Are there even any other schools that play basketball in an entirely different city?

There are a few (Villanova and UConn come to mind), but basketball is the most popular sport at both of those schools and they split games between a smaller on-campus arena and a larger off-campus arena. What OU is suggesting would be much more analogous to Miami, UCLA, and Pitt football playing all of their home games in an off-campus stadium. Anyone who follows college football somewhat closely will know that the consistently poor attendance at the home games of those three schools is a running joke amongst college football fans.

For reference, OU moved a couple of home games to the Paycom Center during the 2019-20 season. OU was pretty much an average power conference team that season (finishing with a 19-12 record when the season was cancelled due to the onset of the COVID pandemic), and so were their two opponents (Mississippi State at 20-11, Texas Tech at 18-13). They got 6,442 people in attendance for the Mississippi State game, and 6,879 for the Texas Tech game. By comparison, OU drew 10,000+ fans to the LNC for 7 of their 9 conference games this season.

It’s an embarrassing look for the OU administration that these comments even made it into this article. But that is par for the course with regards to how the basketball program has been run recently.

Well, OU can't afford a new arena, so they will build one where they get incentives go offset cost, or get it paid for entirely. Building on-campus would also include demolition costs, as well, most likely.

They got 6,442 people in attendance for the Mississippi State game, and 6,879 for the Texas Tech game. By comparison, OU drew 10,000+ fans to the LNC for 7 of their 9 conference games this season.

also by comparison, they averaged 5,995 in 8 non-conference games this season.

OU Men's Basketball this year averaged less attendance per game than the Women's Gymnastics meets.

as for the football teams with off campus stadiums you mentioned... well UCLA is in Los Angeles, and Miami is in Miami, and those two cities also have trouble filling on NFL gamedays as well. so perhaps those people just don't go to Football Games regardless of where it is or who is playing. And university of Pitt has had one relevant year in the past 40 (2021). So of course attendance is bad. so i don't see how any of those are relevant to the conversation at hand.

also by comparison, they averaged 5,995 in 8 non-conference games this season.

OU Men's Basketball this year averaged less attendance per game than the Women's Gymnastics meets.

as for the football teams with off campus stadiums you mentioned... well UCLA is in Los Angeles, and Miami is in Miami, and those two cities also have trouble filling on NFL gamedays as well. so perhaps those people just don't go to Football Games regardless of where it is or who is playing. And university of Pitt has had one relevant year in the past 40 (2021). So of course attendance is bad. so i don't see how any of those are relevant to the conversation at hand.

Miami is in BFE, especially compared to their campus. UCLAs stadium is in Pasadena. May as well be Sacramento, given the traffic to get from Westwood there.

Miami is in BFE, especially compared to their campus. UCLAs stadium is in Pasadena. May as well be Sacramento, given the traffic to get from Westwood there.

agreed.

Well keep in mind that Norman is not exactly the most pro-development city in the world in the first place.

Moore and OKC are more pro development than. Norman.

Nice update on the status of this project. It also addresses the comments made earlier by Prez Joe on the arena leaving Norman.
https://www.oudaily.com/news/harroz-entertainment-district-norman-sooners-basketball-gymnastics/article_aefc2a34-f2a9-11ee-aa09-d75dbab27b1b.html

Nice update on the status of this project. It also addresses the comments made earlier by Prez Joe on the arena leaving Norman.
https://www.oudaily.com/news/harroz-entertainment-district-norman-sooners-basketball-gymnastics/article_aefc2a34-f2a9-11ee-aa09-d75dbab27b1b.html

south moore hello

south moore hello

Lol. Lmao, even.

It’s an embarrassing look for the OU administration that these comments even made it into this article. But that is par for the course with regards to how the basketball program has been run recently.

Building a new arena off campus is embarrassing for OU. Good thing it will never happen.

I just wish OU could work with the City of Norman and local developers to create a mixed use entertainment district at the Lloyd Noble site instead of over by I-35. There's plenty of room there to develop housing, restaurants/retail, and a new arena. With soccer, tennis, softball, gymnastics, baseball, and basketball there, there would be a natural draw for events to the area, which could be enhanced by housing.

I just wish OU could work with the City of Norman and local developers to create a mixed use entertainment district at the Lloyd Noble site instead of over by I-35. There's plenty of room there to develop housing, restaurants/retail, and a new arena. With soccer, tennis, softball, gymnastics, baseball, and basketball there, there would be a natural draw for events to the area, which could be enhanced by housing.With the new SB stadium being right there and other venues being pretty close I don't think this is a bad idea. I like where LNC is. They could build a new arena next to it. I can think of one place that's doing the same thing right now and another that most certainly will start later this year or early next. I think OU and Norman could build a new arena with entertainment nearby.,That would also be great for the FB fans that park at LNC. Or even play a couple BB seasons at the old field house for nostalgia and build a new arena where LNC sits now.

Then who is the new arena being built for? In UNP, it is built for fans closer to the city, and being paid for by private developers, with some city involvement and ownership. LNC doesn't get students in, due to its location. Why would building a new arena next door attract those students, all of a sudden? As such, it doesn't benefit anyone. Norman very likely won't help out if it is on OU's campus grounds.

I just wish OU could work with the City of Norman and local developers to create a mixed use entertainment district at the Lloyd Noble site instead of over by I-35. There's plenty of room there to develop housing, restaurants/retail, and a new arena. With soccer, tennis, softball, gymnastics, baseball, and basketball there, there would be a natural draw for events to the area, which could be enhanced by housing.

Brooks and Jenkins is where it should be located

Imagine thinking OU has the money to build this without private and public help. Lol

The State of Oklahoma has the money. Tax cuts, sueing the tribes, new lab in Stillwater, money to renovate an unoccupied Governor mansion, media junkets for OSDE, those are just the tip.

I just wish OU could work with the City of Norman and local developers to create a mixed use entertainment district at the Lloyd Noble site instead of over by I-35. There's plenty of room there to develop housing, restaurants/retail, and a new arena. With soccer, tennis, softball, gymnastics, baseball, and basketball there, there would be a natural draw for events to the area, which could be enhanced by housing.

Done.
https://www.oudaily.com/news/norman-residents-consider-proposed-sooner-village-district-in-pre-development-meeting/article_a250768e-8fe7-11ee-9b82-3b8283ca5c71.html

Then who is the new arena being built for? In UNP, it is built for fans closer to the city, and being paid for by private developers, with some city involvement and ownership. LNC doesn't get students in, due to its location. Why would building a new arena next door attract those students, all of a sudden? As such, it doesn't benefit anyone. Norman very likely won't help out if it is on OU's campus grounds.
Students can't walk? When we go to football games we park by a restaurant on Main and walk to the stadium. And we're in our 60s.

Duplicate

Students can't walk? When we go to football games we park by a restaurant on Main and walk to the stadium. And we're in our 60s.

Students aren't walking to the games now.

Imagine thinking OU has the money to build this without private and public help. Lol

How many hundreds of millions of dollars has OU spent on the football stadium and upcoming football operations center? OU has the money.

How many hundreds of millions of dollars has OU spent on the football stadium and upcoming football operations center? OU has the money.

Fans care more about football, and considering OU football basically funds the rest of the AD, you put money in your cash cow, not the leeches living off it.

Plus, you can only put money towards what donors want you to. If they say "football only" (which, go figure, most do), the funds can't be used on basketball. You do know that it is criminal to misuse donated funds, right? I really hope you do. It is very important that you know that.

Students aren't walking to the games now.We didn't in the 70s either. But we went. The location of LNC isn't the reason students don't go to games.

Or even play a couple BB seasons at the old field house for nostalgia and build a new arena where LNC sits now.

I know there are other sports housed in the field house, but I've wondered why (or if) this hasn't been considered. I know there are obvious reasons but it does sound like a pretty good idea. (If only some OU basketball fan won the $1 billion Powerball......)

I also think Brooks & Jenkins would be a great location for a new arena if the primary goal was to get students back in the seats. However it may be the reality is that the majority of attendees drive and therefore a huge parking lot is necessary. Even with the relatively nearby existing parking garages, more parking structures would likely be needed.

LNC isn't in that terrible a location honestly. UNC's Dean Smith arena is pretty far removed from the main campus area and it gets plenty of people in the seats. Of course comparing UNC and OU basketball really isn't fair though.

Clay Horning on X: "The #Sooners don't need a new arena, but they really want one paid for by somebody else. This doesn't help. ------------------- Holding no cards, OU prez Harroz should choose seriousness over empty threats, by @clayhorning https://t.co/OXnjuaik3A" / X
https://twitter.com/clayhorning/status/1777064636908458076?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcam p%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Truth

the sooners don't need a new arena????

I know there are other sports housed in the field house, but I've wondered why (or if) this hasn't been considered. I know there are obvious reasons but it does sound like a pretty good idea. (If only some OU basketball fan won the $1 billion Powerball......)

I also think Brooks & Jenkins would be a great location for a new arena if the primary goal was to get students back in the seats. However it may be the reality is that the majority of attendees drive and therefore a huge parking lot is necessary. Even with the relatively nearby existing parking garages, more parking structures would likely be needed.

LNC isn't in that terrible a location honestly. UNC's Dean Smith arena is pretty far removed from the main campus area and it gets plenty of people in the seats. Of course comparing UNC and OU basketball really isn't fair though.

there are more season ticket holders then seats in the field house .. and they did a study on expanding it and it is not feasible ..

the sooners don't need a new arena????

horning is a clown

the sooners don't need a new arena????
The City of Norman doesn't need a new arena. Let it go to a vote of registered voters.

The City of Norman doesn't need a new arena.

it for sure does

it for sure does

Let the voters make that call. You don't live here

Lloyd Noble will be 50 years old next year. It is dark & drab and needs to be replaced.
Speaking from someone who lives in North OKC, I love the idea of a new arena being off I-35, and saving 10-15 minutes on that commute.
I think it would draw more people from all areas of OKC.

Let the voters make that call. You don't live here

that is the nice thing about our form of Gov .... those voters don't get a direct vote on it ..

that is the nice thing about our form of Gov .... those voters don't get a direct vote on it ..

Nice because you fear the result? City council has the option to put it to the voters. I know that option is neither precluded or required. As contenious an issue it is I expect council to put it to a vote.

Nice because you fear the result? City council has the option to put it to the voters. I know that option is neither precluded or required.

a new arena and entertainment district in south moore would be terrible for Norman

a new arena and entertainment district in south moore would be terrible for Norman

I sincerely doubt Moore would front the money for this either. Not to mention part of this deal is donated land by OU.

If the people of Norman don't want it they will let their council member know. Then it will happen or won't happen.

I sincerely doubt Moore would front the money for this either. Not to mention part of this deal is donated land by OU.

If the people of Norman don't want it they will let their council member know. Then it will happen or won't happen.

moore would 100% support a TIF for this ... they are very very pro business ... norman is very anti business ..

moore would 100% support a TIF for this ... they are very very pro business ... norman is very anti business ..

Well if it doesn't happen in Norman, best of luck to Moore. I still don't see it happening. Again, sounds like a weird bluff to me.

I also don't see any TIF in Moore at all? This would be 200 million at the least (20% of a billion) but most likely more since they would also have to buy/develop the land that it is on.

I sincerely doubt Moore would front the money for this either. Not to mention part of this deal is donated land by OU.

If the people of Norman don't want it they will let their council member know. Then it will happen or won't happen.

Because we vote in Norman on whether water rates go up or franchise approval for the electric company I would not be surprised if it is referred to a ballot

Postponed again to May Planning Commission. Still not definite plan on the development. We wait again! https://mccmeetingspublic.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/normanok-meet-b810edbfd13946b8a668c40e31576fec/ITEM-Attachment-001-2cf8ad67282d45038c6a299be5c4afaf.pdf

Well if it doesn't happen in Norman, best of luck to Moore. I still don't see it happening. Again, sounds like a weird bluff to me.

I also don't see any TIF in Moore at all? This would be 200 million at the least (20% of a billion) but most likely more since they would also have to buy/develop the land that it is on.

Its definintely a weird bluff, pretending this is an arena for the OKC Thunder or football stadium for the KC Chiefs and theyll move it out of town if OU doesnt get their way? Its just bluster from Harroz because he has no good options or negotiating position. Even as pro-business as Moore is (says bouldersooner) I cant imagine them going for a $200 million TIF for an arena that they really dont need. And Moore is probably the only alternative option, unless you get Chickasaws involved.

Its kind of pathetic that trying to strong arm Norman is OU's only option to getting a new arena.

Sorry not for sure where to put this but new Apartments in Norman across from the Cleveland County Courthouse
18755

Sorry not for sure where to put this but new Apartments in Norman across from the Cleveland County Courthouse
18755

Need a Norman infill post for things like this. That whole area south of downtown has been completely transformed over the past 5 years.

I dont know where in Moore you think this thing would fit. Moore is getting pretty full. There honestly is very little land now that isn't packed in there within the actual Moore city limits. Someone would have to buy out something else to build something like an arena and would have to have a LOT of parking. I don't really see anywhere this would even fit. Not to mention, the city in Moore (including myself) would say no thank you. That's not a cost benefit to the city to just throw an arena in there for a short-term run for OU. I think if you asked the broader Norman residents, they would also said No Thank You. They're only getting forced into it by the city making deals that turned this fully private thing into a partnership of not the proportions originally sold as.

I dont know where in Moore you think this thing would fit. Moore is getting pretty full. There honestly is very little land now that isn't packed in there within the actual Moore city limits. Someone would have to buy out something else to build something like an arena and would have to have a LOT of parking. I don't really see anywhere this would even fit. Not to mention, the city in Moore (including myself) would say no thank you. That's not a cost benefit to the city to just throw an arena in there for a short-term run for OU. I think if you asked the broader Norman residents, they would also said No Thank You. They're only getting forced into it by the city making deals that turned this fully private thing into a partnership of not the proportions originally sold as.

Places that could be good fits are south of the mission point apartments along I35 then several areas near Bryant and SE 34th and SE 19th

Places that could be good fits are south of the mission point apartments along I35 then several areas near Bryant and SE 34th and SE 19th

yep

Places that could be good fits are south of the mission point apartments along I35 then several areas near Bryant and SE 34th and SE 19th

LOL let’s move OU’s basketball arena to a random part of Moore even further from campus

Places that could be good fits are south of the mission point apartments along I35 then several areas near Bryant and SE 34th and SE 19th

What areas near Bryant and 34th and 19th? There may be empty farm land there but there are numerous planned neighborhoods for those areas.

Moore doesn't have the infrastructure and streets to support something like this outside of it being placed right off the interstate and the current area you mentioned there doesn't have off ramps (yet) to even get off the interstate. Having said that I do think the Access OK projects will bring some development in the area I don't think much, if any of it will happen until after that section of turnpike is at least started on and we know where all the on/off ramps and whatnot will be built.

LOL let’s move OU’s basketball arena to a random part of Moore even further from campus

it's entertaining idea I guess but this would never happen

https://www.oudaily.com/news/norman-entertainment-district-feasibility-study-hunden-ou-basketball-gymnastics/article_f1518640-fe9d-11ee-a839-db45560819e5.html

The more I hear about this the less I like it. All this does is perpetuate the sprawling Ponzi scheme development patterns at the expense of downtowns and the university campus regardless of what anyone thinks about OU basketball attendance.

https://www.oudaily.com/news/norman-entertainment-district-feasibility-study-hunden-ou-basketball-gymnastics/article_f1518640-fe9d-11ee-a839-db45560819e5.html

The more I hear about this the less I like it. All this does is perpetuate the sprawling Ponzi scheme development patterns at the expense of downtowns and the university campus regardless of what anyone thinks about OU basketball attendance.

Note the proposed FBO on the east side, that shows how much this development is catered to PJs flying in for SEC events. KOUN does lack a nice FBO for all the rich SEC folks. I, for one, and glad to see KOUN expanding so much with so many planned projects.

https://www.oudaily.com/news/norman-entertainment-district-feasibility-study-hunden-ou-basketball-gymnastics/article_f1518640-fe9d-11ee-a839-db45560819e5.html

The more I hear about this the less I like it. All this does is perpetuate the sprawling Ponzi scheme development patterns at the expense of downtowns and the university campus regardless of what anyone thinks about OU basketball attendance.

It’s a horrible idea. I still don’t think Norman will actually pass it though.

It’s a horrible idea. I still don’t think Norman will actually pass it though.

If this plan means not playing in Lloyd noble when the only other option is continuing to play in Lloyd noble for the foreseeable future, then anyone who cares about OU basketball should be for this plan. No one is coming to pay for an on campus arena anytime soon.

it's entertaining idea I guess but this would never happen


https://www.oudaily.com/news/norman-entertainment-district-feasibility-study-hunden-ou-basketball-gymnastics/article_f1518640-fe9d-11ee-a839-db45560819e5.html

The more I hear about this the less I like it. All this does is perpetuate the sprawling Ponzi scheme development patterns at the expense of downtowns and the university campus regardless of what anyone thinks about OU basketball attendance.
Please describe the “Ponzi scheme” going on at UNP.

If this plan means not playing in Lloyd noble when the only other option is continuing to play in Lloyd noble for the foreseeable future, then anyone who cares about OU basketball should be for this plan. No one is coming to pay for an on campus arena anytime soon.

once again.... THIS!!!!! everyone keeps talking about projects that just won't happen as alternatives. there are two options on the table. build this, or keep playing in a falling apart Lloyd Nobel for the next 20 years. unless some donor wants to put up a couple hundred million for an on campus arena (like what happened for texas), then a new on campus arena isn't an option. this is the only option on the table.

If this plan means not playing in Lloyd noble when the only other option is continuing to play in Lloyd noble for the foreseeable future, then anyone who cares about OU basketball should be for this plan. No one is coming to pay for an on campus arena anytime soon.

Nor is anyone going to pay to see a crappy team struggle in a 8k arena. It is easier to draw fans to the LNC when winning then it would for a team like what we have seen the last 5 years to draw fans wherever.

I still think the arena for collage sports should be on/near campus. But, I do understand that a new arena on campus is not an option at this point in time. Can we get a running list of the pro/cons for this development?

Note the proposed FBO on the east side, that shows how much this development is catered to PJs flying in for SEC events. KOUN does lack a nice FBO for all the rich SEC folks. I, for one, and glad to see KOUN expanding so much with so many planned projects.

KOUN already has plans to extend the main runway to accommodate larger aircraft. Was that part of the UNP plan or something separate? I don't remember where I saw that?

Nor is anyone going to pay to see a crappy team struggle in a 8k arena. It is easier to draw fans to the LNC when winning then it would for a team like what we have seen the last 5 years to draw fans wherever.

We will have a program that continues to get worse as long as we have the worst or near worst facility in any league we play in. This team will not improve or be consistently good until it’s in a new building. LNC is the most visible problem and easiest to correct at this point because the larger problem of general program funding isn’t going away. At least a new building should help get more people from OKC to the games.

Regardless. It’s asinine at this point to act like staying in Lloyd noble is even a viable solution unless you just want to completely give up on basketball for the next 20-30 years.

KOUN already has plans to extend the main runway to accommodate larger aircraft. Was that part of the UNP plan or something separate? I don't remember where I saw that?
It’s been all over OU news because of the 36.5 million in funding they recently received for a lot of updates.