The "this has nothing to do with Tulsa" mega-post

[Laramie]

Seems out of place for suburban OKC, but if they can afford it, okay then.

The Oklahoma City Archdiocese purchased the 53-acre Brookside Golf Course at 9016 S Shields for $2.1 million in March 2015, according to Cleveland County Court Clerk records.  

The Roman Catholic Church has experienced tremendous growth south of OKC's I-40 crosstown.  The 89th Street areas just west of I-35 is where the OKC Archdioceses found to be the best areas to connect this emerging growth of the churches in Moore-Norman with those in South Oklahoma City.

[Laramie]

The proposed development plan envisions an indoor and outdoor restaurant experience, a new location for Thunder Alley – which will also be used for Thunder special events including their annual summer basketball camps – and a new plaza at the intersection of Oklahoma City Boulevard and Thunder Drive designed to be an extension to the existing Southwest entry to Chesapeake Arena.

   

OKC Thunder proposes new Thunder Alley Entertainment Block

The Oklahoma City Thunder has submitted a conceptual proposal for a new Thunder Alley Entertainment Block to be opened in 2021.

    "It is important that the entertainment block strike a balance between being open and inviting while simultaneously providing a secure place for people to enjoy dinner and other pre-game and post-game activities."

The covered exterior dining area will be equipped with 3 food truck "docking stations." The Thunder special events venue is designed to be open air, but covered.

The design includes a pedestrian bridge between the arena and the restaurant.

    "We envision a seamless connection between the Arena and the entertainment block."

The plaza will house an approximately 24' diameter basketball sculpture with a mirror finish, a design Thunder officials hope becomes "'THE' place for photographic opportunities in Oklahoma City."

Lighting around the entertainment block will be capable of color change appropriate to the occasion, whether it be a Thunder game or a Christmas event.

    "The development will be guided by the level of quality that has become known as the Thunder Organization Design Standard. From conceptual design through the opening tipoff, this level of excellence that the Thunder expects and demands will be honored."

Officials also plan to begin a future Thunder "Ring of Honor," similar to bronze statues located in front of Staples Arena.

The remainder of the site will be developed as a controlled surface parking lot for approximately 70 cars.

The parking area may also host food truck events, street basketball events, and other temporary events.

    "The parking area will also be used as an off loading and parking site for the trucks that move traveling shows from Arena to Arena. For example, U2 has not come to OKC because our arena does not have room to park the 16-18 semi-trucks that support their show. The BOK in Tulsa, on the other hand, has hosted them because they can park their vehicles."

Construction is projected to begin in 2021 and Grand Opening Day is expected to be April 15, 2021.


Oklahoma News 4: https://kfor.com/2019/04/03/okc-thunder-proposes-new-thunder-alley-entertainment-block/

[Laramie]

 

OKCTalk reports on Costco opening

  Join the discussion at OKCTalk.com: https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=34911&page=44&p=1071058#post1071058

  Costco Looks To Hire Employees For Oklahoma City Location

   

  Link:  Costco Looks To Hire Employees For Oklahoma City Location:  http://www.news9.com/story/40204955/costco-looks-to-hire-employees-for-oklahoma-city-location

[SXSW]

Good to see Costco finally open in OKC.  We've had one in Tulsa for 3 years. 

[Laramie]

Good to see Costco finally open in OKC.  We've had one in Tulsa for 3 years.  

Tulsa has always had an advantage on reputable retail & wholesale establishments than OKC.   We are on the radar and quickly becoming more attractive for these types of establishments.

[Laramie]

Oklahoma City' Omni is rising with convention center
under construction in the background



Pic via OKCTalk Forum
Join the discussion at OKCTalk:  https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=35905&page=82

[Laramie]

Kimray moving forward with new headquarters





Join the discussion as OKCTalk reports: https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=36576&page=4

[Laramie]

Oklahoma City State Fair Arena replacement

Video Presentation of State Fair Park OKC Coliseum:  https://youtu.be/P4Dz3_K95Zo

And now a press release through their PR firm:

*****************


Study Shows Benefits of Replacing Jim Norick Arena
'Big House' has served state's athletes, international competitions for 54 years

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 8, 2019) – Replacing the famous Jim Norick Arena – known as "The Big House" – at State Fair Park would provide an economic boost to Oklahoma City, according to a new study.

Crossroads Consulting, a nationally recognized expert in large public venue (LPV) consulting, found a new State Fair Park Coliseum would generate more than $230 million a year in direct spending and more than $400 million a year in total economic impact.

"'The Big House' has provided lifelong memories for high school athletes from across the state for generations and helped make Oklahoma City the 'Horse Show Capital of the World,'" said Oklahoma State Fair, Inc. President & CEO Tim O'Toole. "Unfortunately, the building is rapidly approaching the end of its useful life. The Crossroads study shows how much is at risk and how our entire community will benefit from investing in a new coliseum."

Additionally, Crossroads said a new coliseum would generate 10 percent more direct spending than the existing facility and create an extra 370 total jobs a year.

State Fair Park is an important economic driver and gathering place for Oklahoma City, the report found. Over the last three years, it has averaged a total attendance of more than 2.15 million visitors annually. The park's visitors generated more economic impact than three other city-owned facilities combined over the last three years – Cox Convention Center, Chesapeake Energy Arena and Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

"The report shows how important it is to invest in state-of-the-art facilities which will continue to attract people from the metro area, the state and the rest of the world," O'Toole said.

In January 2017, the City of Oklahoma City, which owns State Fair Park, commissioned an architectural firm to create plans for a modern coliseum with more than 4,700 fixed seats, 2,600 retractable seats and premium amenities such as suites, box seating and club opportunities.

Construction is expected to cost $95 million, and plans call for keeping the Norick Arena open during the process to minimize disruption.

"Building a new facility would have clear benefits for the Oklahoma City community. This need has been acknowledged for several years by the City of Oklahoma City and Oklahoma State Fair, Inc. The expected MAPS program to fund capital improvements presents an exceptional opportunity to secure funding for a project of this magnitude," O'Toole said. "We look forward to voters continuing to support the world-class facilities at State Fair Park as we fulfill our mission of economic development through tourism."

About Oklahoma State Fair, Inc.
Oklahoma State Fair, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation that serves the people of Oklahoma and is dedicated to continuing the organization's heritage of education, entertainment and economic development through the operation of State Fair Park and the annual Oklahoma State Fair.

[ELG4America]

Surely those economic impact numbers are BS. $410 million annual return on a $95 million investment? No way building a new arena increases attendance that much. Moreover, state fair attendees are coming from within 100 miles so the total economic impact is significantly reduced because those are dollars spent at the fair instead of the mall. Not a huge difference.

I'm all for upgrading public assets. I event like the design. But don't tell clear mistruths to the public to sell some pet project.

[buffalodan]

https://twitter.com/BentFlyvbjerg

I've been following him recently and reading some of his articles/books. It is really helps bring a light to some of the numbers people throw around about large scale projects.

Surely those economic impact numbers are BS. $410 million annual return on a $95 million investment? No way building a new arena increases attendance that much. Moreover, state fair attendees are coming from within 100 miles so the total economic impact is significantly reduced because those are dollars spent at the fair instead of the mall. Not a huge difference.

I'm all for upgrading public assets. I event like the design. But don't tell clear mistruths to the public to sell some pet project.

[Laramie]

Just want to add that from a personal standpoint of what I have seen at State Fair Park in OKC; there are always activities going on at this 440 acre complex from gun shows, conventions, boat shows, appliance & furniture exhibits.

Here are samplings of some events staged at the Norick State Fair Arena:

     April
     Oklahoma Quarter Horse Spring Show
     AQHA Level One Central Championship
     Better Barrel Races World Finals
     
     June
     NRHA Derby
     Arabian Horse Association Youth Nationals

     July
     Arabian Horse Association Youth Nationals

     August      
     AQHYA World Championship
     Summer Shootout Barrel Race
     Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses
     
     September
     Oklahoma State Fair

     October
     Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show
     Cinch USTRC National Finals

     November
     AQHA World Championship
     NRHA Futurity
     
     December
     World Championship Barrel Racing Futurity

Replacement of the Jim Norick State Fair Arena is long overdue.  

State Fair Park events:  https://statefairparkokc.com/schedule?

[swake]

Just want to add that from a personal standpoint of what I have seen at State Fair Park in OKC; there are always activities going on at this 440 acre complex from gun shows, conventions, boat shows, appliance & furniture exhibits.

Here are samplings of some events staged at the Norick State Fair Arena:

     April
     Oklahoma Quarter Horse Spring Show
     AQHA Level One Central Championship
     Better Barrel Races World Finals
     
     June
     NRHA Derby
     Arabian Horse Association Youth Nationals

     July
     Arabian Horse Association Youth Nationals

     August      
     AQHYA World Championship
     Summer Shootout Barrel Race
     Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses
     
     September
     Oklahoma State Fair

     October
     Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show
     Cinch USTRC National Finals

     November
     AQHA World Championship
     NRHA Futurity
     
     December
     World Championship Barrel Racing Futurity

Replacement of the Jim Norick State Fair Arena is long overdue.  

State Fair Park events:  https://statefairparkokc.com/schedule?

The arena at Tulsa's fairgrounds is far older than Norick Arena, by 33 years. And in no way should The Pavilion be replaced.

[ELG4America]

The arena at Tulsa's fairgrounds is far older than Norick Arena, by 33 years. And in no way should The Pavilion be replaced.

Well we Tulsans have quaint ideas about the value of history.


I genuinely don't care if they want to invest money, even state money, in the fair grounds. Our state should have great public buildings of which we're proud. But, its not like everything they do now will disappear in a year if they don't replace the arena and it also won't revolutionize the fair industry if they do replace it. 

[Laramie]

The arena at Tulsa's fairgrounds is far older than Norick Arena, by 33 years. And in no way should The Pavilion be replaced.

Swake, you've had several renovations to the Tulsa Fairgrounds Pavilion.   The OKC State Fair Arena was thrown up with $2 million in 1963; a mini version of Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix.  Your Fairgrounds Pavilion was built back in the 1930s (WPA era), same as when OKC built the 6,200 seat Municipal Auditorium; these architecturally solid buildings stand strong today.

OKC's expanded entrance to State Fair Arena was the only renovation (besides paint) completed prior before the roof started falling apart.  SFA is a far inferior building than the Tulsa State Fair complex that includes IIRC one of the largest (200,000 sq.ft.) free clear-span buildings in the world under one roof.

The 75ft tall Tulsa Golden Driller statue makes Dallas' 55ft tall Big Tex look like a midget.

[swake]

Swake, you've had several renovations to the Tulsa Fairgrounds Pavilion.   The OKC State Fair Arena was thrown up with $2 million in 1963; a mini version of Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix.  Your Fairgrounds Pavilion was built back in the 1930s (WPA era), same as when OKC built the 6,200 seat Municipal Auditorium; these architecturally solid buildings stand strong today.

OKC's expanded entrance to State Fair Arena was the only renovation (besides paint) completed prior before the roof started falling apart.  SFA is a far inferior building than the Tulsa State Fair complex that includes IIRC one of the largest (200,000 sq.ft.) free clear-span buildings in the world under one roof.

The 75ft tall Tulsa Golden Driller statue makes Dallas' 55ft tall Big Tex look like a midget.

According to the Expo Square website, the Expo Building, currently called River Spirit Expo Building, is 448,000 square feet with 354,000 of it being clear span. It's a very big building.

https://www.exposquare.com/p/planning/facilities--floor-plans/296