FC Tulsa and the future of pro soccer in Tulsa

[bacjz00]

Any soccer fans in here? Has anyone been keeping up with the plans for USL to create a top-tier league to compete with MLS at the top of the US Soccer pyramid? These are exciting times for Tulsa's team! Top seed in the West heading into the playoffs and home playoff soccer for the first time since our Roughnecks brought home the Soccer Bowl trophy in 1983! 

The Craft family have been very good owners, investing substantially in the players and coaches to give Tulsa a top-tier competitive team. But in order to move into the top-tier of USL, we need a 15,000+ seat dedicated stadium. OKC has suffered without a team for several years now because they don't have a stadium, but soon will as the voters there passed the MAPS4 project.

Tulsa has a committed ownership group. We have a playoff-quality team that is poised to compete at the top moving forward. What is next? Where is next? Someone piss in my Wheaties, because I'm fully wearing rose-colored glasses in the midst of this incredible winning run.

[TulsaGuy]

Happy that the team is having such a great year.  I think the plan is to build a stadium and similar markets that have been a soccer only stadium (from a shared one from baseball) have seen tremendous success with attendance.  I think the plan is to include some funding for a new stadium in the next big tax package for Tulsa in a few years.  Wish them the best as I think Professional Soccer is one pro sport I think Tulsa could support.

[bacjz00]

Happy that the team is having such a great year.  I think the plan is to build a stadium and similar markets that have been a soccer only stadium (from a shared one from baseball) have seen tremendous success with attendance.  I think the plan is to include some funding for a new stadium in the next big tax package for Tulsa in a few years.  Wish them the best as I think Professional Soccer is one pro sport I think Tulsa could support.

I would like to see us capitalize more quickly on this given our city's rich soccer history. Watching OKC time their stadium construction perfectly with the USL announcement and the World Cup feels like we are further behind that where we could be.

Does anyone know what potential locations are being discussed and how far off is the next tax package? I wonder how much if any the owners would be willing to chip in.

[ComeOnBenjals]

Great win tonight! was there for a bit, huge crowd!

Would be a tremendous shame if OKC times their stadium perfectly while FC Tulsa is left out of the new league.

[bacjz00]

Great win tonight! was there for a bit, huge crowd!

Would be a tremendous shame if OKC times their stadium perfectly while FC Tulsa is left out of the new league.

Great game indeed! Record crowd too.

It looks to be a certainty though that OKC will be ready to go for a USL expansion slot.   Would be amazing if we could join the new league at the same time. We have so much more tradition up here it's not even close.

[Tulsan]

My understanding is that the Crafts are actively working on a downtown stadium plan, most likely at the Nordam site currently owned by the Snyder family (owners of the Mayo).  This site has been identified in the Downtown Tulsa Partnership's Strategic Plan for the past year.  https://downtowntulsa.com/doing-business/studies-and-plans

The Craft family is in a position to privately finance the construction by pre-funding a TIF if they choose--they would be paid back through this mechanism with the incremental sales tax revenue generated.  This would not have to go to voters.  They could also leverage the existing Stadium Improvement District that was used to build ONEOK Field. Ideally there would be similar mixed-use development in the East Village area. 

[swake]

My understanding is that the Crafts are actively working on a downtown stadium plan, most likely at the Nordam site currently owned by the Snyder family (owners of the Mayo).  This site has been identified in the Downtown Tulsa Partnership's Strategic Plan for the past year.  https://downtowntulsa.com/doing-business/studies-and-plans

The Craft family is in a position to privately finance the construction by pre-funding a TIF if they choose--they would be paid back through this mechanism with the incremental sales tax revenue generated.  This would not have to go to voters.  They could also leverage the existing Stadium Improvement District that was used to build ONEOK Field. Ideally there would be similar mixed-use development in the East Village area. 

Having a billionaire for a father makes things so much easier.