Because it's about attending a 'sporting event', not a bar. There is plenty of $7 beer being sold up to the start of the 4th quarter.

I'm guessing you haven't been to #7 Club. This doesn't seem like an either/or situation. I just wish the arena had more local vendors and beers.

I'm guessing you haven't been to #7 Club. This doesn't seem like an either/or situation. I just wish the arena had more local vendors and beers.

I've sat in the new resturant accross from it, but to be honest, I've only had 1 beer at the arena the last 4 years, and it was this past new years eve game.

There's only 2 kinds of beer now...................1). Free and 2). Bud......

sorry about the de-rail.

From the new resturant at the new entrance - I grabbed the beer selection from the menu -

DRAFT BEERS
McSorley’s Irish Black Lager
Big Sky Brewing Moose Drool Brown Ale
Sam Adam’s Boston Lager
Shock Top Belgian White
Budweiser
Bud Light
BOTTLED BEERS
Corona
Corona Light
Modelo Especial
Negra Modelo
Red Stripe
Miller Light
Coors Light

There are sponsorship agreements that give certain companies "pouring rights" in the arena. Budwieser and Republic National Distributing are those sponsors. Their producucts are whats available with just a few agreed upon exceptions... Of the beers listed, Miller Light and Coors Light are those exceptions

Whenever I go to the Saints games in New Orleans they have Abita beer everywhere

Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert at the Peake:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8229/8375847025_1c77423cbd_b_d.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8373/8377018550_6f16709a2f_b_d.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8491/8377042896_b9524e2115_b_d.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8498/8377045168_e9cf548688_b_d.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8050/8377051534_60543638a3_b_d.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8494/8375984321_890d75ec83_b_d.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8092/8377071086_638035c533_b_d.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8225/8377083022_2fa373b05a_b_d.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8360/8376009425_c40a6e4deb_b_d.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8493/8377088288_cb2d114e48_b_d.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8048/8376014415_cd5f3be014_b_d.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8500/8377142874_d498a7c79c_b_d.jpg


Photos by Laban West (http://www.flickr.com/photos/73409321@N00)


Wow! You even get music with the laser light show!
:)

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/ChesapeakeArena12-12.jpg

Wow, that's pretty recent! Looks like maybe October or more likely November based on the state of the trees.

It's December. The red Christmas balls on the Devon lawn.

It's December. The red Christmas balls on the Devon lawn.

A lot of Christmas decorations go out right after Halloween. My guess is this was November being that the grass is still green(ish) and leaves are still on the trees.

Nonetheless, I am impressed with the new arena entrance. Anybody know if anything is planned for the area just west of the Arena, below the stage center?

Based on the Devon Tower thread, installation of the ornaments began around 11/7 and there is a photo of the completed giant ornament that was posted on 11/14. I'm sticking with early November based on foliage, but it definitely could have been EARLY December.

The new 45 degree angle option is finally available for OKC??

http://www.okctalk.com/current-events-open-topic/25041-google-maps-update.html

Arena getting new sign for SW entrance:



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

Ugly.

Standard retail lighting. Not sure what you expect given the base they have to work on.

Standard retail lighting. Not sure what you expect given the base they have to work on.


Something better looking than this. A QuickTrip has more style to it than this. :p

Something better looking than this. A QuickTrip has more style to it than this. :p

Oh god, not the QuikTrip discussion again... haha

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How come their not going with the original Chesapeake sign design above?

3510

How come their not going with the original Chesapeake sign design above?

Good question. That sign was awesome. Of course, we didn't get the green glass either...

Good question. That sign was awesome. Of course, we didn't get the green glass either...

Yeah, I just don't understand why this sign will be a completely different color and design from all the other signs on the Arena.

Ugh! By looking at old renderings from years back, this arena has had HIGH Potential, but today as the new entrance is complete I'm like...........

How long will it be before that entrance is really even used? By that point we'll probably be discussing a new arena anyway... ;)

Ugh! By looking at old renderings from years back, this arena has had HIGH Potential, but today as the new entrance is complete I'm like...........

Yeah, renderings always look more cool ;) If someone did a daytime rendering of Downtown OKC, I bet it'd be sweet looking, but we all know it looks way better at night.

How long will it be before that entrance is really even used? By that point we'll probably be discussing a new arena anyway... ;)

Which might explain why no one pushed too hard for the substation site for the CC, despite it being a more logical location and a less costly building site, requiring no underground loading docks.

How long will it be before that entrance is really even used? By that point we'll probably be discussing a new arena anyway... ;)

A new arena? OKC is still using the old Myriad 40 years later and there is no serious talk about tearing it down.

A new arena? OKC is still using the old Myriad 40 years later and there is no serious talk about tearing it down.

The Thunder owners may want a new Arena when this one becomes cost prohibitive to improve. Remember that the Ford was only 5 years old before Mayor Cornett started talking about replacing it with a new arena. Granted with the improvements, he has said it is like a brand new building and he thinks it should last for 15 years or so. But Stern said the lifespan of an arena is only about 10 years. The Thunder owners have been vague on the issue (meeting their needs for the foreseeable future), with no year-range. But when a new arena is required is largely up to the Team (it is in the lease agreement that they get to decide and the City has to make whatever improvements etc the Team deems necessary, no matter what the cost or the ability to pay for it. All of that said, that doesn't mean that the Peake will be torn down if a new arena is secured (but it might mean the demise of the Cox). That way we could still have 2 arenas side-by-side for things like the Big 12 etc., utilizing the Peake for decades to come (much like the Cox has).

A new arena? OKC is still using the old Myriad 40 years later and there is no serious talk about tearing it down.

First, having minor league sports isn't the same as having a major sports team... Second, there is serious talk of tearing down the Myriad. It'll probably be gone within 10 years IMHO.

First, having minor league sports isn't the same as having a major sports team... Second, there is serious talk of tearing down the Myriad. It'll probably be gone within 10 years IMHO.

exactly... which is why i just hope something is done at the fairgrounds for a Cox Center sized arena (either improve the one that's there or build new) for the minor league sports, before the Cox Center is demo'd, possibly for a new NBA arena

If and when they demo the Cox Convention Center, my hope is that that space will be restored to the original four blocks. If a new arena is built in 20 years, hopefully the cottonseed co-op is gone and they'll build a new arena there.

exactly... which is why i just hope something is done at the fairgrounds for a Cox Center sized arena (either improve the one that's there or build new) for the minor league sports, before the Cox Center is demo'd, possibly for a new NBA arena

The current state fair arena holds 11k. Not sure what it can be configured for, but that should be enough for any minor league team.

If and when they demo the Cox Convention Center, my hope is that that space will be restored to the original four blocks. If a new arena is built in 20 years, hopefully the cottonseed co-op is gone and they'll build a new arena there.

These are good ideas. The cotton seed location could be integrated into bricktown and maybe give lower bricktown another shot (or maybe we could tear down lower bricktown and give Hogan the cottonseed land for his parking lot :) )? Of course, I believe the boulevard will divide the two, and I don't think we know for sure exactly how much of a barrier that's going to create.

The current state fair arena holds 11k. Not sure what it can be configured for, but that should be enough for any minor league team.

The arena itself, though, needs some serious updates. I'll bet the city would get more bang for its buck by demo-ing it and building a better one. I fully agree with JediCurt. I love hockey in OKC, but looking at the Cox/Myriad and thinking of what a waste of good CBD real estate that is, I think it's time to embrace the suck of the Cox/Myriad going away, set up the State Fairgrounds Arena for greater success and move the Barons there. Make sure it can accomodate a good concert, too, and maybe OKC wouldn't be whining so much about missing out on all the concerts that go to the BOk (even though I think that's just perception, not reality).

These are good ideas. The cotton seed location could be integrated into bricktown and maybe give lower bricktown another shot (or maybe we could tear down lower bricktown and give Hogan the cottonseed land for his parking lot :) )? Of course, I believe the boulevard will divide the two, and I don't think we know for sure exactly how much of a barrier that's going to create.

I think we should start a Mystery Arena thread, lol.

First, having minor league sports isn't the same as having a major sports team... Second, there is serious talk of tearing down the Myriad. It'll probably be gone within 10 years IMHO.

hehe...gone within ten years. Yeah that's real serious talk there.:tongue:

(sadly, for OKC, that really is a serious timeframe)

hehe...gone within ten years. Yeah that's real serious talk there.:tongue:

(sadly, for OKC, that really is a serious timeframe)

They won't even consider tearing down the Cox until the new Convention Center is up and running (current timeline has it opening in late 2018) and it was further out from that under the original MAPS 3 plan of the Mayor. Depending on how the new C.C. works out, they may need to keep the Cox around for a few years until they can get the C.C. Phase 2 expansion done. 10 years sounds about right.

What's the latest on collections for the various projects? Up 2.8% on average or are they higher than that? Just making sure that MAPS IV won't be Phase II oriented...

The tax is not being collected for individual projects but is pooled and dispersed towards the various phases of the projects as it comes in. But everything I have read on it says the tax is exceeding the $100 million/yr avg. That is very good news this early in the tax as the $100M/yr is the average over the 7.75 year collection span. Would think that it would generally be higher towards the end of the time than the beginning. The same problem we always have is cost projections sorely missed the mark on Sidewalks, Trails and Senior Centers. Land cost alone is currently blowing the budget for the Transit Hub location. It is fairly widely held that the land cost for the Convention Center is going to be problematic too (in addition to construction/material costs etc).

I am curious if the reason for moving the convention center up to the beginning of the timeline instead of the end is because of 1) the cost of construction now is lower than if could be in the future when the economy gets better and 2) it is one of the few projects that actually makes money directly for the city (state fairgrounds improvements being the other). That way, towards the end of the tax collection there might be more money coming in due to these projects be completed and bringing in more tax dollars.

I think it's waaaaay too soon to say the land cost for the hub location is "blowing the budget". I suspect the real value of the Santa Fe station is closer to what the city offered than what the Brewers asked.

Why would you even say that? Are you just being dramatic or is there something you know that the judge, courts, Brewers, and the City doesn't know?

Because he's just 'blowing', he doesn't really know...LOL

I think it's waaaaay too soon to say the land cost for the hub location is "blowing the budget". I suspect the real value of the Santa Fe station is closer to what the city offered than what the Brewers asked.


Why would you even say that? Are you just being dramatic or is there something you know that the judge, courts, Brewers, and the City doesn't know?

Sorry if it wasn't clear, but I did say currently it is a budget buster. It is yet to be settled. Just as the price for the Convention Center hasn't happened yet. But I think even Betts is of the opinion that the land cost for it is going to exceed their budget too. Presuming they meet somewhere in the middle of what the City wants to pay and what they are asking, you are still at the $10 million mark without making any of the improvements needed. Right??? Now if it comes in at the City's price, you may be ok (but the projections for the eventual completed Hub has already exceeded $128 million....not the $10 million earmarked)

I am curious if the reason for moving the convention center up to the beginning of the timeline instead of the end is because of 1) the cost of construction now is lower than if could be in the future when the economy gets better and 2) it is one of the few projects that actually makes money directly for the city (state fairgrounds improvements being the other). That way, towards the end of the tax collection there might be more money coming in due to these projects be completed and bringing in more tax dollars.
That was part of the rationale. As the most expensive project in MAPS 3 (and more than all of the original MAPS projects combined), they didn't want to run out of money at the end (similar situation with the Arena if I recall correctly and we ended up with the 6 month MAPS extension, "FInish MAPS Right"). While the COnvention Center is revenue producing, even with the advanced timeline, it isn't scheduled to be completed until AFTER the end of the MAPS 3 tax collection. So, not one penny of increased revenue for projects at the end (only the inflationary amounts built into the timeline, the same inflationary amount that would have gone to the C.C. if it had been built last).

Arenas: The Experience Elsewhere - Broad vision led to a series of projects in Oklahoma City (http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/arenas-the-experience-elsewhere-broad-vision-led-to-a-series-of-projects-ci9dijl-201695081.html)

Arenas: The Experience Elsewhere - Broad vision led to a series of projects in Oklahoma City (http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/arenas-the-experience-elsewhere-broad-vision-led-to-a-series-of-projects-ci9dijl-201695081.html)

I know I read about a possible NFL stadium at some point in the distant past, but did it ever get to the point of reaching the ballot box as this article mentions? A quick Google search only brings up the above article???

A year before he took office, civic leaders tried to persuade voters to approve funding for a domed football stadium at the city's State Fair Park to possibly attract an NFL team. Veteran civic booster Lee Allan Smith, who helped coordinate the 1986 domed stadium campaign, said the failed effort...

Hopefully, I am in the correct forum. My question is do anyone know if arena tours of Chesapeake arena is given during non-scheduled events? I am scheduled to have family in town from Indiana during the third week of this month. They are hugh Thunder fans and would love the opportunity to tour the renovated arena.

Any feedback someone can provide will be greatly appreciated.

I know I read about a possible NFL stadium at some point in the distant past, but did it ever get to the point of reaching the ballot box as this article mentions? A quick Google search only brings up the above article???

No it did not reach the ballot for a vote.

I know I read about a possible NFL stadium at some point in the distant past, but did it ever get to the point of reaching the ballot box as this article mentions? A quick Google search only brings up the above article???

A year before he took office, civic leaders tried to persuade voters to approve funding for a domed football stadium at the city's State Fair Park to possibly attract an NFL team. Veteran civic booster Lee Allan Smith, who helped coordinate the 1986 domed stadium campaign, said the failed effort...


In 1986 the owners of the St Louis Cardinals wanted to move to OKC if the city/state would build the stadium. It was to be called OKLADOME. However, the deal required OU to let the Cardinals play there for the first few years while the stadium was under construction, and that led to a lot of problems. OU didn't want the NFL and I think they were also concerned that if the stadium deal didn't work out (Oklahoma was in the height of the oil bust) OU would be stuck hosting the team indefinately. When a deal couldn't be reached the team evenually moved to Phoenix 2 years later, and played in the Arizona St stadium for 17 years before finally getting the own dome stadium.

Little known history - Bud Wilkinson coached the Cardinals in the '78 and '79 seasons. Yes, that Bud Wilkinson.

In 1986 the owners of the St Louis Cardinals wanted to move to OKC if the city/state would build the stadium. It was to be called OKLADOME. However, the deal required OU to let the Cardinals play there for the first few years while the stadium was under construction, and that led to a lot of problems. OU didn't want the NFL and I think they were also concerned that if the stadium deal didn't work out (Oklahoma was in the height of the oil bust) OU would be stuck hosting the team indefinately. When a deal couldn't be reached the team evenually moved to Phoenix 2 years later, and played in the Arizona St stadium for 17 years before finally getting the own dome stadium.

Little known history - Bud Wilkinson coached the Cardinals in the '78 and '79 seasons. Yes, that Bud Wilkinson.

i don't know how close that deal ever got... because okc wasn't the only place he was looking. there were also deals in the works with Baltimore, Jacksonville, and Phoenix. Phoenix was just the one that worked out. In the end, Bill Bidwell was just looking to see who was going to give him the best deal. and i don't think Oklahoma was ever going to be that best deal.

My recollection from the time was that OKC was the first and only choice and when that didn't work out Bidwell began looking at the other cities you mentioned, which would explain the 2 year gap between Okladome and when the team actually relocated.

if that is the case... then i am curious how much the abysmal failure of the USFL's Oklahoma Outlaws in Tulsa affected Bidwells decision... After all, their only season was that spring in 1984, when all of the talk of relocation would have been going on.

if that is the case... then i am curious how much the abysmal failure of the USFL's Oklahoma Outlaws in Tulsa affected Bidwells decision... After all, their only season was that spring in 1984, when all of the talk of relocation would have been going on.

Which oddly enough also moved to Phoenix and also played at Sun Devil stadium.

No it did not reach the ballot for a vote.

Seems we were both wrong, apparently it DID get as far as the voting both but failed (link courtesy of Green Country)

City Voters Reject Plan To Build Domed Stadium | News OK (http://newsok.com/article/2150989)

City Voters Reject Plan To Build Domed Stadium (6/18/86)

Found this line interesting…


Stadium supporters said it was needed to attract large conventions and sporting events such as the NCAA Final Four basketball championship, the Big Eight basketball tournament and the National Finals Rodeo.

Shouldn't be news to people attending games, but the main entrance signage is up. Didn't see anyone else post a pic...

3660

I noticed it yesterday. I guess no one else does; but I liked it.

I noticed it yesterday. I guess no one else does; but I liked it.

Does the sign light up?

Here is a photo I shot of the new SW Entry and signage on the Chesapeake Energy Arena in downtown Oklahoma City.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8524/8674839022_7e2893e68f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/alonzoadamsphotography/8674839022/)
Chesapeake Energy Arena Devon Tower Oklahoma City (http://www.flickr.com/photos/alonzoadamsphotography/8674839022/) by Alonzo Adams Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/alonzoadamsphotography/), on Flickr

The sad part is, the entrance by itself looks better than the rest of the place.

The sad part is, the entrance by itself looks better than the rest of the place.

What? The building has had some very nice improvements and it's one of the best places in the entire NBA to catch a game.

What? The building has had some very nice improvements and it's one of the best places in the entire NBA to catch a game.

I think I read where we were the #3 fan arena experience in the NBA..........Madison Square Gardens was #1.