Wow, not just the pictures need updating, whomever wrote most of it definitely isn't a regular here.

Wow, not just the pictures need updating, whomever wrote most of it definitely isn't a regular here.

I suspect there are a lot of people who write things for Wikopedia who have never heard of OKC Talk so that isn't surprising.

Shoot, I suspect there are a lot of people in OKC who have never heard of OKCTalk for that matter.
Their loss.

Does anyone have any updated pictures of the progress outside, or could someone please go take some pictures, whenever possible. It would be greatly appreciated, and I thank everyone who do post pictures on OKCTalk.

There were some in Thunder's mega pic thread, but I think he cut them off when he had his meltdown the other day...

Does anyone have any updated pictures of the progress outside, or could someone please go take some pictures, whenever possible. It would be greatly appreciated, and I thank everyone who do post pictures on OKCTalk.

I took some less than a week ago and posted in my photos thread, and as someone mentioned Thunder took some about 2 days ago in his thread.

http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=28337

Feb 1 2012

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/Chesapeake%20Arena/IMG_3778.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/Chesapeake%20Arena/IMG_3779.jpg

Did video as well.

Interesting. Starting to see the shape of the final structure.

Hard to believe they are going to be completely done by June.

Pete, it's moving fast, not to mention that space is mostly going to be glass and atrium, so not like a lot of drywall, electrical, etc has to be done.

Yep, this will now move along pretty fast, since we didn't receive any bad weather this Winter (knock on wood). It will be done just in time for the NBA Finals!

Pete, it's moving fast, not to mention that space is mostly going to be glass and atrium, so not like a lot of drywall, electrical, etc has to be done.

Amazing there will not be a lot of drywall and electrical, etc, as all of the Thunder's administrative offices will be located there.
They must plan on having one gigantic and open office.

Popsy, so the new entrance isn't mainly a giant glass entrance/lobby?

Popsy, so the new entrance isn't mainly a giant glass entrance/lobby?

Well metro, it appears to me the total project was being discussed previously and I suppose if you want to posture to the point that you were only talking about the entrance, so be it.

Popsy, so the new entrance isn't mainly a giant glass entrance/lobby?

Are you saying that you were only talking about the entrance and lobby? I missed that in your other post Why don't we both reread it?

Yes, we are talking about the new entrance/lobby in reference to Wills picture.

February 1 2012


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYxPeD8-01Y

Embeded video player doesn't seem to work anymore.

Will, I've posted instructions about embedding for you in the Devon Tower thread. Here's your video:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYxPeD8-01Y

Will, I've posted instructions about embedding for you in the Devon Tower thread. Here's your video:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYxPeD8-01Y

It doesn't appear to be working. Maybe it's a browser thing? I'm using Chrome and cannot see anything but white.

Amazing there will not be a lot of drywall and electrical, etc, as all of the Thunder's administrative offices will be located there.
They must plan on having one gigantic and open office.

ON EDIT:
Unless I am turned around it is the SW corner of the building where Robinson and I-40 Crosstown/Boulevard is situated. Listed in the same order as given in the PDF presentation file, presumably floor by floor starting with the bottom most level, changes may have been made along the way. The addition continues around the building along the Boulvard side but am only including the entrance corner...

Event floor level
NBA locker room
Visitors locker room
Club
A/V Studio
Storage press flex

Concourse level
Ticket Lobby
Vestibule/Concourse (glass atrium entrance)
restaurant & club

Suite level
Landings on each side of the Atrium which is open to below

Upper Concourse
Unspecified on each side w/Atrium open to below

Mezzanine
Team offices entire space

Press/Sky Suite level
Team offices entire space

Very surprised to see that no one has yet (unless it's in one of the above videos and I missed it) posted about glass going in at the new entrance. Noticed it yesterday from I-40W. Couldn't take pics, but it was going in on the south side.

I just drove by it and I didn't see any glass installed or being installed. If I missed it, it's because there was so little of it being installed. In fact, it still looks like they're a long way off from bringing glass near that entrance.

It seems like they are moving very slowly on this whole thing. They moved pretty quickly at first and then seem to drag down. The structure had been zooming up, but then it slowed to a crawl. It don't really see how they are supposed to hit their target date at this rate.

If I missed it, it's because there was so little of it being installed.

Yeah, there is very little, but there is some on the far south corner of the construction. If most of it is like this, they may be farther along than it seems.

They have plenty of time to finish this project on time, they have 4 months left. The glass is going to look awesome. IMO. I thought about taking a picture but I honestly didn't feel like getting ran over by the I-40 traffic.

It seems like they are moving very slowly on this whole thing. They moved pretty quickly at first and then seem to drag down. The structure had been zooming up, but then it slowed to a crawl. It don't really see how they are supposed to hit their target date at this rate.

We're just spoiled from the 24/7 activity at that site just a block North. Every other project will just creep along compared to that.

It seems like they are moving very slowly on this whole thing. They moved pretty quickly at first and then seem to drag down. The structure had been zooming up, but then it slowed to a crawl. It don't really see how they are supposed to hit their target date at this rate.
True. I presume you are talking about the revised target completion date. Not unlike the I-40 relocation. It is several years behind schedule yet ODOT kept saying that it is opening up several months ahead of schedule. They were originally supposed to be finished with the Arena improvements in 2010. there were reasons for the delay (most notably the recession and the multi-million dollar shortfall that required some things to get cut and redesign), but for those that doubt the 2010 date, here are a few links (some don't mention 2010 specifically, but if you take the date of the article and the time span mentioned and do the math...LOL)
http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3601176
http://newsok.com/article/3226159/1207444096
http://www.chesapeakearena.com/arena/index.cfm?page=articles&article_id=21
http://okc.about.com/od/politicalparties/a/fordcentervote.htm
http://www.news9.com/global/story.asp?s=10390294
http://okc.biz/oklahoma/article-227-ford-center-attendees-will-see-still-more-improvements-in-coming-months.html

Update from Steve 2/11:


The $91 million renovation and expansion largely will be finished with the new Sunset Grill on the club level opening in May. The Grand Entrance facing southwest toward intersection of the future Boulevard and Robinson Avenue also will be opening in May. The only part of the project not yet bid is the build-out of the Thunder space.
Upcoming construction will include a rooftop garden that will face the southwest corner.


Read more: http://newsok.com/downtown-oklahoma-city-abuzz-with-building/article/3648172#ixzz1m5sIE8ab

Intrigued by the rooftop garden...Is the intention to attract folks who want to step away from the event inside or to allow folks without tickets to hang out up there?

Yeah, there is very little, but there is some on the far south corner of the construction. If most of it is like this, they may be farther along than it seems.

I drive by yesterday and there is now quite a bit of glass up on the southern side of the new construction. It is kind of a dark blue in color.

Intrigued by the rooftop garden...Is the intention to attract folks who want to step away from the event inside or to allow folks without tickets to hang out up there?

I would expect it will only be accessible to people with tickets whether its a pre-game hang out or stepping away during the event. Folks without tickets can't get inside the building so they would have no access to the rooftop garden.

Makes the most sense red runner just not completely sold on the need for it if it will have a bar or entertainment out there and is meant for people to hang out

Will be mostly dead for Thunder games since the season is mostly played through the cold seasons

I drive by yesterday and there is now quite a bit of glass up on the southern side of the new construction. It is kind of a dark blue in color.

Define southern side of construction when all of it is being done on the southern side of the arena.

The rooftop garden is for smokers. The building is non-smoking.

One of the items cut due to budget constraints was a rooftop bar located over one of the existing entrances, which would have been all sorts of cool.

What does this mean?:


The only part of the project not yet bid is the build-out of the Thunder space.

Define southern side of construction when all of it is being done on the southern side of the arena.

The new construction is actually on the 'Southwest' side of the arena, actually more construction is being done on the West side along Robinson. The glass is where the new construction connects to the existing building on the southern most point. Looks good actually, with more on than what I was expecting.

What does this mean?:

The Thunder are moving their corporate office there from Leadership square when complete.

Anybody have new pics?

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/arena21712.jpg

anybody know when this project is scheduled to be done?

I thought just in time before the playoffs in the NBA.

I thought just in time before the playoffs in the NBA.

How convienient, just in time for us to win a championship!!!

I thought just in time before the playoffs in the NBA.

The NBA regular season is over in late April. There's no way this will be done by then.

that's 2 and a half months. its very possible

It's supposed to be finished DURING, not by the start of, the playoffs. I've heard June.

See post #691. Steve reported a week ago the addition would be substantially complete by May.

From metro:

http://i980.photobucket.com/albums/ae288/snewlon/001-3.jpg

It seems like they have sped up a bit on the construction, it would be great to have this done some time near the NBA finals.

At least done enough so there's something to easily envision by then.

I think the adjacent section of I-40 and ramp are going to have to come down before we can really appreciate what it's all going to look like. Hopefully that too will happen soon.

I saw that ATT has started using the cellular antenna in the arena. Any clue what day they started using it? I was at the games last week and couldn't get anything to go through.

I saw that ATT has started using the cellular antenna in the arena. Any clue what day they started using it? I was at the games last week and couldn't get anything to go through.

i went to all of the games last week. My phone has never worked inside the arena and randomly started working at the Lakers game on Thursday.. but it didnt work at the Celtics game the night before or any other games before.

Ok great! Mine didnt work at celtics. I wasnt at Lakers game. So it must have come online between those two games! Time to go to another game to test it out!

DRAKE! .......... I'm ready

DRAKE! .......... I'm ready

Is it a sellout?

i went to all of the games last week. My phone has never worked inside the arena and randomly started working at the Lakers game on Thursday.. but it didnt work at the Celtics game the night before or any other games before.

The city recently put in an array with money from the Maps for Hoops tax to improve cell coverage in the arena, I think Verizon & US Cellular had their networks using it a month or two ago, ATT just started in the last week.

Is it a sellout?

Yeah it was sold out. It was PACKED!!!! It was unbelievable, the crowd was the loudest I've EVER heard it that arena!!! Playoff games don't even come close!!

Oh, and my AT&T phone worked just fine, which any other time it never got reception. I'm definitely glad they made the upgrade!

Yeah it was sold out. It was PACKED!!!! It was unbelievable, the crowd was the loudest I've EVER heard it that arena!!! Playoff games don't even come close!!

I know that was CRAZY

What about Sprint and TMobile?