Here is a survey from the county:
http://www.tulsacounty.org/Tulsacounty/forms_survey.aspx?id=3272
Thats some seriously good infrastructure that does not need to be turned into a parking lot......
Hey a write in slot, this would be a good time to get Colbe... err Bell's Amusement Park 2.
I responded that they need to leave the stadium as is and start working to attract soccer, little league, regional sporting events and entertainment. It's still in great shape and is a nice facility.
I think we need giant dice, like 6 or 8 feet tall, and play the world's largest game of yahtzee.. or boggle.
How about bringing Gladiator games back into vogue?
Quote from: sgrizzle on September 11, 2009, 08:55:06 AM
I think we need giant dice, like 6 or 8 feet tall, and play the world's largest game of yahtzee.. or boggle.
If you covered the field with a big plastic dome and replaced the field with a huge trampoline and you'd have SORRY!
Quote from: tulsascoot on September 11, 2009, 10:07:39 AM
How about bringing Gladiator games back into vogue?
Needs an emperor...dibs
Quote from: tulsascoot on September 11, 2009, 10:07:39 AM
How about bringing Gladiator games back into vogue?
"Jimmy, do you ever watch gladiator movies?"
That never happens two Airplane references in one day.
(http://backgroundacting.net/images/posts/airplane.jpg)
I want an official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle!
....... oh, wait.....
I want a pro soccer team and one of these to take me to the games.......
Beer Bus
(http://www.section8chicago.com/jm3/images/stories/beer-bus.jpg)
http://www.section8chicago.com/jm3/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=293:beer-buses&catid=57:isa-spotlight&Itemid=288
Quote from: Conan71 on September 11, 2009, 08:15:17 AM
I responded that they need to leave the stadium as is and start working to attract soccer, little league, regional sporting events and entertainment. It's still in great shape and is a nice facility.
Yup....If it aint broke...Dont fix it....
Quote from: USRufnex on September 11, 2009, 11:47:28 AM
I want an official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle!
....... oh, wait.....
I want a pro soccer team and one of these to take me to the games.......
You'll put your eye out with that thing!
Quote from: Conan71 on September 11, 2009, 02:16:51 PM
You'll put your eye out with that thing!
Needs to be painted with a Marshall's logo on it.
Quote from: we vs us on September 11, 2009, 10:09:46 AM
If you covered the field with a big plastic dome and replaced the field with a huge trampoline and you'd have SORRY!
You must be young. Sorry didn't always have the pop-o-matic bubble. :o
Voting that we dedicate it to Calvinball.
Quote from: iraqniphobia on September 11, 2009, 02:52:44 PM
Voting that we dedicate it to Calvinball.
(http://www.hobbitmanor.com/images/calvinball.JPG)
I heard someone in town was trying to get a professional soccer team back in Tulsa. I am all for turning it into a professional soccer field.
How about expanding Big Splash and making it nice "regional" water park? More on the scale of a Wet N Wild or something like that.
Tulsa Roughnecks...
If I remember right the league in question is below MLS and more flexible on requirements (and lower on player pay) so they could survive at the "Tulsa County Stadium" easier, maybe prove viability of MLS.
Forget about Major League Soccer; USL1 at the old ballpark
« on: August 09, 2009, 02:41:33 pm »
http://www.tulsanow.org/forum/index.php?topic=14018.0
Believe it or not, compared to the salaries of the non-star players of MLS, USL-1 pay is pretty comparable.
Former TU player Ryan Pore was drafted by the Kansas City Wizards of MLS a few years back, but this year is playing with the Portland Timbers of USL-1..... and he's had a pretty good August...
Timbers' productive midfielder: That's Ryan Pore, as in 'score'
http://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/index.ssf/2009/08/timbers_productive_midfielder.html
http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/357692.html (includes video from USL-1 venues)
(http://www.uslsoccer.com/imgs/home/Portland%20-%20Ryan%20Pore%20WEB.jpg)
The site should be used for a bus station / park & ride station to downtown.
It could act as a hub.
It's centrally located, it has retail within walking distance, its surrounded by housing, would be ideal for the fair or other events at Expo Sq.
Quote from: PepePeru on September 14, 2009, 09:40:39 AM
The site should be used for a bus station / park & ride station to downtown.
It could act as a hub.
It's centrally located, it has retail within walking distance, its surrounded by housing, would be ideal for the fair or other events at Expo Sq.
Considering there's acres and acres of parking on Expo Square, the last thing we need is one more parking lot, if that's what you are suggesting. They could do a park and ride anywhere else on the grounds with the exception of fair week.
Let's see, what was it Randi Miller said they were going to do with the Bell's space? Wasn't going to be a permanent parking lot....right!
Quote from: Conan71 on September 14, 2009, 09:59:46 AM
Considering there's acres and acres of parking on Expo Square, the last thing we need is one more parking lot, if that's what you are suggesting. They could do a park and ride anywhere else on the grounds with the exception of fair week.
Let's see, what was it Randi Miller said they were going to do with the Bell's space? Wasn't going to be a permanent parking lot....right!
I'm suggesting a transportation hub / bus station.
I guess I missed where, in my original post, I suggested adding a parking lot.
The site isn't that large. A multi-modal transportation hub would occupy a large part of this. Visitors to the fairgrounds, expo square ride a bus from a satellite parking lot, then within fairgrounds there is a trolley, tram system to transport people within the site. During the rest of the year, its an operating mass transit station, utilizing existing parking lots for park & ride to employment centers, perhaps the airport.
This is pretty much the geographic center of the City of Tulsa.
NOT A PARKING LOT.
NOT A PARKING LOT
NOT A PARKING LOT
Dear God, not a parking lot.
- - -
Keeping it a ballpark stadium would have little real use. Park and ride would be better accommodated using existing space at Expo Square (like the giant empty parking lot where Bell's used to be, that isn't "just" a parking lot of course). I'm not sure what the best use would be, but I'm deathly afraid it will be more damn parking.
Quote from: cannon_fodder on September 14, 2009, 11:04:20 AM
NOT A PARKING LOT.
NOT A PARKING LOT
NOT A PARKING LOT
Dear God, not a parking lot.
- - -
Keeping it a ballpark stadium would have little real use. Park and ride would be better accommodated using existing space at Expo Square (like the giant empty parking lot where Bell's used to be, that isn't "just" a parking lot of course). I'm not sure what the best use would be, but I'm deathly afraid it will be more damn parking.
Well this is a problem then isn't it.
No one seems to have any good ideas for this site.
So far, most of you have ideas as to what it shouldn't be without offering any real ideas.
Shouldn't you be in congress by now?
Quote from: PepePeru on September 14, 2009, 11:22:42 AM
Well this is a problem then isn't it.
No one seems to have any good ideas for this site.
So far, most of you have ideas as to what it shouldn't be without offering any real ideas.
Shouldn't you be in congress by now?
Just because
you don't like other's ideas doesn't mean they are not good or relevant. The ball park is still in excellent condition and could be used for all sorts of amateur and semi-pro events as well as outdoor concerts. Why don't you start re-reading from the beginning. There's been several ideas as to what it
should be.
Quote from: PepePeru on September 14, 2009, 11:22:42 AM
Well this is a problem then isn't it.
No one seems to have any good ideas for this site.
So far, most of you have ideas as to what it shouldn't be without offering any real ideas.
Shouldn't you be in congress by now?
Seems like that's all we can do without being called crazy or severely disappointed.
If someone comes up with a great idea I always feel like it's called off due to someone's status with the the "they".
My magic 8 ball is telling me to be prepared for heavy equipment and asphalt trucks.
I hope it's wrong.
Quote from: Conan71 on September 14, 2009, 11:46:37 AM
Just because you don't like other's ideas doesn't mean they are not good or relevant. The ball park is still in excellent condition and could be used for all sorts of amateur and semi-pro events as well as outdoor concerts. Why don't you start re-reading from the beginning. There's been several ideas as to what it should be.
I didn't type "all" I typed "most" which you were included.
Compared to yahtzee dice, calvinball, domes and trampolines, amusement parks and water parks (on an approx. 500' x 500') site you're looking rather insightful.
Actually, I'm not toally opposed to this site being used for some sort of mass-transit spot, as long as the only parking added is vertical and not horizontal. But, I'd RATHER see it used as a sport complex of some sort re-using the existing Driller's stadium.
The citizens of Tulsa have ample opportunity to see high quality division I soccer played. However, there's a reason why they don't play games at Chapman stadium...
So, get upset by this but there's already a great site for a pro or semi-pro soccer team to play and it's approx. at 71st and Mingeaux.
As it is right now, this facility and site isn't used 5-6 months out of the year. So, sure we can half-donkey put an amphitheater in there, that wasn't designed for concerts and offers lovely views of the Lowe's and Walgreen's.
That annual .38 Special, Blue Oyster Cult show's going to bring in boucoup bucks.
Quote from: PepePeru on September 14, 2009, 12:41:45 PM
So, get upset by this but there's already a great site for a pro or semi-pro soccer team to play and it's approx. at 71st and Mingo.
What site are you thinking of? The only thing in that area that I can imagine being applicable is Union's stadium. Is that what you are talking about?
Quote from: PepePeru on September 14, 2009, 12:41:45 PM
The citizens of Tulsa have ample opportunity to see high quality division I soccer played. However, there's a reason why they don't play games at Chapman stadium...
So, get upset by this but there's already a great site for a pro or semi-pro soccer team to play and it's approx. at 71st and Mingeaux.
As it is right now, this facility and site isn't used 5-6 months out of the year. So, sure we can half-donkey put an amphitheater in there, that wasn't designed for concerts and offers lovely views of the Lowe's and Walgreen's.
That annual .38 Special, Blue Oyster Cult show's going to bring in boucoup bucks.
Walgreens is at 71st and Garnett, Lowes at 71st and 169, and the spot you're talking about is on Mingo and doubles as an ampitheater?
Whut?
He's referring to the view from the present Driller's stadium. Walgreen's to the north, Lowe's to the east. No idea what property would make a great soccer stadium unless it's the 13 or so acres availalble by Mathis Bros. I'll take an existing stadium over building another one.
Quote from: Conan71 on September 14, 2009, 01:58:14 PM
He's referring to the view from the present Driller's stadium. Walgreen's to the north, Lowe's to the east. No idea what property would make a great soccer stadium unless it's the 13 or so acres availalble by Mathis Bros. I'll take an existing stadium over building another one.
I was referring to Union's stadium, as an existing site for a soccer team to play.
Failing that, the stadium at LaFortune Park.
The only people in large numbers that I can see attending professional soccer would live in that area (south Tulsa, Bixby, B.A.) so you might as well cater to it and make it convenient for them and even then. 2000 people at most for a home game.
This is too valuable an intersection in terms of geography and development potential to keep that ugly blue eyesore sitting unused 6 months of the year.
This soccer stadium idea has a moderate to high degree of fail.
Tear it down, sell the aluminum and donate the scoreboard to a local high school. Apply the money to the Big Splash operation to make it more than a Saturday night public bath.
Use the corner for a casino with gasoline pumps, RV hookups and strip shows so the visiting Chili Bowl fans won't have to drive around town.
Just a thought.
Pepe, my point is two-pronged.
One being that we already own this stadium and I think the public is rapidly losing enthusiasm for new public building projects, especially under negative PR from ONEOK field. Aside from pro soccer, there's a possibility for amateur sporting events which could bring in money from out of state like a Little League world series, NCAA softball, jr. league soccer tournaments, etc. Granted, none are high draw events, most likely but it's one more thing to attract people to Tulsa.
The other is, I don't see a point in tearing down a 31 year old stadium which is still in excellent condition unless there's an idea to put something there which would generate more revenue for Expo Square AND bring in tourism dollars.
The track part of Fair Meadows is open, what? Four weeks per year? The water park is dormant 9 months out of the year. Why don't we start there. Along those lines, why not use the Fair Meadows infield for a park and ride, perfect spot and it's already there.
Quote from: Conan71 on September 14, 2009, 02:43:14 PM
Pepe, my point is two-pronged.
One being that we already own this stadium and I think the public is rapidly losing enthusiasm for new public building projects, especially under negative PR from ONEOK field. Aside from pro soccer, there's a possibility for amateur sporting events which could bring in money from out of state like a Little League world series, NCAA softball, jr. league soccer tournaments, etc. Granted, none are high draw events, most likely but it's one more thing to attract people to Tulsa.
The other is, I don't see a point in tearing down a 31 year old stadium which is still in excellent condition unless there's an idea to put something there which would generate more revenue for Expo Square AND bring in tourism dollars.
The track part of Fair Meadows is open, what? Four weeks per year? The water park is dormant 9 months out of the year. Why don't we start there. Along those lines, why not use the Fair Meadows infield for a park and ride, perfect spot and it's already there.
Absolutely, I think we should start w/ the water park.
Build another hotel there.
Connect the fairgrounds, downtown, points down south (Promenade, St. Francis, LaFortune Park) and the airport w/ reliable transit. Yale is one of the longest N-S uninterrupted thoroughfares in the CoT. Yale crosses rail (light rail), Yale crosses all major highways, (park and ride spots)
So, we chose Scenario D "centered city" That's great! Use the fairgrounds in concert w/ it as a "satellite" to downtown...that is if they wanted to get really serious about pushing downtown and increasing density downtown. Parking would begin to vanish and people would need options to get there.
I realize I'm playing SimCity here, but these options the County presenting are not forward thinking, in my not so humble opinion.
If it were SimCity the Arena would have bankrupted the City even though it's not too late for that.
Looks to me like the County decided on a master plan that would attract horse and livestock events.
With that in mind, and losing hope on soccer, might this demon suggest a rodeo rink or a bull fighting venue.
No cock or dog fights.
It could turn into an RV site....
Quote from: PepePeru on September 14, 2009, 11:00:11 AM
I'm suggesting a transportation hub / bus station.
I guess I missed where, in my original post, I suggested adding a parking lot.
see below.Quote from: PepePeru on September 14, 2009, 09:40:39 AM
The site should be used for a bus station / park & ride station to downtown.
It could act as a hub.
Q) What do you think a bus station/park & ride station is?
A) A glorified parking lot.
Quote from: PepePeru on September 14, 2009, 11:22:42 AM
Well this is a problem then isn't it.
No one seems to have any good ideas for this site.
So far, most of you have ideas as to what it shouldn't be without offering any real ideas.
The two transit hubs located downtown and at 34th and Memorial are NOT located directly across the street from residential areas. Please do a survey of the residents who live across the street from the fairgrounds about having a TulsaTransit hub replace the old ballpark... and get back to me with the results..... inquiring minds want to know. ::)
Quote from: PepePeru on September 14, 2009, 12:41:45 PM
The citizens of Tulsa have ample opportunity to see high quality division I soccer played. However, there's a reason why they don't play games at Chapman stadium...
College soccer ain't very popular... ANYWHERE.
Only 2 NCAA division I college soccer teams averaged over 3,000 fans per game in 2008.
Pro soccer in Tulsa, however.....
14,000 fans at Skelly Stadium for an MLS exhibition in April 2003 (3500 signed up for season tix)(http://www.tulsaworld.com/articleimages/2005/051118_A1_Citym117_a1soc18.jpg)
Quote from: PepePeru on September 14, 2009, 11:53:52 AM
So, get upset by this but there's already a great site for a pro or semi-pro soccer team to play and it's approx. at 71st and Mingeaux.
Mingueax? Is that how the Midtown Elite spell it? ;D
Union-Tuttle Stadium has artificial turf and permanent markings, which is why the Tulsa Spirit women's semi-pro team prefers playing at the Union 7th/8th grade center these days.
Playing minor league soccer at a high school football stadium was tried (and tried and tried and tried) over a decade ago, back when the Tulsa Roughnecks were revived as a USISL D-3 team (equivalent of USL-2)...
Metro Christian Stadiumhttp://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?no=subj&articleid=613612&archive=yes
Union-Tuttle Stadiumhttp://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=29&articleid=19980430_Sp_b-rough&archive=yes
LaFortune Stadiumhttp://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=29&articleid=19990702_Sp_b5lange&archive=yes
East Central High School's East Tulsa Sports Complexhttp://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=29&articleid=19990730_Sp_b6asthe&archive=yes
WHY PLAY HIGH LEVEL PRO SOCCER AT A HIGH SCHOOL STADIUM ON ARTIFICIAL TURF WITH PERMANENT MARKINGS ON IT WHEN THERE'S A PRISTINE GRASS FIELD IN A WELL-MAINTAINED BALLPARK AT THE FAIRGROUNDS THAT COULD BE AVAILABLE NEXT YEAR?!? If the USL-1 officials I've spoken with believed Tulsa could only attract 2000 people "at most" for a home game, they wouldn't be interested in coming here. And I wouldn't be interested in trying to push it.
You filled out your survey.
I filled out mine.
Ain't democracy grand?!? :P
Quote from: USRufnex on September 14, 2009, 06:25:11 PM
The two transit hubs located downtown and at 34th and Memorial are NOT located directly across the street from residential areas. Please do a survey of the residents who live across the street from the fairgrounds about having a TulsaTransit hub replace the old ballpark... and get back to me with the results..... inquiring minds want to know. ::)
Judging from some other threads, if it helps increase density, "we" don't care what the neighbors think. Density over all else.
Quote from: Red Arrow on September 14, 2009, 08:57:11 PM
Judging from some other threads, if it helps increase density, "we" don't care what the neighbors think. Density over all else.
If you live across the street from the fairgrounds (next to Walgreen's and the ballpark, no less!), you ought to expect lots of people across the street.
Not that there would be any use in having a transit hub at the fairgrounds, unless by hub you mean a few free parking spaces for people to catch the bus down 15th street to downtown.
Quote from: nathanm on September 14, 2009, 09:13:11 PM
If you live across the street from the fairgrounds (next to Walgreen's and the ballpark, no less!), you ought to expect lots of people across the street.
Not that there would be any use in having a transit hub at the fairgrounds, unless by hub you mean a few free parking spaces for people to catch the bus down 15th street to downtown.
I think a transit hub for light rail / (real) trolleys might be useful. Downtowners (when that happens) would have a ready way to get to the fairgrounds. Assuming they would not be too snobby to go to the type of events held at the fairgrounds. Not so much parking would be required downtown so we could get rid of some of the excess. Folks from around the fairgrounds could drive a couple of miles instead of all the way downtown, if that is where they actually go. I have no desire to get rid of the stadium; however, not being a sports fan I would also not be affected by its going away. Free or pay parking at the fairgrounds? If I have to pay to park at the fairgrounds and pay to take transit, why not just drive downtown? Paying to park downtown has been talked to death.
I see no advantage to a "transit depot" for a bus that only runs every half-hour or so during daylight business hours.
Back when Tulsa had (real) trolleys, there was service to the fairgrounds. Oklahoma Union Railway had tracks along 11th eastward to Delaware, south to 13th, east to Louisville, south to a turnaround loop near 21st on Louisville. The University of Tulsa was served via 1st, Lewis, and 11th by the Tulsa Street Railway.
(When Oklahoma Took the Trolley by Chandler & Maguire)
Quote from: Red Arrow on September 14, 2009, 10:25:55 PM
Back when Tulsa had (real) trolleys, there was service to the fairgrounds. Oklahoma Union Railway had tracks along 11th eastward to Delaware, south to 13th, east to Louisville, south to a turnaround loop near 21st on Louisville. The University of Tulsa was served via 1st, Lewis, and 11th by the Tulsa Street Railway.
(When Oklahoma Took the Trolley by Chandler & Maguire)
If we could get trolleys back, I could understand the usefulness of a larger scale park and ride at the fairgrounds. As it stands, not so much.
As I mentioned earlier in another thread, I would be very happy if we had streetcars running down the middle of the major streets in Tulsa. In addition to just being handy, it would position us well for the future of expensive oil and help feed Tulsa-OKC intercity high speed rail. There's no reason we shouldn't be a leader.
Quote from: Red Arrow on September 14, 2009, 10:25:55 PM
Back when Tulsa had (real) trolleys, there was service to the fairgrounds. Oklahoma Union Railway had tracks along 11th eastward to Delaware, south to 13th, east to Louisville, south to a turnaround loop near 21st on Louisville. The University of Tulsa was served via 1st, Lewis, and 11th by the Tulsa Street Railway.
(When Oklahoma Took the Trolley by Chandler & Maguire)
I wonder if that's got anything to do with the odd north/south street alignments on 13th between Harvard & Delaware.
so, the articles you link are at 10 years old.
However, upon reading them, the largest crowd (3,561) was where? Union-Tuttle stadium.
So, what exactly are you trying to say? Is it that south Tulsa is the right place for a minor league soccer team to play?
The demographics are there, not in mid-town, east or north Tulsa. Little Braxton, Dakota and Cheyenne love to be driven in mom's Yukon to soccer practice, it's ever so much fun.
Quote from: PepePeru on September 15, 2009, 10:01:26 AM
so, the articles you link are at 10 years old.
However, upon reading them, the largest crowd (3,561) was where? Union-Tuttle stadium.
So, what exactly are you trying to say? Is it that south Tulsa is the right place for a minor league soccer team to play?
The demographics are there, not in mid-town, east or north Tulsa. Little Braxton, Dakota and Cheyenne love to be driven in mom's Yukon to soccer practice, it's ever so much fun.
I don't necessarily disagree with you overall, but you're ignoring the fastest growing demographic of rabid soccer fans in Tulsa: hispanics. Midtown's pretty darn close to east Tulsa. Union Tuttle, while not far in distance, is light years away in other important ways.
Quote from: Conan71 on September 15, 2009, 08:51:13 AM
I wonder if that's got anything to do with the odd north/south street alignments on 13th between Harvard & Delaware.
I don't know, the map wasn't very detailed.
Quote from: PepePeru on September 15, 2009, 10:01:26 AM
so, the articles you link are at 10 years old.
That happens to be the most recent info I have in which men's pro soccer has been played in Tulsa at high school facilities.
I also showed a 2003 pic of Skelly Stadium with 14,000 soccer fans in attendance but you conveniently chose to ignore that and focus on the negative.
Funny dat.
Quote from: PepePeru on September 15, 2009, 10:01:26 AM
So, what exactly are you trying to say? Is it that south Tulsa is the right place for a minor league soccer team to play?
However, upon reading them, the largest crowd (3,561) was where? Union-Tuttle stadium.
Union-Tuttle Stadium is a reasonable venue....... for USL-2.
The USL brass want a Tulsa team to play in their top division: USL-1.
USL-1 teams average around 4,500 fans per game.
--USL First Division requires at least 5,000 seating capacity; their benchmarks for seating type are 50% individual, 50% bleacher with back. The ballpark offers this; high school stadiums do not have individual seats or bleachers with backs.
--USL Second Division requires at least 3,500 seating capacity; bleachers are okay.
--The ballpark at the fairgrounds has a grass field and no massive football markings all over the field.
--Tulsa has never hosted a USL-1 team.
Quote from: PepePeru on September 15, 2009, 10:01:26 AM
The demographics are there, not in mid-town, east or north Tulsa. Little Braxton, Dakota and Cheyenne love to be driven in mom's Yukon to soccer practice, it's ever so much fun.
"Little Braxton? Dakota? Cheyenne?"You do
condescending really well, Pepe. You really do.... you have a really amusing condescending sense of humor there.
I'm more of a sarcasm man, myself. :P
Try to back up your arguments by using substance rather than resorting to condescending and banal stereotypes... your self proclaimed "demographics" about south Tulsa versus midtown versus north Tulsa are far too typical of Tulsans I've met who refuse to go downtown... or north of 11th Street.... or south of 41st... or north of 51st......
It's a huge pet-peeve of mine to hear unhinged Tulsa territorialism.
How else do you think Chris Medlock comes up with his "midtown elite" schtick?
Funny how the same kinds of people who expect all of us to be so very open-minded regarding their downtown-centric mass transit/urban density plans resort to stereotyping and pigeon-holing about "demographics" they know diddley-squat about.
Rufnex:
My main concern with turning the stadium into a soccer stadium is that it would be fairly screwball. You have posted pictures of the Puerto Rico stadium like that and it looks like crap. Clearly they converted an old baseball stadium to make an old baseball stadium where you can play soccer.
The Tulsa stadium is built like a giant K'nex set. I wonder how easy it would be to deconstruct the current configuration and rebuild it into a soccer stadium. I'm sure there would be some minimal expense, but I would imagine the field would fit better, the fan experience would be better, and it would look the part while being able to utilize most of the materials and the current concession, bathroom facilities and gates. With a nice looking large soccer stadium I'm sure we could accommodate a USL-1 team as well as trying to make a bigger deal of TU-OU, OU-OSU, and other in-state soccer matches.
Hell, if the infield of the horse track was ever made to look like a decent horse track and grass placed in the middle there it could be used as a damn nice soccer complex in mid town (dare we try to host a regional soccer tournament?). I know, I know . . . we'd have to give up surface parking. But it would make the track look MUCH more respectable (a paved infield? Really?) and provide a space for kids to play soccer while simultaneously creating a new venue for the city to host functions. There is no green space as expo square . . .
So I'm on board Rufnex. Reconfigure the stadium to a soccer stadium and grass the infield. Expo square would gain a nicer looking race track, green space at expo, a new soccer complex, a soccer stadium, and the possibility of hosting more events.
That's my plan. Go.
Still no complete results for the survey that ended 10/31.... but.....
10/26/09
Ideas for old stadium pour in
The suggestions run along three categories: concerts, conversion or demolition.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=382&articleid=20091026_16_A8_TulsaC24012&archive=yes
Already the opinions are many and varied. As of Oct. 19, the county had received 1,867 recommendations as part of an online survey.
They include:
* Turning it into a concert venue.
* Converting it to a soccer stadium.
* Building an indoor/outdoor restaurant with a children's play area.
10/28/2009
County asks
What to do with old Drillers ballpark?
http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/article.aspx?subjectid=61&articleid=20091028_61_A20_Timeis745349&archive=yes
Some of the ideas already put forth for the 5.5-acre site include a concert venue, a soccer stadium and an indoor/outdoor restaurant with a play area for children.
County Commissioner Fred Perry, chairman of the fair board, said input he has received so far suggests survey results will fall into three general categories: a concert and sports venue; new development featuring recreational, retail or hotel development; or more parking, barns and other facilities to augment current Expo Square uses.
Phish at Toyota Park 2009-08-11
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3580/3832149064_557a949bcf.jpg)
(http://www.gotickets.com/cached/_images/maintainwidth/521x494/3289d6466a2cd8483042263f956c9f7d/toyota_park_concert-5531.jpg)
Ruf, I understand your passion for soccer and think that it's great to be passionate about something, but a facility like Toyota Park would not fit into the foot print of the old Drillers Stadium without taking out turn 3 and 4 of Fair Meadows and taking out the TCHD building. Toyota Park, just the stadium is 650' end to end, and 560' from side to side. It's roughly the size of Skelly Stadium, and with some of the backlash that I have read about BOk and ONEOK, who would pay for a soccer stadium to be built in place of the old ball park? Also Toyota Park has three sports played there, MLS, WPS, and lacrosse all playing overlapping seasons from April until October. Would, or could Tulsa support two to three more teams?
I have never proposed that a 20k seat stadium for Major League Soccer be constructed at the fairgrounds. I simply posted the images above to demonstrate how an outdoor stadium venue can be used for concerts....
I'm glad you appreciate my "passion" blah-blah-blah.... but there is a pro soccer league that wants to be in Tulsa, and there is a potential fanbase here who have made their voices heard in the county's survey, and it may be possible to keep the old ballpark intact as a combination concert/soccer venue while still being used from time to time in a baseball/softball configuration.
This is reasonable, it is feasible, and it is doable...... on second thought, maybe we can preserve the old ballpark by selling it to OKC or Edmond, considering Tulsa's proclivity for taking perfectly good structures and bulldozing them for surface parking.... ::)
My argument has been that the old Drillers Stadium would work perfectly well for USL-1 and would need very little retrofitting. No movement of upper deck stands would be required.... a 90-degree angle in either leftfield or rightfield would be all that is desired for a soccer configuration... and a concert stage opposite the the leftfield or rightfield stands can be a desirable option as long as it's cost-effective....
Since the health dept is not going to be around, that building could be used for "an indoor/outdoor restaurant with a children's play area."
Will the county honor these ideas or is the survey a way to placate the general public while they decide what they REALLY want to do with it....?
... looking over NASL confidentiality agreement...... lawyers, lawyers everywhere, and not a drop to drink...... signing, faxing........... microchip firmly implanted in back of neck.....
RESISTANCE IS FUTILE.... VIVA LE RESISTANCE!..........
http://www.nasl.com
coffee?.... ;D
I could use some coffee. A good rumor would be nice too...
Quote from: USRufnex on November 13, 2009, 10:40:22 AM
* Turning it into a concert venue.
* Converting it to a soccer stadium.
These two can be easily combined.
* Building an indoor/outdoor restaurant with a children's play area.[/i]
Dumbest idea I've ever heard. What single restaurant would occupy the site of a 10,000 seat stadium?
The combo soccer/concert venue makes since-- minimal capital improvements required. It could be used for a pro soccer team and youth soccer leagues. Since youth leagues have Spring and Fall seasons, there would be almost year-round use of the stadium. Summer would be the most common time for outdoor concerts.
If the stadium is torn down, Big Splash should use it for expansion. Oceans of Fun in Kansas City is a good example of the type of water rides/pools that Big Splash needs. Example: http://www.worldsoffun.com/public/parks/oof/slides_pools/index.cfm (http://www.worldsoffun.com/public/parks/oof/slides_pools/index.cfm). Big Splash is in major need of upgrading. I don't think that many kids in Tulsa even go there anymore. The place hasn't changed in 25 years.
Quote from: perspicuity85 on April 17, 2010, 01:31:31 AM
The combo soccer/concert venue makes since-- minimal capital improvements required. It could be used for a pro soccer team and youth soccer leagues. Since youth leagues have Spring and Fall seasons, there would be almost year-round use of the stadium. Summer would be the most common time for outdoor concerts.
If the stadium is torn down, Big Splash should use it for expansion. Oceans of Fun in Kansas City is a good example of the type of water rides/pools that Big Splash needs. Example: http://www.worldsoffun.com/public/parks/oof/slides_pools/index.cfm (http://www.worldsoffun.com/public/parks/oof/slides_pools/index.cfm). Big Splash is in major need of upgrading. I don't think that many kids in Tulsa even go there anymore. The place hasn't changed in 25 years. The county needs to improve it enough to attract a private company in the amusement park industry to purchase and operate.
Perspi, long time no see.....
Quote* Building an indoor/outdoor restaurant with a children's play area.[/i]
Dumbest idea I've ever heard. What single restaurant would occupy the site of a 10,000 seat stadium?
Sorry if it sounded that way, but the indoor/outdoor restaurant idea was more for what to do with the health dept building next door, since they will be moving also.....
Check your msgs.
Quote from: perspicuity85 on April 17, 2010, 01:31:31 AM
The combo soccer/concert venue makes since-- minimal capital improvements required. It could be used for a pro soccer team and youth soccer leagues. Since youth leagues have Spring and Fall seasons, there would be almost year-round use of the stadium. Summer would be the most common time for outdoor concerts.
If the stadium is torn down, Big Splash should use it for expansion. Oceans of Fun in Kansas City is a good example of the type of water rides/pools that Big Splash needs. Example: http://www.worldsoffun.com/public/parks/oof/slides_pools/index.cfm (http://www.worldsoffun.com/public/parks/oof/slides_pools/index.cfm). Big Splash is in major need of upgrading. I don't think that many kids in Tulsa even go there anymore. The place hasn't changed in 25 years.
Big Splash also needs to remember to pay money to their utility bills and not to their county commissioner's campaigns but they keep forgetting that.
Quote from: sgrizzle on April 17, 2010, 01:50:19 PM
Big Splash also needs to remember to pay money to their utility bills and not to their county commissioner's campaigns but they keep forgetting that.
Ha
Looks like my wish is coming true....A small dirt oval inside the old stadium.....Open wheel dirt track racing.....Very nice....
BB, who's behind it?
Quote from: JeffM on April 17, 2010, 09:37:45 AM
Perspi, long time no see.....
Sorry if it sounded that way, but the indoor/outdoor restaurant idea was more for what to do with the health dept building next door, since they will be moving also.....
Check your msgs.
Ahh, thanks for the clarification on that.
Quote from: Conan71 on April 20, 2010, 03:30:35 PM
BB, who's behind it?
Well, I was told there wouldn't be any long term decisions made until late summer.
Asked them point blank.
Go figure.