I feel as if I were lied to so they could get my vote. :kicking:

Seriously,I really don't care where they put the damn thing as long as they do it right.

When they were showing the renderings of the refurbished arena they had a big screen at the Grand Entrance. Looked pretty cool IMO. I said OK I am in for that so cast my yes vote. Now they are putting the video board on the north side? I guess when they drumming up support the arena rendering would have been rather plain if they showed a video board somewhere other than the Grand Entrance. The video board is what gave it the cool factor and I am sure pushed some to vote in favor of the tax. So it appears to me that we were misled.

I think the plan originally was to put video screens in both locations, in any case renderings you vote on in the past and in the future are concepts that may change and may look nothing like what you get. The current convention center concept looks nothing like the one people voted on, and the park will not look like what was render (except for the boundary the park stops at). The tax did not cover the amount they expect costs to be so decisions needed to be made on what they would not be spending money on since they did not want to ask for more money during a recession.

When they were showing the renderings of the refurbished arena they had a big screen at the Grand Entrance. Looked pretty cool IMO. I said OK I am in for that so cast my yes vote. Now they are putting the video board on the north side? I guess when they drumming up support the arena rendering would have been rather plain if they showed a video board somewhere other than the Grand Entrance. The video board is what gave it the cool factor and I am sure pushed some to vote in favor of the tax. So it appears to me that we were misled.

Which tax?

If you are talking about the Ford/NBA tax, I don't think the original renderings of the Grand Entrance had the video board (think that showed up in a revised rendering after that vote passed). But I may be wrong about the chronology of the different renderings.

If you are talking about the MAPS 3 tax, the Grand Entrance/Video board isn't a part of MAPS 3.

I am curious as to where others are saying there were always plans for 2 boards (one on the North & South sides). I only recall reading about the South Grand Entrance one until now. Does anyone have a link?

I agree with Larry. I don't ever remember reading about a north video board. And my recollection is that there was a south video board on the original drawing, and then they took it off before the vote and then have sometimes showed it back on. I'm willing to concede that my memory may be faulty however. I also remember that originally there were three potential renderings of what the renovation might look like and I'm not sure we were told which one would be the actual design prior to the vote.

In any case, thinking you were lied to about a video board means you should have voted no instead is laughable.

I thought the core to shore sidewalks would be brown, so that is why I voted for Maps. If they do any other color then the city staff and the mayor are cheats and crooks and I want my vote back.

The new video board is almost all up on the SW side!http://kwtv.images.worldnow.com/images/15049633_BG1.jpghttp://www.news9.com/story/15049633/huge-video-board-almost-complete-at-oklahoma-city-arena

Wow. Thats pretty big.

^^It looks like its about 3/4th's of the way done,there are more brackets above in that pic!

Looks like the new Oklahoma City Arena video Marquee is hanging on the building now. This was taken today around 6:30pm.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6024/5917276984_d9e29600ce_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/alonzoadamsphotography/5917276984/)
Oklahoma City Arena Marquee (http://www.flickr.com/photos/alonzoadamsphotography/5917276984/) by okcphotoguy76 (http://www.flickr.com/people/alonzoadamsphotography/), on Flickr

This is not a complaint, just an observation.

Interesting, orientation is landscape rather than portrait (as it was in the renderings I saw). Unless this is the 2nd one that ya'll have been talking about.

ON EDIT: While looking in the thread for the rendering showing the video board on the new "Postcard" Grand South Entrance, I did run across the talk about a screen on the NORTH side by Council. My apologies to that point. I presume the pic posted above is on the North side?

Here is the only image I found in the thread (doesn't show the video screen, but essentially the Video Screen was to be the portrait orientation space in the pic right above the words "Ford Center"


http://media.trb.com/media/alternatethumbnails/story/2011-02/59264203-07143340.jpg

Looks like Rover had posted the rendering I was thinking of that showed the Video Screen but it isn't displaying now.

The City's website shows an earlier totally different rendering from a slightly different vantage point...located here:
http://www.okc.gov/fordcenter/index.html
If someone knows how to post the pic directly to the forum, please do!

My attempt just got the link
http://www.okc.gov/images/ford_635.jpg

The new video board is almost all up on the SW side!http://kwtv.images.worldnow.com/images/15049633_BG1.jpghttp://www.news9.com/story/15049633/huge-video-board-almost-complete-at-oklahoma-city-arena

Looks like the NW side to me, as originally indicated. The photo below yours also clearly shows it's NW corner, with the cox across the street

Looks like the NW side to me, as originally indicated. The photo below yours also clearly shows it's NW corner, with the cox across the street

I stand corrected!Thank you!

Why is that FORD Center on that pic? I demand a revote!
That video board is clearly on the NW side of the building. I don't think we are getting one at the Grand Entrance.

Now,is the new name going to be Mid-First Arena?

Well, a horizontal screen is more practical than a vertical screen. Any live video shown on a vertical screen would leave a big black bar on the top and bottom. So if there is a vertical screen on the south side it would be used mostly for advertising purposes.


On another note, does anyone else think its funny that you can't go north on Robinson after they went through the effort of moving the off-ramp. You have to loop around and you then run straight into project 180 construction.

There is a picture of the new entrance on the Robinson exit billboard (pretty close to the same entrance that is shown above minus the "Ford Center")

Yes, the photo I took is on the NW side of building. It somewhat faces Myriad Gardens, but not directly at that corner of the building. Its above where the hockey team store was and small Thunder store is now in the building facing Reno.

Why is that FORD Center on that pic? I demand a revote!
That video board is clearly on the NW side of the building. I don't think we are getting one at the Grand Entrance.

Now,is the new name going to be Mid-First Arena?

My bet is on Midfirst...though we could be surprised and it be branded with something none of us have even thought of. I think since the Four Million Dollars of CHK shareholder money that went into official sponsorship of the Thunder (which Aubrey personally owns 20%) was in with the list of problems with corporate governance going into the last shareholders meeting - I think that Chesapeake Arena is probably out of the question. However, if he has the Chutzpa to try it, it really wouldn't surprise me. But he's being pretty careful right now with all the criticism. That would raise the roof off of shareholders patience and I doubt he'd even try it. But, who knows?

Well, a horizontal screen is more practical than a vertical screen. Any live video shown on a vertical screen would leave a big black bar on the top and bottom. So if there is a vertical screen on the south side it would be used mostly for advertising purposes.


On another note, does anyone else think its funny that you can't go north on Robinson after they went through the effort of moving the off-ramp. You have to loop around and you then run straight into project 180 construction.

If not mistaken, that is the intended purpose, as the Team gets all or the majority of advertising revenue from those sorts of things now. I haven't gone back and read the lease agreement to verify but that goes along with something I saw in the City Budget report where they mentioned how much the City received in Arena Board advertising and that item was missing in the next years report (unless I just missed it which is a possibility)

The video board is oriented so that people walking in from the Myriad Gardens can see it as they come down the diagonal walkway from the heart of the gardens. Should be a spectacular approach.

Here's another photo of the video board on the north side:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/arena71911.jpg

Here's a rough representation of where it is being installed (shown in bright blue):

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

http://www.nba.com/thunder/?tmd=1

Call it Chesapeake Energy Arena!

Here too:

http://www.newsok.com/oklahoma-city-arena-to-be-renamed-chesapeake-energy-arena/multimedia/video/1069724629001

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a211/SoonerQueen/chesapeakeenergyarena.jpg


http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release_arena_110721.html

Congrats to CHK and the Thunder!

Doesn't quite roll off the tongue like Ford Center, but it's better than "Oklahoma City Arena". Clearly this is Aubrey's way of competing with Devon and Sandridge for downtown dominance lol.

I'm glad they left the word "Energy" off the sign. It's fine to call it that if they want, but it would look awkward up on the arena.

"Energy" is actually on there...it's in blue under Chesapeake...you can barely see it in that tiny photo.

I don't mind the way they did that logo. It emphasizes Chesapeake Arena, which is more concise.

Oh well.

Which reminds of the Southwestern Bell Bricktown Ballpark. The Southwestern Bell part basically got ignored eventually. I'm sure it will be referred to as the Chesapeake Arena.

Hmmm, does this mean that the Ford Center...Oklahoma City Arena...Chesapeake Energy Arena will convert over to natural gas power? LOL

Finally a new rendering...notice that they don't have the big video board, so has it been officially scuttled?

anything to get that frackin story off their back. And this, in the face of an NBA season that could not be...HMM.

The name sucks.

Oklahoma City Arena sounds so much better.

Hell, we are all still calling it the Thunderdome. Even the Ford Center, so screw Chesapeake.

Btw... Chesapeake... does the first part of pronounce sounds like...cheap? Cheap-a-peake or Cheap-peake.

Why can't Devon bid on this? :-(

Devon Thunderdome <<< Lovely.

Well, they fooled me. I did not think either CHK or DVN would end up with the naming rights.

So now the question... nicknames? Let's rule out "The Gas Chamber" straight away... what else have we got?

Oh, and it will be interesting to see how they fit "Chesapeake Energy Arena" in the place of "Ford Center" in the rendering pictured in post #313 (http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=23863&p=446352#post446352).


Edit: Nevermind. Just saw the dedicated thread with the new rendering.

You know, after paying more attention to construction photos, the new main entrance itself will face Robinson just as much as the boulevard. I think that it will look awesome and people will be congregating on that side sooner than we think.

Oklahoma City Arena to be renamed Chesapeake Energy Arena (http://www.newsok.com/oklahoma-city-arena-to-be-renamed-chesapeake-energy-arena/article/3587871?custom_click=lead_story_photo)

It will be "Chesapeake Energy Arena".

so much for that bank idea. this isn't terrible, not at all.

I remember people complaining about the name Thunder. Good names versus bad are all subjective and not anything to worry about. Soon it will sound as normal as any other arena. I am happy we finally have a name.

The name sucks.

Oklahoma City Arena sounds so much better.

Hell, we are all still calling it the Thunderdome. Even the Ford Center, so screw Chesapeake.

Btw... Chesapeake... does the first part of pronounce sounds like...cheap? Cheap-a-peake or Cheap-peake.

Why can't Devon bid on this? :-(

Devon Thunderdome <<< Lovely.


Are you Crazy?

Are you Crazy?He has entertainment value.

And for the name. It's OK. It had to be one of the energy companies or banks so Chesapeake is a good as any other.

If we didn't have an arena sponsor, the folks up in Seattle would say OKC is too "small town" to even pull in naming rights and that the team will never survive here. That's a small part of what happened in New Orleans, where they still haven't sold naming rights. Having a name, no matter whether we like it or not, is good for the team. It adds a little bit of financial cushion when times are bad. And times will be bad. Again, I hope the owners are paying off as much debt as they can during the fat years, because the lean years will come.

If I were a stockholder, considering what companies spend on advertising, I'd say having my name on every sports announcers lips anytime the Thunder are televised is probably pretty cheap advertising. If we make the playoffs, Chesapeake Energy Arena will be heard around the world.

It definitely doesn't roll off the tongue well. I was actually hoping they'd come up with something that didn't involve the word Arena. You can be so much more clever and creative with names...Chespeake Colliseum, Gardens, even Center, Palace, etc. Arena just always makes me thing small fry because of the fair grounds Arena.

But hey, i'm glad that's all settled and we finally have a name. Even if it's not the most exciting one ever, at least it's there.

I like the name and it gives Chesapeake a visual presence in an area with a high concentration of companies in its industry. That is something they otherwise wouldn't have. I also think the $3 million per year is at the high end of the naming rights spectrum so this will be good for the team.

Chesapeake advertises nationally and has a "brand" beyond OKC. Naming like "Mid First Arena" or BOK Center would have sounded too regionalized and small town. Glad one of the national names took it.

Devon wouldn't ever spend this much money because they are a conservative and prudent company. CHK likes to alienate their shareholders by throwing money in every which direction and getting involved in a variety of companies/industies outside their professional expertise. It makes little sense outside of Aubrey who stands to gain a lot from all the side businesses within CHK that they are required to utilize even though they are often more expensive and provide less quality.

Chesapeake advertises nationally and has a "brand" beyond OKC. Naming like "Mid First Arena" or BOK Center would have sounded too regionalized and small town. Glad one of the national names took it.

BOk is the largest bank based in Oklahoma and is major regional financial company with operations in 10 states, but sure, valid point.

Im just going to it The THUNDERDOME

Mid First has its name on a tower in Phoenix... def not the same region

anything to get that frackin story off their back. And this, in the face of an NBA season that could not be...HMM.

It'll happen. Too much at stake for both sides to lockout for a season. Look at the NFL, they figured it out, and I'm not surprised. No one can afford not to play.

He has entertainment value.

And for the name. It's OK. It had to be one of the energy companies or banks so Chesapeake is a good as any other.

Or out of state companies wanting exposure............

BOk is the largest bank based in Oklahoma and is major regional financial company with operations in 10 states, but sure, valid point.

True, but they go under a different name in those other states, so BOK wouldn't have as much pull, regardless of the fact it is a bigger than most realize entity.

Or out of state companies wanting exposure............That could have been a possibility. But if any were trying to negotiate a deal they did it very quietly.

Chesapeake Energy Arena flows much better than Gexa Energy Pavilion (former Coca-Cola Starplex/ Smirfnoff Music Centre/ Superpages.com Center) in Dallas.

I wonder why they didn't go with "center". One less syllable and one less word starting with a vowel. Either way, we'll all get used to saying it soon and it's about $2.5 mil for the team a year and $400k+ for the city. Not a windfall, but it's better then getting nothing.

that Mike guy that is out for Aubrey is gonna stroke out

anything to get that frackin story off their back. And this, in the face of an NBA season that could not be...HMM.

Or perhaps give them a new marketing slogan... "Get the frack in here" or "Let's fill this fracking place!"

you know who else played in the energy arena? -M

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tYY1h31_wls/ThiOF8tzFeI/AAAAAAAAC4o/sWEkoRxewqQ/s1600/rollerballcaan.jpg