I emailed them awhile back. They're willing to plant lots of trees but they were needing a sponsorship because of funding issues. No sponsor has stepped up yet.

More hotels ? We will be able to host the 2032 Olympics at this speed !
Talking more seriously, does anybody know if OKC tries to host some itinerant international sports events ? Like a rowing world championship, the volleyball league of nations or anything else coming to mind ?

Here is the master plan developed by AHMM:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boathouse012220a.jpg

I'm a little surprised by the location of Bar K. I thought it was going to be up against the river somewhere (not sure where I thought). With this location I'm not sure there's much more value to being in the Boathouse district vs being by scissortail or something.

I'm a little surprised by the location of Bar K. I thought it was going to be up against the river somewhere (not sure where I thought). With this location I'm not sure there's much more value to being in the Boathouse district vs being by scissortail or something.

At least $750k in value, per post #38 in the Bar K thread lol. But yeah that's not a great location. Going to look pretty barren until the rest of that plan is developed, if it ever is. Really not much different than their location in Kansas City, though.

I'm a little surprised by the location of Bar K. I thought it was going to be up against the river somewhere (not sure where I thought). With this location I'm not sure there's much more value to being in the Boathouse district vs being by scissortail or something.

This echoes my thoughts, I was picturing it up along the actual river

I'm a little surprised by the location of Bar K. I thought it was going to be up against the river somewhere (not sure where I thought). With this location I'm not sure there's much more value to being in the Boathouse district vs being by scissortail or something.

Does Bar K provide doggie day care? If it does, it makes sense, because then people can drop their dogs off there and then do the Riversports Rapids/Adventures.

I was walking around the boathouses yesterday for really the first time and saw an empty dog park that was part of "Barks & Brews." After looking around a little bit online, it seems this concept came and went rather quickly a year or so ago. I'm really struggling to see how Bar K is any different

I was walking around the boathouses yesterday for really the first time and saw an empty dog park that was part of "Barks & Brews." After looking around a little bit online, it seems this concept came and went rather quickly a year or so ago. I'm really struggling to see how Bar K is any different

Helps when you're given $750,000 to get started.

The Boathouse Foundation has already burned through the $3.5 million the city has given them out of the general operating fund and now will be asking for another $1.3 million from the city in the coming budget year, on top of just obtaining a $750,000 federal loan and getting $7.9 million in extra MAPS funds.

https://oklahoman.com/article/5660718/coronavirus-in-oklahoma-riversport-gets-stimulus-funds

Shut it down.

Where in the hell is it all going?

What a money pit. There needs to be an investigation of where the money is going. Is there a mechanism by which an audit is demanded before further disbursement of funds? Fairgrounds should also be audited as well. The current economic situation should make this even more critical.

The simple truth is that Aubrey McClendon had this big idea once the dams were put in because he went to Duke and the east has a big and affluent rowing base.

He spent Chesapeake money to build that first boathouse then had the foundation created where Aubrey got Mike Knopp (who was a rowing coach at OCU at the time) to run the whole thing and get on the payroll along with Mike's wife.

Aubrey would have Chesapeake pay employees of the foundation and have their crews do all the landscaping and other work there. Keep in mind, this is CHK money, not out of Aubrey's pocket.

It was always a huge money loser but Aubrey just told Knopp to keep adding boathouses and attractions and CHK would cover the difference. The basic 'fake it until you make it' approach. Then he got thrown out of CHK for exactly this type of irresponsibility and the foundation was left with a huge hole.

It's important to note the huge deficits started to register long before Aubrey died; it was when he could no longer funnel the Chesapeake money when the big problems were exposed.

So, Knopp begins this endless cycle of asking the city to keep doubling down. Every new attraction is going to generate income and more than pay for itself (there are dozens of slick Powerpoint presentations over the years), then that doesn't happen and so another pitch is made for more money and the cycle repeats.

It's a huge mess and we've used tons of extra MAPS funds and money straight out of the budget to keep subsidizing. No other project would be enabled this way, especially when the meetings and budgets are not public record.

The only time we learn anything is when there is yet another budget crisis, and we get another pretty presentation swearing that with just more investment, things will turn around.

With most city departments taking at least a 11% cut, it would be malfeasonance to just keep pumping more money into this operation. Is there political will in the Holt administration/ city council to just say "nope".

Or how bout blaming the voters, who keep blindly voting for more MAPS taxes in spite of this kind of boondoggle spending, which includes street car and about everything inside of MAPS4 .

They get what the deserve, if they not smart enough to say no to people , who are spending other people's money on other people.

The only other place in the country who has built a whitewater rafting facility is in North Carolina. And years ago , the local officials who financed the park in North Carolina, cut their losses and sold it to private interests.

Its now a combination whitewater rafting park and concert venue, operated privately. And the govt officials there are glad to be out from under that boondoggle.

But here in OKC, no one can admit it was a mistake, they just keep pumping other people's hard earned money into this loser.

Yeah, it was probably wooda been better for the river iffen we hadn't done anything down there. It was such a showpiece for the city and a good recruiting ditch. The ditch, the smelly cotton plant, the junky railroad spurs. That's good enuf fur us okies.

If we just turn'd it into a fishin hole for catfish it would probably be a big hit here. We don't need any fancy spots, just a rock and a cane pole and some night crawlers. Yee haw.

I swear some people would just die if they didn't have something to gripe about.

I swear some people would just die if they didn't have something to gripe about.

You gotta be kidding me, they're blowing millions of dollars every year.

The City is deep into the amusement park business, where they should never be. They even hired an amusement park manager who worked for Frontier City.

They just can't admit it was a mistake and cut their losses.

Taxpayers should be angry as F , instead of making excuses for this folly.

They’re getting these millions, but where the hell is some lodging or a hotel?

There are lots of cities that provide amusement services to their citizens. Here in Denvervthere are both privately run water parks and publicly run. There are also multiple "taj mahal" health / recreation facilities operating right along with multiple privately owned health clubs.

I think OKCs white water facility is great. I just wish they'd voted to expand it into a first class water facility with swimming pools, wave pool, lazy river, etc.
You may just have to accept that other people sometimes want their city to provide more services than you do.

So let me get this straight. You don't think there should be any accountability of where past funds have gone? Keep pumping money without opening up the books for those paying to see how wise the investment is?

Boathouse Foundation approved for PPP (not a judgement, just an FYI).

16229

City set to give the Boathouse Foundation another $1.5 million for fiscal year as a 'management fee'.

We continue to pour money into this even as the city is cutting way back on virtually everything due to the recent and continued shortfalls in sales tax revenue.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boathouse071220a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boathouse071220b.jpg

Press release:

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

“Outdoor October” Begins October 3 in the Boathouse District
Featuring a first look at the Bar K dog park, restaurant and bar concept

Oklahoma City (September 4, 2020) - If autumn leaves and crisp fall air are calling your name, mark your calendar for Outdoor October, RIVERSPORT’s four-week series of Saturday events that begins October 3.

“While we can’t have the annual Oklahoma Regatta Festival this year, we want to offer families a new way to experience RIVERSPORT this fall,” said Mike Knopp, executive director.

RIVERSPORT will have pop-up shops, food trucks, authentic German food and family-oriented experiences on four Saturdays in October, each with a different focus.

Featured events include a special “pop-up” dog park presented by Bar K, the dog park, restaurant and bar coming to the Boathouse District in 2021; Oktoberfest food and beer; a screening of BMX cult favorite movie “Rad” including an appearance by Olympic Gold Medal gymnast and “Rad” actor Bart Conner; and a Thrive Outside weekend offer ‘how to’ mini seminars for those interested in learning about camping, hiking and cooking outdoors.

The Bike Park will be open each weekend with scooters and bikes available to rent. RIVERSPORT’s Basecamp Nature Center allows families to see 30 different native Oklahoma species of frogs, turtles, spiders, snakes and lizards. A new urban nature trail offers a great walking experience and food trucks and pop-up vendors will be on hand to round out the activities. German food and Oktoberfest beers will be featured all month, and leashed dogs are always welcome.

“OUTDOOR OCTOBER” FEATURED EVENTS

Saturdays, Oct 3 – 24 • 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 3 “Dogtober” will feature a full day of dog-friendly activities. Bar K, the new dog park and bar slated to open in the Boathouse District in 2021, is coming from Kansas City to create a popup version of their concept which will include a dog yoga class, an adoption event, SUP with your PUP, an off-leash dog park area and beer tasting provided by Coop Ale plus live music.

Saturday, Oct 10 Break out the lederhosen for a celebration of Oktoberfest’s famous German beers, German brats, porkchops, potato salad and sauerkraut, plus live oompah music.

Saturday, Oct 17 Begin the day with a 15-mile guided Group Bike Ride, then stay for a free Bike Maintenance Clinic. Olympic Gold Medalist Bart Conner will be on hand for the showing of “Rad,” the 1986 BMX movie that has recently enjoyed an uptick in popularity.

Saturday, Oct 24 Thrive Outside with a day of geocached treasure hunts and free outdoor clinics for those interested in learning about camping, hiking and cooking outdoors. Learn to make a campfire, pitch a tent or cook in cast iron over an open fire.


Outdoor October will be held in the Boathouse District, 800 RIVERSPORT Drive in downtown Oklahoma City. Admission is free with some activities requiring a fee; parking is $5. For more information visit riversportokc.org/outdooroctober or follow RIVERSPORT on social media @riversportokc.

I think OKCs white water facility is great. I just wish they'd voted to expand it into a first class water facility with swimming pools, wave pool, lazy river, etc.

YESS. I don’t understand why they didn’t try to add the pools in there before the surf machine. Way more people can jump into a pool at the same time in a scorching hot summer day than onto the surf machine (2 max). Then take that profit to build the surf machine or anything cooler later, it’s just Business 101.

The Barton Springs Pool in Austin is a major attraction, no reason why we can’t do that in the Boathouse District, the location is perfect.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/16/79/f5/1679f524bd9b3ab525eafad85f5dab7b.jpg

Or the Harbour Bath in Copenhagen, Denmark.
https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/h2bah30gfhPOC8wJr2AcdoPm_KA=/1400x1400/filters:format(jpeg)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11662513/R_Hjortshoj___Aarhus_Havnebad_Press_12.jpg

theyll want another MAPS handout to do the grounds right.

you know the OKC way, as evidenced by the State Fair "Park" disaster

I have written on here, suggested into the MAPS ideas, and directly to the city multiple times now to convert the Bricktown canal into a recreation/swimmable body that expands into the Boathouse district (the connection is already basically done - just have to seal off from the polluted river). Convert the water quality to be able to let people canoe, kayak, paddleboard, & hangout in it.

Do away with the boat tours and make the expanded part from the current south end of the canal, toward the boathouse area, deeper and more "natural" looking than the current configuration running through Bricktown. The expansion into the Boathouse Row can be made much more exciting since there is ample room to go more than 4 feet deep in areas which will create more adult-friendly items such as cliff jumps and hangout spots using rock ledges etc.

I have written on here, suggested into the MAPS ideas, and directly to the city multiple times now to convert the Bricktown canal into a recreation/swimmable body that expands into the Boathouse district (the connection is already basically done - just have to seal off from the polluted river). Convert the water quality to be able to let people canoe, kayak, paddleboard, & hangout in it.

Do away with the boat tours and make the expanded part from the current south end of the canal, toward the boathouse area, deeper and more "natural" looking than the current configuration running through Bricktown. The expansion into the Boathouse Row can be made much more exciting since there is ample room to go more than 4 feet deep in areas which will create more adult-friendly items such as cliff jumps and hangout spots using rock ledges etc.

I thought I heard that would be exorbitantly expensive, and would never make its money back.

Basically everything about that idea sounds terrible. The canal and the boathouse district are at different heights, it makes no sense to talk about extending one into the other. And making the canal in Bricktown swimmable similarly makes no sense for the intended area use. Contained swimming pools or monitored beaches can be made swimmable and safe with proper lifeguard facilities, you couldn't reasonably do that for the entire length of a three quarter mile canal.

I thought I heard that would be exorbitantly expensive, and would never make its money back.

The river? yes very expensive. But the manmade canal? Not even close to the levels of un-swimmable as the actual river.


Basically everything about that idea sounds terrible. The canal and the boathouse district are at different heights, it makes no sense to talk about extending one into the other. And making the canal in Bricktown swimmable similarly makes no sense for the intended area use. Contained swimming pools or monitored beaches can be made swimmable and safe with proper lifeguard facilities, you couldn't reasonably do that for the entire length of a three quarter mile canal.

The difference in elevation is exactly why it would work. The idea is to create a slow flowing river/canal. Not sure how deep utilities were relocated underneath the canal, but surely it can be dug deeper near the Boulevard to LandRun monument area. The original canal was accomplished with just over $20MM, the footprint is already there.

As for safety, the existing canal is only 4 feet deep. Not sure what standards requires lifeguards in OK, but it doesn't seem too unreasonable considering the canal's layout and the almost complete lack of canal-level development utilization.

I am clearly not an engineer, maybe it is impossible, but I think it would be awesome and a way to actually use the canal other than boat tours.

That's almost even worse, you are basically talking about digging the canal all over again.

If it cost $20 million in 1990s dollars to dig out the canal in the middle of a mostly dead district, I bet we'd be looking at $100 million plus today to dig nearly all of it back up to make it steadily deeper to make that slope and to reconfigure the landscape the entire way to accommodate the change.

Not to mention seeing all the sunkissed Okies in skimpy bathing suits, both men and women for that matter. I would be glad to let them all stay at the lakes. Bricktown is already teaming with youths running around, mostly those teens without parents... I would like for some level of class to remain with Bricktown.

Crystal Lagoons. Giant clear fresh water pools that can have beaches. Making this a public works or MAPS project seems like an easy decision.

https://www.crystal-lagoons.com/

Not to mention seeing all the sunkissed Okies in skimpy bathing suits, both men and women for that matter. I would be glad to let them all stay at the lakes. Bricktown is already teaming with youths running around, mostly those teens without parents... I would like for some level of class to remain with Bricktown.

But you would miss the opportunity to yell "Get off my lawn!"

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boathouserow071821b.jpg

The boathouses on one side of the river and the railyard on the other is such an interesting contrast. Imagine the housing or other developments that could be built over there if the land was available.

i personally like the railyard there as it shows OKC does have an industrial economy.

Good luck getting Stillwater central to let go of that yard and interchange.

What makes the "Oklahoma River" more polluted, the agriculture runoff or the industrial park runoff? Or is it the one-two punch.

What makes the "Oklahoma River" more polluted, the agriculture runoff or the industrial park runoff? Or is it the one-two punch.

Ground runoff from all up and down the river and then the manure from the stockyards.

The latter is why they held one triathlon there and a bunch of people became ill.

Always hilarious to me how ugly the river looks after it rains. Nothing you can do about it unfortunately, and I do love this state's red dirt, but man does it look ugly when it's churned up in the river.

This would be the exact placement of the USS OKC replica:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/submarine1.jpg

https://www.news9.com/story/61b34d8472c9030bfe6a9696/plan-to-get-decommissioned-nuclear-submarine-in-okc
Is this still part of this same project first mentioned in 2017?

^

It's the same submarine but I believe the people involved in moving part of it to OKC determined that riverfront site was not going to work, at least as originally proposed.

That News 9 story said they were hoping to just get the mast back to OKC; not sure where it would be placed.

It said the new hull would be an exact replica of the current sub. Also, the mast from the original would be placed on top and be 15 feet tall. They said they have located some of the large Cannons from the USS Oklahoma that would be a part of the memorial. They also said the monument would be mounted as high as possible so it would be seen from I-40.

I'm ready to donate to this cause.

Ahh I gotcha, I saw this ^ comment talking about how the hull was going to be a replica for the initial plan so wasn't sure if they were going to use the original mast with replica hull or what the plan was.

City set to give the Boathouse Foundation another $1.5 million for fiscal year as a 'management fee'.

We continue to pour money into this even as the city is cutting way back on virtually everything due to the recent and continued shortfalls in sales tax revenue.

You do great research, but when are you going to figure out what's going on with the tent?

You do great research, but when are you going to figure out what's going on with the tent?

It's for e-sports camp starting this summer:


Introducing Equinox Esports Camp at RIVERSPORT. Video games- they’ve come a long way since Super Mario Bros! Sponsorships, Twitch fame, and even college scholarships are all very real prospects for gamers now. Get you gamer ready with game specific training, competitions, career development and a focus on creating healthy lifestyles while enjoying esports.

Stayed on the USS KIDD Submarine Hotel in Baton Rouge, LA. It was a nice experience.

USS KIDD:

https://www.louisianatravel.com/sites/default/files/styles/listing_slideshow/public/listing_images/profile/5468/uss%20kidd%20riverfront.jpg?itok=RfJMBRYi


This would be a good addition for tourism in Oklahoma City if you could get some parts and replicate the decommissioned USS Oklahoma City [decommissioned June 30, 1947). And let's get that Aquarian built next to it.


https://garlanddavis.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/uss_oklahoma_city_clg-5_at_sea_in_the_early_1960s.jpg

The Meridian Hotel Corridor with the replica of the USS Oklahoma City could be built off Meridian on the Oklahoma River.

Russian Invasion of Ukraine Prompts Olympic Watersports Move to OKC
https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2022/03/17/russian-invasion-ukraine-prompts-olympic-watersports-move-okc-oklahoma-river/7074439001/

^
Yet again plagiarizing a press release (below) without attribution.



Press release:

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

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.

World competitions along the Oklahoma River expected to attract thousands to OKC
https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2022/04/15/oklahoma-river-paddling-events-could-boost-economy-10-million/7309754001/

^
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.

Welp, time for OKC to shoot upwards. A shot at the international stage doesn't come often, nor is it awarded to someplace many would call a "fly-over state". The local economy is going to be in for a boom the next few years, even if it goes badly. At worst, it'll incentivize infrastructure upgrades and more amenities will look to be established. At best, this puts the city on the global stage for more business to look to advertise and build here. Either way, the city's direction is certain to go upwards from here on, despite some other specific discussions that are best to be saved for other forums.

Welp, time for OKC to shoot upwards. A shot at the international stage doesn't come often, nor is it awarded to someplace many would call a "fly-over state". The local economy is going to be in for a boom the next few years, even if it goes badly. At worst, it'll incentivize infrastructure upgrades and more amenities will look to be established. At best, this puts the city on the global stage for more business to look to advertise and build here. Either way, the city's direction is certain to go upwards from here on, despite some other specific discussions that are best to be saved for other forums.

It certainly won't hurt and is great for the city, but aren't these events occurring in August? How much in the way of infrastructure upgrades and the like can really get done before then?

It certainly won't hurt and is great for the city, but aren't these events occurring in August? How much in the way of infrastructure upgrades and the like can really get done before then?

I don't think they can do much this time around, but they need to try and knock 2026 events out the park.

................ Just the very words "previously awarded to Moscow, Russia, will be relocated to Oklahoma City, OK, USA...... " There's something striking about that. :)

.......... and this..... "In early May, the world cups will be held in Thun, Switzerland, in Budapest, Hungary, in mid-June, and Oklahoma City in August."

There should be T-shirts printed..... "Thun, Budapest, Oklahoma City" :)

This would be the exact placement of the USS OKC replica:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/submarine1.jpg

Wondering if this development will move this initiative along:

https://www.okc.gov/Home/Components/News/News/4130/18



Efforts are underway to preserve the ship’s sail and bring it back to Oklahoma City as a tribute to Oklahoma City’s naval history.

Got a good laugh from this https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2022/05/23/okc-real-estate-guide-buying-selling-homes-market/9752549002/
"What attracts apartment investors to OKC? More than the money to be made: Investors dropped nearly $1 billion buying up apartment complexes in Oklahoma City last year. The Boathouse District, MAPS, low unemployment -- more than potential return on investment is attracting apartment investors to Oklahoma City."

^

The Oklahoman and the Boathouse Foundation have a financial arrangement, which is the main reason they are always promoting it in their stories and why they don't delve into the large and seemingly never-ending public subsidies.