New State Fair Coliseum

[shawnw]

Surprise! Over promised and under delivered... either way though, a lot of money for 8K seats max.

[BoulderSooner]

Surprise! Over promised and under delivered... either way though, a lot of money for 8K seats max.

lol do you understand how MAPS works??

[Plutonic Panda]

So they got rid of the large electronic sign for some cheap metal panels. Yeah who saw that coming?

[Canoe]

The estimated budget for the project dropped from $96 million to $84 million. The $63 million funding in MAPS 4 and $9 million recently allocated from MAPS 3 surplus totals $72 million putting it closer to that target. The Bonds for the project should help them reach that target--smart move.

May get a bid for the project below that $84 million budget.

The 8,000 seat capacity will secure some of the state basketball tournaments like 4A classes and below.

This new layout reminds me of the old Stockyards Coliseum built back in the early 30s. Wish they could somewhat duplicate that outer exterior facade of the old coliseum. (I know there are of some of you who would like to put the coliseum back in Stockyards City ).

That 9 million transferred from Maps 3 should have been used to complete the lower park.

[GaryOKC6]

The current arena is old and outdated. This facility is booked 300 out of 365 days a year. It is heavily used and has a huge economic impact on the region.

[jn1780]

looks like they would have the space for the connector in the future .... if needed/ wanted .. (seems like the only benefit of that is for bad weather situations ..)

They will probably build it shortly after old arena is torn down. Actually, I just see them expanding the super barn all the way to the new arena. Mega Barn!

[GaryOKC6]

They will probably build it shortly after old arena is torn down. Actually, I just see them expanding the super barn all the way to the new arena. Mega Barn!

They will build the new arena before tearing down the old one. They can't afford to not have it. Just the eight horse shows alone bring over 200 million to the city annually.

[jn1780]

They will build the new arena before tearing down the old one. They can't afford to not have it. Just the eight horse shows alone bring over 200 million to the city annually.

Well, yeah. But, I think the real reason they "eliminated" the connection is because they have bigger plans. Obviously, can't ask for that all in one project.

[GaryOKC6]

Well, yeah. But, I think the real reason they "eliminated" the connection is because they have bigger plans. Obviously, can't ask for that all in one project.

Agree.

[Plutonic Panda]

Not sure they’ll actually do it but it seems like they could easily add the large LED screen in the future but will the stadium be designed to be expanded and include upper seating?

[baralheia]

Not sure they’ll actually do it but it seems like they could easily add the large LED screen in the future but will the stadium be designed to be expanded and include upper seating?

Based on the renderings that Pete posted, that doesn't appear likely... the roof is too low to permit easy upward expansion to create an upper bowl, from what it looks like.

[shawnw]

Well, yeah. But, I think the real reason they "eliminated" the connection is because they have bigger plans. Obviously, can't ask for that all in one project.

It's eliminated because of cost. The graphic states estimated cost 83M, but they're only getting 63M from MAPS 4, plus they stole 9M from MAPS 3, so they only have 72M to work with.

My guess is they'll go after any MAPS 4 excess funds to get it built (the connector), but they won't have any way to add back the seats they removed.

[bombermwc]

I think the text in the update above is incorrect. It says a reduction in capacity for basketball, but that's really the max permanent seating arrangement. Anything that includes floor seats is just fake capacity. I'm missing how the full 8000 is a reduction.

I'm also not missing the "second floor" since it was just expensive wasted space. There really wasn't any meaningful seating there. Was it really worth the extra millions?

[Pete]

I think the text in the update above is incorrect. It says a reduction in capacity for basketball, but that's really the max permanent seating arrangement. Anything that includes floor seats is just fake capacity. I'm missing how the full 8000 is a reduction.

That article provides a link to the original plan (top) contrasted to the current plan (bottom).

[bombermwc]

Hm, that's weird because then that means the old materials dont agree with themselves. It was originally an 8500 seat arena, and then they wanted to say it went up to 9300 for basketball?

Well either way, im' not sure losing that upper deck is that much of a loss though. Seems like a lot of cash for not much gain....at least to me.

[Laramie]

“Fantastic for the tourism industry,” 10-year deal inked to keep quarter horse championships at Oklahoma State Fairgrounds: https://kfor.com/news/local/fantasti...e-fairgrounds/

The new fairgrounds coliseum and updates to Paycom Center will be the first projects to begin construction using MAPS 4 money, but most projects will receive money for planning purposes next year, according to a proposed implementation plan to be voted on next month.--Oklahoman, July 1, 2021

MAPS 4 Fairgrounds Coliseum: https://www.okc.gov/government/maps-...ounds-coliseum

The current fairgrounds arena has the largest economic impact of all publicly-owned facilities in OKC, according to a presentation the State Fair made to the city in July.

Other projects that will be aided by the MAPS 3 surplus will be the allocation of $9 million to the Fairgrounds Coliseum approved in December as part of MAPS 4. --Velocity, May 27, 2020 https://www.velocityokc.com/blog/ins...ack=super_blog

Note: Total $63 million increased to $72 million. Estimated cost of the new SFC between $93 million - $100 million.

[Pete]

Schedule:

[shawnw]

Considering they got a head start on funding (in the millions of dollars) it seems crazy that by Aug 2022 they're just reviewing final plans, so, like a year and a half to get final plans after being awarded millions, what did they do with that money?

[G.Walker]

Considering they got a head start on funding (in the millions of dollars) it seems crazy that by Aug 2022 they're just reviewing final plans, so, like a year and a half to get final plans after being awarded millions, what did they do with that money?

Sits in a bank & collects interest...lol

free money...

[G.Walker]

$100M sitting in a .50% interest bank account will yield $500,000 month. So the longer it sits in a bank, the more free money they get. So yea, they will drag it out...always been like this.

[king183]

And with the rate of inflation, increases in construction costs will significantly outpace the rate that “free money” is coming in.

[Pete]

This project received $9 million from MAPS 3.

[sooner88]

$100M sitting in a .50% interest bank account will yield $500,000 month. So the longer it sits in a bank, the more free money they get. So yea, they will drag it out...always been like this.

$500,000/year*

[Pete]

Update on plans and schedule:

[shawnw]

So there's a basement with nothing going on or am I misreading that?