Ideas 4 MAPS

[Laramie]

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.

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

[Plutonic Panda]

http://www.oklahoman.com/article/562...8c5b30f785d463

[Laramie]

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:



• Upgrading Chesapeake Energy Arena and practice facilities for the Thunder are vital, Holt said.




• A $96.6 million coliseum, designed for horse shows, is proposed to replace Fairgrounds Arena.


• 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-p...rticle/5620675

[SuburbanNation]

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.

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.

[Miracle121]

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

[Laramie]

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.



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.

[Laramie]

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.

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.

[SuburbanNation]

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.

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!

[Laramie]

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.

[Johnb911]

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

[Plutonic Panda]

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

[OkiePoke]

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

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

[Plutonic Panda]

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.

[d-usa]

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.

[SouthSide]

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

[okccowan]

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

[Johnb911]

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

[OkiePoke]

Chicago & Boston both have excellent aquariums.

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

[Plutonic Panda]

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

[Jersey Boss]

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

[mugofbeer]

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.

[mugofbeer]

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.

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.

[OKCRT]

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.

[OkiePoke]

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.

[hoya]

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.