Oklahoma City Developments, Real Estates and Updates

[Laramie]

Press release:

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The International Canoe Federation (ICF) today announced that the 2022 Canoe Sprint Super Cup and the 2022 ICF Stand Up Paddling World Cup previously awarded to Moscow, Russia, will be relocated to Oklahoma City, OK, USA.

The events will occur in August, and the final dates will be announced in early April. The move comes in response to the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) directive to move international competition out of Russia in the wake of the Russian invasion and the war in Ukraine.

"The ICF and paddlesports family are fortunate and immensely grateful to our friends at the ACA and RIVERSPORT in Oklahoma City, USA, who offered to organize a high-level competition on short notice in these difficult times for the sports in the wake of the war in Ukraine," ICF President, Thomas Konietzko, said.

"RIVERSPORT hosted the 2021 ICF Super Cup event and has the infrastructure and community support to host the 2022 event successfully. We are thrilled to be able to return to this very exciting venue."

The ICF reached out to the American Canoe Association (ACA) late last week to explore the possibility of moving both events to Oklahoma City.

"Even before the ICF approached us, we were exploring options to help Ukrainian athletes. Reallocation of events from Russia to the USA is equally a challenge and an opportunity, and we look forward to welcoming our Ukrainian friends and other international athletes in Oklahoma City this summer," said Rok Sribar, ACA General Manager High-Performance Programs.

"When we were approached about stepping up to host the displaced events, it was a resounding yes from everyone involved," said RIVERSPORT Foundation Board Chairman Michael Ming.

"Everyone from the governor of the State of Oklahoma to David Holt, the mayor of Oklahoma City to our board members and staff wants to exemplify the Olympic ideal of using sport to build a better world."

In 2021 following the Olympic Games in Tokyo, athletes from more than a dozen countries traveled to Oklahoma for the internationally televised Canoe Sprint Super Cup event held on the Oklahoma River. It was the first time for the event to be held at night under the stadium lights on the river.

"The Oklahoma River is the only sanctioned racecourse in the world to have permanent lighting for night racing," explained RIVERSPORT Executive Director Mike Knopp.

"The athletes and spectators worldwide were enthusiastic about the unique racing experience. It just adds another level of excitement to an already adrenaline-fueled event."

Previous ICF Canoe Sprint Super Cups have been held in Barnaul, Russia, Linyi, China, and Oklahoma City, USA. The events offer sprint and distance racing for top canoe sprint paddlers worldwide.

The ICF organized two world-class SUP competitions in 2020 and 2021, including impressively staged world championships in Balatonfured, Hungary. The ICF is reinforcing its commitment to SUP with three World Cup races in addition to its world championships in 2022. In early May, the world cups will be held in Thun, Switzerland, in Budapest, Hungary, in mid-June, and Oklahoma City in August.

"We're fortunate that both our racecourse and our racing facilities are large enough to accommodate both events throughout one weekend," said Knopp. "We're still working to establish the exact date, but it will be sometime in late August."

RIVERSPORT's board of directors will be working with state and city officials and the business community to provide funding and hospitality for the event.

"We look forward to hosting athletes and international federations for both events. I know the people of Oklahoma will show them the kind of hospitality we're known for around the world," Knopp said.

[Laramie]

Oklahoma River future construction to complement amenities.

 

The development will pay 100% of the resorts estimated $1.5 million in yearly hotel room taxes to the city, which then goes to the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau to promote conventions, tourism and events at the fairgrounds--it benefits the new coliseum funded by room taxes.

Oklahoma Centennial Land Run Monument

First Americans Museum (FAM), Oklahoma City

A replica will include most of the decommissioned USS Oklahoma City submarine ships' bow with a reconstruction of the submarine.


Spectators at 2013 Regatta Festival at Finish Line on the Oklahoma River

Riversport Rapids to host International Events.   Mike Knopp, executive director for Riversport, estimated the economic impact of the races announced through 2025 will top $10 million. Each of the world competitions is expected to draw 400 to 800 athletes from more than 60 countries
during pre-event training weeks and during competition.

The Canoe Super Sprint Cup is returning to Oklahoma City along with the 2022 ICF Stand Up Paddling World Cup after the competitions were relocated from Moscow in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Recent announcements include the 2022 Pan American Canoe Slalom Championships; the 2022 Red Bull Rapids; 2022 Swiftwater Rescue Championship Games; the 2024 ICF Freestyle World Cup; the 2024 ICF Canoe Slalom Super Cup; the 2024 ICF Canoe Sprint Super Cup; the 2024 Pan American Canoe Slalom Championships; and the 2026 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships.

[Laramie]

First Americans Museum (FAM), Oklahoma City

[Laramie]

                                                    Explore OKC's Urban Core

         

                           Link:  https://www.verbode.com/urbancoreguide

Midtown


Bricktown District


Paseo


Strawberry Fields


Asian District


Wheeler


Boathouse District

[Laramie]

Oklahoma City's Iconic First National Center Tower







First National Center is currently the 3rd tallest building in Oklahoma City, after the Devon & BancFirst Towers, respectively.



   


Video link featuring Gary Brooks:  https://youtu.be/6xpY6hrUXeI

[Laramie]

OKCTalk.com reports on BancFirst
   
The crown on three sides of BancFirst Tower will complete the exterior remodel.



 

[Laramie]

Oklahoma City Mayor Holt hints 'It's time for a new NBA arena.'

Oklahoma City Thunder is putting its Thunder Alley development on hold as Mayor David Holt wants to pause $70 million in MAPS 4 upgrades as the NBA
Thunder and the City  begin talks on whether to build a new and more modern NBA arena to replace the current 20 year old Paycom Center.

The Oklahoman reported:   The Thunder is currently in a 15-year contract at Paycom Center that expires in 2023. Mayor David Holt announced at Thursday's State of The City address that the team has agreed to a three-year extension.

"Obviously we want a long-term relationship with professional sports in this city," Holt said. "And to do that, you have to have facilities that are current and competitive."

"A lot of people think of arenas in terms of the seats," Holt said. "That's only part of the experience that drives revenue for sports teams and concerts alike. You have to have all this other room for all the other elements of user experience. And our square footage (586,000 square feet), is the smallest in all of the NBA — and not by a little."

Oklahoma City Paycom Center Arena

The original cost to build OKC downtown arena was financed thru MAPS I debt free $89 million budget.   After the devastation of Hurricane
Katrina to New Orleans Arena, the NBA Hornets made Oklahoma City their temporary home for both the entire 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons.

The trail run as it was referred to back then, allowed OKC to test its market for an NBA franchise.  In 2005-06 the team averaged 18,168 and in 17,833 in 2006-07.

The success of the Hornets in OKC, caught the eye of former Mayor Ron Norick and Clay Bennett who had attempted to lure an NHL expansion
franchise back in 1997.

A group of businessmen led by Clay Bennett purchased the NBA Supersonics for $350 million in 2007 and relocated the franchise to Oklahoma City rebranded as the Thunder to begin 2008 season.   

When the City was awarded the relocation of the NBA Supersonics in 2008, the NBA stipulated that The Ford Center needed upgrades and an NBA practice facility.  A subsequent extension vote 'MAPS for HOOPS' was passed in 2010 that provided $120 million to cover $100 million upgrades to the Ford Center and $20 million for a new NBA practice facility.   The teams' temporary practice facility in Edmond is now home to the Oklahoma City Blue formerly the Tulsa 66ers.

[Laramie]

Via OKCTalk.com

Pete's assessment (Post #2321) on the current super block Cox Convention Center/Old Myriad site (top center) now home to Prairie Surf Studios (2020 five year lease) appears to be the most economical option. The four block site used for construction the Myriad Convention Center in 1969 was financed by a bond issue. The city currently owns this site.

It seems more economical to demolish the old Cox Convention Center site, salvage the underground parking. The site has more than enough room to build a new NBA/NHL regulation arena.

The Cox Convention Center's arena still has 11 miles of pipe used for ice making equipment still underneath and 900 cover underground parking spaces.  This site is close to the new Oklahoma City Convention Center 1200 space parking garage.

The old Myriad/Cox site is bounded by Norick, Reno, Sheridan & Oklahoma avenues.

View the discussion at OKCTalk.com https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=23863&page=117&p=1208845#post1208845

[dbacksfan 2.0]

Via OKCTalk.com

Pete's assessment (Post #2321) on the current super block Cox Convention Center/Old Myriad site (top center) now home to Prairie Surf Studios (2020 five year lease) appears to be the most economical option. The four block site used for construction the Myriad Convention Center in 1969 was financed by a bond issue. The city currently owns this site.

It seems more economical to demolish the old Cox Convention Center site, salvage the underground parking. The site has more than enough room to build a new NBA/NHL regulation arena.

The Cox Convention Center's arena still has 11 miles of pipe used for ice making equipment still underneath and 900 cover underground parking spaces.  This site is close to the new Oklahoma City Convention Center 1200 space parking garage.

The old Myriad/Cox site is bounded by Norick, Reno, Sheridan & Oklahoma avenues.

View the discussion at OKCTalk.com https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=23863&page=117&p=1208845#post1208845

This is where the problems come from between cities and pro sports teams. Teams want bigger better stadiums/arenas/ball parks and they don't want to foot the bill, or they want to pay as little as possible for a new venue.

The Phoenix Suns played for years at the Veterans Coliseum on the Maricopa County Fairgrounds until they built what was then America West Arena (now the Footprint Center) in downtown Phoenix in 1992. The arena has gone through a number of names, and has been improved and changed over the 30 years that it has been in existence, and from all appearances will continue to be the home of the Suns.

The arena was originally designed for basketball. In the design, there is an over hang on one end of the arena where removeable stands sits for concert events. When Phoenix originally got the Coyotes NHL team they played at this arena, but with a configuration for basketball and an ice rink being larger, the overhang created a blocked area that you could not see the ice and the goal at that end of the arena.

The Coyotes pushed for and finally got there own arena after a battle between several cities in the area, and moved into what was at the time the Glendale Arena. This eventually grew into the Westgate area that is home to what is now the Gila River Arena and State Farm Stadium for the Cardinals along with residential, commercial, entertainment, hotel and dining area.

The Coyotes had a good relationship from 2004 I believe until the last almost ten years where there have been rent/tax/revenue issues between the arena and the Coyotes. The team is now trying to put together a new venue in Tempe because of the toxic relationship with the Gila tribe and the city of Glendale. The new venue they are trying to put together is meeting with opposition not only from the people of Tempe, but also the FAA because the arena would be in proximity to the final approach to the airport and height restrictions imposed by the FAA.

The Diamondbacks have reached a new agreement for their ballpark which is 25 years old this year, to keep the team at Bank One/Chase Field for the foreseeable future.

The one team, that has truly committed to the valley is the Cardinals. When Cardinal Stadium/University of Phoenix Stadium/State Farm Stadium was built, the team bought the land that the stadium sits on for ~$20million, paid ~$109million of the construction, and the citizens of the state approved a tourism tax based on hotel/motel/resort lodging adding an additional tax, and a rental car tax to pay the balance of the cost of the stadium. The additional taxes were approximately 0.5% on each.

[Laramie]

Good post & valid points dbacksfan 2.0

This is something you want to avoid, especially when cities get too big and the growth of a city reaches a point of over-saturation and the
developers all want in on the action.   For some cities, it's a nice problem to have and for others it can reach nightmare proportions.

IMO, don't think OKC is looking at a $1 billion arena--others on our OKCTalk forum have different opinions.  Land acquisition in DT
OKC has skyrocketed since we built the first MAPS projects.  The 4 square block former Cox Convention Center site across from
Paycom Center appears to be the best possible site for a new arena; build one comparable to the exterior of Tulsa BOK Center which
blows our present Paycom Center off the map by a long shot.

You (Tulsa) did things the right way with strategic plan when you built your beautiful downtown arena.  Our city at the time threw up
something that didn't fit--it was originally designed to obtain an NHL franchise in 1996--hen converted after OKC hosted the New Orleans
Hornets for 2 years in which attendance was off the charts and OKC realized it too could become an NBA city and move on past the NHL.

OKC businessmen invested $350 million in 2006; purchased the troubled Seattle Supersonics franchise and eventually fought thru
the courts to get the franchise relocated to OKC.  The NBA at the time told OKC that the then named Ford Center needed significant
upgrades to keep the franchise in our city.  A MAPS for Hoops extension of an existing MAPS initiative was passed by voters that
included $100 million in upgrades to the arena and $20 million for an NBA team practice facility.  Now we're seeing the price of how hastily
the project was put together.

Now it's evident that a new arena is needed.

IMO OKC can put together a new arena on the present 4-square block Cox Convention Center site (Old Myriad) that will have to be demoed
to make room for a new arena.  The City owned this property.

Just my opinion, look for the costs to be $450-$500 million with all the bells and whistles Paycom Arena doesn't have.  It would surprise me
if a new arena exceeds $500 million.

The 4 square block Cox Convention Center site (now occupied by Prairie Surf Media Studios) could be demolished to make room for a
new arena.  It would be the most economically viable option for OKC since the City owns this site.

Now some are saying the Thunder should be temporarily moved to Tulsa for two years or however long until the new arena is built. 
Personally I don't think that's an option--unless OKC is ready to demolish the Paycom Center; keep the franchise here until the new
arena is built and devote enough funds to replace the seats and retrofit the arena for 'AA' hockey once the new arena is replaced.

.

[dbacksfan 2.0]

I think you are pretty close on the price tag. The price for the new Tempe Center including the arena is $2.1billion.

https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/tempe-arizona-coyotes-new-arena-entertainment-district

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-3kitkY-9c

[Laramie]

There are so many unknown variables at this stage.

Glad we are having this conversation--will be nice to see what the city comes up with in vision, terms and scope for a new arena. Doubt if it will be built on the cheap; also feel they will look at the Cox (4-square blocks) site's enormous potential--with 900+ underground parking spaces with 1,200 spaces in the new convention center garage.

There's a $105 million being collected in MAPS 4 for the Paycom Center upgrades.   Those funds (you would think) can be shifted to cover the new arena since MAPS funds are put in a capital improvements account.

[Laramie]

Pic via OKCTalk.com

Northeast Oklahoma City could get its first hotel in decades with developers of Eastpoint on NE 23 preparing to build a $26 million 77 room boutique operation with a restaurant, bar, event space and retail.

Sandino Thompson developed Eastpoint, is applying for $3,880,000 in tax increment financing (TIF) for the development.

[Laramie]

First Americans Museum - FAM



Oklahoma City hosted the National Brownfields conference at the Oklahoma City Community College and Omni Hotel.  The conference highlight  is the Phoenix award, awarded to the best Brownfield revitalization each year. This year covered the past three years. There were dozens of entries in each of the ten EPA regions.  An award winner from each region; then from those 10 winners, they award the grand prize. The grand prize winner was the First Americans Museum.



FAM Director James Pepper Henry announced that the museum and the Chickasaw Nation met in the last week with the Oklahoma City Zoo to begin preliminary planning on a possible world class aquarium on the now under construction $345 million OKANA RESORT development site.

[buffalodan]

I really like the Aquarium in Jenks, just so we are clear. But I wonder what they really mean by world class? If this is just a Jenks Aquarium in OKC, that's nice, but not really a game changer. If they are talking Chicago/Baltimore levels this is different. There aren't many great aquariums near us. The gulf coast has a few. Denver's is good. Omaha has a good one. But if OKC is actually wanting to get into a top 10 list, that would be impressive.