normanokdevelopment.com reported that Cleveland County is seeking proposals for a parking garage in downtown Norman. It would be north of the courthouse and east of the train station. Minimum 300 parking spaces and must include "a minimum 75-room hotel, office and/or retail space, or multi-family housing."

Thanks for the info -- this is great news.

I believe this is the property:

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/norman042524a.jpg

Sorely needed.

As expected, the Facebook commentary on that post has been incredible content.

As expected, the Facebook commentary on that post has been incredible content.

Unless it is a Trader Joes any community will comment that anything new is awful for a variety of reasons. People have a lot of time on their hands to comment.

Sorely needed.

For sure parking is a nightmare if you have to use any of the County government buildings.

A hotel would do great here. The Main Street and campus areas could support several more hotels.

A hotel would do great here. The Main Street and campus areas could support several more hotels.

Norman needs several more hotels as OU moves into the SEC. These people are hard core and travel. Everyone benefits with more commerce. You'd rather all these people stay in Norman than track back & forth from Bricktown.

Norman needs several more hotels as OU moves into the SEC. These people are hard core and travel. Everyone benefits with more commerce. You'd rather all these people stay in Norman than track back & forth from Bricktown.

Maybe, maybe not

https://www.columbiamissourian.com/sports/mizzou_football/the-sec-has-not-had-tangible-effect-on-columbias-tourism-economy/article_4a54386e-49cc-11e9-af93-bbc4672ab49d.html

Maybe, maybe not

https://www.columbiamissourian.com/sports/mizzou_football/the-sec-has-not-had-tangible-effect-on-columbias-tourism-economy/article_4a54386e-49cc-11e9-af93-bbc4672ab49d.html

That's because Missouri isn't a blueblood in football with an 84,000 seat stadium. You can't compare Missouri to OU, IMO.

That's because Missouri isn't a blueblood in football with an 84,000 seat stadium. You can't compare Missouri to OU, IMO.

What real world example then could you cite to support your position?

Watching or being generally aware of college football even in just the past decade or so provides all the examples you need.

What real world example then could you cite to support your position?

https://www.oudaily.com/sports/ou-norman-officials-prepare-for-large-2024-sec-crowds-economic-shift/article_f778780a-5b58-11ee-913d-63cb3b7df396.html#:~:text=Norman%20officials%20exp ect%20the%20road,football%20weekend%3A%20%2430%2B% 20million.

https://www.cbs42.com/sports/alabama/tourism-experts-estimate-over-200-million-economic-impact-for-alabama-football-this-season/amp/

Tuscaloosa is smaller than Norman, even with them having a slightly bigger stadium.

But seriously, just watch football. OU is lightyears ahead of Missouri, and if you can't see how that will lead to more fans visiting, I'm afraid we can't have a further discussion.

You used a piddly, fledgling Missouri program, that has never been good, to try to compare to OU.

https://www.oudaily.com/sports/ou-norman-officials-prepare-for-large-2024-sec-crowds-economic-shift/article_f778780a-5b58-11ee-913d-63cb3b7df396.html#:~:text=Norman%20officials%20exp ect%20the%20road,football%20weekend%3A%20%2430%2B% 20million.

https://www.cbs42.com/sports/alabama/tourism-experts-estimate-over-200-million-economic-impact-for-alabama-football-this-season/amp/

Tuscaloosa is smaller than Norman, even with them having a slightly bigger stadium.

But seriously, just watch football. OU is lightyears ahead of Missouri, and if you can't see how that will lead to more fans visiting, I'm afraid we can't have a further discussion.

You used a piddly, fledgling Missouri program, that has never been good, to try to compare to OU.

Comparing OU to Alabama is nuts. They are not in the same conversation. Georgia and possibly Ohio State would be. Knoxville would be a more apt comparisson

You are talking about four games a year. Most visitors to those games will only stay one night.

Games that already sell out.

Where is the increased business?

Comparing OU to Alabama is nuts. They are not in the same conversation. Georgia and possibly Ohio State would be. Knoxville would be a more apt comparisson

I have no idea what you are talking about. Alabama is a very successful, traditional power in College Football. They don't draw twice as many fans for home games, make 5 times a much money, or draw 3 times as many TV sets an an even comparison. I just read a story on an Alabama site that was expressing outrage that OU-Texas already had been listed as the number 1 SEC rivalry experience. I think OU-Texas is number 1 nationally, so it will be ahead of Alabama-Auburn.

I understand familiarity fatigue, as well as Big-12 fatigue. But, SEC in Norman is gonna be well regarded everywhere except Norman, IMO.

Having said that, I don't think 7 weekends a year is going to change the hospitality business in Norman. Or anywhere else.

To clear up any misunderstanding. Compare OU to Alabama and their records in the BCS playoffs.
As far as rivalry games, GA v Florida would be comparable to OU v Texas.

To clear up any misunderstanding. Compare OU to Alabama and their records in the BCS playoffs.
As far as rivalry games, GA v Florida would be comparable to OU v Texas.

I think the national opinion of OU-Texas is different that you suggest. It has been, and continues to be, the most special rivalry game in all of College Football.

Or, as the SEC would say...It Just Means More

You are talking about four games a year. Most visitors to those games will only stay one night.

Games that already sell out.

Where is the increased business?
SEC teams’ fans tend to travel way better than B12 fans ever do. I know that Pokes dont want to acknowledge it, but its true. And, OU wont have to be the main load bearer for the awful 11 am games the B12 saddled them.This is way better for OU and Norman.

Maybe, maybe not

https://www.columbiamissourian.com/sports/mizzou_football/the-sec-has-not-had-tangible-effect-on-columbias-tourism-economy/article_4a54386e-49cc-11e9-af93-bbc4672ab49d.html

I’ve long suspected that people are dramatically over optimistic about any economic impact of SEC fan travel. It may tick up, but likely something minor that doesn’t make much of a difference. It’s the same way that the Thunder get a bit too much credit for OKC’s economic growth. I don’t mind the “is OU SEC ready?” talk because it seems like it’s lighting a fire under people’s butt’s to improve a range of things. But I suspect the end impact of the SEC on the Norman/OKC economies will be negligible.

Comparing OU to Alabama is nuts. They are not in the same conversation. Georgia and possibly Ohio State would be. Knoxville would be a more apt comparisson

lol get a clue ... by all metrics OU is a top 3 program of ALL TIME with bama and ND

You are talking about four games a year. Most visitors to those games will only stay one night.

Games that already sell out.

Where is the increased business?

nope most of those visitors say 2+ nights ...

I’m actually IN the visitor industry. I have been for 25 years. I can tell you FOR A FACT that anyone who’s been in hospitality longer than the past few years is foaming at the mouth at the prospect of SEC football business. SEC schools usually outperform their allotments, meaning they buy up every ticket provided them by OU and ALSO buy up lots of OU season ticket holder tickets on the secondary market.

And BoulderSooner is correct that they normally stay two or more nights. Alabama fans in particular start arriving 3-4 days before the game. And they SPEND.

The SEC doesn’t have a monopoly on fans that travel; schools like Oregon, Washington, Florida Sate have made big impacts on the local economy when they came here.

But as everyone knows, the SEC top to bottom (other than 2-3 teams) travel better than anyone. They are going to bring lots of love to Norman, and to the OKC metro. Anyone who says different has absolutely no idea what they are talking about.

And BoulderSooner is correct

things i like to read :D

I’m actually IN the visitor industry. I have been for 25 years. I can tell you FOR A FACT that anyone who’s been in hospitality longer than the past few years is foaming at the mouth at the prospect of SEC football business. SEC schools usually outperform their allotments, meaning they buy up every ticket provided them by OU and ALSO buy up lots of OU season ticket holder tickets on the secondary market.

And BoulderSooner is correct that they normally stay two or more nights. Alabama fans in particular start arriving 3-4 days before the game. And they SPEND.

The SEC doesn’t have a monopoly on fans that travel; schools like Oregon, Washington, Florida Sate have made big impacts on the local economy when they came here.

But as everyone knows, the SEC top to bottom (other than 2-3 teams) travel better than anyone. They are going to bring lots of love to Norman, and to the OKC metro. Anyone who says different has absolutely no idea what they are talking about.

I also worked in hospitality/hotels for over two decades and it is a fact some cities/groups travel better than others. I always remember California, New York, and Texas team fans traveling really well when I was still serving and bartending. You can spend a year or two working in the area as a server or bartender and you will figure it out for yourself incredibly quickly. You plan your own vacations on big events coming to town because you know that weekend could be worth a few grand. My first house was paid for in cash largely in part to tourists and event goers going to bricktown in the 00s.

Just curious, did Texas A&M or Mizzou ever travel well? They’re both in the SEC, but I don’t anything special about their fan bases from their Big 12 days. Maybe they’ve changed in the last 12 years.

I’m pretty confident there will be a boost this first year considering the schedule. It’ll be interesting to see the effect long term. You’d think this might entice someone to build a second hotel near campus. I still don’t understand why that hasnt happened as I think the market could support several more hotels close to campus.

Comparing OU to Alabama is nuts. They are not in the same conversation. Georgia and possibly Ohio State would be. Knoxville would be a more apt comparisson

Tell me you know nothing about college football without saying you know nothing about college football. Lol.

Mentions a potential hotel, parking garage, and pedestrian mall.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/norman071724a.jpg

19021

It appears to be where the area in red is, with that portion of Comanche St closing down.

(I don't know how to reply with the image larger like Pete does, so apologies)

based upon that render, it more looks like they are just moving the street to the current alleyway,