9K to 14K seat soccer stadium coming?

[GoOKC1991]

EXCLUSIVE: OKC NASL group planning to build riverfront 9K to 14K seat soccer-specific stadium - Eastword News - Midwest City, OK

[Snowman]

My first though is there is no way that land should be in the price range they would actually build 10 fields and a stadium just outside of downtown (arguably still in it) with their own money, the area needed is approaching half the area between i40 and the river which is not either already a city park or will be a city park, it would be shocking they would even try to acquire the property without the city on board enough to give the treat of eminent domain. Which does not even count space for any parking they may be considering. That is if they are buying the land held by private owners, the area they would need is also conveniently close to the size of Wheeler park.

[CuatrodeMayo]

If I had to guess, the "sources" that Eastward News is referring to is OKC Talk.

[ljbab728]

Does OKC Talk "speak to" Eastward News under condition of anonymity?

[boitoirich]

I'm behind the bid to bring NASL more than I am USL Pro, but if that means a huge complex of stadia near downtown, then no way. A premier stadium in the core plus a field of others elsewhere is fine. Beyond that, hell no.

[bradh]

So you're okay with a stadium downtown, but no additional fields?

The practice facility and others should be elsewhere, like out by the horse track. I know in Houston, the stadium is in a wonderful downtown setting, but the practice complex and youth academy (Houston Amateur Sports Park) is in the Houston equivalent of somewhere between Kilpatrick and the 44/35/40 loop.

That would work here well.

[Laramie]

Agree that we can't put everything on the river or in the downtown setting. Fair Park has utilities in place and plenty of parking; the river area would be ideal for any of these models; however the cost of utilities and parking would factor into inflated costs.

You would think these groups (USL-Pro, NASL) would work together with the city and come up with one big master plan which would include a complex (stadium/fields) to address all their needs. The City could work with private development to achieve the ultimate goals. Again, everthing doesn't have to be built on 1 site; could Core-to-Shore's park be used in this plan? We already have the renovated Myriad Gardens, the Core-to-Shore central park doesn't need the full 70 acres.

[boy]

They need to build a youth soccer complex like the one in Overland Park, with an MLS-class stadium to go along with it:

About the Soccer Complex ? City of Overland Park

OKC is in the perfect location to draw teams from all over.

The one in Overland Park is booked just about every weekend of the year.

[bradh]

true, but their MLS stadium (class facility, btw) is no where near that facility in Overland Park

[CaptDave]

Just like the Thunder has a training facility separate from the arena. This is the norm in professional sports as far as I can tell.

[bluedogok]

Just like the Thunder has a training facility separate from the arena. This is the norm in professional sports as far as I can tell.

Yes and no, if the stadium or arena is in a suburban location, training facilities are usually adjacent to the stadium. In an urban area, they tend to be remote. Here in Denver the Broncos facility is in the far south Denver metro area, the Nuggets actually at their facility adjacent to the Pepsi Center but then Kronke owns the arena and it is one of the few who can practice the arena they play in. The Avalanche training facility is in the South Suburban Sports Complex by Centennial Airport (not far from the Broncos facility). The Rapids (MLS) have a large facility in Commerce City, fairly close to downtown (in comparison to the Broncos and Avs) but it is suburban in nature and has oil/chemical refineries nearby.

[mugofbeer]

Perhaps it will be on the south side of the river, closer to the Hispanic community but also where there is plenty of land for adjacent practice fields?

[Laramie]

South of the river? Something to be considered...

What about the old 'Downtown Air Park' site? Kirk Humphreys bought that for around $7.5 million.

The OKC Police Helicopter Port is the only thing there--plently of land for development. Grant Humphreys will probably put his Ferris Wheel he purchased from Santa Monica, CA there. There are rumors of building an amphitheater on that site to replace the Zoo Amphitheater (animals got tired of all that noise).

[Fantastic]

South of the river? Something to be considered...

What about the old 'Downtown Air Park' site? Kirk Humphreys bought that for around $7.5 million.

The OKC Police Helicopter Port is the only thing there--plently of land for development. Grant Humphreys will probably put his Ferris Wheel he purchased from Santa Monica, CA there. There are rumors of building an amphitheater on that site to replace the Zoo Amphitheater (animals got tired of all that noise).

The Waterfront development the Humphreys were working on has stalled, but from my understanding that is just because it is such a long-term development, and they are working on other projects right now (i.e. resort at Lake Eufala), but the development is NOT dead by any means... remember, this is basically a WHOLE NEW DISTRICT being built from the ground up. I doubt that Humphreys would scrap the project and sell to either Lund OR Funk (though such a thing is not impossible)

As far as the "amphitheater" you are refering to, it isn't so much an amphitheater as simply a stage and some tents to be used as an outdoor concert venue, and it is up and running, in fact there was a well publicized event last week. Sublime with Rome, Pennywise and Twizted were there to break in the venue on Thursday. I was kinda bummed that I had to work that night, because I was a big Pennywise fan in the 90s... the band not the clown... the clown kinda freaks me out a bit. "Ohh yes... They Float Georgie... They Float... and when your down here, with me... YOU'LL FLOAT TOO!" *shutters*

[Laramie]

As far as the "amphitheater" you are refering to, it isn't so much an amphitheater as simply a stage and some tents to be used as an outdoor concert venue, and it is up and running, in fact there was a well publicized event last week. Sublime with Rome, Pennywise and Twizted were there to break in the venue on Thursday. I was kinda bummed that I had to work that night, because I was a big Pennywise fan in the 90s... the band not the clown... the clown kinda freaks me out a bit. "Ohh yes... They Float Georgie... They Float... and when your down here, with me... YOU'LL FLOAT TOO!" *shutters*

Well aware of the temporary make-shift 'amphitheater' and tents that are being planned for that area. I have heard about a potentially more fixed facility more comparable to 'Starplex' in Dallas with seating in excess of 10,000...

[hoya]

Yeah that clown is creepy.

[CaptDave]

Major League Soccer to expand to 24 teams by 2020 season, says Commissioner Don Garber | MLSsoccer.com

Is it possible OKC will be ready? This silly feud between the owners needs to be resolved ASAP.

[mugofbeer]

Would also be nice if the facility could also be used for football (American that is)

[CaptDave]

Would also be nice if the facility could also be used for football (American that is)

If it were solely up to me it wouldn't, but that really isn't practical especially in OK. I hate seeing the outlines of all the stripes that are left behind after they play non-football on a football pitch. But I am a purist....

[mugofbeer]

If it were solely up to me it wouldn't, but that really isn't practical especially in OK. I hate seeing the outlines of all the stripes that are left behind after they play non-football on a football pitch. But I am a purist....

I just see that if it could also be used for football, then it would be in use many more nights of the year and be that much more successful. (Add in concerts, too!)

My perfect site would still be the south side of the fairgrounds, re-routing Reno however is necessary while also incorporating all the land south of Reno to the river. Then, the river, the lake and canals could be worked in with the stadium and the fairgrounds...................we can all dream....

[Lord Helmet]

If it were solely up to me it wouldn't, but that really isn't practical especially in OK. I hate seeing the outlines of all the stripes that are left behind after they play non-football on a football pitch. But I am a purist....

There's nothing worst than watching a soccer game with football lines all over the field. Ever watch a NE Revolution match once the Patriots have started? It's a horrible viewing experience (not to mention the stadium is way too big for an MLS team).

[CaptDave]

As a practical matter I think any future MLS appropriate stadium will host American football games occasionally. I am hopeful at least one of the new OKC teams will be successful enough to be a serious contender for an MLS franchise and maybe we will get a stadium. There have been a lot of good ideas for a stadium location - we just need a team now!

We could have quite an I35 rivalry is San Antonio joins MLS too - KC, OKC, FC Dallas, Houston, and SA. Not all exactly on I35 but that is a pretty strong regional rivalry.

[Laramie]

As a practical matter I think any future MLS appropriate stadium will host American football games occasionally. I am hopeful at least one of the new OKC teams will be successful enough to be a serious contender for an MLS franchise and maybe we will get a stadium. There have been a lot of good ideas for a stadium location - we just need a team now!

We could have quite an I35 rivalry is San Antonio joins MLS too - KC, OKC, FC Dallas, Houston, and SA. Not all exactly on I35 but that is a pretty strong regional rivalry.

The long-term goal of Prodigal (Funks' group) is to test the waters. If he has any success with an Oklahoma City USL-Pro franchise; he is definitely going to go for it. Get the stadium erected and apply for an MLS franchise. Why? Because this has become personal between the Funks and Lund.

Funk had a chance to get an MLS franchise for Edmond (Wantland Stadium); it would have cost $10 million. He took that $10 million and purchased the PCL AAA Redhawks. Now it's $125 million to get an MLS expansion franchise.

Lund's group, Sold Out Strategies (SOS) are taking it step by step. If they can build a successful NASL franchise; this is where Oklahoma City will probably stay and [B]who knows,[/B ]there could eventually be a merger between the NASL and the MLS.

Meanwhile, Taft Stadium has begun its renovation process to temporarily house an NASL franchise. It may be cheaper for Lund's group to continue using Taft and eventually expand it to 20,000-seats.

This stadium race is going to be interesting:

1. Could we have SOS build a 9,000 to 14,000-seat stadium with plans to expand to 22,000.
2. Prodigal erecting an 8,000-seat facility with plans to expand to 20,000
3. What about the City(?); MAPS IV (2017) could partner with any of these groups to build a facility.

It's going to be interesting to see how OKC develops the stadia plans being proposed for the future.

[mkokc]

Fact Check:

The Oklahoma City NASL team is owned by Tim McLaughlin, not by Sold Out Strategies. Taft Stadium's renovation began yesterday with McLaughlin a part of it.
More info: NASL Board of Governors Unanimously Approves Expansion To Jacksonville And Oklahoma City | North American Soccer League
More info: https://www.facebook.com/pages/OKC-NASL/193509307484853

[boitoirich]

I'd love for it to happen here, but OKC does not seem to be on the radar for the short list based on the list of factors given by the MLS commissioner. But to address that, here's what would have to happen between now and 2018:

1) One of the two ownership groups needs to have a stadium in place;
2) That ownership group needs to have crowds of at least 7,500 / gm (preferably higher than 8,000)
3) TV ratings for USMNT games needs to remain strong
4) That ownership group needs both the money to finance an MLS team and a strong, comprehensive plan for starting one

Even if these things fall into place, the market size is the one factor that can't change, and that's really one of the biggest disadvantages OKC has compared to the other contenders (Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, San Antonio, Minneapolis, Phoenix, and Sacramento). MLS has to consider OKC a Tier 2 or 3 soccer city right now. That can change, but only if a stadium gets built and people really show up and catch the league's attention.