Scissortail Park

[baralheia]

I'm hearing rumblings via Twitter (mostly from The Lost Ogle) that the Kings of Leon opening weekend concert is costing the city at least a million to put on... Possibly upwards of $1.5M. And that KoL won't be using the new stage that we built for the park because they feel it's too small for their act. I've got no problem with artists being paid for their work but this seems... excessive? And concerning, because if this is true, the first show held here won't actually use the facilities built... Did we fail to enure the park could live up to it's full potential? I'm taking it all with a grain of salt, but is anyone else hearing anything similar?

[shawnw]

Their usual fee, per a number of twitter posts is 500K. If you then factor "building" a venue, closing streets, security, etc, maybe it gets to the 1M?

I definitely get the complaints, but I suspect this money is coming out of the 130M park budget (or the donations). I doubt we're paying _additional_ monies. If we weren't getting this show, we'd get 1M more in park improvements. Not saying it's worth the trade off, just saying taxpayers wouldn't get 1M back in their pocket if this act went away.

[Pete]

You can see by that last drone shot I posted they have absolutely tons of work remaining, particularly in the southern half of the park. I walked through there a few days ago and the scale of what is left to be done is mind-boggling.

I'd love to know what will still be unfinished by the late September grand opening weekend. We are less than 3 months out.

[David]

A round up of TLO's view on the concert, for the curious: OKC Twitterati attacks TLO for pointing out cost of Kings of Leon concert…

[hfry]

I'm hearing rumblings via Twitter (mostly from The Lost Ogle) that the Kings of Leon opening weekend concert is costing the city at least a million to put on... Possibly upwards of $1.5M. And that KoL won't be using the new stage that we built for the park because they feel it's too small for their act. I've got no problem with artists being paid for their work but this seems... excessive? And concerning, because if this is true, the first show held here won't actually use the facilities built... Did we fail to enure the park could live up to it's full potential? I'm taking it all with a grain of salt, but is anyone else hearing anything similar?

In that image I posted on the last page, I think, it shows that for large concerts that a bigger stage would be needed. So they planned on this type of set up from the beginning for large set ups.

[jn1780]

What's the capacity of the park when you have to use half of the great lawn for a stage? It seems like KOL may be the biggest act the park will ever see. The economics won't be good for similar acts unless city is paying for it. Which is ok, since this isn't really meant to be a nice upscale amphitheater.

[shawnw]

I wonder if you'd have to build something on Robinson...

[Laramie]

What's the capacity of the park when you have to use half of the great lawn for a stage? It seems like KOL may be the biggest act the park will ever see. The economics won't be good for similar acts unless city is paying for it. Which is ok, since this isn't really meant to be a nice upscale amphitheater.

As Pete mentioned, this is got to be mind-boggling. They have so much to do to complete the park. Wish they could eventually add amphitheater seats, blocks or benches to the tune of 10,000 plus. When you have people scattered throughout a lawn it will be a difficult sit without invading personal space.

IMO: The Woodstock type lawn grazing concerts isn't what we should resurrect in OKC.

[Bullbear]

As Pete mentioned, this is got to be mind-boggling. They have so much to do to complete the park. Wish they could eventually add amphitheater seats, blocks or benches to the tune of 10,000 plus. When you have people scattered throughout a lawn it will be a difficult sit without invading personal space.

IMO: The Woodstock type lawn grazing concerts isn't what we should resurrect in OKC.

I can't imagine seating will be added, Its a great lawn similar to a festival type set up. most people wont be seated by standing and maybe sitting on the hill. that's pretty normal with this type of setup.

[Laramie]

I can't imagine seating will be added, Its a great lawn similar to a festival type set up. most people wont be seated by standing and maybe sitting on the hill. that's pretty normal with this type of setup.

Normal setup is true, if people would 'go somewhere and sit down.' There's so much movement today of people prancing in & out to the restrooms, concessions and so forth; just don't know, it probably wouldn't be any different with seats...

[SagerMichael]

I wish Oklahoma City could do some yearly music festival with that space. Something like Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago would be amazing

[shawnw]

Personally, I'd rather see the river amphitheater get built by Wheeler and have a festival there. Between the skyline backdrop, maybe some boats in the background as well, and the ferris wheel it would be a much more iconic experience.

[jn1780]

Normal setup is true, if people would 'go somewhere and sit down.' There's so much movement today of people prancing in & out to the restrooms, concessions and so forth; just don't know, it probably wouldn't be any different with seats...

Great lawn is supposed to be multipurpose. There will be events where tents are setup and static seats would just get in the way.

[Pete]

You can see the south 1/2 of the park is still nowhere close to complete.

There are also tons of details in the northern section that remain to be finished as well.

We are only 2.5 months away from the grand opening celebration and they have a long way to go.

[hfry]

They posted on Instagram a few days ago they still have 350 trees left to plant. Out of 953, that's a huge chunk left. I remember going through the minutes and thinking it was weird that Cooley construction got the bid for supplying trees( basically just buying and transporting if I remember right).


Also here's the tree list if anyone is interested. I think it was the most updated but I could be slightly dated.

[rte66man]

I don't doubt they are way behind given the recent bad weather. Does the City Council get regular updates on the park progress? Are tehy public record?

[Bullbear]

with so much left my worry is putting that many people in a space with so many new plantings. it could really destroy what was just laid.

[5alive]

Agree completely Bullbear...I fear the newly laid sod on the Great Lawn will be totally torn up!

[Pete]

I don't doubt they are way behind given the recent bad weather. Does the City Council get regular updates on the park progress? Are tehy public record?

The deadline was extended twice due to bad weather.

[kevin lee]

Believe it or not, today I was told from Scissortail Park management that the park will be finished by the concert.

[Pete]

[BDP]

Agree completely Bullbear...I fear the newly laid sod on the Great Lawn will be totally torn up!

They can use some sort of turf protection. Not sure if that is pointless if the sod hasn't really set in, but it's probably better than nothing.

And, come to think of it, a lot of amphitheaters have a lawn area and somehow they avoid getting torn up...

[Bullbear]

They can use some sort of turf protection. Not sure if that is pointless if the sod hasn't really set in, but it's probably better than nothing.

And, come to think of it, a lot of amphitheaters have a lawn area and somehow they avoid getting torn up...

yes there are lots of spaces that hold events with lawns that don't get torn up, however they are usually more established.
so early into this being planted makes a huge difference.

[jn1780]

yes there are lots of spaces that hold events with lawns that don't get torn up, however they are usually more established.
so early into this being planted makes a huge difference.

The great lawn has been planted for at least 3 months now, everything else though I won't be surprised if that grass literally gets laid the a couple of days before opening.

[SagerMichael]

I noticed grass got laid on the Northwest corner of the park off OKC BLVD and Hudson. Looks great