http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni120319a.jpg

Really taking shape, good pic Pete.

It's starting to look like that blue color on the west and northern elevations is going to be permanent. Its different than what was shown in all the renderings.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni120819a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni120819b.jpg

Are they going to paint the concrete surrounding the windows of the rooms?

I think its pretty ugly as is.

Are they going to paint the concrete surrounding the windows of the rooms?

I think its pretty ugly as is.
I like it as it is. Painting would make it look cheap.

That concrete won't be painted; at least according to all the renderings.

I like it as it is. Painting would make it look cheap.

Agree. Painting it would also then be one more thing that can fade/age terribly if not maintained well. I like nekkid concrete. :)

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni121419a.jpg

from up close it does not look like the blue is the finaly product

The blue is just a weather coating. Some kind of siding will go over the blue.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni121719a.jpg

The blue is just a weather coating. Some kind of siding will go over the blue.

So, is this a Drivit or are you saying they are actually applying a siding material over it?

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni121819a.jpg

Pete, I don't say it with every picture you post because it would be rather repetitive, but thanks for posting the pictures. They're always appreciated.

Pete, I don't say it with every picture you post because it would be rather repetitive, but thanks for posting the pictures. They're always appreciated.

You're welcome.

I do my best to stay on top of these projects and go out at least once a week -- and usually more -- for hours at a time.

Pete, I don't say it with every picture you post because it would be rather repetitive, but thanks for posting the pictures. They're always appreciated.

Thanks Dan, just a reminder that we appreciate Pete because he returned to our community and recognized the fact that there is plenty of opportunity & potential here.

He continues to update us on projects & developments as OKC continues to invest in projects & improvements throughout our city that doesn't have multi-billionaire base streaming a steady diet of project investments in our city.

OKC demolished the 600 room Biltmore back in 1977; we look forward to the 605 room Omni replacement scheduled for 2021.

interesting that the biltmore was taller than this. ..

I'm sure it's in the 90 pages somewhere, but when is the expected open date?

I'm sure it's in the 90 pages somewhere, but when is the expected open date?

Fall of 2020.

Fall of 2020.

It wont be open until early 2021.

If construction stays on projected schedule, the convention center will open fall 2020 and the Omni early 2021 - (4 to 6 mos., apart).

MAPS 3 convention center & Omni will be a game changer for OKC.

Laramie- are there any conventions scheduled during that first 4-6 months before the Omni is open?

Laramie- are there any conventions scheduled during that first 4-6 months before the Omni is open?

Don't know of any confirmations yet; however there is a temporary office set up to handle inquiries.

Soon as information is available about planners for 2020 conventions are confirmed; the office will release it. OKC is going thru the transition where the Cox convention center will no longer be the primary meeting place. Doubt if you'll see anything major in convention announcements until June 2020 at the earliest.

Here's a great site by OKC.com online newsletter: https://www.visitokc.com/meetings/okc-new/


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4SRZ0H3Y8k

https://i.imgur.com/CF6kdQh.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/lgNpod2.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/sce1ne4.jpg

A construction update was provided to City Council today.

They are on track to finish by Dec. 31st and then will open after the first of the year. They have already starting finishing rooms on the lower floors and the entire building will soon be enclosed.

Said one of the construction cranes will be coming down soon and the rest will follow over the next 6 months.

Looking forward to the lighting scheme...

Looking forward to the lighting scheme...
ditto

https://www.okctalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=15601&d=1569093742

Hope it will eclipse this placeholder.

https://www.okctalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=15601&d=1569093742

Hope it will eclipse this placeholder.

ditto

Some images from the presentation made to city council last week:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni012020e.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni012020a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni012020b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni012020c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni012020d.jpg

Family and I walked around Scissortail Park today. Omni Hotel is massive a lot larger in person, looks alike all the glass if fully installed at the crown also.

Laramie- are there any conventions scheduled during that first 4-6 months before the Omni is open?

https://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/convention111019a.jpg

https://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/large960_blur-b66b959ff05949f018efc64673d2b10d.jpg

New Oklahoma City Convention Center bookings:

Officials reported that the city is already booking dates for the new yet to be opened convention center.

So far seven national and international organizations have signed eight contracts for conferences and conventions in the new convention center.

The 2022 Annual Conference for International Economic Development Council and the 2024 National Sheriff’s Association convention are among some of he most noteworthy conventions to sign contracts with the new convention center. National Sheriffs Association is a fairly large with an estimated 4,000 delegates according to Mike Carrier, president of the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau.

2021 National Brownfields Training Conference for the International City/County Management Association.
2022 and 2024 Legal Shield international conventions.

Organizers anticipate more than 37,000 room nights and $20 million in direct economic impact could be received from the results of these bookings.

Carrier said the 2022 International Economic Development Council will bring delegates involved in site selection and economic development whose impact on the city might extend longer after their visit.

The current Cox Convention Center (formerly Myriad CC) may be needed as a backup for overflow; it may be open until 2024-25.

https://www.okctalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=15601&d=1569093742

“There may be situations where the new convention center is full and we may need to move somebody to the Cox Center,” Carrier said. “It depends on how long the city keeps it open — they’re talking about as long as three years.”--according to reports from The Oklahoman, January 22, 2020

Pete, other than the pool area that fronts the park, what is going to go on the large flat space? I cannot recall.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni010418d.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni011018h.jpg

Hmm, It appears that they didn't build the CC big enough. There were some people talking about that right after plans were released. Same with the Omni Hotel. Next thing they will have to add on to the CC if they want to compete for bigger bookings.

The CC was designed to be expanded, right?

Yes, this forum was calling it years ago. The CC and the Omni both are underbuilt as opposed to overbuilt. It is very frustrating, but at least it may result in an additional high-tier hotel nearby.

Yes, this forum was calling it years ago. The CC and the Omni both are underbuilt as opposed to overbuilt. It is very frustrating, but at least it may result in an additional high-tier hotel nearby.

It would be nice if we saw a Four Seasons or JW.

Yes, this forum was calling it years ago. The CC and the Omni both are underbuilt as opposed to overbuilt. It is very frustrating, but at least it may result in an additional high-tier hotel nearby.

The 4 sq., block Cox site could come into play if Omni wants to exercise exclusive 1st rights for development; or they could add a smaller 200-300 room hotel on the current complex.

OKC will have 738 rooms on the complex (Omni/Fairfield); look for the City to take time on demolition (3-4 years) of the Cox site--which benefits the nearby Sheraton, Renaissance, Hilton-Skirvin & Courtyard by Marriott--IIRC all of these hotels have shuttle services.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni010418d.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni011018h.jpg

So, from this perspective it appears that like 2/3rds of the space is not activated. That is somewhat disappointing.

Yes, this forum was calling it years ago. The CC and the Omni both are underbuilt as opposed to overbuilt. It is very frustrating, but at least it may result in an additional high-tier hotel nearby.

Or many reasons to keep the maps program rolling

I forgot about Omni's new hotel construction prevention radius clause. Likely in this thread, but cannot recall when it expires.

I forgot about Omni's new hotel construction prevention radius clause. Likely in this thread, but cannot recall when it expires.

IIRC 25 year duration of agreement; also Omni has the option to delay opening if the convention center and/or the convention center garage aren't completed; both are on schedule.

I forgot about Omni's new hotel construction prevention radius clause. Likely in this thread, but cannot recall when it expires.

It only says no TIF money can be given to a hotel project downtown.

I forgot about Omni's new hotel construction prevention radius clause. Likely in this thread, but cannot recall when it expires.

It doesn't prevent construction. It prevents public funds from being used to incentivize construction.

Thanks for the clarification!

I hope that OKC hosts an NBA All-Star weekend in my lifetime, and I know we need many more nice hotels in order to ever have a chance.

It doesn't prevent construction. It prevents public funds from being used to incentivize construction.

That's a big deal. Most large scale projects look for TIF funds to help with construction costs. I hope this clause doesn't derail any major hotels coming downtown in the near future.

^

Only a few of the downtown hotel projects received public assistance, and all were special cases: Skirvin, First National and 21c.

The other 15 or so built recently have done it under their own steam, including the full-service Marriott Renaissance now under construciton.

I understand what you are you saying, but the other 15 are mostly 4-5 stories, cookie cutter hotels. But if we are looking for a major, large scale 4-5 star hotels, in the $100M+ price range, I'm sure TIF funds will be need to considered.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni013020c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni013020d.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni013020e.jpg

https://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/w620-e1de7358fbfa508708c6187e0c1ad51f.jpg

You really want to attract quality conventions to Oklahoma City. We need another 4 star hotel, twice the size of the Omni--1210 rooms and height 35 - 40 stores on the Cox site for a 2025 opening; 1815 four star rooms on the convention center complex.

The subsidy for the 605 room Omni (under construction) was $85.5. A $600 million, 1210 room Omni Hotel on the Cox site 2022-23 construction would move OKC to the next tier. Estimated subsidy $175 million; that would also depend on how successful the 605 room Omni will be. This would be a huge investment challenge. We have over built parking accommodations within the downtown core.

Hope to get a lot of responses...

You really want to attract quality conventions to Oklahoma City. We need another 4 star hotel, twice the size of the Omni--1210 rooms and height 35 - 40 stores on the Cox site for a 2025 opening; 1815 four star rooms on the convention center complex.

The subsidy for the 605 room Omni (under construction) was $85.5. A $600 million, 1210 room Omni Hotel on the Cox site 2022-23 construction would move OKC to the next tier. Estimated subsidy $175 million; that would also depend on how successful the 605 room Omni will be. This would be a huge investment challenge. We have over built parking accommodations within the downtown core.

Hope to get a lot of responses...

Well, I guess the math you're suggesting would be as follows:

$85.5 million subsidy created X amount of return. So, naturally 2 times the subsidy would create 2X the amount of return.

But, I guess, the real question becomes, how much government subsidy to chosen businesses does it take to no longer need to offer government subsidies to create a market into which entities want to invest $600 million in non-government-incentivized dollars?

Well, I guess the math you're suggesting would be as follows:

$85.5 million subsidy created X amount of return. So, naturally 2 times the subsidy would create 2X the amount of return.

But, I guess, the real question becomes, how much government subsidy to chosen businesses does it take to no longer need to offer government subsidies to create a market into which entities want to invest $600 million in non-government-incentivized dollars?

We'll just have to see what the first year's numbers are for the Omni. The quality hotel industry know that they can get their hotels subsidized.

It just seems that we always manage to under build; therefore by the time we expand to correct an earlier missed opportunity--it's too late.

Example: When we built the Myriad Convention Center in 1969; hotels to support the Myriad had all closed except one (Sheraton Century Center). OKC was ready for a much bigger convention center similar to what we'll unveil in the fall of 2020; also we'll look back on the decision to go with a 605 room conference hotel instead of a 700 - 800 room hotel built to accommodate growth.

Cox Convention Center, which is currently the city’s main convention center, may not be used as the main convention center one year after Omni opens. The agreement restricts redevelopment as a hotel. Omni would be offered first rights to develop a hotel on the site. Additionally, the agreement creates a “no-subsidy zone” that would restrict the city from offering subsidies for any future hotel development. First National Center, which is beginning renovations to make way for a hotel, apartments and retail/dining, was excluded from the zone.

First National Center will be the only 5 star hotel in the state of Oklahoma.

Our city's potential IMO is underestimated.

The more you think about it, the Cox Convention Center could be used as a backup for convention overflow of the new convention center; this is already being discussed.

Do you think the City will be in any hurry to demolish the Cox Convention Center...

The more you think about it, the Cox Convention Center could be used as a backup for convention overflow of the new convention center; this is already being discussed.

Do you think the City will be in any hurry to demolish the Cox Convention Center...

I bet the Cox is still there 10 years from now. Same with the Old Ford Dealership site.

I just can't imagine them demoing the Cox Center any time soon. Not only is it still used, but it also has 1,000 parking spaces.

Until there is enough demand for large-scale development, I'm sure it will stay put. There is still all the property on the west side of the Myriad Gardens, the huge tract to the south and then the Producers Coop and Strawberry Fields.

It will take decades for any of that to begin to fill out.

I think it will stay for some time, and for an even more practical reason - OKC spent a non-trivial amount of money rehabbing/remodeling/rebuilding the north side of the place (sorry, it will always be the Myriad to a long-timer like me), so the place isn't *all* five-decades old. It would be a shame to plow down that space that still has some good utility and has some fairly recent money put into it.

I just can't imagine them demoing the Cox Center any time soon. Not only is it still used, but it also has 1,000 parking spaces.

Until there is enough demand for large-scale development, I'm sure it will stay put. There is still all the property on the west side of the Myriad Gardens, the huge tract to the south and then the Producers Coop and Strawberry Fields.

It will take decades for any of that to begin to fill out.

Plus it does a ton of HS graduations. I doubt those would move to new CC

I just wonder if the city and CVB will book anything there after the new facility opens.

I guess we'll find out at the end of the year.