Did the plans mention method of demolition? I guess the building is not tall enough to justify an implosion?

No, no details were included.

Demo permits are typically very simple.

I wonder what's going to happen with Prairie surf Studios?

Crossroads mall would be a good spot, or the current paycom center?

I wonder what will eventually take the old arenas spot. I'm sure it won't be a huge rush to tear it down, but that will be an extremely valuable location.

Crossroads mall would be a good spot, or the current paycom center?

I wonder what will eventually take the old arenas spot. I'm sure it won't be a huge rush to tear it down, but that will be an extremely valuable location.

As Pete said upthread, the main supporter of PSM is involved in the Producer's COOP redevelopment, so it will probably go there.

As Pete said upthread, the main supporter of PSM is involved in the Producer's COOP redevelopment, so it will probably go there.

I dont understand how they make enough money to build a brand new facility

I dont understand how they make enough money to build a brand new facility

They raise it from investors.

They raise it from investors.
So it would become a full on movie studio facility with backlots and such?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2c2s_S3ROM

Oklahoma City Council approves development agreement for new Thunder basketball arena: https://www.kosu.org/local-news/2024-05-21/oklahoma-city-council-approves-development-agreement-for-new-thunder-basketball-arena

I would prefer they go BOLD on the design - like the LA Clippers' Intuit Arena

I would prefer they go BOLD on the design - like the LA Clippers' Intuit Arena

I like these renderings of this proposal for the 76ers. https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/sixers-release-renderings-announce-housing-76-place-arena-in-philadelphia/

With some sort of transit center embedded for the future commuter rail and BRTs

I would prefer they go BOLD on the design - like the LA Clippers' Intuit Arena

That’s not exactly in the $1.5B budget. It will be nice, but i wouldn’t expect it to to be anything particularly iconic given what things like this cost these days

I like these renderings of this proposal for the 76ers. https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/sixers-release-renderings-announce-housing-76-place-arena-in-philadelphia/

With some sort of transit center embedded for the future commuter rail and BRTs

Sounds familiar.

Philadelphia is asking the state to chip in some funds for their proposed venue.

Sounds familiar.

Philadelphia is asking the state to chip in some funds for their proposed venue.

With threats to move the team to New Jersey
https://www.roi-nj.com/2024/09/12/real_estate/first-look-rendering-of-potential-sixers-arena-in-camden-released-and-its-spectacular/

With threats to move the team to New Jersey
https://www.roi-nj.com/2024/09/12/real_estate/first-look-rendering-of-potential-sixers-arena-in-camden-released-and-its-spectacular/

Who is also offering a crap-ton of money to them.

Sounds familiar.

Philadelphia is asking the state to chip in some funds for their proposed venue.

the new jersey package will be 1.3 billion

That’s not exactly in the $1.5B budget. It will be nice, but i wouldn’t expect it to to be anything particularly iconic given what things like this cost these days

Steve Ballmer is the richest owner in all of sports in the US. They have the best because he put up 2 billion. I am guessing our owners probably rank pretty low in net worth. (not an excuse for how much the put forward to fund the new arena.)

Tulsa's BOK arena is bold and not that expensive. It should symbolize OKC's emergence, modernization...all that good stuff.

Steve Ballmer is the richest owner in all of sports in the US. They have the best because he put up 2 billion. I am guessing our owners probably rank pretty low in net worth. (not an excuse for how much the put forward to fund the new arena.)

OKC ownership group has one of the highest collective net worth's in the NBA (that is counting people that are actual ownership partners not people that own 1-5 % of a team) ..

OKC ownership group has one of the highest collective net worth's in the NBA (that is counting people that are actual ownership partners not people that own 1-5 % of a team) ..

They aren't even in the top ten wealthiest and I doubt they are in the top 20 or 25.

The team is the 24th most valuable. Clipper's value is 50% greater than the Thunder. Shall we go on?

Balmer worth $126 BILLION. Clay Bennet worth $400 MILLION, Kaiser $14 Billion, McClendon estate net worth $500 Million. So Balmer by himself is 10 times as wealthy as the three principal owners of the Thunder.

Clipper annual revenue 2023 = $425 million. OKC = $267 million.

LA metro population - 12,598,000 OKC = 1,477,926

Average family income in LA = $124,272. OKC = $88,664

Avg ticket Clippers = $262 OKC = $148

Any way you count it, there is no way you can compare the Clippers and what they can afford to do to OKC. Not even in the same territory.

^ ^ ^

Impressive post, Rover!

They aren't even in the top ten wealthiest and I doubt they are in the top 20 or 25.

The team is the 24th most valuable. Clipper's value is 50% greater than the Thunder. Shall we go on?

Balmer worth $126 BILLION. Clay Bennet worth $400 MILLION, Kaiser $14 Billion, McClendon estate net worth $500 Million. So Balmer by himself is 10 times as wealthy as the three principal owners of the Thunder.

Clipper annual revenue 2023 = $425 million. OKC = $267 million.

LA metro population - 12,598,000 OKC = 1,477,926

Average family income in LA = $124,272. OKC = $88,664

Avg ticket Clippers = $262 OKC = $148

Any way you count it, there is no way you can compare the Clippers and what they can afford to do to OKC. Not even in the same territory.

You didn't mention Jeff Records. I guarantee you he is worth more than Bennet and the McClendon estate.

nm

You didn't mention Jeff Records. I guarantee you he is worth more than Bennet and the McClendon estate.
Lol. Even adding him in at $1 billion doesn't move the needle vs Balmer. What’s your point? Add in the other peripheral owners and you are still $100 BILLION short.

Lol. Even adding him in at $1 billion doesn't move the needle vs Balmer. What’s your point? Add in the other peripheral owners and you are still $100 BILLION short.

Just pointing out that you left out OKC's 2nd wealthiest owner and Boulder was comparing OKC's ownership group to the entire NBA, not Balmer. Everyone in the NBA pales in comparison to Balmer.

Just pointing out that you left out OKC's 2nd wealthiest owner and Boulder was comparing OKC's ownership group to the entire NBA, not Balmer. Everyone in the NBA pales in comparison to Balmer.
It looked like the discussion was about comparing the new Clippers arena to what OKC should do.
Besides, the OKC owners are not considered among the wealthiest in the NBA… individually or as a group.

Just pointing out that you left out OKC's 2nd wealthiest owner and Boulder was comparing OKC's ownership group to the entire NBA, not Balmer. Everyone in the NBA pales in comparison to Balmer.

this is exactly correct .. i was answering to a post that said OKC ownership ranked pretty low...

not one is near balmer ..

and Bennet net worth is much much higher than 500 mil ..

I don't believe that the mcclendon estate still has a stake in the thunder ..

records howard camerson and dobson are all very very likely to be billionaires ..

records howard camerson and dobson are all very very likely to be billionaires ..Jeff Records is definitely a billionaire. Midfirst Bank is the largest privately-owned bank in the United States and has almost $4 billion in equity. I believe he is the sole owner.

Jeff Records is definitely a billionaire. Midfirst Bank is the largest privately-owned bank in the United States and has almost $4 billion in equity. I believe he is the sole owner.

These are the Oklahomans Forbes lists as Oklahoma billionaires:

Harold Hamm
George Kaiser
David Green & family
Judy Love & family
Lynn Schusterman & family
Chad Richison.

The wealthiest Oklahoman ranks 102nd.

ALL the wealth of the OK billionaires is listed at $63.1 billion which is right at 50% of the wealth of Balmer alone. And all OK billionaires are not owners of the Thunder. So this thinking that the Thunder is somehow financially the same as the Clippers doesn’t wash. To think the OKC market is the same as LA doesn’t wash. We can dream, but we shouldn’t hallucinate.

These are the Oklahomans Forbes lists as Oklahoma billionaires:

Harold Hamm
George Kaiser
David Green & family
Judy Love & family
Lynn Schusterman & family
Chad Richison.

The wealthiest Oklahoman ranks 102nd.

ALL the wealth of the OK billionaires is listed at $63.1 billion which is right at 50% of the wealth of Balmer alone. And all OK billionaires are not owners of the Thunder. So this thinking that the Thunder is somehow financially the same as the Clippers doesn’t wash. To think the OKC market is the same as LA doesn’t wash. We can dream, but we shouldn’t hallucinate.Interesting. Maybe other members of the Records family own MidFirst Bank and the value of that entity is split between them.

I'm not suggesting Thunder wealth is in the same ZIP code as Ballmer. No teams is. I will say Oklahoma has many people with wealth, and have zero desire for anyone to know how much they are worth. And they are very good at keeping a low profile. Bob Howard is one of them.

I'm finding I'm having mixed emotions now that there's official word on the demo of the Myriad (it will always be the Myriad to me).

My high school graduation was there, saw lots of Blazers games, rodeos, concerts, meetings, etc. I'm a bit sad because of what it represented with MAPs. It's own realization (paint job included) signaled the start of change. It was the start of life coming back downtown with all the MAPs programs, even before the arena was started.

^

Yes, lots of memories but it's been closed to the public for several years.

These are the Oklahomans Forbes lists as Oklahoma billionaires:

Harold Hamm
George Kaiser
David Green & family
Judy Love & family
Lynn Schusterman & family
Chad Richison.

The wealthiest Oklahoman ranks 102nd.

ALL the wealth of the OK billionaires is listed at $63.1 billion which is right at 50% of the wealth of Balmer alone. And all OK billionaires are not owners of the Thunder. So this thinking that the Thunder is somehow financially the same as the Clippers doesn’t wash. To think the OKC market is the same as LA doesn’t wash. We can dream, but we shouldn’t hallucinate.

they don't' have really any way to track private wealth ..

I'm finding I'm having mixed emotions now that there's official word on the demo of the Myriad (it will always be the Myriad to me).

My high school graduation was there, saw lots of Blazers games, rodeos, concerts, meetings, etc. I'm a bit sad because of what it represented with MAPs. It's own realization (paint job included) signaled the start of change. It was the start of life coming back downtown with all the MAPs programs, even before the arena was started.

Same. Tons of memories in the Myriad. Happy to see a new arena though. Just shows all the growth I have seen over the past 40 years of being here.

I'm finding I'm having mixed emotions now that there's official word on the demo of the Myriad (it will always be the Myriad to me).

My high school graduation was there, saw lots of Blazers games, rodeos, concerts, meetings, etc. I'm a bit sad because of what it represented with MAPs. Its own realization (paint job included) signaled the start of change. It was the start of life coming back downtown with all the MAPs programs, even before the arena was started.

it would be sad if it had any architectural value and don’t walk or drive by it everyday.

What Brutalist isn't your style? LOL. I get it. It's definitely not an inspiring structure in any way....inside or out. Just happens to be what we had so the memories are tied to it. Sort of like the State Fair Arena. It's ugly as sin and always has been, but how many Disney on Ice and Circus' have we all watched there over our lives?

Sad, but time to move on. Excited for the next era.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfyzKWbW-w4

Almost like an advertisement for Populous.

While they are a great firm, I hope OKC doesn't go with them just because of familiarity. If they have the best designs, sure. But I want a fair process. Populous does great work, but I would presume the other 6 do, as well.

My sister-in-law is a friend of Judy Love's. She spends a lot of time at her house. She said it is hard to fathom how much money she has and if she wants anything she will just get it no matter the cost but also she's surprised how tight she is. I have heard stories about how she will make her maid spend an hour scrubbing something already worn until only a little cleaner which would only cost $5 to replace. That's why she'd never contribute to an arena. She could go spend $200 million and not even make a mark on her bank account. She's like Warren Buffet.

Any chance the City can get a BOGO 50% off for demolition of the Myriad/Cox Center and State Fair Arena since they will be removed within the same time period?

^

It's obviously a competitive bidding situation and it seems Midwest Wrecking gets 98% of these contracts.

These are the Oklahomans Forbes lists as Oklahoma billionaires:

Harold Hamm
George Kaiser
David Green & family
Judy Love & family
Lynn Schusterman & family
Chad Richison.

The wealthiest Oklahoman ranks 102nd.

ALL the wealth of the OK billionaires is listed at $63.1 billion which is right at 50% of the wealth of Balmer alone. And all OK billionaires are not owners of the Thunder. So this thinking that the Thunder is somehow financially the same as the Clippers doesn’t wash. To think the OKC market is the same as LA doesn’t wash. We can dream, but we shouldn’t hallucinate.

This is true, Rover. Especially when you compare OKC's market to LAs and Ballmer's wealth to Oklahoma's ownership and the rest of the NBA.

That's why IMO a $1 billion arena in downtown OKC on the PSM 4-square block site will get us what is comparable to Ballmer's $2 billion Intuit Dome because land and construction costs in LA metro costs more than land-construction costs in Oklahoma City.

There are going to be some concerns about whatever design features Populous or whatever firm is selected to design our new arena. It will have a minimum of 750,000 sq., ft or more--provides more room than the current Paycom Center with money-making amenities.

My preference (18,500 seating, less than the 19,000 NBA average) is that the new arena exceeds the current 18,200 capacity; sure we'll have an anchor tenant (41 - 50 or more nights) in the Thunder with more when you factor in the OKC Blue's 16 or more nights.

Make our city more competitive in bidding on other events like NCAA basketball regionals and some major conventions that require an arena.

Our metro population is estimated around 1.5 million (42nd) with an inner city of 710,000 (20th). We need to become more attractive to luring more high paying jobs and continue with beautifications efforts.

CAA ICON is the project consultant



CAA ICON Venue Group selected to consult on OKC arena construction
Post Date:09/24/2024 11:40 AM
Today, the Oklahoma City Council approved an agreement with CAA ICON to provide professional consulting services for the design and construction of the City’s new arena.

“The construction of the arena is an extremely important four-year-long project for the City,” Director David Todd said. “It requires more manpower and specific expertise in professional event facility design and construction than what the City has.”

CAA ICON, a division of CAA Sports, is a strategic management consulting firm for public/private sports and entertainment facility owners and operators, professional franchises and leagues. The company has offices in Denver, Charlotte, Manhattan and London.

https://www.okc.gov/Home/Components/News/News/5097/18?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

They have worked on most of the recent arenas built, especially the NBA arenas.

https://sustainability.sport/wp-content/uploads/allegiant-stadium.jpg
Allegiant Stadium, NFL Las Vegas, Home of the Raiders.

CAA ICON Venue Group: https://www.caaicon.com/

https://sustainability.sport/wp-content/uploads/allegiant-stadium.jpg
Allegiant Stadium, NFL Las Vegas, Home of the Raiders.

CAA ICON Venue Group: https://www.caaicon.com/




Oklahoma City already has Barad-dûr and the Eye of Sauron, why not add the Hall of Doom,

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/9/9e/Hall_of_Doom_0001.jpg

Oklahoma City already has Barad-dûr and the Eye of Sauron, why not add the Hall of Doom,

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/9/9e/Hall_of_Doom_0001.jpg

Why not an open-air coliseum with tigers that pop out from underneath the floor of the arena? I bet we could even flood it and have jet ski races!

CAA ICON is the project consultant


https://www.okc.gov/Home/Components/News/News/5097/18?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Looks like they selected a winner for consulting services for the design and construction of the City’s new arena.


Oklahoma City already has Barad-dûr and the Eye of Sauron, why not add the Hall of Doom,

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/9/9e/Hall_of_Doom_0001.jpg

How about Hall of Thunderdoom!

Did Nice and Hamon provide a rationale or are they planning to vote no on everything associated with the project?

One of their rationales IIRC is that the City should be addressing the 'affordable housing and homeless situation.'

MAPS 4 has $50 million in its budget earmarked for housing; some of the abandoned housing projects in our city could be brought up to code to meet the specifications for Section 8 housing--better than having a vacant boarded up housing project which could become an invitation for vagrants to occupy--thus becoming a potential health and fire hazard.

I guess 70 some percent approval by the voters doesn't resonate with them ?

I guess 70 some percent approval by the voters doesn't resonate with them ?

Apparently it doesn't resonate with them. Does Harmon have a driver's license or is she still using public and
Urber for transportation?

I have no problem with Harmon or Nice as representatives. It's their responsibility to look out for the interests of
our city--ask the right questions, they shouldn't be a 'rubber stamp' council, we elected them to voice their concerns.

Now let's see some designs and specs on our proposed arena. Boulder-Sooner my friend, chim in . . .

Sitting here thinking about the proposed new downtown arena. Suddenly it occurred to me The Myriad Convention Center, our first near big league arena will be gone. The official grand opening featuring 'Della Reese' who stayed around and personally talked to fans and admirers. My mom (Frankie Lee), GRHS was a fan of Mrs. Reese when 'mother' lived in Chicago.

I'm going to miss the Myriad, the concerts (Luther Vandross & Anita Baker, Rush, Jackson 5, Rick Springfield, David Bowie, Gladys Knight & the Pips), The Circus, PBR tour and the NFR the memories go on an on.

Thank God we saved the Municipal Auditorium (Civic Center Music Hall); All College Tournament--DePaul, Loyola of Chicago, OCU, Villanova . . .); also hosted James Brown and the Famous Flames, the Shrine Circus and Greatest Show on Earth, Annual Wrestling Danny Hodge, Great Bolo, Angelo Sovoli, Karl & Sashi Kreser, 'Dandy' Jack Donovan, Irish Mike Clancy, Tiny (who was 7 ft, 290 lbs . . . help me out Bill Robertson . . .

Don't want to watch the DEMO of this arena--OMG it will be painful; comparable to watching the implosion of the 600 room Sheraton Hotel.:dizzy:

Should be hearing of some updates on the new arena on the 4 square block site; what's this about a 650 space garage and transit...

...the demolition doesn't seem to favor saving or savaging anything on the current site like the underground parking garage.

Should be hearing of some updates on the new arena on the 4 square block site; what's this about a 650 space garage and transit...

...the demolition doesn't seem to favor saving or savaging anything on the current site like the underground parking garage.

It would be nice if the utilized the parking garage underneath to have the arena floor lower into the ground. I think it would make getting in and out easier with people coming in on the 200 level versus the 100. You can split the traffic into three separate directions versus one.

It would be nice if the utilized the parking garage underneath to have the arena floor lower into the ground. I think it would make getting in and out easier with people coming in on the 200 level versus the 100. You can split the traffic into three separate directions versus one.

I believe that is the plan to have the main concourse on the 1st floor.

When can we expect any updates.

Will the City tell CAA ICON Venue Group what the minimum specs are for the new arena (750,000 sq. ft. minimum and arena seating minimum) or will they give the group the consulting rights for them to determine our needs or specifications.

My concern is we are not a Milwaukee, San Francisco or Los Angeles (Inglewood) where the smaller arena caters to the more affluent community.

OKC's new arena will be attracting events outside the NBA like NCAA events, therefore we will be competing with Dallas (840,000 sq ft, - 19,200), Kansas City (650,000 sq ft - 18,972), Denver (675,000 sq ft - 19,155), Memphis (805,850 sq ft - 17,794) and possibly Atlanta and Miami since OU is now in the SEC.

Bring back the 10,000 attendees FFA convention from Tulsa to OKC where it serves as a better central location for the FFA participants--our hotels will overwhelmingly welcome the FFA's return to our city.

We will exceed total sq. footage vs Kansas City and Denver roughly by 100,000 square feet, Memphis will still meet NBA specs; however the average NBA arena's seating capacity is 18,966. Does anyone have any official information on what our new downtown arena's seating capacity will be . . .

There will be an update on the demolition plans late next week.

Holt tweeted out the architect:


Ultimately, the selection committee is recommending to the Council on Tuesday the hiring of MANICA Architecture as the designer with TVS as partner and architect of record...

David’s previous projects as a designer include Chase Center in San Francisco, Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the O2 Arena in London, Osaka Arena, the proposed Chicago Bears stadium in Chicago, and the new Nissan Stadium in Nashville.



Here’s the thread: https://x.com/davidfholt/status/1847315668972011932

Holt tweeted out the architect:





Here’s the thread: https://x.com/davidfholt/status/1847315668972011932

MANICA has a lot of arena experience. Not sure on TVS.

Only thing I could find sports-wise on TVS’ website was some work with Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which is an incredible building.

Only thing I could find sports-wise on TVS’ website was some work with Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which is an incredible building.

If you look on the City Council agenda, they will be getting over $60 million for this contract. So they better be worth it. MANICA, I didn't see in the council agenda, but may have just overlooked it. They have plenty of arena experience, and can justify their value (Chase Center, Toyota Center, Mercedes-Benz Arena, etc).