). This new category rates the best colleges in the U.S. to have a great experience while attending. This ranking is powered by one of the largest ever independent surveys of verified college students and recent graduates in the United States. Niche recognizes ORU as one of the top 25 most diverse colleges in America, # 1 best Christian college in Oklahoma, and # 1 in Oklahoma for diversity. Princeton Review ranked ORU as the best regional college, and College Raptor ranked ORU as a Hidden Gem in the Southwest.
ORU has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as:
- #1 in Undergraduate Teaching
- #2 in Most International Students
- #3 in Best Value
- #6 in Best College for Veterans
- #7 in Best Regional Colleges in the West
For more information, visit www.oru.edu.