Build & kill two birds with one stone--Multipurpose indoor soccer stadium arena on city owned land or State Fair Park:

Couldn't we combine a multipurpose soccer-arena indoor stadium using a 1,000 seat partition section of seats for a smaller arena venue (take up half the field) that could be rolled back when the larger soccer-American football stadium events are in use.

Leave the suites unfinished; allow those who want to purchase suites to custom build the suites (first rights to build for Funk-MacLaughlin) and lease or own them to interested party/parties or allow them to own outright if they build. Say $1 million per suite--offset some cost of building the stadium-arena.

This pic of the old Metrodome (used for baseball/football) shows infield or narrower end.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/23/2009-0319-NCAAs-002-MetrodomeBBall.JPG/750px-2009-0319-NCAAs-002-MetrodomeBBall.JPG
Older pic of the Metrodome (Minneapolis): Imagine a smaller soccer stadium where you use one end to configure the basketball/ice hockey configuration. You could position the basketball/ice hockey configuration in the left/right direction; therefore you wouldn't need a boomerang shaped riser. Also the upper deck wouldn't need to be as high up as you see pictured in a domed stadium.

The indoor soccer stadium-arena probably could be built on a budget of $130 million with a maximum seating capacity of 25,000 for traditionally outdoor sports and downsized with the partition section seats using half the soccer field to 13,500 for arena sports like rodeo, ice hockey & basketball. The suites could further offset the cost of $130 million--allow space for 50-75 suites.

USL soccer schedule: soccer begins--March thru November--soccer ends
ECHL ice hockey schedule: ice hockey beings--October thru April--ice hockey ends

Concern: Matrix conflict; October/November and March/April

http://www.oklahoman.com/article/5620619?access=d5a652a937d4725ebe8c5b30f785d463

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7dy4gjOxzc


The mayor said he made no apology for the downtown focus of MAPS 1 and MAPS 3 but to the extent MAPS for Kids was about neighborhoods, "I believe that demand exists once again."

In his speech, Holt reviewed several dozen ideas for MAPS 4.

Falling into broad categories, among them were mobility, education, sports and entertainment facilities, economic development and job creation, social ills, and neighborhood enhancement.

Transit was citizens' No. 1 request in MAPS 3, he said, "and it is again in MAPS 4."

Improved bus service, including express buses, bus shelters and streetcar extensions are on the list.

Voters have consistently supported MAPS extensions and bond proposals for sidewalks but in a city spread across 621 square miles, Holt said, "there is still much to do."


Sports and entertainment venues could be in the mix:
https://www.mondodr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Energy-Arena-edit-696x522.jpg

https://www.nba.com/thunder/sites/thunder/files/styles/story_main_photo/public/st_practice_150409.jpg?itok=b_q8C51p
• Upgrading Chesapeake Energy Arena and practice facilities for the Thunder are vital, Holt said.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/arena4.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/arena7.jpg
• A $96.6 million coliseum, designed for horse shows, is proposed to replace Fairgrounds Arena.

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/warehouse/v1.0/publiccontent/d1abd26c-2425-4f35-a5f2-44ce483cc893
• A multipurpose stadium could become the home of the Energy soccer team, the mayor said.

Holt said the South Oklahoma City Chamber has floated the idea of an aerospace job training center.

Analysis: Plotting a new course for MAPS 4: https://www.oklahoman.com/analysis-plotting-a-new-course-for-maps-4/article/5620675

Build & kill two birds with one stone--Multipurpose indoor soccer stadium arena on city owned land or State Fair Park:

Couldn't we combine a multipurpose soccer-arena indoor stadium using a 1,000 seat partition section of seats for a smaller arena venue (take up half the field) that could be rolled back when the larger soccer-American football stadium events are in use.

Leave the suites unfinished; allow those who want to purchase suites to custom build the suites (first rights to build for Funk-MacLaughlin) and lease or own them to interested party/parties or allow them to own outright if they build. Say $1 million per suite--offset some cost of building the stadium-arena.

This pic of the old Metrodome (used for baseball/football) shows infield or narrower end.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/23/2009-0319-NCAAs-002-MetrodomeBBall.JPG/750px-2009-0319-NCAAs-002-MetrodomeBBall.JPG
Older pic of the Metrodome (Minneapolis): Imagine a smaller soccer stadium where you use one end to configure the basketball/ice hockey configuration. You could position the basketball/ice hockey configuration in the left/right direction; therefore you wouldn't need a boomerang shaped riser. Also the upper deck wouldn't need to be as high up as you see pictured in a domed stadium.

The indoor soccer stadium-arena probably could be built on a budget of $130 million with a maximum seating capacity of 25,000 for traditionally outdoor sports and downsized with the partition section seats using half the soccer field to 13,500 for arena sports like rodeo, ice hockey & basketball. The suites could further offset the cost of $130 million--allow space for 50-75 suites.

USL soccer schedule: soccer begins--March thru November--soccer ends
ECHL ice hockey schedule: ice hockey beings--October thru April--ice hockey ends

Concern: Matrix conflict; October/November and March/April

THIS. A soccer stadium on the south side of the river would be a huge boost to south OKC. In my opinion, Maps 4 should specifically target investment south of the river. This area has been overlooked by voters long enough. A soccer stadium in an area such as Wheeler Park could be the perfect bridge to connect the north and historically neglected south side of OKC. A MLS Soccer stadium would be very forward thinking for our city. I predict it will overtake American football in our country within the next 15-20 years.

Ice hockey must be included in any new arena at the fairgrounds not just a horse barn.

Ice hockey must be included in any new arena at the fairgrounds not just a horse barn.

Agree 100%

IIRC the City built the dasher boards for Myriad Convention Center's Great Arena. They are going to get as much booked into the new arena to justify it construction. There appears to be room for an ice plant (rink); also potential expansion of seating in the upper deck placeholder they used for the arena. They could also curtain or partition off the upper deck when not needed.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/arena7.jpg

You will probably see the extension of projects west beyond the Classen Ten Penn along 10th from May Avenue to Rockwell. The area has potential in spite of the traffic along 10th street--it is police heavy. We need to give that area some spark.

If the city use this pattern as a model; there's is potential for temporary riser seating between the lower bowl and upper deck as well as the end seating in the upper deck. You could get 12,500 -14,000 into the area for basketball and ice hockey. Would be a great home for the ECHL Blazers, NBA G-League Blue and State High School OSSAA playoffs.

THIS. A soccer stadium on the south side of the river would be a huge boost to south OKC. In my opinion, Maps 4 should specifically target investment south of the river. This area has been overlooked by voters long enough. A soccer stadium in an area such as Wheeler Park could be the perfect bridge to connect the north and historically neglected south side of OKC. A MLS Soccer stadium would be very forward thinking for our city. I predict it will overtake American football in our country within the next 15-20 years.

Regardless of whether the area south of the river voted for the last 3-4 MAPS projects and extensions--we definitely could use a stadium for soccer & American football. If we budget $100 million for each project, arena & riverfront stadium; an outdoor open air stadium expansion potential without all the bells & whistles; capable of adding a future retractable roof.


http://flintco.com/uploads/gallery_images/cache/1622_570x470_crop_p19h609p4s2po1v94cv15hig1t6.jpg? 1545922831

https://cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.baylor.edu/dist/f/4001/files/2013/05/Baylor-football-view-o6c081.jpg


I like the above model of Baylor University's McLane Stadium minus the top upper deck as a starter. McLane Stadium was built in 2015; 45,000 seats for $266 million. You could probably invest $100 million for an 18,500 - 20,000 seat stadium capable of future expansion.

Regardless of whether the area south of the river voted for the last 3-4 MAPS projects and extensions--we definitely could use a stadium for soccer & American football. If we budget $100 million for each project, arena & riverfront stadium; an outdoor open air stadium expansion potential without all the bells & whistles; capable of adding a future retractable roof.


http://flintco.com/uploads/gallery_images/cache/1622_570x470_crop_p19h609p4s2po1v94cv15hig1t6.jpg? 1545922831

https://cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.baylor.edu/dist/f/4001/files/2013/05/Baylor-football-view-o6c081.jpg


I like the above model of Baylor University's McLane Stadium minus the top upper deck as a starter. McLane Stadium was built in 2015; 45,000 seats for $266 million. You could probably invest $100 million for an 18,500 - 20,000 seat stadium capable of future expansion.
Nice. Oklahoma City needs something like this to take the next big step in revitalizing our city. The racial and economic divide is wider in our community than I think most are willing to admit. Making a major public investment south of the river would be a nice step towards reconciliation. While we are at it, extend the Street Car south on Walker and Western. Let’s build a stronger bridge connecting our communities.
OKC- let’s do something special with Maps 4!

The streetcar extension south via Robinson, loop back up Walker or Western to DT would connect the north with the south--definitely a bridge to connect the two communities.

As for the stadium; south river bank, open end facing the skyline, it would be nice if we could go ahead and build something similar to McLane Stadium in Waco, TX; bring the OSSAA 6-A, and lower classes of football & soccer to the city; use the venue to lure MLS expansion/relocation and the next major football league to the NFL like the XFL. Bring the 'MLS Cup' championship game to our city. We will have the hotels; especially a HQ hotel in the DT Omni.

OKC has untapped potential.

MLS Cup is a home game for the highest seeded team, FYI, not a rotating game like the Super Bowl.

I do like the idea of a stadium on the south side of the river with an open end to the skyline. Build it as a soccer stadium though (no track) and it could still be used to host state championship or even D-2 football (Sporting KC's stadium does the same thing). Build it at 15,000 seats with the opportunity to expand should we actually get a shot at MLS. Could automatically become the best outdoor concert venue in the state

Looks like the aquarium idea just may be a real contender: https://journalrecord.com/2019/01/18/aquarium-idea-examined-in-feasibility-study/

Looks like the aquarium idea just may be a real contender: https://journalrecord.com/2019/01/18/aquarium-idea-examined-in-feasibility-study/

Awesome! I can see getting push back from people who have never been to a great one.

Dallas and Atlanta have amazing ones. Hopefully if we build one, it’s better than the one in Jenks. Jenks isn’t bad, it’s a pretty nice aquarium for what it is, but I was underwhelmed by it.

Jenks feels more like an aquarium you would find at a zoo, rather than being a stand-alone attraction all by itself.

I agree that Dallas is great.

The aquarium idea is interesting but I wonder how can we make it unique and stand out from the other cities?

Chattanooga has an aquarium on the riverfront downtown. It's pretty great

Chattanooga has an aquarium on the riverfront downtown. It's pretty great

Went there about 20 years ago and was so impressed (even as kid) I have wanted to go back ever since. Would love to see something of that scale and quality here in OKC

Chicago & Boston both have excellent aquariums.

To rival Atlanta would be amazing. One of the best in the country.

Atlanta is best in the world? I think their aquarium costs almost half a billion dollars. It would certainly be nice.

The National Aquarium located in Baltimore is among the top aquariums in the country.

The aquarium idea is interesting but I wonder how can we make it unique and stand out from the other cities?

Building it in conjunction with the zoo would be one way.

Regardless of whether the area south of the river voted for the last 3-4 MAPS projects and extensions--we definitely could use a stadium for soccer & American football. If we budget $100 million for each project, arena & riverfront stadium; an outdoor open air stadium expansion potential without all the bells & whistles; capable of adding a future retractable roof.


http://flintco.com/uploads/gallery_images/cache/1622_570x470_crop_p19h609p4s2po1v94cv15hig1t6.jpg? 1545922831

https://cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.baylor.edu/dist/f/4001/files/2013/05/Baylor-football-view-o6c081.jpg


I like the above model of Baylor University's McLane Stadium minus the top upper deck as a starter. McLane Stadium was built in 2015; 45,000 seats for $266 million. You could probably invest $100 million for an 18,500 - 20,000 seat stadium capable of future expansion.

OK, I will go for this on the south side of the RIver,m including the boat marina. The color of the water is even about what the OK RIver gives.

A stadium would be a waste of tax payers money since 95% of the population would never use it. Just not enough minor league soccer fans around. MLS is not an option and if becomes an option then the next maps could get involved.

A first class 300-400 million dollar Aquarium downtown would draw visitors from all over the country and kind of make sense. People would stay at hotels and dine out in the downtown area for that IMO. Now if they are talking about one like Jenks has then NO Go IMO. Needs to be a first class project or not at all IMO. Do it right or don't do it at all.

Atlanta is best in the world? I think their aquarium costs almost half a billion dollars. It would certainly be nice.

You are correct. I didn't want to misstate their ranking.

Part of me thinks the Pull-a-Part salvage yard would be a great place to put an aquarium. Kill two bird with one stone. We could connect it to the boathouse district and continue the water theme.

Of course, I don't know the first damn thing about building an aquarium. Seems like there might be some problems with the high water table right next to the river. You wouldn't want that nasty river water seeping into the big tanks you'd need for the fish. Or maybe not, I don't know.

Keep the aquarium tied with the zoo as a capital improvements project that may lead to some hotel projects in the Adventure District.

An Aquarium, OKC Zoo, Remington Park race track & casino, Softball Hall of Fame, Firefighter's Museum, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum & Science Museum Oklahoma (planetarium segway omniplex) could use a large 250-300 room hotel in the area.

I was at the Embassy Suites on the Meridian hotel corridor the year OU beat Alabama for the WCWS championship; the Alabama women's softball team was booked there. They left the Embassy Suites with a charter bus and a caravan of 10-12 cars.

Budget $100 million on MAPS 4 Initiative; give us an outstanding dedicated Aquarium to replace the one at the zoo, something World Class that will complement the existing exhibits at the OKC Zoo.

Heard on the radio today that the Zoo has already conducted some research and impact studies for an Aquarium and it would need a 5 acre area.

I’ve always thought a minor revamp of a new aquarium with larger land/aquatic animals would be good for the zoo along with a tunnel under the pond that exists nearby that could create some sort of interactive exhibit of an artificial swamp/wetland of Oklahoma and Louisiana.

I would hope a massive, tourist type of aquarium is built in Bricktown or maybe something in the CBD to increase vibrancy. Maybe work with Bob Howard group on that lot in between myriad gardens and Scissortail park to have an Aquarium in the development and they can pay for part of sort of like a PPP. This would surely boost their development and make it more valuable.

I am not a fan of placing a new massive world class aquarium at the zoo for a couple reasons. Main one being I don’t want to zoo funds to be so tied up in maintaining this it would take away from the other great things they’ve been doing. It would be nice to see the zoo expand with a giant panda exhibit and such things. Plus it would be nice to have other way to experience such an aquarium without the hassle of going to the zoo and it would add more amenities downtown, which need it.

I think having it near downtown is the best location. It could be near the river or Scissortail park.

Heard on the radio today that the Zoo has already conducted some research and impact studies for an Aquarium and it would need a 5 acre area.

And parking for visitors. That was not included in the 5 acres. Also mentioned was Jenks spent 25M in 2004.

Fortunately there will always be overflow parking across the street at Remington. Something that is often needed even without an aquarium.

Yes that is true so long as it is located at the zoo and not the other sites being mentioned in this thread.

I think having it near downtown is the best location. It could be near the river or Scissortail park.

The boathouse district would be a cool area to have it too.

And parking for visitors. That was not included in the 5 acres. Also mentioned was Jenks spent 25M in 2004.

If they put it at the Zoo, I fear there may need to be a *GASP* hotel or 2 in the Adventure District...amazes me how there has not been a single hotel open there. I know plenty of people during horse racing seasons who come for whole weekends, but then have to go away from Remington Park to stay. While not the end of the world, it would be nice to have an option or 2 for those guests.

If we could get several hotels or something comparable to the Fairfield Inn & Suites, Holiday Inn Express and a Four Points by Sheraton the Adventure District would boom.

My justification for an aquarium at the zoo stems around the fact that our aquarium would showcase aquarium specific exhibits since the zoo showcases other specialty exhibits like the Great EscApe, CatForest/Lion Overlook & Elephant Habitat. Don't know how many visitors from the WCWS visits or know about what's available in the Adventure District because there are no hotels in the area; many return to the Meridian Hotel Corridor or DT hotels.

We've need to promote others areas beside midtown, downtown & bricktown...

If they put it at the Zoo, I fear there may need to be a *GASP* hotel or 2 in the Adventure District...amazes me how there has not been a single hotel open there. I know plenty of people during horse racing seasons who come for whole weekends, but then have to go away from Remington Park to stay. While not the end of the world, it would be nice to have an option or 2 for those guests.

Especially since there's SO much mostly unused parking at Remington. You'd think that, in the very least, THEY would build a hotel or two on their grounds. Then the competition might come to the area as well.

Then just run the streetcar up the tracks to the station up there and you got a neat little package.

It doesn’t make sense financially to add the new aquarium to the existing zoo

It will be at another location.

I have been to the Atlanta aquarium and its definitely cool. I think OKC would be better off to come up with unique projects to create its own identity,

Especially since there's SO much mostly unused parking at Remington. You'd think that, in the very least, THEY would build a hotel or two on their grounds. Then the competition might come to the area as well.

You're correct; who better than the Chickasaw tribe (hospitality expertise) could operate a hotel right there on the Remington Park grounds as well as an Aquarian close enough to the zoo where it would complement its operations. A zoo admission or an Aquarium admission would allow you to visit either one or both venues.

If OKC ever wanted to take advantage of tourism, the Adventure District is where we should invest some incentives. Some hotels & restaurants in walking or shuttle distance in this area would offer tourists, especially those here for the WCWS a variety of attractions.

Just want to add that the OKC Zoo in our Adventure District is better equipped to secure & maintain an Aquarian year round. Now they need approximately 5 acres set aside for an Aquarian.

My questions:


Is there enough land available for an Aquarian at the zoo.
Would they need to do away with the Amphitheater or some other on site venue.
What affect would an off site Aquarian (OKC core); have on the zoo.

If we were to move it to the core say downtown or near the AICCM acreage, how would this affect the Zoo who wants to replace their current Aquarian; they do appear to be open to a site in the core.

IMO the Zoo has other exhibits where they have invested millions in their 1/8 cent permanent sale tax allocation for capital improvements. Would an off site other than the OKC Zoo impact their current operations?

We have a lot invested via previous MAPS in the core, so I would like to see the Adventure District get some love if we do an Aquarium. I do think the Zoo is bed equipped to handle an Aquarium, but I think it should be run as a separate entity. Maybe an option to buy a ticket for either, with a discount if you buy a double pass. I don’t know who owns what land in that area, but it seems like we should be able to come up with some land up there. The Zoo is becoming better every year, the Science Museum has greatly improved over the past 10 years as well. An Aquarium would be a good fit up there and might be the catalyst for a hotel or two.

Tie in improvements to the rail line from down town to the Adventure District, and you could have an easy connection between the Core and the AD.

The streetcar extension as we know is another popular idea for MAPS 4. What about a train since we already have an existing line.

Does anyone have any updated information on a train from the Adventure District to the Oklahoma City area. A group of some OKC message board posters met at the old downtown library at NW 3rd Street at Robinson quite some years ago (don't want to reveal my age LOL) to discuss and resurrect the idea.

Recall HotRod, Kerry, myself and others were told that a train from the Zoo area (much like the El Reno train) was being planned. We met with a legislator who told us about the possibility of a link to OKC.

We have a lot invested via previous MAPS in the core, so I would like to see the Adventure District get some love if we do an Aquarium. I do think the Zoo is bed equipped to handle an Aquarium, but I think it should be run as a separate entity. Maybe an option to buy a ticket for either, with a discount if you buy a double pass. I don’t know who owns what land in that area, but it seems like we should be able to come up with some land up there. The Zoo is becoming better every year, the Science Museum has greatly improved over the past 10 years as well. An Aquarium would be a good fit up there and might be the catalyst for a hotel or two.

Tie in improvements to the rail line from down town to the Adventure District, and you could have an easy connection between the Core and the AD.

Agree this would be best location for it.

Why not get 5-6 hotels (or more depending on use rates) to pitch in and have shuttle vans to take patrons to Adventure District (zoo/museum/Remington Park)? I know it takes them out of Bricktown but odds are they go back to Bricktown for food/bars afterwards since hotel is there.

At Hotel you sign up for group texting so can see schedules and van arrivals/departures. Could text in when need ride 20-30 minutes out. This could be done pretty cheaply if shared costs. And would give these hotels an advantage over others so more hotels likely sign up to share costs and add this service. If customers can reliably get to/from area they would use it.

Thus no need for major rail outlay

Out of curiosity I went to the web page for the adventure district today. On the home page, featured dining. Subway. Featured service. A gas station.

It doesn’t make sense financially to add the new aquarium to the existing zoo

It will be at another location.

And you know this how? Has there been a study done and numbers available?

Even if it were located by the zoo, I would bet it would be a separate facility from the zoo.

Build it downtown where you have hotels and eats already in place and create a more vibrant area.

Energy FC has a podcast and they interviewed Jake Trotter and Bob Funk where they discussed wanting to put soccer on MAPS 4.

https://m.soundcloud.com/billy-walton-498035121/off-pitch-75-soccer-in-okc

There's a lot of land at the Zoo which would work to host this site. There's also probably a great deal in cost savings in already having on-site vet and food preparation facilities. Parts of the existing aquarium could be incorporated into an expansion. There aren't any displays left in the area as most of the animals who were housed in the old stalls on that side of the zoo moved to the Asia exhibit or elsewhere. Once you get past the Manta Ray exhibit and the kids zoo, there's really nothing back there except the sea lions, which I would expect to be part of the aquarium.

I remember reading a master plan from 2010 for the zoo that included improvements to the aquarium along with many other things that either did or were supposed to happen this decade. Herpetarium and pachyderm area improvements were among those that have not yet come to fruition. I can't find the plan from the zoo directly anymore, but there is still a NewsOK article that mentions $19.4 million aquarium upgrades that were supposed to be finished this year. Oops! In September 2017 the zoo posted an article detailing its decision to close the aquarium stating that "the upgrades necessary to bring the 30-year-old aquarium habitats and associated support areas to or above accreditation standards would be prohibitively expensive." They also go on to say the northeast area of the park would be a central focus for future improvements and that plans would be revealed in an updated master plan that was supposed to be completed later that year. As far as I know those plans haven't been made available to the public.

Out of curiosity I went into Google Earth to see how much space they have to work with. I'm not sure how to include screenshots or if I even can as a newcomer (hi all!), but I'll try my best to explain a couple rough options.
1. The entire northeast chunk of the park including the aquarium, area directly to the west leading up to the education center, butterfly gardens, stingray bay (which I assume would be incorporated into the new aquarium), and now-vacant exhibits along the waterfront is about 4.25 acres.
2. If you want to preserve the butterfly garden and instead only work with the current aquarium area and the area directly to the west, there's about 2.5 acres to work with.

There's a lot of land at the Zoo which would work to host this site. There's also probably a great deal in cost savings in already having on-site vet and food preparation facilities. Parts of the existing aquarium could be incorporated into an expansion. There aren't any displays left in the area as most of the animals who were housed in the old stalls on that side of the zoo moved to the Asia exhibit or elsewhere. Once you get past the Manta Ray exhibit and the kids zoo, there's really nothing back there except the sea lions, which I would expect to be part of the aquarium.

As much as I would like an aquarium downtown by the river. It would be a huge value added to the OKC zoo and really put the OKC zoo complex into the national spotlight. If you consider the existing infrastructure and a degree of a post MAPS funding mechanism already in place it seems like something to really consider.

Does OKC need to offer any incentives to bring some hotels to the Adventure District--very scenic area of our city. Just surprised there aren't any hotels to serve an area with hotel filling potential.

It would be advantageous for tourists to be able to stay in the area; enjoy & explore the many attractions the area has to offer OR does the city prefer to drain the tourists dollar with off site hotels.

The Don E. Porter ASA Hall of Fame Stadium IMO could attract more tourism to the area with on site hotels. Tourists will have an an on-site option or to stay on the Meridian Hotel corridor, downtown hotels and use transportation services (Car rentals, Uber, taxis etc.,) available.

IMO some less expensive on site hotel options would allow tourists to explore Remington Park, Science Museum Oklahoma (OmniPlex), Oklahoma City Zoo, Firefighter Museum, Softball Hall of Fame and National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. You add an attraction like an Aquarium, the area and softball events (WCWS & World Cup of Softball) will boom.

If beautification ends up being a large part of MAPS 4, I’d just like to include the idea of converting all the large cracked cement medians north of memorial between May to Western to landscaped. I know it’s not as sexy or exciting as projects in the core but it still adds to the overall beauty of our city in the busiest corridor we have at this time. It’d be a small investment that would IMO go a long way.

Does OKC need to offer any incentives to bring some hotels to the Adventure District--very scenic area of our city. Just surprised there aren't any hotels to serve an area with hotel filling potential.

It would be advantageous for tourists to be able to stay in the area; enjoy & explore the many attractions the area has to offer OR does the city prefer to drain the tourists dollar with off site hotels.

The Don E. Porter ASA Hall of Fame Stadium IMO could attract more tourism to the area with on site hotels. Tourists will have an an on-site option or to stay on the Meridian Hotel corridor, downtown hotels and use transportation services (Car rentals, Uber, taxis etc.,) available.

IMO some less expensive on site hotel options would allow tourists to explore Remington Park, Science Museum Oklahoma (OmniPlex), Oklahoma City Zoo, Firefighter Museum, Softball Hall of Fame and National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. You add an attraction like an Aquarium, the area and softball events (WCWS & World Cup of Softball) will boom.

All great points. However, in my opinion there is not enough there overall for any hotel to invest as of yet. There are not many dining or other options plus Rem Park is seasonal. It may happen if they get aquarium but to make an investment - if I was building a hotel - there are better options elsewhere in metro to keep rooms full. Thats just my opinion and I could be wrong. Most zoo goers are local and don’t need hotel. Same with most other venues.

I think if that area worked with some downtown hotels and helped subsidize free daily van trips to/from would help draw more out of towners. If 6 or more hotels plus Adventure area all pitched in with van and driver expenses it could be done relatively cheap as collaboration.

OKC needs to be more inclusive with its future MAPS projects to make other areas attractive as well as maintain the previous projects completed like the first project--Bricktown Ballpark completed in 1998 now 21 years old.

Bricktown is Oklahoma City's entertainment district that guides the Core, the nucleus of first impressions about activities within our city. The expansion of the Bricktown Canal completed in 1999 is crucial in new development like residential, restaurants and office mixed-use complexes (must adhere to the Omni agreement about hotels).

An addition mile expansion of the Bricktown Canal toward the new convention center complex will greatly enhance that area where the streetcar exists offering light rail & water taxis.

We need more MAPS 4 ideas for the


Adventure District . . . . . . . . . . Deep Deuce
Arts District. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Midtown
Asian District. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paseo Arts
Automobile Alley . . . . . . . . . . . Plaza District
Boathouse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stockyard City
Bricktown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Uptown 23rd
Classen Curve. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Western Avenue

https://www.405magazine.com/images/cache/cache_3/cache_b/cache_6/NE-Renaissance-WEB-5ada26b3.jpeg?ver=1519321372&aspectratio=1
Creation of a Northeast 23rd development corridor with entrance signage beginning at Martin Luther King Jr., Avenue from 23rd to Bryant or Sooner Avenues: https://pivotproject.com/project/ne-23rd-corridor/

The south chamber requested an aerospace training center.

The south chamber requested an aerospace training center.

The mayor mentioned it in talking about possible Maps 4 projects and it caught my attention... I asked a good friend of mine who is heavily involved in the South Chamber and he said there has been a lot of discussion about this...The plan is being developed for the airport trust to give a sweetheart deal on the land in Lariot Landing, Maps 4 to build the facilities, local aerospace partners at both Tinker and WRWA to help develop curriculum and donate training materials and a joint venture between the metro votechs to staff and administrate it...

That's a neat idea.

Maps for schools helped but with so many OKC schools closing soon Storm Shelters for kids seems like a good idea.

On days when severe weather is expected many parents keep their kids at home or withdraw them in the afternoon which can be dangerous if they wait too long. This obviously cuts in to instruction time but many students who stay are very distracted and have anxiety issues... so do some teachers.

OKCPS also has high number of staff who will call in sick or leave before the end of the school day if bad weather is expected. There is not nearly enough learning going on when bad weather is expected.

Storm shelters would protect more than just the kids. Parents wouldn’t feel as compelled to risk driving in dangerous weather.

A secure safe environment with fewer distractions would help learning and grades.

The money could be collected but shelters constructed gradually over time. Most could double for other proposes such a band room. Thick walls help keep sound in and out of other class rooms.

I believe Moore has or soon will have shelters for all of its students and staff.
Norman will vote tomorrow on a package that includes storm shelters and lock down security for all of its schools.

MAPS IV Projects will probably have a 7.5 year time-line with a budget under $750 million.
How would you rank these 14 projects listed by alpha in the Ideas 4 MAPS:



Aquarian (@OKC Zoo or Core Development) $200 million

Bricktown Canal one mile west extension $30 million
BNSF Pedestrian Bridge development with boardwalk north/south piers $100 million

Caps over I-235 and/& I-40 to Health Science Center Complex $50 million
Cox Convention Center demolition for redevelopment $50 million
Chesapeake Energy Arena (minor renovation & upgrades) $50 million
Community beautification projects; sidewalks, street lights & planters $200 million

Manual Perez Park relocation $10 million
Mental (Behavior) health facility complex $50 million

Oklahoma City Museum of Arts (renovation & expansion project) $25 million

Riverfront Soccer Stadium (soccer specific & American football, 12,500 -15,000 seat starter, on city owned land) - Budget $25 million

State Fair Park (new arena-$100m, new elevated space tower-$20m & grand entrance-$5m on G. Pershing Blvd)
Streetcar: two 1 mile expansions north/south routes - Budget: $125 million

Wellness Center (5th center)

One or more of these projects could be combined to form one development; if an item is missing please add it to the list. Rank your top 10 projects. These are rough budget estimates. Contingency fund: 10% added to total MAPS IV budget.