The only reason you and beta keep saying airport director, and clogging up threads. And I'm done discussing it on here.

This story is really old, but is a good thing for OKC!

i think you have a good 99 pages of this forum you need to read through to understand that the airport director jokes have been happening on here for like a decade. but sure, it's all about you.

Looks like my guess was correct. WRWA is now called "Oklahoma City - Will Rogers International Airport"!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vqbg4omk8FE

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Nice!

Looks like my guess was correct. WRWA is now called "Oklahoma City - Will Rogers International Airport"!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vqbg4omk8FE

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Was kinda hoping for "OKC International", but this is a good move in my opinion. Will Rogers namesake stays, but OKC is the focus.

yes, and I was a little worried that they would actually spell out Oklahoma City. Very nice to use the moniker, since most are knowing Oklahoma City as OKC.

I think if they were going to use the full city name, then we should rearrange it to "Will Rogers Oklahoma City International Airport" in the same vain as "Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport" puts the person first then the city.

Anyway, very happy with the results and the K.

Gonna need a change to the thread name to match.

Great job on the rebranding. Puts the OKC name that people are naturally going to be looking for right in your face while also keeping the historic Will Rogers aspect. Now to get some decent international flights...

very good point, Oklahoma City is known mostly by its moniker OKC. Using it in the official airport name is genious, and very simple.

The name change and new branding are not official as of yet. Believe city council also has to approve a new name.

The Airport Trust must provide approval and they will most likely consider it in August.

Then the new logo, name, and branding would start to happen this fall but would take quite a bit of time before everything was completely changed over.

This is part of the presentation at the last Airport Trust meeting; current logo and name are shown first:

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/airport070124x.jpg

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/airport070124a.jpg

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/airport070124b.jpg

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/airport070124bb.jpg

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/airport070124c.jpg

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/airport070124d.jpg

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/airport070124e.jpg

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/airport070124f.jpg

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/airport070124g.jpg

Now if we can just get an updated website that's not from 2008

The new branding leaves a lot to be desired, I'm not sure it could have been any plainer (no pun intended).

Personally I think they should have used the airport trust logo or some similar iteration. I always liked the airplane being featured in the logo.

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I don’t know, I dig it. It’s clean, modern, yet has well-considered historical and environmental inspiration. And I love the color palette.

Hopefully they’ll make coming and going to/from the airport a more pleasant visual experience. Some updated landscaping, or addition to what’s there, and especially new signage leaving the airport needs to happen sooner than later.

I don’t know, I dig it. It’s clean, modern, yet has well-considered historical and environmental inspiration. And I love the color palette.

Second this. Glad it's clean. I feel like often times city-level logo/branding ends up looking busy.

Love the colors, too.

I really like the colors as well. I just don't think anyone is ever going to look at that K and think it's supposed to be anything other than a K. At least with the trust logo it's obvious there is a plane and to me it's still pretty cleanly done.

The 'K' is a pit of a reach but the logo has more to do with a scissortail flycatcher.

Increasingly, the scissortail is being adopted by OKC for various branding.

I don’t know, I dig it. It’s clean, modern, yet has well-considered historical and environmental inspiration. And I love the color palette.

Thirded, it's a good design.

The name change and new branding are not official as of yet. Believe city council also has to approve a new name.

The Airport Trust must provide approval and they will most likely consider it in August.

Then the new logo, name, and branding would start to happen this fall but would take quite a bit of time before everything was completely changed over.

aren’t those meeting just the official approvals (basically rubber stamp)? The airport trust seemed to indicate as much when the new branding was presented.

I think they’re delaying the approval so it all can coincide with the website refresh, which is more badly needed than the logo or even the branding itself.

I'm probably in the minority, but I like the "World" designation in the airport.

I kinda did too but for a bit of a perverse reason. In my mind an "international airport" implies international flights whereas a "world airport" is a bit of a meaningless phrase. Hopefully the switch to "international" in the name comes with international flights sooner rather than later.

I'm probably in the minority, but I like the "World" designation in the airport.

Agreed. I thought it was unique and modest… in a good way.

and a bit of a tounge twister, w-r-w-a.

Yes, it was unique - I think Oklahoma City is/was the ONLY airport in the world to use "World" in it's name. But times do change, and since nobody else adopted "world" and the city is moving towards the return of international flights; International is appropriate moreso than the countless other airports who already use int'l in their name but dont have any customs inspection services onsite, nor non-domestic nonstop flights.

At first I thought this was a good, modern idea...

But in the end, we end up with yet another generic name and brand.

At the trust meeting, there was a lot of talk about moving away from the 'cowboy' image in regard to the airport. So, we hire outside consultants and we get a name and logo that could be from anywhere.

Reminds me of what we did with our state tourism advertising.


Why not embrace those things (cowboy, western, native American culture) that make us unique instead of trying to look like every other city and state in the country?

I'm probably in the minority, but I like the "World" designation in the airport.

Same here.

It's also one syllable (world) to say the same thing as five (in-ter-na-tion-al).

At first I thought this was a good, modern idea...

But in the end, we end up with yet another generic name and brand.

At the trust meeting, there was a lot of talk about moving away from the 'cowboy' image in regard to the airport. So, we hire outside consultants and we get a name and logo that could be from anywhere.

Reminds me of what we did with our state tourism advertising.


Why not embrace those things (cowboy, western, native American culture) that make us unique instead of trying to look like every other city and state in the country?

Yeah this really sucks. Just a sterile, word salad of a name and generic branding. Takes away anything unique to OKC. For a city that is often viewed as boring, flyover country by outsiders…we sometimes sure seem like we’re in a hurry to get away from the only things that truly make us unique from other big cities throughout the country and I don’t get it...especially with the seemingly large resurgence in the popularity of western/cowboy culture over the last few years. It’s the opposite of developing a brand and good branding (especially changing to such a long winded name).

I kinda did too but for a bit of a perverse reason. In my mind an "international airport" implies international flights whereas a "world airport" is a bit of a meaningless phrase. Hopefully the switch to "international" in the name comes with international flights sooner rather than later.

Who cares whether it’s called “world” or “international” all that matters is where the flights go.

I've always thought many people in Oklahoma have an inferiority complex and thus anything to do with cowboys, the West, or native Americans is associated with being backward Okies.

But look at Texas. They are an economic juggernaut and what makes them unique? The same cowboy, rough-and-tumble image (plus Latinx culture -- look at San Antonio) that they openly embrace.


When I first moved to California, I went to school with people from all over the country. A friend from New Jersey (undergrad at Villanova) had some of his pals come for a visit. This is how he introduced me: "This is Pete. He's from one of those big rectangular states somewhere in the middle."

I always loved the little logo of Will Rogers lassoing the world.

And yes, I agree. One of the few things that makes Oklahoma unique is its cowboy/Western heritage along with the tribes. After that, what is unique about the state? Tornadoes? They should lean into it more if anything.

And another thing...

The shape of Oklahoma is very distinctive, iconic in some ways due to our panhandle, and vastly underutilized.

It easily integrates into any logo or branding, yet it is barely used. Huge missed opportunity.


Similarly, I've always thought OU should make better use of the state shape for the same reasons and love the softball scoreboard.

I think OKC and OU should integrate the state outline in much more of their branding, especially since both are near the center of the state and have "Oklahoma" as part of their names.

Texas, California, and Florida frequently use the outline of their states to promote themselves and create awareness. We should be doing the same.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ou070324a.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/softball031624g.jpg

And yes, I agree. One of the few things that makes Oklahoma unique is its cowboy/Western heritage along with the tribes. After that, what is unique about the state? Tornadoes? They should lean into it more if anything.

Leaning into this would show confidence and pride.

Always shying away makes us look ashamed and desirous of of blending in.

I've always thought many people in Oklahoma have an inferiority complex and thus anything to do with cowboys, the West, or native Americans is associated with being backward Okies.

But look at Texas. They are an economic juggernaut and what makes them unique? The same cowboy, rough-and-tumble image (plus Latinx culture -- look at San Antonio) that they openly embrace.


When I first moved to California, I went to school with people from all over the country. A friend from New Jersey (undergrad at Villanova) had some of his pals come for a visit. This is how he introduced me: "This is Pete. He's from one of those big rectangular states somewhere in the middle."

Yeah…welcome to Oklahoma City it’s flat and modern, just like Kansas city or Dallas but a lot smaller. Check out our craft beer!

Pretty sweet, right? Very unique. Cool brand. SMH.

Leaning into this would show confidence and pride.

Always shying away makes us look ashamed and desirous of of blending in.

Agreed. Trying to blend in and outcompete other states that way is a fools errand. Other than the traits listed above, does Oklahoma do anything better than the majority of other states? No mountains, ocean, or good weather. Route 66 maybe? When you think about it there's nothing really marketable left. The state needs to use those traits to its advantage.

duplicate post

Typical thinking is that we should remove 'world' specifically *because* it's unique, and then replace it with a word that every other city uses.

Pete's right we should better utilize the uniqueness of our states shape, especially in logos. I personally have always loved the odd shape our state is, and I think it's easily recognizable by a lot of people outside of this state.

Typical thinking is that we should remove 'world' specifically *because* it's unique, and then replace it with a word that every other city uses.

But is it THAT unique? If it was, other cities would try to change their airport name.

Not bashing anyone, just curious.

I've always thought many people in Oklahoma have an inferiority complex and thus anything to do with cowboys, the West, or native Americans is associated with being backward Okies.

But look at Texas. They are an economic juggernaut and what makes them unique? The same cowboy, rough-and-tumble image (plus Latinx culture -- look at San Antonio) that they openly embrace.


When I first moved to California, I went to school with people from all over the country. A friend from New Jersey (undergrad at Villanova) had some of his pals come for a visit. This is how he introduced me: "This is Pete. He's from one of those big rectangular states somewhere in the middle."

Yeah, I used to get the line : "When it's 10:00 in New York, what time is it in Oklahoma? 1965."

But is it THAT unique? If it was, other cities would try to change their airport name.

Not bashing anyone, just curious.

Since when does that have anything to do with being unique?

By definition:

18995 18997

What was the impetus for the airport name change? Was it because Will Wogers World Aiwpowt sounds like you have a speech impediment? Or was it because we didn't want our airport named after a guy that died in a plane crash?

At first I thought this was a good, modern idea...

But in the end, we end up with yet another generic name and brand.

At the trust meeting, there was a lot of talk about moving away from the 'cowboy' image in regard to the airport. So, we hire outside consultants and we get a name and logo that could be from anywhere.

Reminds me of what we did with our state tourism advertising.


Why not embrace those things (cowboy, western, native American culture) that make us unique instead of trying to look like every other city and state in the country?

I agree.

Our inferiority complex leads us to run away from that for fear of how others might perceive our city and state. We're afraid others might view us as rubes or hicks.

I say we should embrace what makes us unique. What's the point in travel if you're just gonna eat at Applebee's but your a thousand miles from home? Everything is becoming so homogonized that our country is becoming one big strip mall with an Applebee's, a Starbucks, and a Walmart.

I still think the Native America marketing was our best. Now we get old Twitter license plates and Imagine That!

I still think the Native America marketing was our best. Now we get old Twitter license plates and Imagine That!

Yes and they look like they were designed with clipart.

At first I thought this was a good, modern idea...

But in the end, we end up with yet another generic name and brand.

At the trust meeting, there was a lot of talk about moving away from the 'cowboy' image in regard to the airport. So, we hire outside consultants and we get a name and logo that could be from anywhere.

Reminds me of what we did with our state tourism advertising.


Why not embrace those things (cowboy, western, native American culture) that make us unique instead of trying to look like every other city and state in the country?

Can you give an example of what you mean? Will Rogers was a mixed Cherokee Native American, aviation promoter and extremely popular entertainer during his time. "International" is used worldwide on airports. Yes, the sign/logo is generic but this can be changed anytime.

I still don't know a single person who ever referred to the airport as Will Rogers in any way. If this is your destination, you most likely are saying you are flying into OKC or Oklahoma City. We already have to deal with pilots saying Oak City, another nickname literally no serious person uses.

As for the branding/logo itself. I don't mind it although I think it could instead incorporate a plane silhouette into the K instead of the vague symbol from the inspiration plane. There has been an obvious shift with branding in regards to OKC vs Oklahoma. The Thunder and Mayor Holt have been pioneers in this regard. My personal opinion is I prefer to not be associated with the majority of the state, but I take massive pride in my association to OKC itself. When traveling, I even instinctively clarify that I am from OKC when someone learns I am from Oklahoma.

Who cares whether it’s called “world” or “international” all that matters is where the flights go.

Well, obviously where the flights go matters more than what it's called. But by that account let's just call it The Oklahoma City Honkey Tonk Flying Tin Can Regional Spoke Juke Joint. The logo could just be an image of Ryan Walters looking to the sky curiously wondering how something so heavy could stay airborne for so long.

But if switching to "international" is, by adopting a naming convention typically used by airports with international flights, a sign of a larger initiative to actually make international flights out of OKC happen (of which as I'm sure we both know there are other signs that this is the case), then that is a good thing, even if it's just a couple of flights a day to Mexico. And if so, switching from world - a meaningless word in this context that as you note is not used by any other airport in the country (world?) and in my experience brought scoffs from anyone who heard it (both Oklahoman and non-Oklahoman) - to international seems to be a good and meaningful switch. But yes, if we remain a mostly inconsequential spoke airport with no international service or other major growth, the switch from "world" to "international" would seem to be quite meaningless and curious.

lmao love this! :yeahthat:

I still don't know a single person who ever referred to the airport as Will Rogers in any way. If this is your destination, you most likely are saying you are flying into OKC or Oklahoma City. We already have to deal with pilots saying Oak City, another nickname literally no serious person uses. ...

Somewhere, probably in this thread, it was mentioned that the "official" call sign/abbreviation/whatever that air traffic control/pilots are supposed to use is "Oke City" (I believe that's the spelling). And yes, nobody else except ATC/pilots use that, AFAIK.

Since OKC only has one commercial airport, we always just say "going to the airport" if we're here, or "going to OKC (or Oklahoma City)" if we're flying back here.

Well, obviously where the flights go matters more than what it's called. But by that account let's just call it The Oklahoma City Honkey Tonk Flying Tin Can Regional Spoke Juke Joint. The logo could just be an image of Ryan Walters looking to the sky curiously wondering how something so heavy could stay airborne for so long.

But if switching to "international" is, by adopting a naming convention typically used by airports with international flights, a sign of a larger initiative to actually make international flights out of OKC happen (of which as I'm sure we both know there are other signs that this is the case), then that is a good thing, even if it's just a couple of flights a day to Mexico. And if so, switching from world - a meaningless word in this context that as you note is not used by any other airport in the country (world?) and in my experience brought scoffs from anyone who heard it (both Oklahoman and non-Oklahoman) - to international seems to be a good and meaningful switch. But yes, if we remain a mostly inconsequential spoke airport with no international service or other major growth, the switch from "world" to "international" would seem to be quite meaningless and curious.

Seeing as how that has nothing to do with anything...that wouldn't make any sense regardless. And World means WORLD, not regional which has never been part of the name.

The only reason I've ever heard anyone scoff at it being called "World" was due to us having no international flights.

I still don't know a single person who ever referred to the airport as Will Rogers in any way. If this is your destination, you most likely are saying you are flying into OKC or Oklahoma City. We already have to deal with pilots saying Oak City, another nickname literally no serious person uses.

As for the branding/logo itself. I don't mind it although I think it could instead incorporate a plane silhouette into the K instead of the vague symbol from the inspiration plane. There has been an obvious shift with branding in regards to OKC vs Oklahoma. The Thunder and Mayor Holt have been pioneers in this regard. My personal opinion is I prefer to not be associated with the majority of the state, but I take massive pride in my association to OKC itself. When traveling, I even instinctively clarify that I am from OKC when someone learns I am from Oklahoma.

I mean we only have one airport so most people just call it "the airport."

lmao love this! :yeahthat:

Disagree. I am now also mad at the airport director.

From the Journal Record yesterday: https://journalrecord.com/2024/07/okc-approves-new-bus-rapid-transit-routes/


International air travel

The council also set a public hearing and final vote for July 18 on the allocation of $500,000 to the Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City to help recruit international air service to Will Rogers World Airport.

“The state of Oklahoma is making funds available to airports in the state for air service development and it requires a local match,” Jeff Mulder, airports director, told the council.

The $500,000 in general obligation limited tax fund bonds designated for economic and community development would serve as the local match needed to apply for $2.5 million in federal dollars.

“We are in the process of recruiting for new air service,” Mulder said, specifically international service to begin next year.

The airport expects to complete this year the construction of a $12 million customs Federal Inspection Station that can support international travel.

Officials say nearly 100,000 Oklahoma City residents travel to Mexico and Central America annually, connecting through other hubs.

Mulder said the grant would be used like an insurance policy to entice an air carrier to begin service into the market. “If they ended up losing money … they would be able to use these funds to replenish their losses,” he said.


Sounds like this is almost certainly going to happen.

At first I thought this was a good, modern idea...

But in the end, we end up with yet another generic name and brand.

At the trust meeting, there was a lot of talk about moving away from the 'cowboy' image in regard to the airport. So, we hire outside consultants and we get a name and logo that could be from anywhere.

Reminds me of what we did with our state tourism advertising.


Why not embrace those things (cowboy, western, native American culture) that make us unique instead of trying to look like every other city and state in the country?

I agree. I don't mind adding OKC to the name. But there was nothing wrong with the "World" part or the cowboy logo.

What was the impetus for the airport name change? Was it because Will Wogers World Aiwpowt sounds like you have a speech impediment? Or was it because we didn't want our airport named after a guy that died in a plane crash?

I think the Will Rogers fame is wearing off, he died almost 100 years ago, and while one of the most well known people of his day, his name and what he was known for probably has little meaning to those under a certain age, and I am guessing the airport's research reflected this.

You could say the same for other buildings, highways, etc around the metro. Shannon Miller Parkway in Edmond doesn't carry the same excitement it did during the 90's, there is a generation that has no connection to a Norick Library or State Fair Arena, and the Gaylord name is known more now for a stadium in Norman, than the long history of a media empire.

I think in this case, since the airport is such a external facing part of the city's marketing and infrastructure, it prompted the name change to a more prominent OKC, and less emphasis on Will Rogers.

On a related note, Wichita did the opposite and rebranded their airport from "Wichita Mid-Continent Airport" to "Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport" when they opened the new terminal a few years ago.

In the meeting, they said the main impetus was redesigning their website.

I'm sure the thought was, "This logo and branding are old, and we don't want to use them if it's all going to change soon".

I think the Will Rogers fame is wearing off, he died almost 100 years ago, and while one of the most well known people of his day, his name and what he was known for probably has little meaning to those under a certain age, and I am guessing the airport's research reflected this.
So, NYC should change the name of LaGuardia Airport?

Remember the entire commercial development on the east side of the airport is called "Lariat Landing", which only makes sense in conjunction with that Will Rogers/lasso logo which is featured prominently in all their marketing.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/lariat070324a.jpg

So, NYC should change the name of LaGuardia Airport?

No, in this case NYC is referred to as LaGuardia by the general public and it's IATA is "LGA", to help differentiate itself from "JFK" in New York City, and "EWR" in Newark, NJ as they are all commercial main-line airports in the NYC Metro. However, I had no idea until looking up tonight who LaGuardia was, former NYC mayor for 11 years in the 1930's and 1940's. The name is certainly associated more with the airport than his contributions as mayor. LaGuardia, Dulles, and LAX have certainly had lots of exposure too in movies and TV Shows.

OKC Airport research probably reflected that very few people were referring to the airport as "Will Rogers" or the Will Roger's name didn't test well with those not from OKC on where this airport was located geographically in the United States.

"Tulsa International" is quickly identifiable, compared to "Will Rogers World Airport" if you were not from Oklahoma.

DFW Airport makes sense to me and is commonly referred to just as "DFW", when talking to those about American Airline layovers/flights.
Dallas Love is named after an Army Soldier who died in a plane crash in 1913, but I think many know associate it with Southwest Airlines as they fully embrace the LOVE branding in their "LUV" NYSE and heart branding on aircraft and logo and essentially run Love Field as their personal airport controlling 18 of the 20 gates.

However, I just call it "Atlanta" for those on Delta and not "Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport" despite it being consistently the busiest airport in all of America.

I've always thought many people in Oklahoma have an inferiority complex and thus anything to do with cowboys, the West, or native Americans is associated with being backward Okies.

But look at Texas. They are an economic juggernaut and what makes them unique? The same cowboy, rough-and-tumble image (plus Latinx culture -- look at San Antonio) that they openly embrace.


When I first moved to California, I went to school with people from all over the country. A friend from New Jersey (undergrad at Villanova) had some of his pals come for a visit. This is how he introduced me: "This is Pete. He's from one of those big rectangular states somewhere in the middle."

Pete, here's another thought. We already have the western theme airport and lasso logo - is it getting OKC the same kind of attention that TX is getting that you're saying? I mean, OKC is already doing the western theme not chosing from something else deciding between a western and a modern one moving forward. Even in your example, "Oklahoma" wasn't notable - even with Will Rogers World Airport and his image, so why not try something new?

OKC is more than western, it is also "indian". We have NOT promoted that part of our culture but we are more and more today with the FAM and OKANA and more coming online. Why not let the cultural districts promote themselves once people get here? We also have a black culture in OKC too, do we need to put that in our airport's name? We also have a Vietnamese and Mexican culture in OKC. Again, do we need to put that also in the name? or Logo?

I like the move OKC is doing because it is a refresh and is modern. We have plenty of cowboy culture to continue to promote when people come here. In all fairness, is ANY airport in TX (big brother) doing a cowboy culture theme? No, so far that's been unique to OKC but might also a bit small time on the grand scheme of things - possibly enabling one of the many stereotypes that people point to as a sneer against OKC (even just look at the Olympics).

People in OKC are more proud of the city today (even actively defending it) than ever before. I believe it is due to OKC rising as a modern city (largely because of MAPS and the Thunder), so why not promote OKC as the next modern city? Promote Oklahoma City as the new international modern city, which it is becoming, and let it become known for more than just cowboy culture.