Ideas 4 MAPS

[Southsider2]

Also, there were renderings presented that show exactly what they plan on doing but I couldn't get a good picture of them to post here.

[Laramie]

City Channel 20 Live

City Government meeting in progress...

https://www.youtube.com/user/cityofokc/live Inactive, someone needs to end the video recording.

Chesapeake Energy Arena enhancements: advance to -3 hours, 20 minutes on the stretch band.

We need to keep our arena up to date.

Sampling of the groups requesting MAPS 4 funds; our city has grown far beyond what I imagined. You'll need nothing less than a $1 billion MAPS 4 initiative to provide some assistance to help these groups.

[BoulderSooner]

the arena upgrades might be enough for me to vote for maps 4

[jn1780]

the arena upgrades might be enough for me to vote for maps 4

I was thinking the same thing. I think the Chesapeake arena improvements is enough to get a maps 4 vote passed. Probably why the more riskier things have been thrown out like streetcar expansion.

[Laramie]

[Midtowner]

the arena upgrades might be enough for me to vote for maps 4

For me, not if they include a soccer stadium. I'll concede that the NBA franchise is the lens through which the rest of the world knows OKC exists. The Thunder has consistently been a value to all Oklahomans--and there has always been an affordable way to see the games.

No one is going to care about a 2nd rate soccer franchise at the same level as the Yard Dawgz (RIP).

[dford2]

The only item I have a problem with is the one for the Parks Department, it's hard for my to justify new or upgraded Parks when they can't, or don't, properly take care of what they have.

With that said, in fairness to the Parks Department, probably about have of what they maintain is actually Parks, they also maintain center medians, right-or-ways, some highways and the open areas around the 3 lakes (Draper, Hefner, Overholser)

[TheTravellers]

The only item I have a problem with is the one for the Parks Department, it's hard for my to justify new or upgraded Parks when they can't, or don't, properly take care of what they have.

With that said, in fairness to the Parks Department, probably about have of what they maintain is actually Parks, they also maintain center medians, right-or-ways, some highways and the open areas around the 3 lakes (Draper, Hefner, Overholser)

They're asking for $60-80 million for improvements, and $20 million for an "Operating and Maintenance Investment Fund". Not sure if the $20 million is part of or in addition to the $60-80 million, though, not clear on the slides I looked at.

[Plutonic Panda]

They need more for transit. A measly 85 million is pathetic. A quarter billion should be minimum.

Ideally I'd like to see everything built and more monies for transit, but drop the soccer stadium, innovation district funding, and the senior wellness centers and use that money for mass transit.

[Laramie]

Let's not get into a fight about my project is more important than your project; therefore cut project X in favor of more funds for project Y.

Make Oklahoma City a more attractive city will not be narrowed down to how much we spend on a specific project. The average MAPS initiatives have always been about a variety of projects to build our city's quality of life; address the needs & wants for as many projects as possible.

Fund 7 to 10 projects (7 year collection period); stay with the previous success formula formats.

[mattyiceokc]

For me, not if they include a soccer stadium. I'll concede that the NBA franchise is the lens through which the rest of the world knows OKC exists. The Thunder has consistently been a value to all Oklahomans--and there has always been an affordable way to see the games.

No one is going to care about a 2nd rate soccer franchise at the same level as the Yard Dawgz (RIP).

What an ignorant statement. The Energy are nowhere near the same level as the Yard Dawgz. Just last month, the Energy had 4 players that played in the Gold Cup with their national teams. Most Americans don't understand the pyramid structure of professional soccer. The Energy ARE NOT A FARM CLUB OR MINOR LEAGUE TEAM. Soccer is succeeding in other US cities of similar size. There is no reason it cant succeed here, but a new stadium is necessary.

[PaddyShack]

What an ignorant statement. The Energy are nowhere near the same level as the Yard Dawgz. Just last month, the Energy had 4 players that played in the Gold Cup with their national teams. Most Americans don't understand the pyramid structure of professional soccer. The Energy ARE NOT A FARM CLUB OR MINOR LEAGUE TEAM. Soccer is succeeding in other US cities of similar size. There is no reason it cant succeed here, but a new stadium is necessary.

I was just about to waste my time trying to convince people this point, thank you for getting here first. I have known far many more soccer fans over arena football fans here in OK. I don't understand why everyone is okay that we spend tax dollars on minor league baseball, college softball, or the NBA arenas and not on soccer. If you ask me, everyone who is against the soccer stadium, but for the upgrades to CHK are hypocrites. I say you either get both or neither one in MAPS.

[hoya]

If you ask me, everyone who is against the soccer stadium, but for the upgrades to CHK are hypocrites.

Well, you're wrong. I think upgrades to the Chesapeake Arena will have clear, well defined benefits for the city. Tangible results. I think a soccer stadium is spending a lot of money on a vain hope.

[mattyiceokc]

Well, you're wrong. I think upgrades to the Chesapeake Arena will have clear, well defined benefits for the city. Tangible results. I think a soccer stadium is spending a lot of money on a vain hope.

Fun fact: You don't have to play in MLS to have a successful soccer team. Albuquerque is averaging almost 13,000 fans a game for their team in the same division of soccer. MLS doesn't have to be an end goal because USL is not a minor league. Some players choose to play in the USL over MLS, because they can make more money being a starter in the USL versus being a bench warmer in the MLS. Every year, MLS teams play USL teams in Open Cup play (An annual tournament held every year with games that actually matter), and every year, a few USL teams win.

[Southsider2]

I agree Hoya. I personally have no issue with publicly funding a soccer stadium but as Laramie (I believe) has said at one time I think if we do it we need to go all out which also would not make sense as I echo other posters in saying we are likely nowhere near the MLS radar at this time.

[Southsider2]

Fun fact: You don't have to play in MLS to have a successful soccer team. Albuquerque is averaging almost 13,000 fans a game for their team in the same division of soccer. MLS doesn't have to be an end goal because USL is not a minor league. Some players choose to play in the USL over MLS, because they can make more money being a starter in the USL versus being a bench warmer in the MLS. Every year, MLS teams play USL teams in Open Cup play (An annual tournament held every year with games that actually matter), and every year, a few USL teams win.

That is a valid point. To me, while the Energy and Dodgers both have decent AVG attendances, I highly question how much those will grow in the coming years. On the bright side, the residential development downtown could possibly do just that but I guess only time will tell.

[OKCRT]

I was just about to waste my time trying to convince people this point, thank you for getting here first. I have known far many more soccer fans over arena football fans here in OK. I don't understand why everyone is okay that we spend tax dollars on minor league baseball, college softball, or the NBA arenas and not on soccer. If you ask me, everyone who is against the soccer stadium, but for the upgrades to CHK are hypocrites. I say you either get both or neither one in MAPS.

Wrong! If they include a bush league soccer stadium downtown I will vote NO and there are many others that will do the same. They just don't draw enough fans to make it feasible. The arena upgrades are not just for the Thunder and 100s of thousands attend the arena every year. It's apples vs oranges.

If we were talking MLS and building a real Pro Soccer stadium that would hold 20-25k people and house an MLS team I would be all in. There's just not that many people that care about the level of soccer we have in the city and it does prob. compare to the Yard Dawgs.

How about OKC get on a serious list for MLS expansion then we talk about funding a stadium. I think people would go for that.

[mattyiceokc]

Wrong! If they include a bush league soccer stadium downtown I will vote NO and there are many others that will do the same. They just don't draw enough fans to make it feasible. The arena upgrades are not just for the Thunder and 100s of thousands attend the arena every year. It's apples vs oranges.

If we were talking MLS and building a real Pro Soccer stadium that would hold 20-25k people and house an MLS team I would be all in. There's just not that many people that care about the level of soccer we have in the city and it does prob. compare to the Yard Dawgs.

How about OKC get on a serious list for MLS expansion then we talk about funding a stadium. I think people would go for that.

On what planet is Arean Football equivalent to Division 2 soccer? This board is usually pretty progressive, but for some reason when it comes to soccer, there is so much ignorance that it's infuriating.

Louisville is currently building their USL team a new stadium, and they are in the same boat as OKC in regards to MLS. https://www.louisvillecityfc.com/stadium. I can't understand why you people want OKC to be a one sport city. Baseball is dying a slow death, and soccer continues to rise in America.

Why on earth would you vote down arena improvements if soccer is included. Are you so anti soccer that you'd want to possible jepordize the Thunder's long term future here? OKC DOESN'T NEED TO BE A ONE SPORT CITY.

[d-usa]

And just like the Peake is not just for the Thunder, the Stadium would also not just be for the Energy.

It will host shows, it will hold tournaments, it can hold a minor league football team. It would be a city owned stadium just like the Peake.

[BoulderSooner]

the sacramento republic a very successful USL team that averages far more fans than OKC got a new stadium in 2014 that cost less than 5 mil dollars ...

i am not against a new soccer stadium for the energy i am against a 60-80 mil + soccer stadium for a USL team ...

for 15-20 mil they can build a stadium far better than one that they actaully need until the time comes that they get an MLS expansion (which i doubt ever comes)

[Laramie]

On what planet is Arean Football equivalent to Division 2 soccer? This board is usually pretty progressive, but for some reason when it comes to soccer, there is so much ignorance that it's infuriating.

Louisville is currently building their USL team a new stadium, and they are in the same boat as OKC in regards to MLS. https://www.louisvillecityfc.com/stadium. I can't understand why you people want OKC to be a one sport city. Baseball is dying a slow death, and soccer continues to rise in America.

Why on earth would you vote down arena improvements if soccer is included. Are you so anti soccer that you'd want to possible jepordize the Thunder's long term future here? OKC DOESN'T NEED TO BE A ONE SPORT CITY.

Thank you for being among the those of us who speak out.

I'm not that well versed on minor league soccer as PattyShack clarified and corrected me in an earlier post.

Want the best for our city in a variety of projects. Once we get the MAPS 4 projects approved with the stadium, OKC will be on the MLS radar.

[SoonersFan12]

I do not think Chesapeake arena need any improvements or expansion because it is nice enough but that is just me....

[Teo9969]

I have read very very little about any of the MAPS initiatives, but the arena updates makes this a more difficult decision for me:

On the one hand, I've very much considered not voting for MAPS 4 because I want there to be enough voting power left for funding the RTA.

On the other hand, updates to CHK Arena pretty well squash any possibility that we make a colossal mistake and put a new arena on the current Cox site.

The Cox site is the one large scale development project we cannot afford to do incorrectly and transit is probably the #1 issue that OKC needs to nail in 2020.

[shawnw]

well, cox and the old ford site between MBG and scissortail

[soonerguru]

the sacramento republic a very successful USL team that averages far more fans than OKC got a new stadium in 2014 that cost less than 5 mil dollars ...

i am not against a new soccer stadium for the energy i am against a 60-80 mil + soccer stadium for a USL team ...

for 15-20 mil they can build a stadium far better than one that they actaully need until the time comes that they get an MLS expansion (which i doubt ever comes)

Spot on.