That is a huge architectural fee. It may be warranted in a project of this size... but wow

MAPS 3 panel approves higher fee for designing future Oklahoma City convention center | News OK (http://newsok.com/article/5461166?utm_source=NewsOK.com&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=ShareBar-Twitter)

MAPS 3: City reaches deals for convention center land sales | News OK (http://newsok.com/maps-3-city-reaches-deals-for-convention-center-land-sales/article/5462383)

That's pretty breathtaking for a third party consultancy that we first used to analyze whether we "need" a new CC. I thought Hargreaves' fee was insane. I don't think I have ever heard of a higher public works design fee. This is almost like a private sector design fee in the golden era pre-2008, when some architects were banking 10% of project costs.

The problem is you can't even do a quick study of what other cities are paying as a percent on design commissions, because Populous is also your consultant you've relied on for all CC study functions up to this point.

No new info, just a piece by Cathy O'Connor:

O’Connor: Land acquisition and the Alliance

By: Cathy O'Connor Guest Columnist January 19, 2016

New development opportunities mean a city is growing and companies are investing in its future.

Oklahoma City recently determined a site for the new convention center and hotel. The center, part of MAPS 3, means more events and conferences will consider Oklahoma City, which in turn contributes greatly to the local economy.

When looking at MAPS 3 developments, sometimes we must consider the need for land acquisition in the case of new buildings to be constructed on a site. When this happens, the Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City and the city of Oklahoma City work together and negotiate with landowners to reach a fair purchase price, mutually agreed upon by both parties. Land acquisition is beneficial to both landowners and developers and ultimately serves Oklahoma City for the better, allowing landowners to invest the money earned from the sale into other land and allowing developers to create new additions to Oklahoma City’s landscape.

Where negotiations for fair market sale cannot be reached, as a last resort, eminent domain may be considered. In some cases, both the landowner and the city will mutually request to move forward with eminent domain procedures as a way to reach a fair market value for the land through court appraisal. Eminent domain may not always have the best reputation, but there have been many times when it has been used with positive results. When applied carefully and responsibly, it can benefit both parties and ensure that the city is making progress in reaching its developmental and economic goals.

One example of eminent domain procedures is the Santa Fe Depot in downtown Oklahoma City. City plans called for transforming the historic building into a multimodal transportation hub, but city officials were unable to negotiate a workable deal with the depot’s owners. Consequently, the city filed for eminent domain and a settlement was reached through court-appointed commissioners.

There are many moving parts that make up development projects, and land acquisition is just one crucial part. With the help of organizations like the Alliance, acquisition can be a smooth and constructive process, leading to positive results that will benefit city projects, likes MAPS 3, and the citizens of Oklahoma City. The Alliance works with the city when eminent domain is required to ensure MAPS 3 progress continues, to the advantage of all Oklahoma City.

Cathy O’Connor is president of The Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City.

Land acquisition is beneficial to both landowners and developers and ultimately serves Oklahoma City for the better, allowing landowners to invest the money earned from the sale into other land and allowing developers to create new additions to Oklahoma City’s landscape.

When applied carefully and responsibly, it can benefit both parties and ensure that the city is making progress in reaching its developmental and economic goals.


Used sparingly, responsibly and definitely as a last resort. We want those recipients of funds to reinvest in the city with other developments. Eminent domain can be lengthy, risky and backfire.


...Oklahoma City officials after determining Tuesday too much was at risk to continue with a condemnation action against a partnership led by Bob Howard and Fred Hall.

Oklahoma City scraps site for MAPS convention center | News OK (http://newsok.com/article/5398172)

Proximity of the new site to the Chesapeake Energy Arena assurances a hotel still is desired as part of a convention center development.


The convention center site is within walking distance of the central business district and Bricktown. Hotel guests would walk north across the boulevard and past the arena to reach the MAPS 3 streetcar.

Oklahoma City Council selects convention center location | News OK (http://newsok.com/article/5453369)

Latest land acquisition map.

I added the labels and I suspect they did not identify the property immediately south of the Boulevard because it will be used for the Convention Center Hotel.

It looks like the only private property in the area bounded by the boulevard, I-40, Robinson and Shields will be the property Mazaheri recently purchased.

Would not be surprised if he also tries to work a deal with OCURA for the property fronting the park.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cc022216.jpg

Latest land acquisition map.

I added the labels and I suspect they did not identify the property immediately south of the Boulevard because it will be used for the Convention Center Hotel.

It looks like the only private property in the area bounded by the boulevard, I-40, Robinson and Shields will be the property Mazaheri recently purchased.

Would not be surprised if he also tries to work a deal with OCURA for the property fronting the park.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cc022216.jpg

Two thumbs up ;-)

Do we need to take a lesson from our nearest big neighbor to the south, Fort Worth?


https://cdn.hotelplanner.com/Common/Images/Hotels/249034_1.jpg
Omni Fort Worth Hotel (33 stories/447 ft height) offers luxurious accommodations for 614 guest rooms


Fort Worth should remodel and expand the aging north end of its Convention Center, add a 1,000-room headquarters hotel on the north end of the facility, and carefully manage scarce public incentive dollars for downtown hotel projects to make sure the city is enhancing its meeting draw, a new study says.

The city should also encourage Omni Hotels to expand its popular 614-room Convention Center hotel by another 400 rooms, the study says.


Fort Worth study recommends 1,400 more Convention Center-area hotel rooms - Fortworthbusiness.com: News (http://www.fortworthbusiness.com/news/fort-worth-study-recommends-more-convention-center-area-hotel-rooms/article_6cf8f168-db5a-5230-92d3-c16568f0461e.html)

Convention Hotel - OKCTalk (http://www.okctalk.com/showwiki.php?title=Convention+Hotel)

We don't have to follow Fort Worth over that cliff.

That hotel is only the lower half...the all glass wall rising above are luxury condos, so yeah, if you can find the crowd willing to pay for such an OKC feat then why not...

Fort Worth study recommends 1,400 more Convention Center-area hotel rooms - Fortworthbusiness.com: News (http://www.fortworthbusiness.com/news/fort-worth-study-recommends-more-convention-center-area-hotel-rooms/article_6cf8f168-db5a-5230-92d3-c16568f0461e.html)

Sorry, but I actually had to laugh at that news story. I could swear I read those exact same words in the Oklahoman a few years ago. These consulting groups are just like arms dealers selling the latest weapons to every country using the fear that their neighboring country will out-militarize them.

MpmGXeAtWUw

Populus (consultants) presented conceptual plans for parking and convention center layouts at yesterdays MAPS 3 Convention Center Committee meeting.



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cc022216.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cc022216a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cc022216b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cc022216c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cc022216d.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cc022216e.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cc022216f.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cc022216g.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cc022216h.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cc022216i.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cc022216j.jpg

Not bad. I like that first option the best, but I imagine these are all so tentative that the final design will likely be much different. I assume the phantom box hanging out over the parking lot to the south represents future expansion?

Holy cow - that is a lot of surface parking...next to the park. At least MBG was going to get office space and parking garages adjacent.

The only surface lots shown above are where the center would be eventually expanded.

Yes, we're aware that we're being held hostage (by parkside parking) to fund even more of this.

By the way, I'd like to remind everyone that when they wanted you to vote YES on MAPS 3, they promised that the CC's park-front side would be wrapped in mixed-use. I would just like to remind everyone of that, because you know, I don't see any mixed-use anywhere in this. I see a convention center and a parking lot directly flanking the park and killing its eastern periphery.

Why would anyone want to go to a MAPS 3 Central Park to stare up at a CC, when you can go to the Myriad Gardens and also stare up at a CC.

Remember how we used to talk about how superblocks were bad? This thing needs to be pushed back against Shields.

We have gone backwards. Maybe 1 step forward, 3 steps backwards.

By the way, I'd like to remind everyone that when they wanted you to vote YES on MAPS 3, they promised that the CC's park-front side would be wrapped in mixed-use. I would just like to remind everyone of that, because you know, I don't see any mixed-use anywhere in this. I see a convention center and a parking lot directly flanking the park and killing its eastern periphery.

They never made any such promise.

In fact, we didn't even know where the cc was going to be until very recently.

Is it just me or does the design seem like something that was considered modern in the late 80's & 90's? Not a fan at all.

/shrug, it looks like a lot of convention centers that I have been to for conferences and conventions and whatnot.

On a different note:

https://vimeo.com/142425150

These are just massing concepts at this point.

I wouldn't get too hung up on the exact architecture as it will only be finalized once they choose a layout and figure out the parking.

Is it just me or does the design seem like something that was considered modern in the late 80's & 90's? Not a fan at all.

This was my initial reaction as well, but I think in the Oklahoman article it states that these are just pictures showcasing ideas and not even close to final renderings.

Here's the problem with that: Where do final renderings come from?


They never made any such promise.

In fact, we didn't even know where the cc was going to be until very recently.

That's not true.

UGH. Surface parking! :mad: :mad: :mad: The ideas for the convention center itself are great - I think I like City View the best, but none of the building options are really "bad". But it's probably going to be YEARS before the Convention Center gets expanded into that parking lot - probably at least a decade, if not more. I know surface parking is cheap, low-maintenance, and super easy to clear for future construction, but we really should be holding ourselves to a higher standard. Maybe a simple grassy park south of the convention center? Or a food truck court or some other simple public venue that's not a parking lot? Then put a HUGE parking garage on the OG&E Data Center lot. They are still donating that lot to the City, right?

I'd be curious what city code says about surface parking lots in downtown.

I think at a minimum our MAPS 3 projects should be up to code, lol.

I'd be curious what city code says about surface parking lots in downtown.

I think at a minimum our MAPS 3 projects should be up to code, lol.

I don't know but there's a crap ton of them adjoining West of Chesapeake Arena.

[QUOTE=Just the facts;941790]Fort Worth study recommends 1,400 more Convention Center-area hotel rooms - Fortworthbusiness.com: News (http://www.fortworthbusiness.com/news/fort-worth-study-recommends-more-convention-center-area-hotel-rooms/article_6cf8f168-db5a-5230-92d3-c16568f0461e.html)

Sorry, but I actually had to laugh at that news story. I could swear I read those exact same words in the Oklahoman a few years ago. These consulting groups are just like arms dealers sellinge latest weapons to every country using the fear that their neighboring country will out-militarize them.
QUOTE]

Or, it may be that to maximize the use of that convention center, they need additional downtown lodging. The article states the previous remodel and hotel construction has paid off nicely. This simply calls for a plan for new investment - a concept that you truly don't seem to understand.

Or, it may be that to maximize the use of that convention center, they need additional downtown lodging. The article states the previous remodel and hotel construction has paid off nicely. This simply calls for a plan for new investment - a concept that you truly don't seem to understand.

I understand it completely. The consulting groups go to City X and say build more. Then they go to City Y and say build more, because City X is building more and you will be left behind. Then they go to City Z and say build more because you have to compete with City X and Y. Then they go back to City X and say build more because City Z just passed you.

Never mind that the super vast majority of people using the facility are local, attending local events. No matter how great our convention center is we will never host the Texas Physical Therapy Association or Texas Propane Gas Association. We could host the NCAA Gymnastics Championship though (if the new CC had an arena).

Or, it may be that to maximize the use of that convention center, they need additional downtown lodging. The article states the previous remodel and hotel construction has paid off nicely. This simply calls for a plan for new investment - a concept that you truly don't seem to understand.

He doesn't want to understand because he too busy looking for things to critique. Turn the projects over to JTF and they would never get off the drawing board let alone completed.

Those who didn't favor the convention center & conference hotel, all of a sudden we hear from all of the experts with their two cents on how simple this could be done.

Fort Worth is ahead of us in this game; we can certainly keep an eye on their progress and concerns as they grow their convention industry. The best is yet to come for Oklahoma City.

It would be cool if they would use that GIANT flat roof for rainwater collection for the park and the park's pond.

The park has a rainwater collection system designed into it. Such collection might inundate it. If it is running a deficit though, that would be an easy way to regularly replenish it for irrigation purposes.

It would be cool if they would use that GIANT flat roof for rainwater collection for the park and the park's pond.

The park has a rainwater collection system designed into it. Such collection might inundate it. If it is running a deficit though, that would be an easy way to regularly replenish it for irrigation purposes.

Along that note, I had been thinking it would be cool if there were green elements incorporated into the plans, such as with the convention center in downtown Pittsburgh.

I'd be curious what city code says about surface parking lots in downtown.

I think at a minimum our MAPS 3 projects should be up to code, lol.

They are permitted by right, as long as landscape and visual blocking meet the downtown code.

He doesn't want to understand because he too busy looking for things to critique. Turn the projects over to JTF and they would never get off the drawing board let alone completed.

Those who didn't favor the convention center & conference hotel, all of a sudden we hear from all of the experts with their two cents on how simple this could be done.

Fort Worth is ahead of us in this game; we can certainly keep an eye on their progress and concerns as they grow their convention industry. The best is yet to come for Oklahoma City.

I hope you aren't suggesting that we need exactly what Ft. Worth has. If you pan out and look at the big picture, you'll notice one of the world's busiest airports will soon be connected by rail to their convention center.

I'm all for the boosterism and cheering OKC on. I want OKC to have the best possible convention center. For OKC, that won't be the exact same convention center that exists somewhere else. I want us to have a facility that is tailored toward our needs, and I am still not seeing any move in that direction. I am seeing continued progress toward plunking down a standard cookie cutter convention center on the park irregardless of context, unique opportunities, or our actual needs.

If we were doing this right, we wouldn't lay waste to the park's east side. We would make that east park front area a living, breathing neighborhood. It can be done by dropping the CC back and having mixed-use development, hotels, restaurants, etc on the park. We don't need a 1,400 room hotel that will take us through bankruptcy. We need the right size hotel for us, and the volume of guests that we can bring in from the smaller WRWA, which is probably 700-800 rooms.

This convention center scale should match the scale of WRWA, which is a really good example for how we can do a great project. WRWA is always the nicest airport I ever fly in and out of, which is saying a lot. I'll connect in Atlanta, Dallas, or Chicago - and it's night and day when you land in OKC. We also didn't make the airport bigger than it needs to be, which we could have easily done. Since we are a growing city, we could have overbuilt it, and then you'd have to traverse much greater distances in the concourse. But as it is, it's just right.

I'd be curious what city code says about surface parking lots in downtown.

I think at a minimum our MAPS 3 projects should be up to code, lol.

Generally speaking, code requires off street parking for every development. For use unit:


8300.68. Spectator Sports and Entertainment: High Impact. Establishments or places engaged in the provision of cultural, entertainment, athletic and other events to spectators as well as providing space for social or fraternal gatherings. These uses are conducted in open facilities or within an enclosed building with a capacity of more than 500 people, which may generate significant noise, odor, traffic or other impacts, and include retail sales, storage facilities and other activities incidental to the operation. Typical uses include drag strips, racetracks, fairgrounds, rodeo grounds, large exhibition halls, sports stadiums and arenas, and convention centers and trade expositions.

The standard is "director approval" for number of spaces of off street parking required. There is no requirement for garage vs. surface in the code.

However:
10600.3. Off-Street Parking Exemptions: The erection, expansion or use of any principal building or secondary structure located in the following districts shall not be required to provide minimum off-street parking:

A. Fringe Parking Overlay District.
B.NB Neighborhood Business District.
C. DBD Downtown Business District.
D. DTD-1 Downtown Transitional District Limited.
E. DTD-2 Downtown Transitional District General.
F. C-CBD Central Business District.
G. NC Neighborhood Conservation District, Tract 5, as defined in Appendix A of this chapter.
H. UD Urban Design Overlay, except west of North Classen Boulevard.
I. BC Bricktown Core.
J. The Farmers Market District of the Scenic River Overlay Design District (SRODD).


https://www.municode.com/library/ok/oklahoma_city/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=OKMUCO2010_CH59ZOPLCO_AR TXOREPALOAC

In other words, they can do just about whatever they want. In the absence of a lot more masstrans than we have planned or funded, it would be stupid to build it without room to park the people who are going to use it the most and drive to the location, residents of the burbs and surrounding communities.

Those who didn't favor the convention center & conference hotel, all of a sudden we hear from all of the experts with their two cents on how simple this could be done.

The problem is I am actually for a new convention center. I guess some people need to be lied to (convention center arms race and pie in the sky economic projections) in order to get them on-board. I am not one of those people. I am on-board because it is okay to have nice civic things for no other reason than they are nice.

Article from Steve: 2020 is seen as debut for Oklahoma City's new convention center | News OK (http://newsok.com/article/5480802)

Regarding parking:


Cathy O'Connor, president of the Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City, advised the MAPS citizens oversight committee the MAPS 3 convention center budget does not include funding for parking.

“If the city desires to build parking that is somehow a part of this project, whether under the building or elsewhere, the city will have to look to other sources,” O'Connor said. “It could be other MAPS money, it could be through tax increment financing, or it could be done with bonds through COTPA (the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority).”

There is also a little detail about the hotel:


Negotiations, meanwhile, have resumed with hotel companies bidding to build a conference hotel of more than 500 rooms between the convention center, the Chesapeake Energy Arena and overlooking the new park.

O'Connor said term sheets are being finalized with the hoteliers and more information might be requested in April. She anticipates a hotelier will be selected by early fall, with a final deal pending approval by the Oklahoma City Council.

^

One of the big reasons for creating the new TIF districts was to help fund the convention center parking, as that was not budgeted in MAPS (or anywhere else).

"She anticipates a hotelier will be selected by early fall"

Anyone else hoping for a DoubleTree? Man, those warm cookies are great.

I hope you aren't suggesting that we need exactly what Ft. Worth has. If you pan out and look at the big picture, you'll notice one of the world's busiest airports will soon be connected by rail to their convention center.

Suggest? I suggest we plan for the future and stop half stepping...

Now as far as an Omni, I wouldn't be surprised or disappointed. Hope we can do better than Omni. We only had about four hotels that responded to the city's request and each talked about a 600 room hotel.

We don't have a quality luxury Hyatt in OKC; it would be a feather in our cap to wave that flag for the convention center conference hotel. Similar to the Hyatt in one of our favorite cities Spartan, KANSAS CITY!

i don't understand this city sometimes, where is the garage parking? We put up so many garages near the elementary school in the CBD but we put up NONE at the Convention Center? .... Come On OKC - build garages WHERE the garages are needed

^

They will build one near the convention center, the consultants aren't showing one here because it's outside their scope in MAPS 3.

"She anticipates a hotelier will be selected by early fall"

Anyone else hoping for a DoubleTree? Man, those warm cookies are great.

I'm hopeful for a Flagship Marriott hotel (since OKC no longer has one). I'd also love a Hyatt Regency flagship or a Starwood brand; but IMO it needs to be a flagship hotel from a top brand. We can get DoubleTree elsewhere in downtown.

Reminder we already have 4 finalists for the hotel:


# Entity Flag Rooms Total Cost Public Cost Notes
1 Omni Omni 600 $190.2 $70.5 $119.7 in equity; no debt. Remainder is public.
2 Marcus Hilton 600 $210.0 $63 to $84 Operates the Skirvin; private equity 10-15%; private financing 50-55%
3 Matthew Westin 600 $180.0 $50 to $90? $90 private debt; $40 private equity; $50 private financing
4 Mortenson Hyatt 600 $200.0 $80 to $120 Public investment of 40-60%

I thought they were going to seek new applications since the site is different.

Also, 600 rooms is far too low. We need at least 800-1000. Let's think big here!

After the site switcheroo it was reported that all the finalists were still interested so I don't think anything has changed.

600 rooms was just the base bid but remember OKC is going to be paying for a big chunk of this hotel so our cost would go up considerable for more rooms.

I'm hopeful for a Flagship Marriott hotel (since OKC no longer has one). I'd also love a Hyatt Regency flagship or a Starwood brand; but IMO it needs to be a flagship hotel from a top brand. We can get DoubleTree elsewhere in downtown.

Doubletrees are not normally used for major convention hotels. OKC already has one on Meridian north of the airport.

Doubletrees are not normally used for major convention hotels. OKC already has one on Meridian north of the airport.

That's odd, because I've never stayed at a DoubleTree as just a hotel in and of itself, it has always been in conjunction with a convention of some sort. The Tulsa Convention Center has a DoubleTree across the street, and you don't even have to cross the street to get to it, it's connected via an airwalk. I've been to several conventions in multiple areas/states and DoubleTree used to be my preferred hotel, just not in OKC because they weren't available for the longest time, and the one at the airport really is as you say, not for conventions.

I may be looking for something different for the convention center than what others are looking for, I'm looking for a hotel, not a name. If OMNI wins it, I guarantee the next nearest hotel to the convention center would be the one getting my business. I want people who attend a convention downtown to enjoy their time and want to return, and while I understand everyone's experiences are different and some people might love OMNI, my experience with them hasn't left me looking forward to another.

That's odd, because I've never stayed at a DoubleTree as just a hotel in and of itself, it has always been in conjunction with a convention of some sort. The Tulsa Convention Center has a DoubleTree across the street, and you don't even have to cross the street to get to it, it's connected via an airwalk. I've been to several conventions in multiple areas/states and DoubleTree used to be my preferred hotel, just not in OKC because they weren't available for the longest time, and the one at the airport really is as you say, not for conventions.

I may be looking for something different for the convention center than what others are looking for, I'm looking for a hotel, not a name. If OMNI wins it, I guarantee the next nearest hotel to the convention center would be the one getting my business. I want people who attend a convention downtown to enjoy their time and want to return, and while I understand everyone's experiences are different and some people might love OMNI, my experience with them hasn't left me looking forward to another.

Was it just a customer service issue, or did you just not like the room?

i don't understand this city sometimes, where is the garage parking? We put up so many garages near the elementary school in the CBD but we put up NONE at the Convention Center? .... Come On OKC - build garages WHERE the garages are needed

There's actually a lot of garage parking in those images, far more than the surface parking to the south. Under the convention center, under the hotel, and a five level garage butting up against Shields:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cc022216a.jpg

...Never mind that the super vast majority of people using the facility are local, attending local events. No matter how great our convention center is we will never host the Texas Physical Therapy Association or Texas Propane Gas Association. We could host the NCAA Gymnastics Championship though (if the new CC had an arena).
Most of this is grossly inaccurate. The Cox Center hosts a pretty substantial number of statewide and even national conferences, and miss out on many, many more we would be a shoo-in for but for the limitations of the current facilities. Once this building is in place we will enjoy far more city-wides, which is an industry term for events that book large numbers and blocks of rooms in hotels throughout the metro.

Regarding NCAA tournaments such as gymnastics, wrestling and volleyball (as examples) we don't need an attached arena to host them, and absolutely WILL host those events. In fact, some of them are essentially in holding patterns and will formally book this building as soon as it starts to come out of the ground.

OKC is considered a prime host market for collegiate sports, and wildly successful events like the recent NCAA Wrestling Championship only reinforce that. The wrestling event, by the way, was booked only because they overlooked facilities requirements, specifically because the NCAA badly wanted the event to be held in OKC. When the new building is finished the NCAA plans to make OKC a regular stop for that event. We could book volleyball tomorrow, but for issues with the Cox, including not having the correct clearance below light fixtures and not enough clear span.

With the new cc and the existing Chesapeake arena we will ABSOLUTELY be a beyond-adequate host site for mat sports and other NCAA events, and we ABSOLUTELY will get them. This isn't speculation; I know this first-hand.

Was it just a customer service issue, or did you just not like the room?

100% customer service, but I wouldn't exactly say "just" a customer service issue. It was more of a billed my card for the room, then a couple months later there was another charge on my card for around $22. When I called the hotel, I was told it was for taxes and they couldn't credit the amount. I said no, I'm looking at my reservation and my bill right now, it clearly shows X as the room charge, Y as the taxes, and Z as the total, which is what I paid. Then they changed their story and said it was for a 'room upgrade', which I did not get. If I had upgraded (which I did not), why is the charge not happening until a couple months later? We went back and forth and I very much got the impression I was supposed to say "Aw heck, it's only $20, I'll just pay it", but I made it clear I wasn't falling for that. It wasn't until I let them know I'd dispute it with my bank and suddenly the charge that they could not under any circumstances ever reverse, they decided they could credit.

And they did. For one penny less than the charge. I'd have to dig out my statements to see the amount, but it was something like $22.12, and they credited $22.11. My bank allows me to dispute partial charges, so I disputed the $22.12, told them I was disputing $0.01 of it, and pointed to the $22.11 credit as the reason. Unfortunately I'm sure the bank did what I wasn't going to do and said aw heck, it's just a penny, we'll eat it, but I really hope OMNI got a chargeback fee.

When I go to a hotel, for any reason, be that a convention, business trip, or just to relax, I'm not looking to play this type of game, so OMNI is on my naughty list. I'm quite certain this all resulted from some strange burp in their billing system, and had I spoken with someone with two brain cells to rub together it would have been handled much better. The fact that it happened doesn't really bother me that much, it is the way they handled it.

Seattle's Convention Center is Growing - WSCC Addition (http://www.wsccaddition.com/)

http://www.wsccaddition.com/images/the-addition/gallery/_resized/Pine-and-9th-850-2.jpg

Most of this is grossly inaccurate. The Cox Center hosts a pretty substantial number of statewide and even national conferences, and miss out on many, many more we would be a shoo-in for but for the limitations of the current facilities. Once this building is in place we will enjoy far more city-wides, which is an industry term for events that book large numbers and blocks of rooms in hotels throughout the metro.

Regarding NCAA tournaments such as gymnastics, wrestling and volleyball (as examples) we don't need an attached arena to host them, and absolutely WILL host those events. In fact, some of them are essentially in holding patterns and will formally book this building as soon as it starts to come out of the ground.

OKC is considered a prime host market for collegiate sports, and wildly successful events like the recent NCAA Wrestling Championship only reinforce that. The wrestling event, by the way, was booked only because they overlooked facilities requirements, specifically because the NCAA badly wanted the event to be held in OKC. When the new building is finished the NCAA plans to make OKC a regular stop for that event. We could book volleyball tomorrow, but for issues with the Cox, including not having the correct clearance below light fixtures and not enough clear span.

With the new cc and the existing Chesapeake arena we will ABSOLUTELY be a beyond-adequate host site for mat sports and other NCAA events, and we ABSOLUTELY will get them. This isn't speculation; I know this first-hand.


Thanks for bringing real information and facts instead of propaganda and ideology.

Seattle's Convention Center is Growing - WSCC Addition (http://www.wsccaddition.com/)

http://www.wsccaddition.com/images/the-addition/gallery/_resized/Pine-and-9th-850-2.jpg

I like all that open glass/natural lighting in that design. The paramount sign across the street though...I think Freud would have a strong opinion on that.

When I go to a hotel, for any reason, be that a convention, business trip, or just to relax, I'm not looking to play this type of game, so OMNI is on my naughty list. I'm quite certain this all resulted from some strange burp in their billing system, and had I spoken with someone with two brain cells to rub together it would have been handled much better. The fact that it happened doesn't really bother me that much, it is the way they handled it.

I've had many years of experience with hotels of every description all over the world and, unfortunately, those kind of things do happen. It is not unique with Omni. I just had a bad experience with Gaylord Opryland where someone arrived to check in and found that their reservation had been totally cancelled for a reason they could not explain. Fortunately they were proactive in handling the situation. Every hotel can be different even if they are part of the same chain.

OKCTalk - Latest plans for convention center revealed (http://www.okctalk.com/content/271-latest-plans-convention-center-revealed.html)

Areas of interest:

Broadway would be relocated 200 feet to the east between SW 4th and SW 6th.
A "Potential Hotel" is shown directly east of Broadway in addition to the proposed convention hotel to the north
A skybridge connection to the convention hotel is being considered
A large parking garage -- which is not currently funded as a part of this project -- is shown as an option over the loading dock area facing the relocated Broadway Avenue


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cc032316b.jpg

^^^^^^
Not usually a fan of sky bridges, but before people start sharpening their swords on that particular topic it should be pointed out that in this case it is largely driven by the catering agreement that will without question exist between the convention hotelier and the CC.

^

That makes sense.

A skybridge between a convention hotel and a convention center absolutely makes sense. I think you could even convince Just the Facts of that one. The biggest argument being that there will very likely be convention facilities in the hotel on the second floor that pertain to the same facilities in the convention center on the 2nd floor. Generally in the form of meeting rooms, ballrooms etc. etc.