By the time OKC hypothetically got a team it would probably be another decade to 15 years later so the population would hopefully be much larger by then.

You guys are crazy if you don't think OKC could support an MLS team and support it easily. This state is insanely sports obsessed. MLS doesn't conflict with college football and has a little but not much overlap with the NBA. Would be a smashing success, just like the Hornets.

There is no doubt in my mind that OKC could support MLS and NBA today. New Orleans has NFL and NBA and that's a smaller market than OKC. Funk should get with it asap IMO because the MLS is gaining steam. This is not like trying to support MLB. That might be hard for OKC to do but not MLS.

A study in 2011 cited that OKC's support for MLS would be marginal. The OKC numbers they used since 2011 has gone up.

Corpus Christi, TX metro population 452,422 is listed as a 'YES' for support of an MLS franchise. MLS would need an additional 450,000 people; not 1 million like if a city were adding MLS, NFL or NHL as a figure used for comfort zone.

OKC with name-recognition will approach the 1,450,000 population by 2020.

http://wagesofwins.com/2011/10/31/could -your-city-give-a-sports-team-a-good-home/ (http://wagesofwins.com/2011/10/31/could-your-city-give-a-sports-team-a-good-home/)

Lets compare the Energy to MLS with Basketball. When we had the Cavalry (PBL), we had pretty poor attendance numbers in the Myriad, yet we won a couple championships. Throw in the Hornets and the Thunder and BAM! Total different story.

I think it's great that the Energy are doing well in the venue that they have. And i do think that if we went MLS, numbers would up tick. But im not sure we're there yet in terms of corporate sponsorship and honest fan base to keep it going past the initial push. Soccer is growing here and has been for decades. Some of the larger Thunder sponsors are having some problems now that they weren't 5 years ago....Sandridge, Chesapeake, etc.

But hey, we've got time. The Coop isn't gone yet and Funk can go ahead and build the stadium for the Energy and construct it in a way that it's easy to double it. It's just metal and concrete. Hell, some of those high school football stadiums in TX are bigger than this sucker will be, even when it's at 20K. Alan/McKinney, etc. But the best part is the location choice. If it all works out, it's the best possible location for everyone and i think we all got extremely lucky here. Not only is it central, but it will have the room to expand later without feeling boxed in.

Someone mentioned the hispanic population in OKC. I do think that is a factor, but regardless of the racial profile of the city, the economics are what drive the ticket sales. We're all pinching the pennies right now, so it's not an ideal environment for a new team. And the public/private partnership, as the city has already said, has a long way to go to be able to justify the expense given the economics of the city right now.

More people will be interested, yes. Four times the number of people? KC's stadium is a good comparison, which holds 18 in a bigger market with more pro sports. 15k here would be reasonably ambitious.

How many people went to Calvary CBA games? 2-3 thousand. How many go to NBA games? 18k. That is what we are talking about. And it will be at least 20k if they build an MLS stadium downtown and there will be other events besides soccer games.

Not exactly a fair comparison. Calvary ended in '97, Thunder arrived in '08. A lot changed between then. Thunder has fielded an exceptionally talented team, and been the only big league draw in town. MLS isn't as mainstream as the NBA. And so on.

How many people went to Calvary CBA games? 2-3 thousand. How many go to NBA games? 18k. That is what we are talking about. And it will be at least 20k if they build an MLS stadium downtown and there will be other events besides soccer games.

The OKC Calvary (1997 Continental Basketball Association - CBA) when owned by Chip Land drew an average of 5,200 their first season, with several crowds that exceeded 11,000; afterword, it dropped to 3,000 as OKCRT mentioned. Mr. Land invited NBA officials to the Myriad Convention Center in an attempt to gauge OKC as a potential NBA market.

If a minor league franchise is doing great; that potentially could be a good gauge. Feel as though a city of this size that averages in the 5,000 range could tripe that with a major league franchise.

You would need to take into account the market (population/corporate support), stadium & ownership. We are suspect on the corporate end as bombermwc pointed out--much of that could change by 2020.

Fortune 500/1000 companies: https://www.geolounge.com/fortune-1000-companies-list-2016/


Devon Energy 216
Chesapeake Energy 223
Continental Resources 798
Enable Midstream Partners, LP 859
OG&E Energy 921

Major corporations:


Enogex
Express Employment Professionals
Braums
CMI Roadbuilding, Inc.
Crowe & Dunlevy
Digital Designs
Globe Insurance Company
Griffin Communications
MidFirst Bank
Orange Leaf
Skulls Unlimited International
Taco Mayo Restaurants
Tinker Federal Credit Union
Tyler Media Group
Griffin Communications
Hobby Lobby
Love's Travel Stops
Paycom
Sandridge Energy
Sonic Drive Ins
Tyler Media Group

Not exactly a fair comparison. Calvary ended in '97, Thunder arrived in '08. A lot changed between then. Thunder has fielded an exceptionally talented team, and been the only big league draw in town. MLS isn't as mainstream as the NBA. And so on.

The point is you can't compare minor league to Pro league. If they are drawing 5,000 per game for minor league soccer it's a slam dunk that Pro Soccer will do just fine. 20-23k seat stadium with potential to go to 30k for special events would be about right for OKC. Lots of other events will be held there also. But,Funk better get cooking on this because it seems like every day another city is throwing their hat in the ring. OKC would be perfect for MLS since we only have the 1 Pro franchise now. This is not like MLB where you have 80 dates and a much larger fan base. I don't think OKC is ready for MLB but there's no doubt that it is ready for MLS.

The point is you can't compare minor league to Pro league. If they are drawing 5,000 per game for minor league soccer it's a slam dunk that Pro Soccer will do just fine. 20-23k seat stadium with potential to go to 30k for special events would be about right for OKC. Lots of other events will be held there also. But,Funk better get cooking on this because it seems like every day another city is throwing their hat in the ring. OKC would be perfect for MLS since we only have the 1 Pro franchise now. This is not like MLB where you have 80 dates and a much larger fan base. I don't think OKC is ready for MLB but there's no doubt that it is ready for MLS.

I agree, OKC could handle MLS. No argument there. But to say we need a bigger stadium than Dallas and Kansas City is wishful thinking.

The point is you can't compare minor league to Pro league.

You can't really compare the MLS to the NBA either. That doesn't mean the MLS wouldn't work. I think it could, but precisely because it is so much smaller than the NBA. I don't see it drawing 20k at NBA prices and it definitely won't have the TV money or corporate sponsorship. But if it can live off attendance alone at affordable ticket prices, then I don't see why not. I just really don't know how feasible MLS teams are in general.

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/commentary/sd-utbg-soccer-stadium-sandiego-boling-20170210-story.html

I agree, OKC could handle MLS. No argument there. But to say we need a bigger stadium than Dallas and Kansas City is wishful thinking.

Agree 100%

OKC can easily support an MLS team. We do not have mountains or beaches to distract us, and the MLS/NBA/CFB seasons do not really overlap. It will retain support and attendance once the streetcar is finished and more housing is constructed near downtown. Now, NHL or MLB, probably not.

OKC can easily support an MLS team. We do not have mountains or beaches to distract us, and the MLS/NBA/CFB seasons do not really overlap. It will retain support and attendance once the streetcar is finished and more housing is constructed near downtown. Now, NHL or MLB, probably not.

Good point!

The only real overlap would be MLS and College Football. But if Texas manages to support HS/College Football and MLS at the same time, we should be able to manage that as well!

The only real overlap would be MLS and College Football. But if Texas manages to support HS/College Football and MLS at the same time, we should be able to manage that as well!
The overlap wouldn't be too bad and I don't think it would make much of a difference.

OKC can easily support an MLS team. We do not have mountains or beaches to distract us, and the MLS/NBA/CFB seasons do not really overlap. It will retain support and attendance once the streetcar is finished and more housing is constructed near downtown. Now, NHL or MLB, probably not.

You don't think we could support NHL? I could totally see OKC supporting an NHL team within 10 years. There's actually a pretty good hockey following throughout the metro and OKC has had long flirts with hockey history since the 60's with the Blazers actually being a feeder team for the Boston Bruins. A combination of poor management and advertising kept seats empty for the Barons, despite being loaded with development team talent for the Oilers. Not to mention their eventual leaving as the NHL wanted to relocate a bunch of teams to California to save travel costs. The 1992-2009 Blazers also had record attendance for the CHL, unfortunately these fans had trouble migrating to the Barons.

The amount of games that the NHL plays would be similarly profitable to NBA and the NHL does a ton of community involvement with their players also. Right now would be the time for OKC to be exploring this option with the NHL working on expanding with their new franchise in Vegas and Seattle and Quebec both looking for bids in the future.

A combination of poor management and advertising kept seats empty for the Barons

Really? I felt like the Barons were highly visible.

Ticket prices didn't help either for the Barons.

The question isn't, could OKC support an NHL team? It's, could OKC support NBA AND NHL teams? Most studies suggest that a city needs 1 million residents per sports team to be successful. Cities that have 4 teams for 2.2 million residents end up with poor attendance for one or two of the teams at least. Maybe there is some data that makes OKC unique to the formula, but I don't think OKC has the corporate sponsorships or overall wealth. So, I don't think OKC could support NHL and NBA teams. But I would say supporting a MLS team requires less overall resources and attendance. I think OKC could more realistically support NBA and MLS teams.

NBA and NHL seasons are concurrent. We'd probably need 3 million residents to support both. I think OKC could support an NFL and NBA team easier at the ~1.5 million metro range than an NBA and NHL team. MLS would be ideal for OKC because there is nothing between May/June and early September for a sports crazed state. MLS attendance may be impacted by NBA playoffs and college football in September, but scheduling may be able to mitigate it to a degree (most Thunder home games are on Sundays, so work with MLS for Saturday games in the Spring, then switch to Sunday games in the fall when CFB starts). Location is important--putting an MLS stadium downtown gives people a lot to do around the stadium on gameday.

I've been out to the MLS stadium in KC, and its nice, and their city actually cares, and they have the "Legends" area around there...but it's like building a stadium up around the Top Golf area in Edmond. You still have to drive from the stadium to whichever restaurant/bar/pub you want to go nearby. Or its like now going to Topgolf and then deciding to go to the new development north of it with Republic and what not--you're a quarter mile away, but you're going to get in your car and drive from one parking lot to an adjacent parking lot because of the layout. Near bricktown, it would be too easy for people to park wherever in Bricktown, walk to the game and then walk to go whichever restaurant in Bricktown or Brickopolis or see a movie or heck go to Riversport Adventures. You can build a Saturday around doing a lot of things in one place. There is a lot of potential synergy that can be built around a nationally televised summer sport in Bricktown (ie, not AAA baseball) that can increase attendance for all the assets in the core. It may also incentivize the redevelopment of the parking lots into something better.

It's a shame we're behind the curve on this, because it seems like every other potential city has well developed plans for MLS expansion and we as a city are like, "eh, we'll snag a team in 2030."

Bricktown would be great, being able to make an evening out of it and not having to park right next to the stadium with the streetcar nearby.

Steve was talking in his live chat this morning about this. I don't think he is that much of a soccer fan. I don't think he realizes what this can do for the city. How it could give the city more recognition .For this to be succesfull we need to hop on this now so we don't get left behind. Not 10 years from now.

Bricktown would be great, being able to make an evening out of it and not having to park right next to the stadium with the streetcar nearby.

http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs117/1102681734415/img/25.jpg?a=1113318102099

The streetcar investment OKC had made along with the increased number of parking garages can really be a game-changer when the city is ready to pursue MLS and eventually the NFL or MLB.

Bricktown Entertainment District provides amenities that Taft doesn't currently offer; the riverfront can be transformed for a tailgating experience with more advantages than the N.W. 23rd Street area.

The site for a future stadium @ the Coop Mill site will provide a great central location with an amazing view of the skyline in the background.

We will need the corporate piece poised with a franchise that corporations will want to sponsor and support as you see with our NBA Thunder. MLS doesn't require one million additional residents; something in the 400,000 to 600,000 range should provide a moderate cushion. OKC will eclipse 1.4 million around 2020.

Bricktown would be great, being able to make an evening out of it and not having to park right next to the stadium with the streetcar nearby.

It makes a world of difference to have stadiums near thriving districts like Bricktown. I live in DFW and I love going to Mavs games (granted, I'm a big NBA fan) because there's stuff to do nearby. I'll meet someone at Katy Trail Ice House and then walk over to the game. I'd take the DART/A-Train home, but the service hours are terrible (don't get me started on the wasted opportunity/money). But, I pretty much have no interest in driving to Rangers or Cowboys games to pay $20-30 to park, walk through a sea of parking to get to the stadium, and then sit in traffic to drive out. The experience around both those stadiums is awful.

http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs117/1102681734415/img/25.jpg?a=1113318102099

OKC will eclipse 1.4 million around 2020.

When you say OKC will eclipse 1.4 million around 2020, are you talking about the metro? I thought the OKC metro was already a little over 1.4 million people.

When you say OKC will eclipse 1.4 million around 2020, are you talking about the metro? I thought the OKC metro was already a little over 1.4 million people.

Yes, definitely the metro area.

The 2015 estimate for our metro area was roughly 1,360,000.

It makes a world of difference to have stadiums near thriving districts like Bricktown. I live in DFW and I love going to Mavs games (granted, I'm a big NBA fan) because there's stuff to do nearby. I'll meet someone at Katy Trail Ice House and then walk over to the game. I'd take the DART/A-Train home, but the service hours are terrible (don't get me started on the wasted opportunity/money). But, I pretty much have no interest in driving to Rangers or Cowboys games to pay $20-30 to park, walk through a sea of parking to get to the stadium, and then sit in traffic to drive out. The experience around both those stadiums is awful.

This^^^

I remember this from my time in Phoenix. Getting away from University of Phoenix Stadium is an absolute nightmare, similar to Cowboys Stadium or any other suburban venue. Meanwhile traffic was never nearly that bad following Suns or Diamondbacks games (despite the complete lack of public transportation in the PHX metro) because everybody just has a quick walk back to their cars in all different directions, and goes from there.

Yes, as has been pointed out, it's hugely beneficial for traffic (and thus the overall fan experience) when many of the people who attended a game disperse into the surrounding urban area (less cars on the road), as opposed to all 20,000/40,000/80,000 fans trying to squeeze out of a massive parking lot simultaneously.

Bricktown is also a much more lively and inviting place than downtown Phoenix, with friendlier weather to boot, so I'd imagine you'd see this effect to a much greater degree than you see it there or in other cities that have their venues in their CBD as opposed to an entertainment district.

MLS stadiums need to stay the hell out of suburban areas especially given they are not in some gigantic footprint. I think the attendance for the Rapids, FC Dallas and other suburban teams would be 2x as much if they were closer to a downtown with the ability to go to restaurants, bars and shops. If OKC could pull this off, it would be tremendous, wonderful, bigly and many other adjectives. If it is right by the river it would provide an incredible setting and potentially spur growth across the rive. Unfortunately, I don't see this happening for a while, especially with Phoenix, Charlotte, San Diego, Saint Louis and Detroit throwing in bids. I think the league will ultimately go to 32, and OKC will need to fight for a team in the next round of expansion. The MLS needs to get on the international schedule. The season goes late during much of college football and through the baseball season. I see baseball dying out of favor and fans will go other places. I wish the MLS would have relegation and promotion too. It would really separate itself from the rest of the leagues here in that way. If you put a bad product on the field, take a hike and move down. With a 150M buy-in fee and big stadium investment, that just isn't going to happen because our sports leagues really, really love monopolies.

The ACOG 2040 planning estimate for the population of their service area is 1.6M

It makes a world of difference to have stadiums near thriving districts like Bricktown. I live in DFW and I love going to Mavs games (granted, I'm a big NBA fan) because there's stuff to do nearby. I'll meet someone at Katy Trail Ice House and then walk over to the game. I'd take the DART/A-Train home, but the service hours are terrible (don't get me started on the wasted opportunity/money). But, I pretty much have no interest in driving to Rangers or Cowboys games to pay $20-30 to park, walk through a sea of parking to get to the stadium, and then sit in traffic to drive out. The experience around both those stadiums is awful.

That was part of the "make Dallas and Kansas City" jealous storyline that was dismissed by many.

That was part of the "make Dallas and Kansas City" jealous storyline that was dismissed by many.

It would put us in a better position than Dallas (Frisco) and Kansas City, MO., (K.C. KS) where the stadiums are nestled in suburbia.

Funk-McLaughlin shouldn't have any concerns attracting investors including a partnership with the city to help with a Soccer Specific Stadium (25,000 seats) that could be used for other events in OKC.

That's why I guessed soccer stadium those few years ago when it first came out. I had the location wrong, but that was it.

For whatever reason the Sporting KC crowds have been really good.

i see it difficult for okc to land another pro sports franchise ahead of places like new orleans, arizona, carolina or even wisconsin.
in the case of major league soccer; however, it could work with a league that spans 30+ clubs or if a strong multi-level pyramid
is developed. I am not saying work relegation into the equation, but rather a very strong, competitive and extensive second division
for mid to large size cities that did not get an mls team. i guess the best comparison i can make is the european international club
competitions where the champions league is for the continent's top teams and the europa league is for teams just a notch below those teams.
or maybe like a jv and varsity comparison. but the potencial for the sport is the city is still promising. i think the second and third divisions
( NASL or USL??? ) could merge into one single league that could become the proper second division category and perhaps NCAA could rise
to become the de facto third tier of the pyramid, keeping in mind they cannot be counted as professional clubs.

i see it difficult for okc to land another pro sports franchise ahead of places like new orleans, arizona, carolina or even wisconsin.
in the case of major league soccer; however, it could work with a league that spans 30+ clubs or if a strong multi-level pyramid
is developed. I am not saying work relegation into the equation, but rather a very strong, competitive and extensive second division
for mid to large size cities that did not get an mls team. i guess the best comparison i can make is the european international club
competitions where the champions league is for the continent's top teams and the europa league is for teams just a notch below those teams.
or maybe like a jv and varsity comparison. but the potencial for the sport is the city is still promising. i think the second and third divisions
( NASL or USL??? ) could merge into one single league that could become the proper second division category and perhaps NCAA could rise
to become the de facto third tier of the pyramid, keeping in mind they cannot be counted as professional clubs.

NASL and USL are already merging, are they not?

Not officially, though some teams have left the NASL for the USL. They are still separate leagues.

The USSF might prefer them to merge, if only to stop this whole "what's really the difference between 2nd and 3rd division" business we have had going on for the past few years. But I think the amount of bad history between the two leagues might prevent it from being an amicable merger, if it does happen at some point. Right now they are simply both playing as the official 2nd division league, but other than playing against each other in the US Open Cup there isn't any overlap between the two.

it is almost certain the US will host the 2026 fifa world cup. that's only nine years away; enough time for the soccer scene to finally settle into
reasonable stability. the X factor can be that this will be a 48 team tournament!!! and if the US national team were to finally win a world cup,
although it seems very unlikely as of today, the hype and interest in the sport will trickle down and we can expect new developments in the
league systems stemming from there. for okc, however, if it doesn't have a decent soccer venue by then it may miss out on the event altogether.
the only place i can think of that can host a significant sporting event, besides basketball, is OU's football stadium, but it is too far out of the city core.

it is almost certain the US will host the 2026 fifa world cup. that's only nine years away; enough time for the soccer scene to finally settle into
reasonable stability. the X factor can be that this will be a 48 team tournament!!! and if the US national team were to finally win a world cup,
although it seems very unlikely as of today, the hype and interest in the sport will trickle down and we can expect new developments in the
league systems stemming from there. for okc, however, if it doesn't have a decent soccer venue by then it may miss out on the event altogether.
the only place i can think of that can host a significant sporting event, besides basketball, is OU's football stadium, but it is too far out of the city core.

OKC has a 0% chance to host a World Cup event before the year 2050 and even by 2050, it would take an incredible growth period from 2020 to 2040 that I don't think is remotely realistic to win a spot.

Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems to me that building a stadium in this spot is a much less profitable idea than turning into a mix of retail, restaurants and residential. Even a stadium that gets used quite a bit still makes less money annually than a vibrant area of successful businesses.

Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems to me that building a stadium in this spot is a much less profitable idea than turning into a mix of retail, restaurants and residential. Even a stadium that gets used quite a bit still makes less money annually than a vibrant area of successful businesses.

It's a fairly big space, and a stadium doesn't have to take up that much room. Here is how much room the Houston Stadium would take up in this space:

http://i.imgur.com/aLO6zUE.jpg



This still leaves room for surface parking, although I would argue that we wouldn't need that much extra since it will be in comfortable walking distance from large amounts of parking already present (Bricktown, Lower Bricktown, Riverwalk Parking), and it potentially could only be a block away from the streetcar route. We will probably see some structured parking near the convention center that will be a few blocks away as well.

But even if they were to put surface parking to the west of the Stadium there all the way to tracks, that would still leave two-thirds of the property available for mixed-use development. This property is huge, and they really have a great shot at turning this into a location where you don't have a Stadium shoehorned into an existing space, but a location where the entire area is designed to have a stadium, housing, and entertainment all complement each other.

I suspect the stadium would be positioned close to the RR tracks and I-40, as that is the least desirable property for commercial development.

I suspect the stadium would be positioned close to the RR tracks and I-40, as that is the least desirable property for commercial development.

My photoshop skills are not the best, so I had a hard time making everything match up even next to the non-90 degree square I-40 :D.

But the main purpose was to show the amount of room a stadium takes up, compared to the property as a whole. I don't know where I would like the Stadium to be. I could see it on the southwest corner of the development, tucked next to railroad and interstate. I think I would like to see it between the rock-climbing building and I-40, incorporate it with that section of the canal (ea: the non-90 degree section).

^

Haha, didn't mean to criticize, just elaborating a bit.

Thanks for your efforts!

Visuals are very important and helpful.

No problem, and just because I've wasted all this time already and had nothing else to do:

http://i.imgur.com/fsscTio.jpg

Denver's soccer stadium parked in the southwest corner of the development, with downtown Seattle filling in the rest of the property.

I don't think this is they route they are going, especially with talks about incorporating the canal into the property, but it shows the potential of how much development could actually be squeezed into this space.

No problem, and just because I've wasted all this time already and had nothing else to do:

http://i.imgur.com/fsscTio.jpg

Denver's soccer stadium parked in the southwest corner of the development, with downtown Seattle filling in the rest of the property.

I don't think this is they route they are going, especially with talks about incorporating the canal into the property, but it shows the potential of how much development could actually be squeezed into this space.

I think they would build right in the middle of the prop and surround it with parking. Maybe add a hotel/restaurant on the prop. also.

I think they would build right in the middle of the prop and surround it with parking. Maybe add a hotel/restaurant on the prop. also.

Lets hope not!

I think they would build right in the middle of the prop and surround it with parking.

That seems like a bad idea. Let's hope that's not what they do.

I'm sure Funk didn't spend millions on the property, with millions more to come in remediation cost, to build a single stadium with surface lots. And this is Oklahoma City, so at least we should expect a wonderful parking garage district! :cool:

From the plans they have announced it should be something pretty amazing though.

I work for a local print company and have seen some plans come through here regarding the stadium and what not. I believe it even had blueprints. Let me try to dig it up!

No problem, and just because I've wasted all this time already and had nothing else to do:

http://i.imgur.com/fsscTio.jpg

Denver's soccer stadium parked in the southwest corner of the development, with downtown Seattle filling in the rest of the property.

I don't think this is they route they are going, especially with talks about incorporating the canal into the property, but it shows the potential of how much development could actually be squeezed into this space.

Very nice! I love it.

No problem, and just because I've wasted all this time already and had nothing else to do:

http://i.imgur.com/fsscTio.jpg

Denver's soccer stadium parked in the southwest corner of the development, with downtown Seattle filling in the rest of the property.

I don't think this is they route they are going, especially with talks about incorporating the canal into the property, but it shows the potential of how much development could actually be squeezed into this space.

the stadium tucked in between the elevated rail line and i-40 makes sense as far as utilitarian efficiency. However, with that approach they would miss out on the opportunity to make the stadium an iconic feature of the site and the city because it would be practically hidden. i would suggest to place it along okc boulevard to make it the center piece, or eye candy, of the development and to signal, so to speak, a grand entry gate into the district. this is just conceptual, of course, but the site offers so much potential for possibilities and the stadium would be, by default, its grand landmark...

Surely they would put this on the boulevard, or within one short block, right?

Worth noting that these are roughly the boundaries of the property per the County Assessor's website:

13617

I know this has been a pet peeve of Pete's in the past :) While the property is expansive, including the Lumberyard, Rocktown, and NE industrial properties significantly over-estimates its size.

This also means the stadium could not be placed along the Boulevard unless Funk were to also acquire the Lumberyard property.

Maybe near the Boulevard? I like it in the SW corner. Have the canal continue around and go over across 7th to the park!

Worth noting that these are roughly the boundaries of the property per the County Assessor's website:

13617

I know this has been a pet peeve of Pete's in the past :) While the property is expansive, including the Lumberyard, Rocktown, and NE industrial properties significantly over-estimates its size.

This also means the stadium could not be placed along the Boulevard unless Funk were to also acquire the Lumberyard property.

Thanks for that, I forgot about the Lumberyard portion. I do think that I have read in the past that they are working together though to make this a cohesive development, so it should still function well as a "district" of sorts.

I think my favorite spot would be in the SE corner, lining the interstate and tucked partially behind Rocktown.

Back to the Houston Stadium with this:

http://i.imgur.com/ekQbb6N.jpg

Knowing nothing about real estate values and "best bang for your buck" plans for the entire development, I think this is where I like the stadium best. Make the area east of the stadium a park/plaza area and have that side of the stadium be a pedestrian area connecting to the River Walk Park. People can park at the River Walk Parking and the River Parking (as well as all the other parking available in Bricktown itself) and walk to the stadium. It would be very visible from I-40 and could make a good impact there as well. It would also still let you do a lot of other things around the property for mixed-use development since the proximity to the other parking (and streetcar) should minimize the need for surface lots.

And you get this potential view from the stadium if it straddles I-40 like this:

http://i.imgur.com/UAoTJMV.jpg

I like the idea of the stadium next to the interstate. It's a place of interest right next to the interstate that people passing through can see. That whole site should give passers through something a lot better to look at than what we have now.