As emperical evidence - This doesn't apply to OKC, but Taylor Swift's 2 concerts at Mile Hi Football Stadium @70,000 / per concert is estimated to have had a $140 million economic impact in the metro. That's not Chamber of Commerce propaganda.

Oh yeah she is a one woman economic stimulus package. Not to mention the massive bonus she gave her truck drivers.

No I’ve been pretty consistent in saying that empirical proof that the arena will bring in $1b in revenue or that the Thunder generate that much income for the city would make me reconsider. It’s why I’ve been asking for it. Instead all I get in return is abuse and gross distortions of my positions, like your post, or anecdotes.

How 10 years of Thunder basketball has helped shape ...

The Oklahoman
https://www.oklahoman.com › thunder › 2018/08/11
Aug 11, 2018 — According to data provided to the Thunder by the city, each home game translates to $1.5 million in economic impact for OKC.

This is 5 year old - One point five million per game. That's an impact.

How 10 years of Thunder basketball has helped shape ...

The Oklahoman
https://www.oklahoman.com › thunder › 2018/08/11
Aug 11, 2018 — According to data provided to the Thunder by the city, each home game translates to $1.5 million in economic impact for OKC.

This is 5 year old - One point five million per game. That's an impact.

I addressed the issues with that number and “economic impact” measures in general already. You can read them here (http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=47184&p=1240551#post1240551)

I know at least one of you guys has an extra $1billion in your pocket right now. Just go ahead and pay for this arena and let's move on.

I know at least one of you guys has an extra $1billion in your pocket right now. Just go ahead and pay for this arena and let's move on.

Harold Hamm couldn't self-fund it with just 5% of his net worth

I know at least one of you guys has an extra $1billion in your pocket right now.

Not until Tuesday at around 10pm.

New Holt interview on the biggest Thunder pod Down to Dunk. https://www.youtube.com/live/feSuwv4EdjM?feature=share

Nothing really new, does mention the prairie surf site a little bit but still no site at least publicly announced yet.

Oh yeah she is a one woman economic stimulus package. Not to mention the massive bonus she gave her truck drivers.

Love her. Wish she would come to OKC again, but it's not in the cards unless they allow it to happen at GFMS.

I grad high school in 93 and our ceremony was at the Myriad/Cox/PSM. The area was desolate around, Bricktown had been going for a few years (Spaghetti Warehouse, Haunted Warehouse during Oct, a club called Pylon), midtown was prostitutes and rent by the hour motels, the Civic Center area had the rent boys, etc). Maps started the progress we see today of course, but the item not talked about is the Bombing. After that there was so much pride in our city and a movement to improve. IMO, I really think this was a huge catalyst for changing the perception of Okc. You may not remember but there was a huge hubbub about what Connie Chung said that upset locals and made me mad that we were looked at as inferior. Hosting the Hornets put us on the stage for greatness that allowed the possibility of gaining a pro team and being mentioned in articles for best places to live or secret gems. Articles that in our past would have never happened.
Polisciguy-
You want tangible proof- then seek out new Oklahomans and ask them when you are out.
One thing leads to another and having the Thunder helps grow our city.
On that note - the Okc bombing killed 167 plus the first responder for 168 but how many other people may have lost their life due to the event? I ask because a girl I was dating at the time lost her grandma hours later to a heart attack. My gf’s mom worked near there and her grandma could not get in touch and then had the heart attack. Related - I am sure. Tangible but not listed in the statistics.
I’m voting for the Arena because I believe the Thunder have been exceptional for Okc and the state.

Excellent post, and I agree, the bombing did raise the profile of the city. So many people were impressed by our city officials, fire chief, mayor, and Governor Keating. Imagine a Republican governor today inviting the Democratic president to town and treating him like an honored guest. Imagine how OKC would be viewed today with our current governor as a spokesman.

It's sad to say, but the bombing let people around the world witness the good people of our city, and recognize that we live in an actual city, with tall buildings.

The Thunder became a positive analogue of that -- a feel good, not tragic -- story that elevated our city. It was something other than a terrorist event, mass restaurant shooting, deadly tornado, or some other such sad thing that made people think about OKC.

I have to take exception to mass transit being an economic benefit to OKC. Or rather, a front burner, important investment. I think OKC is a massive, plains, car centric city that is going to require massive investment to function at the scale required to be effective. OKC is over 600 square miles, is well served with cars, and our streetcar was a $125 million toy. Hard for me to believe we could build an effective system for less than $10 billion total. And I’m trying to understand how many of our 1.3-ish million people would be made better served and more fully employed. And how that drives population growth and wealth?

This is a myopic view. Transportation is expected by younger people. No one is saying we can provide effective transit for our massive square mile boundaries, but we can improve our central city transportation, as we are. It's a quality of life amenity. Sorry if you disagree but I'm sure you agree that even if you don't like or use every city service, there are others you do use that you like that others may not. It's why OKC is such a great and well-run city.

Excellent post, and I agree, the bombing did raise the profile of the city. So many people were impressed by our city officials, fire chief, mayor, and Governor Keating. Imagine a Republican governor today inviting the Democratic president to town and treating him like an honored guest. Imagine how OKC would be viewed today with our current governor as a spokesman.

It's sad to say, but the bombing let people around the world witness the good people of our city, and recognize that we live in an actual city, with tall buildings.

The Thunder became a positive analogue of that -- a feel good, not tragic -- story that elevated our city. It was something other than a terrorist event, mass restaurant shooting, deadly tornado, or some other such sad thing that made people think about OKC.

I think it would go better than you might imagine, to be honest.

This is a myopic view. Transportation is expected by younger people. No one is saying we can provide effective transit for our massive square mile boundaries, but we can improve our central city transportation, as we are. It's a quality of life amenity. Sorry if you disagree but I'm sure you agree that even if you don't like or use every city service, there are others you do use that you like that others may not. It's why OKC is such a great and well-run city.

Agree. Did not mean to give the impression I was anti-public transportation. My intention was to emphasize that if public transportation was a truly tangible, empirically measurable civic investment, I think it would require a massive public cash outlay that would not gain the popular support needed to make it a 4X benefit @PoliSciGuy was referring to in his comment.

Excellent post, and I agree, the bombing did raise the profile of the city. So many people were impressed by our city officials, fire chief, mayor, and Governor Keating. Imagine a Republican governor today inviting the Democratic president to town and treating him like an honored guest. Imagine how OKC would be viewed today with our current governor as a spokesman.

It's sad to say, but the bombing let people around the world witness the good people of our city, and recognize that we live in an actual city, with tall buildings.

The Thunder became a positive analogue of that -- a feel good, not tragic -- story that elevated our city. It was something other than a terrorist event, mass restaurant shooting, deadly tornado, or some other such sad thing that made people think about OKC.

Ive lost a ton of respect for Stitt over the years but I have no doubt that it would play out just like that if, god forbid, something remotely similar on that scale were to happen today. Politics always has and likely will take a back seat to massive, national tragedies that are perceived as attacks against the country.

Ive lost a ton of respect for Stitt over the years but I have no doubt that it would play out just like that if, god forbid, something remotely similar on that scale were to happen today. Politics always has and likely will take a back seat to massive, national tragedies that are perceived as attacks against the country.

Perhaps you are right, but Governor Keating was an especially articulate and classy guy (if you excuse his joke about murdering teachers). Stitt comes across as a buffoon most of the time, and he's extremely partisan. I'll leave it at that.

Excellent post, and I agree, the bombing did raise the profile of the city. So many people were impressed by our city officials, fire chief, mayor, and Governor Keating. Imagine a Republican governor today inviting the Democratic president to town and treating him like an honored guest. Imagine how OKC would be viewed today with our current governor as a spokesman.

It's sad to say, but the bombing let people around the world witness the good people of our city, and recognize that we live in an actual city, with tall buildings.

The Thunder became a positive analogue of that -- a feel good, not tragic -- story that elevated our city. It was something other than a terrorist event, mass restaurant shooting, deadly tornado, or some other such sad thing that made people think about OKC.

Thank you!
And I agree with yours. Okc, once known only for tragic events, has so much positiveness going on for us now.

Perhaps you are right, but Governor Keating was an especially articulate and classy guy (if you excuse his joke about murdering teachers). Stitt comes across as a buffoon most of the time, and he's extremely partisan. I'll leave it at that.

All fair and agree.

Thunder Wire: Thunder GM Sam Presti comments . . .

Presti: "Now, part of it is because of how we started 15 years ago when we arrived. That starting point, like from scratch, from nothing, from no logo — this was nonexistent — you build relationships, and I think that you also recognize that the mutual value of those relationships. So that’s the greatest thing when I hear Mayor Holt speak.

“And those relationships will be important as time goes on, but I’m really confident that they’ll be a great partnership as there has been since the day we arrived. I like to think part of that is also because we’ve tried to be a great partner with the community.

Link: https://okcthunderwire.usatoday.com/2022/09/23/thunder-gm-sam-presti-comments-on-new-potential-arena-and-concerns-of-it-being-publicly-funded/


.

This will pass 65 to 35 probably. All the institutions are lining up support and the # of strongly favor voters far outnumber strongly opposed.

This will pass 65 to 35 probably. All the institutions are lining up support and the # of strongly favor voters far outnumber strongly opposed.

I will be interested to see if the Fraternal Order of Police and OKC Firefighters Association will do their usual and be outspoken opponents of this. Given that it seems like their could be some pretty intense public blowback for anyone who doesn't support this if for some crazy reason it doesn't pass and the team were to leave, that it wouldn't really be worth it to them to campaign hard against it.

Just got back from a short vacation to Orlando, specifically the Disney area. It was mostly a resort stay so we hung out at the hotel, swam at the pool, ate at the restaurants, etc. I am a very outgoing person and tend to talk to just about anyone. Over three days, we end up talking to different people and the usual of where are you from, what do you do, etc comes up. I talked to a family from England (SW of London), someone from Florida, California and Maine. Immediately they mentioned the Thunder. To compare going back a bit, in 1997, I went on a mission trip to Kentucky and there were a bunch of other high school kids from all over the country there. When I told them we were from Oklahoma, they talked about the bombing, asked if we rode horses to school, did we live in tents, etc.

I have said it before and I will say it again, I am not concerned about the ROI of owning a basketball team when it comes to how much it brings to the city on a per game basis. We are getting recognized on a national and international level due to the association with the Thunder. And I don't know how many on the board really closely follow the Thunder, but the team is in a really good spot for the next five or so years with the roster. The worst thing to happen would be not voting for this, the team gets sold to an ownership in another city/state (say, Vegas or Seattle) that moves there and wins a championship a few years later. OKC would never get another high quality professional sports team for a really long time because we couldn't support one that was already here.

^ ^ ^

Just look at what happened to Seattle; they still haven't obtained an NBA franchise. NBA is the only league the Emerald City doesn't have represented in such a beautiful city and great financial market.

Seattle should be a four franchise major league market with MSA of 4,034,248 - 15th, City population 749,256 - 10th.

There is '0' chance OKC or Oklahoma will ever get a Fab Four major league franchise if this doesn't pass--even if you have to pursue this beyond the first vote--if it fails.

Oklahoma City MSA has 1,459,380 - 42nd, that's 459,380 residents beyond the 1 million per major league franchise needed to support a Big League franchise. City population - 20th, 694,800.

Build Oklahoma City a Taj Mahal arena that will be the 'envy' of many NBA cities throughout the league--seal this deal.

Just got back from a short vacation to Orlando, specifically the Disney area. It was mostly a resort stay so we hung out at the hotel, swam at the pool, ate at the restaurants, etc. I am a very outgoing person and tend to talk to just about anyone. Over three days, we end up talking to different people and the usual of where are you from, what do you do, etc comes up. I talked to a family from England (SW of London), someone from Florida, California and Maine. Immediately they mentioned the Thunder. To compare going back a bit, in 1997, I went on a mission trip to Kentucky and there were a bunch of other high school kids from all over the country there. When I told them we were from Oklahoma, they talked about the bombing, asked if we rode horses to school, did we live in tents, etc.

I have said it before and I will say it again, I am not concerned about the ROI of owning a basketball team when it comes to how much it brings to the city on a per game basis. We are getting recognized on a national and international level due to the association with the Thunder. And I don't know how many on the board really closely follow the Thunder, but the team is in a really good spot for the next five or so years with the roster. The worst thing to happen would be not voting for this, the team gets sold to an ownership in another city/state (say, Vegas or Seattle) that moves there and wins a championship a few years later. OKC would never get another high quality professional sports team for a really long time because we couldn't support one that was already here.

You don't run ROI's on status symbols, and the Thunder is highest available status symbol OKC will ever get.

I will be interested to see if the Fraternal Order of Police and OKC Firefighters Association will do their usual and be outspoken opponents of this. Given that it seems like their could be some pretty intense public blowback for anyone who doesn't support this if for some crazy reason it doesn't pass and the team were to leave, that it wouldn't really be worth it to them to campaign hard against it.

No. I would be shocked if they would come out against this. It also doesn't fit with what they've done recently.

1. They both negotiated pay raises and additional resources recently. They don't have the acrimonious relationship with the city they formerly did.

2. They supported MAPS 4

3. They supported the two most recent GO Bonds.

The time the police union was all up in it was MAPS 3. Remember "Not THIS MAPS?" Yeah, dumb campaign.

The more events hosted at the city’s arena means more overtime shifts for them for crowd control, general security, as well as special assignments/off the clock deals for VIP escorts etc. I don’t think the police would start too much of a stink for this as it guarantees extra money in the member’s pockets.

The more events hosted at the city’s arena means more overtime shifts for them for crowd control, general security, as well as special assignments/off the clock deals for VIP escorts etc. I don’t think the police would start too much of a stink for this as it guarantees extra money in the member’s pockets.

Agreed. And it’s definitely a far better gig than having to fight actual crime on the streets.

No. I would be shocked if they would come out against this. It also doesn't fit with what they've done recently.

1. They both negotiated pay raises and additional resources recently. They don't have the acrimonious relationship with the city they formerly did.

2. They supported MAPS 4

3. They supported the two most recent GO Bonds.

The time the police union was all up in it was MAPS 3. Remember "Not THIS MAPS?" Yeah, dumb campaign.

Ah, i guess I wasn’t paying attention. I thought they came out against maps 4 too.

You don't run ROI's on status symbols, and the Thunder is highest available status symbol OKC will ever get.

Yeah I guess that’s the major disconnect. One crowd thinks the arena should have to generate a tangible financial return if it’s primarily funded by public money. The other would like it to generate a return but doesn’t care either way as long as it’s a good plan that develops the area into an entertainment district in addition to the arena and secures the thunder’s presence here for the next 30 years. Not much can be done to bridge that gap.

^ ^ ^

Just look at what happened to Seattle; they still haven't obtained an NBA franchise. NBA is the only league the Emerald City doesn't have represented in such a beautiful city and great financial market.

Seattle should be a four franchise major league market with MSA of 4,034,248 - 15th, City population 749,256 - 10th.

There is '0' chance OKC or Oklahoma will ever get a Fab Four major league franchise if this doesn't pass--even if you have to pursue this beyond the first vote--if it fails.

Oklahoma City MSA has 1,459,380 - 42nd, that's 459,380 residents beyond the 1 million per major league franchise needed to support a Big League franchise. City population - 20th, 694,800.

Build Oklahoma City a Taj Mahal arena that will be the 'envy' of many NBA cities throughout the league--seal this deal.

Ahem - that 4 million is the Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area. I know it often gets shortened to just Seattle, but it is really all of the lower Puget Sound now in geography (a HUGE AREA btw) and not what was originally the Seattle-Bellevue metropolitan area (section around 2.3 million). Just a point of clarification, my metro is more similar to Dallas-Ft Worth or Minneapolis-St Paul in that there are two central cities, than it is a mega-metro dominated by a very large central city, like Chicago, LA, NY, Atl, Miami. .. CIty of Seattle does host all of the major league teams and wears its name.

Also of note, the city of Seattle (and state) put up a LOT of resistance for the Sonics when Bennett owned them. They did so with the elitist idea that he would sell if the government put on the pressure. That backfired when it was revealed Bennett would move the team to OKC with Stern's blessing and Sonics fans were butt hurt from learning that OKC owners were planning to move the team from the start; which was actually on Bennett's website from the beginning, but he did try to get something done here nonetheless and with pressure, failed.

Now, I don't think in a million years that Bennett and Co would move the Thunder even if the arena proposal fails, I'd expect more proposals until one passes. However, let it sink in a bit what Bennett had to deal with and his love for OKC. It's not a money making venture (until you sell), it's about civic pride and providing quality of life that lends ancillary benefits to Oklahoma City; as others have mentioned and I personally can attest to when folks learn I am originally from OKC (compare to when I first came here in 1991 to now, OMG, big difference).

. ...... To compare going back a bit, in 1997, I went on a mission trip to Kentucky and there were a bunch of other high school kids from all over the country there. When I told them we were from Oklahoma, they talked about the bombing, asked if we rode horses to school, did we live in tents, etc.

laughable that people from Kentucky would pretend not to be a backwater in comparison to Oklahoma. ..

Now, I don't think in a million years that Bennett and Co would move the Thunder even if the arena proposal fails, I'd expect more proposals until one passes. However, let it sink in a bit what Bennett had to deal with and his love for OKC. It's not a money making venture (until you sell), it's about civic pride and providing quality of life that lends ancillary benefits to Oklahoma City; as others have mentioned and I personally can attest to when folks learn I am originally from OKC (compare to when I first came here in 1991 to now, OMG, big difference).

Good post, we admire the fact that you kept up with the direction of the city as you have continued to do to this day. Kentucky was late getting KFC Yum Center approved; OKC got a bare bones arena thru to advance our big league aspirations forward.

Think positive about the arena vote; this is about the next level state-of-the-art or dropping back to mediocre status.

Two important OKCTalk.com news pieces reported:


New Downtown Arena Proposed July 20: https://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=975-New-downtown-arena-proposed
New survey suggests $1 billion for new arena July 31: https://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=977-New-survey-suggests-1-billion-for-new-arena

Adding this up: $891 million in sales tax + $70 million in MAPS 4 funds + $75 million from the Thunder ownership (see additional question) = $1.036 billion. Since the likely site is already owned by the City (Prairie Surf Studios/old Cox Center) the value of the land is likely not factored into the total.

Voters can take Oklahoma City to the next level; decide if we want to invest $1 billion in a facility to host Big League Sports and Major concerts to be apart of our city's future in a state-of-the-art facility.

If voters approved this referendum (money borrowed) pending future MAPS extension fund collections; our leadership in partnership with the Thunder will use this money toward our reputation and future.

We already know that surplus funds, if any--will be invested in the city.




.

Now, I don't think in a million years that Bennett and Co would move the Thunder even if the arena proposal fails, I'd expect more proposals until one passes. However, let it sink in a bit what Bennett had to deal with and his love for OKC. It's not a money making venture (until you sell), it's about civic pride and providing quality of life that lends ancillary benefits to Oklahoma City; as others have mentioned and I personally can attest to when folks learn I am originally from OKC (compare to when I first came here in 1991 to now, OMG, big difference).

If this fails, they will sell the team for close to $3 billion and not lose a wink of sleep over it, and I wouldn't blame them.

^^^^^^^^^^
100% correct. The idea that they will continue to sign short term leases in a substandard building while bringing repeated hat-in-hand pleas to the City and its voters is folly. This is one and done. They’d sell to the highest bidder, which would almost certainly be someone buying to relocate. We have a once-in-a-generation chance to get this right.

Gotta remember that's how we got the Thunder. A Seattle based group of about 60 people, headed by "favorite son" Howard Schultz got frustrated with the refusal of their attempts to get a new arena built in the greater Seattle area and sold.

Lemme say again that NO city has ever said they are better off since a major sports league team left their city. Including Houston, who still wishes they had never let the Oilers go to Tennessee. Or Seattle, who has added the NHL Kranen and still pines for the return of the SuperSonics,

Food for thought: the Tennessee legislature forced through a $1.2b funding package for a new Titans stadium. The result? The Titans' valuation skyrocketed by 33% (https://tennesseestar.com/news/report-tennessee-titans-value-rose-33-percent-to-4-37-billion-following-2-1-billion-stadium-deal/tcsquare/2023/08/09/).

Public money making the rich richer.

Food for thought: the Tennessee legislature forced through a $1.2b funding package for a new Titans stadium. The result? The Titans' valuation skyrocketed by 33% (https://tennesseestar.com/news/report-tennessee-titans-value-rose-33-percent-to-4-37-billion-following-2-1-billion-stadium-deal/tcsquare/2023/08/09/).

Public money making the rich richer.

It is supposed to make the rich richer. Public money is spent in a way to help society and the economy. That makes all better. And the rich richer

Food for thought: the Tennessee legislature forced through a $1.2b funding package for a new Titans stadium. The result? The Titans' valuation skyrocketed by 33% (https://tennesseestar.com/news/report-tennessee-titans-value-rose-33-percent-to-4-37-billion-following-2-1-billion-stadium-deal/tcsquare/2023/08/09/).

Public money making the rich richer.

I hate that kind of thing as much as the next person, but that's just the reality of America now (and has been for decades, actually). Never will be fixed (the rich have gamed the system so that it's pretty much impossible to undo at this point) until climate change kills us all (and the rich will still be getting richer in their bunkers and hidey-holes)...

^^^ Dob - but the rich generally don't invest back into the public so that "a rising tide lifts every boat", they themselves just keep getting richer.

It is supposed to make the rich richer. Public money is spent in a way to help society and the economy. That makes all better. And the rich richer

How does the Titans valuation ballooning help the everyday Tennessean citizen?

How does the Titans valuation ballooning help the everyday Tennessean citizen?

Because a lot are Titans fans. If they leave, then that is one less thing they can do as a family. May not be monetarily, but QOL will go down a little. And that is magnified in OKC, where there is already less to do.

Because a lot are Titans fans. If they leave, then that is one less thing they can do as a family. May not be monetarily, but QOL will go down a little. And that is magnified in OKC, where there is already less to do.

Tell Uncle Luke I’m out in OKC too

Because a lot are Titans fans. If they leave, then that is one less thing they can do as a family. May not be monetarily, but QOL will go down a little. And that is magnified in OKC, where there is already less to do.

also the domed stadium they are building will host final 4's other large events likely the SEC championship game .. and likely the CFP championship game ..

Food for thought: the Tennessee legislature forced through a $1.2b funding package for a new Titans stadium. The result? The Titans' valuation skyrocketed by 33% (https://tennesseestar.com/news/report-tennessee-titans-value-rose-33-percent-to-4-37-billion-following-2-1-billion-stadium-deal/tcsquare/2023/08/09/).

Public money making the rich richer.

I reject the premise

OKC breaks visitation record with tourism on the rise;
https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-city-breaks-visitation-record-with-tourism-on-rise/44778461

OKC breaks visitation record with tourism on the rise;
https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-city-breaks-visitation-record-with-tourism-on-rise/44778461

That is great news. Way to go OKC!

OKC breaks visitation record with tourism on the rise;
https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-city-breaks-visitation-record-with-tourism-on-rise/44778461
Here’s the CVB’s original release (https://www.visitokc.com/articles/post/okc-tourism-study-reveals-record-breaking-economic-impact/?utm_campaign=inspire_convention&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_content=brand&utm_term=economicimpactstudy) that KOCO story is based upon:


OKC Tourism Study Reveals Record-breaking Economic Impact

Aug. 09, 2023

OKC travel sector generates over $4 billion in economic impact

OKLAHOMA CITY – A recent research report conducted by Tourism Economics found that visitors to Oklahoma City generated an annual economic impact of $4.3 billion from 23.2 million visitors in 2022. By tracing the flow of visitor-related expenditures through the city’s economy and their effects on employment, wages and taxes, the report found that tourism has a dramatic effect on the health of OKC’s local economy.

“We’ve had various indicators that our visitor economy had surpassed pre-pandemic levels, but this data gives us a deeper understanding of the power of tourism in Oklahoma City,” said Zac Craig, Visit Oklahoma City President. “A total economic impact of more than $4 billion from the travel sector is very exciting. And we expect tourism’s economic impact to continue climbing as Visit OKC elevates our destination marketing across national and international audiences and partners add new attractions throughout the city.”

In 2022, 23.2 million visitors directly spent $2.6 billion across a range of sectors – including food and beverage (26%), retail (23%), recreation and entertainment (19%), lodging (18%) and transportation (15%). This total economic impact sustained more than 33,888 jobs and generated $343 million in state and local tax revenues in 2022.

“This study details the direct effect of tourism in OKC, but we also see the additional ways travel spending positively impacts other industries such as real estate, insurance and various business services that support tourism-related organizations,” said Christy Gillenwater, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber President and CEO. “In addition, the total jobs impact approximately one of every 20 jobs in Oklahoma City. That’s 5% of our workforce supporting tourism right here in Oklahoma City.”

Oklahoma City’s future as a tourism destination is on the rise.

"Oklahoma City has invested in itself with entertainment venues and districts through the MAPS program for decades, and this investment is paying dividends,” said Craig. “Our entire community has blossomed because of MAPS, which can be seen in our new convention center complex, streetcar infrastructure and world-class attractions and districts that elevate us as a meetings and sports destination and leisure travel destination.”

And here’s a link to more details from the study itself (https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/v1/clients/oklahoma/Visit_OKC_tourism_economic_impact_sheet_2023_30764 5aa-e12b-40ff-8e67-6233d883f7b0.pdf).

It will be interesting to see if the convention center can really start to ramp up now that the pandemic is pretty much behind us.

Food for thought: the Tennessee legislature forced through a $1.2b funding package for a new Titans stadium. The result? The Titans' valuation skyrocketed by 33% (https://tennesseestar.com/news/report-tennessee-titans-value-rose-33-percent-to-4-37-billion-following-2-1-billion-stadium-deal/tcsquare/2023/08/09/).

Public money making the rich richer.

The owners are providing 40% of the investment assets for a facility that will hold far more than 8 NFL games/year so that's a pretty fair partnership. I would like to know how you came to the conclusion that a stadium directly affected the team's value? Sports team franchise values have skyrocketed across the board.

It will be interesting to see if the convention center can really start to ramp up now that the pandemic is pretty much behind us.

Not only that but if the citizens approve funding for the new arena, the city will be able to attract more sporting events such as NCAA basketball, wrestling and volleyball tournaments.

Not only that but if the citizens approve funding for the new arena, the city will be able to attract more sporting events such as NCAA basketball, wrestling and volleyball tournaments.

Nadia and Bart Conner will bring gymnastics back to Oklahoma City in a different setting on a higher level.

There's much awaiting the new arena.

Left the south side this morning, on Robinson. As I passed the beautiful lower Scissortail Park on my left (traveling North), I was mindful of the old hub caps and muffler shops partially standing on my right of what use to be a once vibrant area north of Commerce Street in Capitol Hill. The lower park had plenty of people using it, walking the path in full exercise mode.

Travel north, you run between Scissortail Park, Skydance Bridge and the new Convention Center. They were preparing for the Farmer's Market---heard about it, got to witness the huge set up. Looked over to my right and there stood our $560 million convention center complex and Omni. On my left crossing Reno Avenue stood PSM, a grim reminder of the day it opened, hearing Della Reese, Special Guest for the Myriad grand opening--she was a 'Long way from St. Louie.'

OKC has come a long way and how clever Pete pointed out the comparison to an 8 home game NFL is to a 41 home game NBA.

Thank you Pete, this put our NBA arena more into perspective; because IMO our $1 billion new NBA arena is just as viable as Nashville's $2.1 billion Titan NFL Domed Stadium.

I’m itching for the renderings to leak!

From earlier this summer:

NBA And NHL Host Cities Will Rake In Millions This Weekend—Here’s How Much (https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2023/06/01/nba-and-nhl-host-cities-will-rake-in-millions-this-weekend-heres-how-much/?sh=4a5d11097ffe)

From earlier this summer:

NBA And NHL Host Cities Will Rake In Millions This Weekend—Here’s How Much (https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2023/06/01/nba-and-nhl-host-cities-will-rake-in-millions-this-weekend-heres-how-much/?sh=4a5d11097ffe)

Doesn't show amounts going directly into the city's general fund, so it won't please some on this site. Love this article!

I’m itching for the renderings to leak!

i'm just wondering who is winning the negotiation. my money is on the ownership group. they will end up with a great deal, imo.

i'm a yes vote either way, but would def. prefer the owners chip in roughly the same amount, on a percentage of total cost basis, that Milwaukee's ownership group chipped in for FiServ.

i'm just wondering who is winning the negotiation. my money is on the ownership group. they will end up with a great deal, imo.

^ ^ ^ Agree 100% ^ ^ ^

We're in the Big Leagues now and there's no turning back without doing irritable harm to our city's reputation.


https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uezIsYZUxS4/sddefault.jpg

The Concerts and Live Entertainment Industry: A Significant Economic Engine (https://www.oxfordeconomics.com/resource/livemusic/)

Arenas aren't just for basketball.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uezIsYZUxS4&t=233s

I’m itching for the renderings to leak!

How much design can they do without funding approved by voters?

When is the deadline to put this on the ballot in December? I would expect we'll finally get more details at that point.

How much design can they do without funding approved by voters?

I think they realize they need some pretty pictures to sell this to voters. Even if they are just "conceptual".

A big question will be whether they hire a Starchitect like Tulsa did with Cesar Pelli or go with a sports architecture firm like Populous or HOK

I’d imagine they go with Populous

knowing OKC, it will be HOK. I;d love for it to be a star but since it's largely public funded they have to be safe.

As for the renderings, I believe they have to get that done before October, since don't you need 3 months before an election. Not completely sure but I 'think' I remember hearing that in prior elections, it has to be announced 3 months ahead.