The remaining portion of the elevated highway takes away from the entrance, imho

The remaining portion of the elevated highway takes away from the entrance, imho

That should be down in the next 2 weeks.

The remaining portion of the elevated highway takes away from the entrance, imho

LOL, do you honestly think that's going to be permanent?

Does anyone know if any type of signage is going on the entrance?

269626972698

Yesterday

Yesterday
all your troubles seemed so far away? :wink:

That's looking really slick. Some of the recent shots had me a bit concerned. But I guess with the final finishing touches, it's going to look good afterall.

I agree.

Looking sharp. Can't wait to see the finished product in person.

Those are cool looking light posts at the front.

Yesterday

Wow, a cab! I thought that was a myth. ; )

The 3rd pic.

I thought the reflection of the hand in the window was actually a gigantic orange arm sculpture in the Arena's entrance, haha.

I thought the reflection of the hand in the window was actually a gigantic orange arm sculpture in the Arena's entrance, haha.

Trippy.

just a note Robinson is now 2 lanes in each direction and restriped past the peake ... they even put in a temp curb on the south side or the road where the old I40 was ..

If you're going tonight snap some pics!

Yes, I wonder how close the arena is to being completely finished??

The new entrance is pretty slick. there are two new pretty large bars/restaurants. didn't get any pics though

The new entrance is pretty slick. there are two new pretty large bars/restaurants. didn't get any pics though

only one of them is new the Old #7 was there last season

Im not referring to the old #7. there were two different entrances with two different hostess stands. one entrance was in the atrium and called the Center Court Grill which had a very nice menu. The other was one open to the concouse (like old #7) with a side entrance as well and it was called the Center Court Carvery where they also had a bar, high tables, and the carving station that was there last year.

Photos from metro:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/chkarena1.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/chkarena2.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/chkarena3.jpg

Is there going to be sign that goes up on top of that silver cover over the doors?

Yeah. It looks very nice, but a little too plain. Some signage might help...

The original plans called for a sign:

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92/gandjdunlap/CHKARENA-2.jpg

too bad the real thing didn't turn out like the rendering.

to me, the new building looks like they tried to copy elements from Tulsa's BOK - like a 'me too' approach. The rendering was original and the clear and green glass fit the rest of the building better than this cool blue glass and BOK duct tape facade paneling. ...

Still, Go OKC and go Thunder!

This looks nothing like the BOK Center.

Actually the design is clean and very nice for an add on. Doesn't need a bunch of signs and stuff to junk it up. A small one like the original rendering might be okay, but the new name is ALOT more letters than Ford and wouldn't have the same aesthetic effect as the original rendering.

I bet there's going to be a Chesapeake sign somewhere on that side of the building.

Edit: I think they just haven't put up a sign yet unless they changed the plans. I doubt it though since the point is for the sign to be visible from the boulevard.

2758
Rendering from Chesapeake Energy naming announcement

In the renderings , I like the Chesapeake sign a whole lot better than the plain block letter Ford Center sign. Don't know how it would look in actuality though.

i didn't say it looks like BOK, I said it looks like they tried to copy ELEMENTS from BOK and it is clear the addition looks NOTHING like the original and not much like the rendering (which did look like it would fit with the original building).

I also said this was my opinion, having not yet seen the addition in-person. Please learn to read before you blatantly slam down other's posts like you're mr know-it-all.

Since the rendering is an illustration it actually is a pretty faithful representation of what we got. Renderings never look like the real pictures. There are a couple of slight deviations, but again, until the actual drawings are done, that is entirely normal.

And I am not sure what BOK elements are the same or near BOK.

Sorry you are so sensitive to remarks. Didn't mean to hurt your feelings.

too bad the real thing didn't turn out like the rendering.

to me, the new building looks like they tried to copy elements from Tulsa's BOK - like a 'me too' approach. The rendering was original and the clear and green glass fit the rest of the building better than this cool blue glass and BOK duct tape facade paneling. ...

Still, Go OKC and go Thunder!

I am one of the first ones to bring it up when the renderings don't match what we got. But in this case, it was close enough that I didn't notice the glass color change etc. The only thing I saw missing was in one round of renderings, there was supposed to have been a huge led screen (over the entrance) and now that is missing (presumably because of cost/shortage of revenue). And I am not seeing the BOK thing either. Can you be specific??

I am one of the first ones to bring it up when the renderings don't match what we got. But in this case, it was close enough that I didn't notice the glass color change etc. The only thing I saw missing was in one round of renderings, there was supposed to have been a huge led screen (over the entrance) and now that is missing (presumably because of cost/shortage of revenue). And I am not seeing the BOK thing either. Can you be specific??

I imagine it's because they put up a very large screen on the northwest corner of the arena fronting Reno, no need for two screens.

bellaboo: that may be but the one they did put up doesn't seem near as large and they are losing out on the additional advertsing revenue the team would receive by having multiples. Do they only have one screen inside the Arena?

Also, I don't mind the color shift from green to blue. Seems more appropriate for the Peake and would have gone well with the blue Ford logo too.

Yeah, Its a shame people wont get to enjoy the nice flickering glow of an advertising screen from the park. Lol
I hope they don't try to put up led screens on the south side of the new convention center.

Yeah, Its a shame people wont get to enjoy the nice flickering glow of an advertising screen from the park. Lol
I hope they don't try to put up led screens on the south side of the new convention center.

I have absolutely no problem with that. The Myriad Gardens is not a quiet suburban park. It's a very active urban park. People who don't want to see lights need to go to Lincoln Park or Earlywine.

I think it would be fun to be able to watch the games and other events from the park. Thunder alley part II but better planned.

Groovy!

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8045/8114532913_f21f17f3d2_c_d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rabbitphotography/8114532913)

KFOR has an article up about the arena renovations

“The Peake” wraps construction in time for Thunder season | KFOR.com (http://kfor.com/2012/10/30/chesapeake-arena-nearly-wraps-four-years-of-construction)

Pretty brief, but it does include a few pics:

Exterior
http://localtvkfor.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/thunder-arena-changes-door.jpg


Center Court Grill
http://localtvkfor.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/thunder-arena-changes-center-court-grill.jpg

http://localtvkfor.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/thunder-arena-changes-center-court-grill-inside.jpg

Hopefully the street sweeper will come through. It looks like the aftermath of the zombie apocalypse someone mentioned earlier. Getting the debris from the Crosstown demo will help a lot.

You know, when the Thunder played a pre-season game in Wichita, I noticed that the Intrust building had a similar look to it as our arena:

http://pbs.twimg.com/media/A5-mGuYCEAErY5F.jpg:large

But I like the dark banding at the top better. Does anyone else think that the "Peake" would look better if the banding on the top was made dark as well?

That new entrance needs some kind of signage. It's too generic.

I think now that it's finished, the trim on the Peake looks considerably better than I thought it did during construction. And, I think it looks better in person than in the above photos. Also, the debris in the foreground of the picture is from demolition of the Crosstown. It's not going to look considerably better until the boulevard is finished.

You know, when the Thunder played a pre-season game in Wichita, I noticed that the Intrust building had a similar look to it as our arena:

http://pbs.twimg.com/media/A5-mGuYCEAErY5F.jpg:large

But I like the dark banding at the top better. Does anyone else think that the "Peake" would look better if the banding on the top was made dark as well?

I went to the game in Wichita last week. It was my first time at the Intrust Arena, though I had driven by a number of times. I think that it is a very nice arena, but anyone who doesn't appreciate the difference between it and what we now needs to go see it. There is quite a difference on the inside especially. As for the outside, I think I actually prefer ours by a fair margin. Ours looks like a higher quality building even on the outside. This isn't a knock on the Intrust Arena...it is quite nice for a mid tier city. There are some similarities though to the exterior design and ours. I still prefer ours.

I went to the game at Intrust last week also and I was surprised by how nice it is. Having said that, it does not compare to the Peake with the upgrades...

At least the Intrust Arena got striped bricks out front unlike our arena as showed in the renderings. Other than the video screen that was the one thing I liked about how our grand entrance was suppose to look (oh and the sun setting in the north).

I there any chance at all they will bring back thunder alley?

I there any chance at all they will bring back thunder alley?

Read in the DOK's article that they haven't ruled it out. I think (hope) they'd be much better prepared this year and that would make it a possibility again. They'll keep it as the pre-game party for the regular season though.

Read in the DOK's article that they haven't ruled it out. I think (hope) they'd be much better prepared this year and that would make it a possibility again. They'll keep it as the pre-game party for the regular season though.Yeah well, I hope they do. I think it just really made the area come alive in way that OKC doesn't really see that often.

I there any chance at all they will bring back thunder alley?

They requested the permit for this seasons home games earlier this week.

Read in the DOK's article that they haven't ruled it out. I think (hope) they'd be much better prepared this year and that would make it a possibility again. They'll keep it as the pre-game party for the regular season though.

They basically said that if anyone could come up with a workable plan they would consider it.

I came up with one some time back. Fence it and charge admission. Five bucks for anybody over 12, one dollar for children accompanied by an adult (limit 1 or 2 at the most per grownup). No unsupervised minors under the age of 18. No alcoholic beverages permitted. If they are worried about a perceived price gouge, donate 100% of the gate to charity. Increased security expenses covered by percentage rent from food vendors allowed to set up within fan zone. Problem solved.

I came up with one some time back. Fence it and charge admission. Five bucks for anybody over 12, one dollar for children accompanied by an adult (limit 1 or 2 at the most per grownup). No unsupervised minors under the age of 18. No alcoholic beverages permitted. If they are worried about a perceived price gouge, donate 100% of the gate to charity. Increased security expenses covered by percentage rent from food vendors allowed to set up within fan zone. Problem solved.

That's exactly the first plan than came to mind.. Fence it in and charge admission.

No alcoholic beverages permitted.

Sounds boring.

Question for the assembled hive mind: In the article in the Oklahoman today, there was a mention of "Scoreboard Bunker Suites" and "Outdoor Suites" added during the renovation. What and where the heck are those?

Sounds boring.
Sounds less likely to result in a multi-victim shooting.

Besides, I didn't mean no consumption. If they want to have a beer tent/trailer that's cool. Servers have a responsibility to not sell to intoxicated persons and minors, leading to overall more responsible consumption and another offset to increased security costs.

But the unsupervised nature of the event leading up to the shooting allowed people to show up with coolers full of beer, among other things. If you take a Wild West approach to hosting an event, eventually the Wild West shows up.

I think there is still a disconnect in many people's minds as to exactly what was going on down there. It might have looked great on TV, but if you were on the street - I was during nearly every game last season and all playoff games including the Lakers series when it went to hell in a hand basket - and even HALFWAY observant, you would have a very different view of the proceedings.

I would also recommend working with all parking operators within reasonable walking distance - including those ostensibly "free" such as Lower Bricktown's - to make sure their lots are secured/manned. That might mean closed/locked, it might mean charging, or maybe just manning the gate screening parkers to make sure they have legitimate business parking there.

Like I have said before, sometimes free is the wrong price.

enclosed area with a small fee would solve the majority if not all of the problem that existed during the playoffs

So who came up with the proposal to NOT put any signage on the new entrance?! >=(

So who came up with the proposal to NOT put any signage on the new entrance?! >=(

Has it been confirmed there will be none, it may just not be finished

As to the former (and perhaps someday, again) Thunder Alley, was there ever a shooting there, or only afterwards down the road in Bricktown? Did any melees ever break out in amongst the masses in Thunder Alley? I can certainly see a sense of security being evoked by controlled access and policia waving hand wands over folks as they enter, and setting some controls on the flow of spirits (at least until folks begin to realize some peeps do just fine sporting small glass flasks and ceramic blades, etc., and the even greater measures might be clamored for, all in the name of false sense of security.

The new entrance is just excellent. They still have the other 3 entry / exit points and with the new southwest portal, there was zero congestion getting in and out last night. The new restaurants look great too, as everything else in side still does.

As to the former (and perhaps someday, again) Thunder Alley, was there ever a shooting there, or only afterwards down the road in Bricktown? Did any melees ever break out in amongst the masses in Thunder Alley? I can certainly see a sense of security being evoked by controlled access and policia waving hand wands over folks as they enter, and setting some controls on the flow of spirits (at least until folks begin to realize some peeps do just fine sporting small glass flasks and ceramic blades, etc., and the even greater measures might be clamored for, all in the name of false sense of security.

The shooting was in Bricktown, well away from, and not related to, Thunder Alley. While cancelling seemed reactionary, what if there had been another incident? People would have been demanding to know why it wasn't cancelled the first time.

The shooting was in Bricktown, well away from, and not related to, Thunder Alley. While cancelling seemed reactionary, what if there had been another incident? People would have been demanding to know why it wasn't cancelled the first time.

Yeah, heard that before, but do not buy it. By that logic, Bricktown ought to just be fenced off and closed by now. All sorts of completely unrelated and disconnected but bad all the same type things happen down there. If one just shut it down that might stop a lot of those unrelated incidents, yet no one seems to be pushing that concept.

Bricktown is a cash cow for OKC tax collections. They're not going to shut it down...

The shooting was in Bricktown, well away from, and not related to, Thunder Alley...
Good grief. The shooting was the direct result of Thunder Alley events. This has been well established, including by statements from victims, law enforcement and even the suspect's own attorney. No matter how often people try to scapegoat Bricktown on this one it will never be true. In fact the district itself was a victim here. Please stop perpetuating a demonstrably false story. It borders on slander.

If Bricktown contributed in any way it was Lower Bricktown's offering free, uncontrolled parking to those attending the Thunder Alley event.

It was a Monday night, for crying out loud. Go walk around Bricktown around 11 PM next Monday night & tell me how many gangbangers and minors you see causing trouble. Prediction: zero.

The event itself brought the problems. Unfortunately it was a great event that grew out of control too quickly. I think it could come back and be a big success in the future, but it will have to be structured much differently so as to not pose a danger to itself, its attendees and its neighbors.