They are adding 50,000 jobs, and all of them are high paying administrative? That's amazing.

It's a headquarters.

You are just arguing against common sense.

Raleigh is interesting because of Duke, North Carolina and NC State and those schools are directly responsible for what is known as the Research Triangle.
Would the regressive nature of NC state politics be a hindrance? It seems the fight over the "bathroom bill" and the such would be a demerit.

Not sure how some of these made it. Indianapolis? Pittsburgh? Eh, I think it is either Chicago or Atlanta, maybe Boston.

They are adding 50,000 jobs, and all of them are high paying administrative? That's amazing.

Not all high paying administrative, but any "warehouse" they have is just to support that HQ. Think office supplies, mailroom, grounds keeping, etc. A lot of it probably will be lower paying clerical, but thats not the same as a warehouse.

Not sure how some of these made it. Indianapolis? Pittsburgh? Eh, I think it is either Chicago or Atlanta, maybe Boston.

They have to have some cities to play off the others and get the best deal possible.

Would the regressive nature of NC state politics be a hindrance? It seems the fight over the "bathroom bill" and the such would be a demerit.

I think NC is getting back on track, with a new governor and courts not liking the way the legislature there tried to do (and succeeded sometimes) horrible things to the way politics are done there.

North Carolina has tons of people moving there from elsewhere and that is changing the entire state in many ways.

Who would have thought that someone with a username about Magic Johnson and his disease would be a troll??

Not sure how some of these made it. Indianapolis? Pittsburgh? Eh, I think it is either Chicago or Atlanta, maybe Boston.

yeah, i feel the same way about Columbus. i get that it's been growing at a fairly nice clip, but i've always found it to be a rather uninspiring place.

pittsburgh, on the other hand, actually has some character and is just a much cooler scene overall. granted, i don't think any of the so-called Midwestern cities (Pittsburgh, Indy, or Columbus) are serious candidates for landing the HQ. although i'm sure Carnegie Mellon is a nice feather in Pitt's cap when it comes to attracting tech companies.

DC having essentially 3 shots at it. Very few cities west of the Mississippi.

My gut still tells me Austin, but my brain tells me Texas has tried really hard to make some really stupid decisions lately, and that's going to kill both that and Dallas..

Not all high paying administrative, but any "warehouse" they have is just to support that HQ. Think office supplies, mailroom, grounds keeping, etc. A lot of it probably will be lower paying clerical, but thats not the same as a warehouse.

I know Amazon is big and everything, but 50k in administrative roles is impossible for me to wrap my head around. I've worked at a Top 10 Fortune 500 company and they barely had more employees than that...in ALL functions...globally.

I know Amazon is big and everything, but 50k in administrative roles is impossible for me to wrap my head around. I've worked at a Top 10 Fortune 500 company and they barely had more employees than that...in ALL functions...globally.

To put that 50K number into perspective, that is more workers than the State of Oklahoma has in OKC, INCLUDING teachers.

Our largest private employer in OKC is Integris with 6,000 jobs and most of those are hospital workers.

The size of this HQ is almost incomprehensible.

Who would have thought that someone with a username about Magic Johnson and his disease would be a troll??
Says "Anonymous". LOL

My step son and daughter in law work at the HQ in Seattle for Amazon. They were here for Christmas and I asked if they knew anything about it. She said it was hush hush (and she's on the 31st floor of their 38 floor HQ) but if she was guessing the rumor had it as Atlanta. But she said she really does not know and wasn't too sure if anyone did at the time. But Atlanta seems to be in the conversation.

I know Amazon is big and everything, but 50k in administrative roles is impossible for me to wrap my head around. I've worked at a Top 10 Fortune 500 company and they barely had more employees than that...in ALL functions...globally.

Amazon has built in the neighborhood of 20 buildings in Seattle in the last 7 years. Their main HQ building is 38 floors and looks like a twin to our new BOKPP. Just a little taller with brown exterior glass.

I know Amazon is big and everything, but 50k in administrative roles is impossible for me to wrap my head around. I've worked at a Top 10 Fortune 500 company and they barely had more employees than that...in ALL functions...globally.

Apparently, Amazon's current HQ in Seattle has about 40K employees in about 8 million sf of space.

Just to clarify, my inability to grasp the magnitude largely has to do with the fact that not one of these 50k (plus however many in Seattle) will pick, pack or ship a single package. In today's workplace with so much programming and automation, it is hard to fathom. I know they have half a million employees, but still. It's just on a scale that is rivaled really only by one other company. Consider also that Wal-Mart (best I can tell anyway) only employs between 17,000 and 20,000 at their headquarters in Bentonville. All though I'm pretty sure Wal-Mart spreads some administrative functions throughout the country.

^

Right, and having worked in L.A. and the Silicon Valley, even the admin assistants in these types of setups do a ton of different things and are very well paid. And many get promoted to bigger jobs.

Admin positions in companies where virtually every single person handles there own email, schedule, etc (due to all being tech savvy and the company itself having highly automated systems) are completely different than in more traditional companies.

Some of those positions make close to 6 figures, usually have full benefits and even stock options.

LULZ at the Tulsa mayor acting like they had a shot.

Atlanta is cool but their transit isn't that great. One plus: Amazon moving there probably tips the balance to make Georgia a purple, if not blue, state.

To put that 50K number into perspective, that is more workers than the State of Oklahoma has in OKC, INCLUDING teachers.

Our largest private employer in OKC is Integris with 6,000 jobs and most of those are hospital workers.

The size of this HQ is almost incomprehensible.

With 3.2% unemployment rate the strain it would put on OKC to attract 50,000 new residents (probably 200k when accounting for the need for more realtors, lenders, bartenders, etc etc) is mind blowing. Infrastructure, housing, schools (not even quality just the sheer fact there would be at least 10,000 new students in the school system), restaurants, etc. it would be very very hard for the city to handle.

The real lesson is too keep learning what we’re missing, add it, and attract other smaller pieces that won’t crush the city.

It's not really a surprise to me that Amazon could have 50k people in non warehouse/fulfillment positions in a location (although the scope is staggering to me). At this point, they are more a technology/software company than a retail company. I think last I saw their AWS (the cloud services) was generation several billion a year in revenues by itself. My cousin and her boyfriend work in one of their Colorado offices and it's all technology development. I could definitely see a large facility with all support, tech, and admin type positions.

Amazon doesn't even carry/house a huge amount of products sold through its website.

More than anything, they are an e-commerce platform and I'm sure most of these HQ employees are engaged in tech jobs surrounding that.

I’m shocked.

I hope a Dallas gets it though.

I don't. I fear with what we have going on in the state with not being able to pay our teachers as well, among other things, moving south three hours would be easy for people and we could lose some of our population, just to that.

My money would be on Atlanta or Toronto. NYC, Chicago or LA would be too cliché.

Atlanta is cool but their transit isn't that great. One plus: Amazon moving there probably tips the balance to make Georgia a purple, if not blue, state.

haha! nope, not happening.

I’m shocked.

I hope a Dallas gets it though.

If Dallas gets it, that will hurt OKC, there will be thousands of people leaving the metro to move to Dallas for that type of job opportunity.

yep, hope it's Chicago. it will be nice for that city and for amazon just like it has been for boeing.

Lots in Denver scared they will choose here. Maybe Apple will choose OKC. Its supposed to be more a customer care center

Lots in Denver scared they will choose here. Maybe Apple will choose OKC. Its supposed to be more a customer care center

Nah, time zone probs.

The local news didn't seem to indicate that was going to be a major obstacle to Denver.

Nah, time zone probs.

Agree, HQ2 won't be in Denver.

I guess I'm confused why it would be a problem. They already base their AWS services out of thier Broomfield location, just outside of Denver. Why not just expand those facilities?

If Dallas gets it, that will hurt OKC, there will be thousands of people leaving the metro to move to Dallas for that type of job opportunity.

I think you are more than likely correct here. Dallas getting this could cause some brain drain in OKC (which has slowed in recent years).

Recently, I have a lot of young professional friends who have either taken jobs - or have offers for them in Dallas. Every single one has said they would have preferred to stay in OKC, but they couldn't get the pay they wanted for similar positions. Amazon going there or even Austin would 100% be a detriment to OKC's work pool more than it already is.

I feel like OKC is coming into a solid spot right now in regards to this, because you have people graduating here who don't want to deal with the Dallas/Austin explosive growth pains - but still want to be near home. If OKC can land some higher paying jobs in industries that are relatively untapped, then we could see a really nice pickup. We need our leaders to put focus heavily into education and new business venture growth.

If we don't take advantage of this situation, once Dallas and Austin catch up to their population's needs - people will have no-brainer decisions to flock outside of OKC and the state.

I think you are more than likely correct here. Dallas getting this could cause some brain drain in OKC (which has slowed in recent years).

Slowed in recent years? I don't think OKC has experience brain drain recently. Those with at least a Bachelor's degree made up a larger portion of the city's population in 2016 (29.3%) compared to 2010 (26.9%), and the numerical growth is an increase of 21%, compared to the city's overall growth of 10% in the same time frame.

Slowed in recent years? I don't think OKC has experience brain drain recently. Those with at least a Bachelor's degree made up a larger portion of the city's population in 2016 (29.3%) compared to 2010 (26.9%), and the numerical growth is an increase of 21%, compared to the city's overall growth of 10% in the same time frame.

What I meant is that not as many people are leaving as once did. You still have some of that as Anonymous pointed out but it's not as bad as it was a decade ago.

Atlanta is cool but their transit isn't that great. One plus: Amazon moving there probably tips the balance to make Georgia a purple, if not blue, state.

Maybe I just didn't do the right things in Atlanta when I was there, but of the US cities I've spent time in, Atlanta might be the lowest on the list.

^

Atlanta is very cool. Like a prettier Dallas with more recreation.

I have friends there and I've always been impressed.

^

Atlanta is very cool. Like a prettier Dallas with more recreation.

I have friends there and I've always been impressed.

Granted its been almost a decade since I've been to Atlanta but I never really liked it. I preferred Charlotte a lot more (the natural beauty of Atlanta combined with a 'glitz' reminiscent of Dallas, without the congestion of a Tier 1 city). Maybe I also didn't experience Atlanta the right way.

Has Dallas current growth been a detriment to Oklahoma City? Obviously not.
In the short term, yeah we might see an immediate decrease.
A big % of Oklahoma Universities are attended by Dallas residents. If Dallas grows, more parents ship their kids to Oklahoma Universities because of lower tuition. When they do that, a lot of them decide to stay and get jobs here. Yes, a lot of them do go back home but its still a net positive for us. Adding more well educated members to the OKC community is the goal and a growing Dallas metroplex does that for us.

^

Atlanta is very cool. Like a prettier Dallas with more recreation.

I have friends there and I've always been impressed.

I was there for work so maybe I just need to spend some actual vacation time there. Planned to spend a long weekend there a few weeks ago, but some dudes from Athens ruined it for me. :p

You never really know a place until you know people well who live there.

I had a buddy from graduate school who lived in Buckhead and it was awesome. He was also an avid rower (big rowing community there) and triathlete so I got to see the huge amount of recreation that is available there.

Plus, it's hilly and green and generally a pretty place.

I was there for work so maybe I just need to spend some actual vacation time there. Planned to spend a long weekend there a few weeks ago, but some dudes from Athens ruined it for me. :p

Same here, never been to Atlanta outside of ATL and had a trip planned until, well you know.. I want to to spend a long weekend there sometime.

Maybe I just didn't do the right things in Atlanta when I was there, but of the US cities I've spent time in, Atlanta might be the lowest on the list.

Houston without doubt would take that spot. While I do admit that ATL has been the backdrop of much stress and misery, I'm sure the city isn't that bad. Houston on the other hand. I'm not sure what about that city causes so many people to flock there.

Houston without doubt would take that spot. While I do admit that ATL has been the backdrop of much stress and misery, I'm sure the city isn't that bad. Houston on the other hand. I'm not sure what about that city causes so many people to flock there.
Agree wholeheartedly! Atlanta is actually a lot of fun - I have a family member from Buckhead and, as Pete said, it's a lot of fun.

Houston is a terrible city - the armpit of America IMO.

Agree wholeheartedly! Atlanta is actually a lot of fun - I have a family member from Buckhead and, as Pete said, it's a lot of fun.

Houston is a terrible city - the armpit of America IMO.

For every Buckhead, there is a College Park. It is hard to judge a city using their nicest areas. You almost have to average their best and worst areas.

But yes, Houston is awful.

For every Buckhead, there is a College Park. It is hard to judge a city using their nicest areas. You almost have to average their best and worst areas.

But yes, Houston is awful.
Definitely. Buckhead vs Bankhead. But overall, I really like Atlanta. And it's worlds better than Houston.

I guess I'm the only one here who doesn't understand all the hatred for Houston. It has its trashy parts but also has a lot of nice areas. I actually like Houston and if I were to move to a big city it would be on my shortlist.

I guess I'm confused why it would be a problem. They already base their AWS services out of thier Broomfield location, just outside of Denver. Why not just expand those facilities?

AWS is headquartered in Seattle. I work there.

AWS is headquartered in Seattle. I work there.

So they don't have an AWS center in Broomfield?

Agree wholeheartedly! Atlanta is actually a lot of fun - I have a family member from Buckhead and, as Pete said, it's a lot of fun.

Houston is a terrible city - the armpit of America IMO.Armpit of America in Houston?! LOLOL dude, if you live in OKC, you’re living in the armpit of America. I can’t understand how someone would prefer Atlanta over Dallas but I can accept it. Different taste. You can hardly see anything outside of all of the trees but that adds it’s own charm and Atlanta has its beautiful areas. But I think Dallas is prettier than Atlanta overall.

However to say Houston is ugly and is the armpit of America? I can’t take anyone serious that says that while living in possibly the ugliest city in the US calling one of the biggest and fastest growing metros the armpit of America.

I’m starting to realize how many posters on here have a huge inferiority complex. I had one too about Tulsa when I was younger as many here know. Wow.

FYI, I see Houston as a very pretty city. But I’m not putting it on some golden pedestal here. To call it the armpit of America is hilarious.

Armpit of America in Houston?! LOLOL dude, if you live in OKC, you’re living in the armpit of America. I can’t understand how someone would prefer Atlanta over Dallas but I can accept it. Different taste. You can hardly see anything outside of all of the trees but that adds it’s own charm and Atlanta has its beautiful areas. But I think Dallas is prettier than Atlanta overall.

However to say Houston is ugly and is the armpit of America? I can’t take anyone serious that says that while living in possibly the ugliest city in the US calling one of the biggest and fastest growing metros the armpit of America.

I’m starting to realize how many posters on here have a huge inferiority complex. I had one too about Tulsa when I was younger as many here know. Wow.

FYI, I see Houston as a very pretty city. But I’m not putting it on some golden pedestal here. To call it the armpit of America is hilarious.

For someone who hates everything about OKC, you sure spend a lot of time on a forum dedicated to it. And have you ever been to Gunspoint? Or about 10 minutes north of the galleria? Houston is a dump. It has a few nice areas, but the bad far outweighs the good. Worst big city in America, by far. And OKC is nowhere near as bad as Houston.

For someone who hates everything about OKC, you sure spend a lot of time on a forum dedicated to it. And have you ever been to Gunspoint? Or about 10 minutes north of the galleria? Houston is a dump. It has a few nice areas, but the bad far outweighs the good. Worst big city in America, by far. And OKC is nowhere near as bad as Houston.

Houston and OKC can't really be compared because Houston is so much larger. That's like trying to compare somewhere like Fort Smith or Lawton to OKC. They are in entirely different leagues.

Houston has plenty of ugly, blighted areas but the city is absolutely massive and has a lot of nice areas as well. Westward from downtown, south of I-10 is very nice. I could live there in a heartbeat.

For someone who hates everything about OKC, you sure spend a lot of time on a forum dedicated to it. And have you ever been to Gunspoint? Or about 10 minutes north of the galleria? Houston is a dump. It has a few nice areas, but the bad far outweighs the good. Worst big city in America, by far. And OKC is nowhere near as bad as Houston.
Dude I love OKC. I am frustrated with the way it is because it can be a lot better.

Yes, I’ve been to Houston a lot. It has its fair share amid ugly areas but the whole city isn’t like that and has tons of beautiful areas. I just can’t understand how anyone would call it the armpit of America. Name me an area of OKC that is compares with Houston’s beautiful parts and I guarantee you I can point you a mile east, west, south, or north of any beautiful area of OKC and it won’t look so good. Maybe the only exceptions are The far NW area by Edmond, Nichols Hills Area, and perhaps parts of the SW. Maybe 3-4 places in OKC that are nice that aren’t small and surrounded by dumps.

Houston and OKC can't really be compared because Houston is so much larger. That's like trying to compare somewhere like Fort Smith or Lawton to OKC. They are in entirely different leagues.

Houston has plenty of ugly, blighted areas but the city is absolutely massive and has a lot of nice areas as well. Westward from downtown, south of I-10 is very nice. I could live there in a heartbeat.
Be careful now, you’re talking about downgrading from OKC to an armpit. Where are your standards?

dude, if you live in OKC, you’re living in the armpit of America.


Dude I love OKC.

Dude...

Dude...

That was my response to a poster calling Houston the armpit of America. I don’t literally think OKC is armpit of America. Midland, TX takes that medal.

Houston has one of the most diverse populations in the US. In fact I think it is THE most diverse surpassing NYC. It has NASA. It is hours away from amazing beach towns. Has an incredible freeway system. Has a burgeoning transit system that is in line for a major expansion. Has one of the best medical districts in the country. Has one of the busiest airports in the world. Has one of the largest water ports in the world. I can go on and on and on here.

Houston also has nice areas that blow away anywhere in OKC and theirs go on for miles and miles seemingly never ending. As I said, name me the nicest areas in OKC and I bet you I can point you a mile in almost any direction and it will be bland and dull if not completely ghetto. The places in OKC that aren’t like that I have more fingers than on one hand.

But if Houston is the armpit of America, than OKC must be the asshole of America. Perhaps even the toilet. At least the asshole gets cleaned. I mean what standards are you going by calling Houston that?

I guess I need to post this before some posters get all worked up and miss my point. No, I don’t think OKC is the armpit, asshole, or toilet of America.

I must even add that a lot of OKC’s problems stem from the state. My posts here aren’t to bash OKC, but to provide drastic contrast from asinine posts like Houston being the armpit of America.

That was my response to a poster calling Houston the armpit of America. I don’t literally think OKC is armpit of America. Midland, TX takes that medal.

Houston has one of the most diverse populations in the US. In fact I think it is THE most diverse surpassing NYC. It has NASA. It is hours away from amazing beach towns. Has an incredible freeway system. Has a burgeoning transit system that is in line for a major expansion. Has one of the best medical districts in the country. Has one of the busiest airports in the world. Has one of the largest water ports in the world. I can go on and on and on here.

Houston also has nice areas that blow away anywhere in OKC and theirs go on for miles and miles seemingly never ending. As I said, name me the nicest areas in OKC and I bet you I can point you a mile in almost any direction and it will be bland and dull if not completely ghetto. The places in OKC that aren’t like that I have more fingers than on one hand.

But if Houston is the armpit of America, than OKC must be the asshole of America. Perhaps even the toilet. At least the asshole gets cleaned. I mean what standards are you going by calling Houston that?

I guess I need to post this before some posters get all worked up and miss my point. No, I don’t think OKC is the armpit, asshole, or toilet of America.

Give it a rest and stop claiming to love OKC every five seconds when almost all of your posts contradict that. Just because Houston is a big city, doesn’t mean people will like it more or consider it prettier than OKC. Most people I know in the energy industry that don’t live in Houston would move pretty much anywhere other than Houston if forced to relocate. Several friends of mine lived there and left because they hated it. It’s a city that people seem to either really like or absolutely hate. Personally, I have to spend a decent amount of time down there and would prefer that time be spent almost anywhere else. Armpit of America might be harsh, but many people would prefer OKC or Tulsa over it.