Their booking site still shows an opening date of 9/22.

During the week, looks like their rates start at $199. But home football game weekends require a 2-night minimum starting at $900/night.

Their booking site still shows an opening date of 9/22.

During the week, looks like their rates start at $199. But home football game weekends require a 2-night minimum starting at $900/night.

With these rates, they won't stay busy for long. That's more than the Ritz Carlton would ever charge. Unless you get dinner with Venables, with those rates, I doubt this will be open long.

With these rates, they won't stay busy for long. That's more than the Ritz Carlton would ever charge. Unless you get dinner with Venables, with those rates, I doubt this will be open long.

lol they will sell out every weekend

lol they will sell out every weekend
While I never stayed at one I’m pretty sure the Ritz in DTLA goes well north of $900 a night sometimes during special events.

While I never stayed at one I’m pretty sure the Ritz in DTLA goes well north of $900 a night sometimes during special events.

waking distance at a nice hotel from any top 10 program football program is going to be very very expensive all over america ... and some have 3 night mins .

They will charge exactly what people will pay, and I'm quite sure there are tons of people who would pony up for football weekends.

They can easily adjust prices -- up and down -- as the market dictates because hotel rentals are so short-term.

They'll figure it out and I hope they get those rates and more. Would encourage more of this type of development near or on campus and it's sorely needed.

Which begs the question why it took this long to get a hotel near campus and why 5 more aren't under construction right now?

They will charge exactly what people will pay, and I'm quite sure there are tons of people who would pony up for football weekends.

They can easily adjust prices -- up and down -- as the market dictates because hotel rentals are so short-term.

They'll figure it out and I hope they get those rates and more. Would encourage more of this type of development near or on campus and it's sorely needed.

Agree

There's also a suite available for $2000 a night on football weekends :eek:

Which begs the question why it took this long to get a hotel near campus and why 5 more aren't under construction right now?

I hope it turns out to be like so many things that seem obvious, then someone finally does it, and then many more follow.

Breakfast in OKC is a great example, as we now have hundreds of places but it wasn't that long ago we were asking the same sort of question.

The same can be said with the one-time lack of decent grocery stores, downtown hotels, etc.

For 10 years I talked about the potential of the area between campus corner and Main Street and now there are probably a hundred redevelopment projects. Even Campus Corner itself was overlooked for quite a while and now it's absolutely packed with all types of businesses.

Sometimes it just takes someone to take a risk and then be very successful before others are willing to follow. I hope this is one of those cases.

Another obvious thing: more condos and/or patio homes near campus for people like me who would like to retire near a college. For 13 years I lived right next to Cal Lutheran University which was smallish and where I had no sort of connection, and it was awesome. I went to tons of their sporting events, and performances used their athletic facility, and generally loved walking through the campus several times a week.

I'd live in Norman now if it wasn't so far from the people and stuff I love most in OKC. I still may do so at a later point.

It is strange to me people don't want hotels around campus there. Pretty much every home there is a student rental.

I bet we'll start to see some hotels in downtown Norman.

There are a lot of great places and new urbanism there and you can easily walk to Campus Corner and university events.

Like the retail revenue at University North Park (OU owns the land), I'd love to see OU benefit from new hotels and housing that are needed near or on campus.

Not only would it add amenities to the area, but it would also give them another revue source and make the university that much stronger.

Joe Harroz seems like a very sharp and innovative thinker. I have to believe this would be part of his longer-term strategy.

I bet we'll start to see some hotels in downtown Norman.

There are a lot of great places and new urbanism there and you can easily walk to Campus Corner and university events.
I think Edmond is going to experience the same thing.

I think Edmond is going to experience the same thing.

Edmond has done a great job of redeveloping their downtown and the area between it and UCO.

If you think about it, it's very similar to the forces at work in downtown Norman and OU.

Edmond has done a great job of redeveloping their downtown and the area between it and UCO.

If you think about it, it's very similar to the forces at work in downtown Norman and OU.
Just imagine if we could connect these two areas with commuter rail with OKC in the middle. That would be absolutely amazing.

Just imagine if we could connect these two areas with commuter rail with OKC in the middle. That would be absolutely amazing.

Yes, and both have the existing infrastructure.

The Norman train station is awesome and they could easily add another farther south near campus or just create a separate rail spur for that purpose.

It's going to happen, just will take some time.

Edmond has done a great job of redeveloping their downtown and the area between it and UCO.

If you think about it, it's very similar to the forces at work in downtown Norman and OU.

Better pedestrian connectivity between the UCO campus and Edmond downtown would be nice, I've been walking that recently and crossing Boulevard is a bit hairy at times.

Better pedestrian connectivity between the UCO campus and Edmond downtown would be nice, I've been walking that recently and crossing Boulevard is a bit hairy at times.

Yes, I love walking that area as well and that is by far the biggest barrier.

Downtown Edmond had made huge progress in a short period so I bet that issue will be eventually addressed.

It is strange to me people don't want hotels around campus there. Pretty much every home there is a student rental.

My hope is for some student condo development to occur close to campus. I think this would maybe spur many of these student rental houses, that are in rough shape, to be renovated into nicer family dwellings and would maybe reduce some of the sprawl towards the east side.

Just imagine if we could connect these two areas with commuter rail with OKC in the middle. That would be absolutely amazing.

Edmond and Norman are both set up to be big winners regarding commuter rail. Norman is set up support a stop right now and Edmond is steadily moving in the right direction.

It would be hard to find a more primed location for a commuter rail stop than downtown Norman.

My hope is for some student condo development to occur close to campus. I think this would maybe spur many of these student rental houses, that are in rough shape, to be renovated into nicer family dwellings and would maybe reduce some of the sprawl towards the east side.

The biggest opportunity for redevelopment is around the NOUN Hotel along University Blvd. With McFarlin Church on the north end, Evans Hall on the south and line with oak trees it's one of the more scenic streets in Oklahoma IMO. It is the perfect location for dense development especially new housing. The other area is along Asp north of Campus Corner to continue the retail/restaurant corridor to downtown Norman. You start to bridge the gap and all of a sudden this whole area turns into a contiguous urban center for Norman.

^

And all that has been happening and seems to be accelerating.

I recently walked extensively from downtown Norman and all through that area then through Campus. It's almost all small-scale redevelopment which seems appropriate for the area. But it's hard to comprehend how much has already happened unless you really take the time to walk the area. I had driven through and generally knew what was happening, but until I hoofed it around for about 2 hours I had underestimated the momentum.

As with similar urban development, it's all about momentum and then hitting a tipping point and then the ball really starts rolling downhill. It seems to me that that tipping point may have already occurred.


I had the same observation yesterday about Auto Alley. So many extensive renovations that there are very few buildings that haven't been touched with those that remain mostly having firm plans, like the Nova project that is set to start very soon.

It was pretty amazing to think about where things were not that long ago. Still lots of infill that needs to happen there but that is now simply a matter of time.

Better pedestrian connectivity between the UCO campus and Edmond downtown would be nice, I've been walking that recently and crossing Boulevard is a bit hairy at times.
They should add some raised pedestrian crosswalks across Boulevard. There’s almost zero pedestrian crossings except at major intersections which can half a mile out of the way. It’s horrible. The city also needs to widen Boulevard to add fully protected bike lanes between Ayer’s and Second.

This hotel looks like it has quietly opened.

They had certainly taken reservations for today's OU home opener and there are people coming and going and lots of cars in their parking lot.

They still haven't done any landscaping but I suppose the inside was ready enough. Their res site still shows 9/22 as the opening date.

They were definitely open over the weekend, including the 2nd level bar.

Wouldn't be surprised if they don't take many or any reservations during the week until 9/22 while they finish up.

Which begs the question why it took this long to get a hotel near campus and why 5 more aren't under construction right now?

'cuz Norman.

On another note, I think Pete is referring to all of the high-density housing development in the neighborhood to the north and east of Campus Corner all of the way to the tracks. It's pretty impressive.

It's been a couple of years since my wife and I have enjoyed the gameday experience due to covid. So, while we had seen a few of these developments, we were fairly struck by how many of them there are now with more going up.

I'm sure long-time residents aren't super pumped about having these party complexes on their street, but they have to acknowledge that they live a couple of blocks from 1) a major entertainment district, and 2) a major public university. So, if you move there it kind of comes with the territory.

Overall, we were impressed with the quality of the structures.

Some interior shots from GH2 Architects.

They were open on Friday and Saturday for the OU game but are still finishing up details for their official 9/22 opening.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/noun091122a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/noun091122b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/noun091122c.jpg

Looks great, do you know if the restaurant will be open starting 9/22?

Looks great, do you know if the restaurant will be open starting 9/22?

I believe everything will by that date.

The 2nd level bar has been open the last two weekends.

There is going to be an open house for the public on the 15th according to KOCO.

There is going to be an open house for the public on the 15th according to KOCO.

4:30-6:30pm

Holy Moly! I just checked for fun. $1900 for 2 nights in November! Yeesh!

Holy Moly! I just checked for fun. $1900 for 2 nights in November! Yeesh!

game weekend?

Holy Moly! I just checked for fun. $1900 for 2 nights in November! Yeesh!

I could get business class to Paris for that, lol. And, even if people are willing to pay that, is it a good idea to gouge your earliest customers' eyes out right off the bat?

I know, free market.

This speaks to the need for more lodging options in Central Norman.

Holy Moly! I just checked for fun. $1900 for 2 nights in November! Yeesh!

For the suite... not the standard rooms?

Edmond has done a great job of redeveloping their downtown and the area between it and UCO.

If you think about it, it's very similar to the forces at work in downtown Norman and OU.

Having lived in Norman through my college years and walking through downtown Edmond somewhat regularly these days I usually think to myself, "Commuter rail connecting Edmond, OKC, and Norman would be so nice..."

It'd be cool to get off a station in any of the three cities and be close to their downtowns. Sorry, off-topic.

For the suite... not the standard rooms?

nope that is just a double queen room .. suites are already sold out for all home game weekends ... (2 night min)

Maybe the developers could create a hotel group called Conjugation. The Noun would be first, followed by Verb, Preposition, Conjunctive, etc :)

From this morning.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/noun091622a.jpg

Supply and Demand folks

From this morning.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/noun091622a.jpg

Love how this hotel fits right in with area. Cleaned the area up nicely..........

Need about 3-4 more of these to support SEC attendees, they travel. This one is Pre-booked for games days I was told when I visited for the spring game

So im guessing this is a 100% local brand? What's the full name mean? Norman OU N????

So im guessing this is a 100% local brand? What's the full name mean? Norman OU N????

Yes, local. It stands for North of OU Norman.