What is wrong with the Ball Park at Expo Square?

[AMP]

Is there something wrong with the Ball Park at 15th and Yale?

[Hoss]

quote:Originally posted by AMP

Is there something wrong with the Ball Park at 15th and Yale?

Other than the fact that the city does not get any sales tax revenue from it?

[tulsa1603]

quote:Originally posted by AMP

Is there something wrong with the Ball Park at 15th and Yale?

Nothing.  But the Drillers were moving to Jenks, so it was being abandoned either way.  At least this way they stay here.

[RecycleMichael]

The ballpark at the fairgrounds lacks many of the things that new ballparks have. There are only four luxury boxes and these luxury boxes are great revenue sources. It does not have outfield seating. The current park has to close the main entrance during the horse racing season. There are too many seats and that detracts from the ballgame experience.

The Drillers have been there 30 years and never asked for a new ballpark until now. They are a class act and will be a great magnet for new development downtown.

[dsjeffries]

I can see the tagline now: Tulsa, where dead horses are beaten daily.

[cannon_fodder]

quote:Originally posted by dsjeffries

I can see the tagline now: Tulsa, where dead horses are beaten daily.

+1. Did you miss this debate 6 months ago?

1) moving to jenks if we don't do something
2) not stylish like new stadiums (erector set)
3) location is lacking in any atmosphere
4) doesn't encourage development in the area
5) nothing to do before or after the game
6) Fair board wants the drillers gone
7) no sales tax revenue
parking (always with the parking)
9) too big
10)need one more for ten... think damn it think!

[Townsend]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

quote:Originally posted by dsjeffries

I can see the tagline now: Tulsa, where dead horses are beaten daily.

+1. Did you miss this debate 6 months ago?

1) moving to jenks if we don't do something
2) not stylish like new stadiums (erector set)
3) location is lacking in any atmosphere
4) doesn't encourage development in the area
5) nothing to do before or after the game
6) Fair board wants the drillers gone
7) no sales tax revenue
parking (always with the parking)
9) too big
10)need one more for ten... think damn it think!

10)not part of mayor's approved legacy?  jk RM

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by AMP

Is there something wrong with the Ball Park at 15th and Yale?

I too am still waiting for sound, reasonable answers to this question, the replies in this thread included.

Too big?  That's rich.  How long will it be before the owners want to expand the capacity of the DT park and do expansion/renovation?  The architectural renderings shown the public make it look huge, but it will have only 1/2 the seating of the current stadium.

And what will become of the current stadium at 15th & Yale?  Probably scrap salvaged and bulldozed for more surface parking.  What a gigantic waste of a perfectly good facility.

[RecycleMichael]

I am sorry that you don't like the answers we gave you.

The Drillers know their business and they are asking for a smaller stadium. This trend has been happening throughout minor league baseball.

I suppose you know more than all of them.

I hope that the fairgrounds builds a nice hotel on that corner. Expo Square attracts lots of rich horse owners to events and they want to stay at a better hotel than the one near Big Splash.

[dbacks fan]

quote:Originally posted by dsjeffries

I can see the tagline now: Tulsa, where dead horses are beaten daily.

Beating one dead horse coming up.....

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

I suppose you know more than all of them.

No I don't, and never meant to give that impression.  I am only expressing my opinions on this subject just like everyone else.  I think it extremely wasteful to vacate what I perceive as a fine, completely adequate, well maintained stadium.  The true answer to AMP's original question is that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the current Driller's Stadium at 15th & Yale, other than it is not new, trendy and hip in some people's eyes.

I suppose I should be greatful that no direct tax dollars of mine are going to this wasteful  endeavor.  As far as I am concerned, the Drillers can move and play anywhere they want, as long as it is privately funded.  If I owned property in the DT tax district for this, I would do all in my power to tie it up in lawsuits and court actions to derail this waste.

[RecycleMichael]

That stadium is easy to dismantle. It is like a large erector set that could easily be sold to a high school football stadium.

[MichaelBates]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

That stadium is easy to dismantle. It is like a large erector set that could easily be sold to a high school football stadium.

Matter of fact, about 10 years ago someone suggested dismantling the stands and reassembling them at Archer and Elgin, then building a permanent structure around the new location. Seems like that would reduce the cost of a new ballpark substantially.

[osuguy]

It's just another part of BOK and the city councils financial schemes to try and increase the property values of the downtown area.

[shadows]

I understood the fairgrounds did not believe that it produced sufficient revenue and no one has come up with attendance numbers of tickets sold.  
Second reason assumed there was no trust to issue revenue bonds at a tax  free 4%plus interest over thirty years.   Then  there were no private party rooms for the elite.  The restaurants and eateries can move back down town that were driven out because of lack of business.  The less than a thousand fans will be able to find a seat among the 6.200 proposed.  In the archives of commission meetings it is noted that the Attorney for the Air Port Trust said the citizens were not obligated for revenue bonds but if the Trust defaults, unless the city pays them off, it will ruin the city credit rating.( 7.1 million for the trust out of taxpayers pockets)

What happened to the foot ball franchise that was promoted while back?