Taft Stadium

[clz46]

I am so glad they didn't tear down the original front. I went to Taft and NW .. graduated in 1964.

[Bill Robertson]

I am so glad they didn't tear down the original front. I went to Taft and NW .. graduated in 1964.

I'm completely with you. I went to both and graduated in 1977. To me that front is iconic.

[Bowser214]

My mom said her grandpa helped build Taft stadium. She would've been 85 this year.

[PaddyShack]

I have no idea why OKCPS wouldn't just remove the track at Taft, which is smaller than the one across the street, and make this a Soccer/Football only venue. Then put some money into building seating and press boxes at the larger, better sized area for field and Track events on the east side of NW Classen HS. It is a bit aggravating.

[SEMIweather]

I have no idea why OKCPS wouldn't just remove the track at Taft, which is smaller than the one across the street, and make this a Soccer/Football only venue. Then put some money into building seating and press boxes at the larger, better sized area for field and Track events on the east side of NW Classen HS. It is a bit aggravating.

It's very dumb, but still not as dumb as the Energy taking an entire season off for renovations that seemingly could have been completed in what, maybe two or three weeks? From the outside looking in, the whole situation just seems like an absolute disaster, although I'm sure there's a variety of information on both sides that I'm not privy to.

[bombermwc]

Folks Taft is a HIGH SCHOOL field. This is FIRST and foremost for OKCPS. Energy has to take a back seat. They want to contribute in some way to make some things better, cool, whatever. But don't screw with the functions of the facility (ie the track) just because the Energy wants it. If it doesn't benefit OKCPS or if it makes them pay for it, then absolutely no. If it benefits OKCPS and someone else is willing to pay for it, then great, fine, whatever. But the Energy absolutely does not get to come in to this place and start making terms. If that happens, OKCPS can just kick them out and make things a lot less complicated. Less wear and tear on the facility to not have them there.

[Bill Robertson]

Folks Taft is a HIGH SCHOOL field. This is FIRST and foremost for OKCPS. Energy has to take a back seat. They want to contribute in some way to make some things better, cool, whatever. But don't screw with the functions of the facility (ie the track) just because the Energy wants it. If it doesn't benefit OKCPS or if it makes them pay for it, then absolutely no. If it benefits OKCPS and someone else is willing to pay for it, then great, fine, whatever. But the Energy absolutely does not get to come in to this place and start making terms. If that happens, OKCPS can just kick them out and make things a lot less complicated. Less wear and tear on the facility to not have them there.

I could not possibly agree more. Right on bomber!

[shawnw]

Not disagreeing in principle but Taft is a middle school and the high school across the street has its own track and field...

[Pete]

Not disagreeing in principle but Taft is a middle school and the high school across the street has its own track and field...

Right, but Taft has always been used by other OKC schools in addition to Northwest Classen.

And it's frequently used by the OKC public schools for band competitions, track meets, all-city preseason football, etc.

[shawnw]

That's good context for everyone

[PaddyShack]

Right, but Taft has always been used by other OKC schools in addition to Northwest Classen.

And it's frequently used by the OKC public schools for band competitions, track meets, all-city preseason football, etc.

Not to argue, but I have not seen a band competition at Taft for some time.

And I was not saying Taft should cater to the Energy, rather as a football spectator and marching band alum, I have always preferred trackless stadiums. Much better fan experience to be closer to the action. My point was why the HS track and field facility, which is more appropriately sized for Track and Field events was not upgraded with seating for such events and Taft allowed to have larger stands, larger field size for football, band, soccer, lacrosse, graduation, outdoor concerts, etc.

I know a lot of the divisional T&F meets are happening at PC North or Original instead of Taft and most others happen in suburbs like Edmond, Norman, and Yukon.

[ABryant]

Taft is a part of this place.

[Pete]

Not to argue, but I have not seen a band competition at Taft for some time.

And I was not saying Taft should cater to the Energy, rather as a football spectator and marching band alum, I have always preferred trackless stadiums. Much better fan experience to be closer to the action. My point was why the HS track and field facility, which is more appropriately sized for Track and Field events was not upgraded with seating for such events and Taft allowed to have larger stands, larger field size for football, band, soccer, lacrosse, graduation, outdoor concerts, etc.

I know a lot of the divisional T&F meets are happening at PC North or Original instead of Taft and most others happen in suburbs like Edmond, Norman, and Yukon.

Look, the school district just spent a ton of money to renovate Taft and purposely put in a new track. This is OKC public schools that is always strapped for cash.

That stadium isn't just used by Northwest, but it's also home to John Marshall and middle schools and even elementaries.

The Energy came along later (after McGuiness did not want to renew) and could leave again at any time. In fact, they were looking to do that at Chisholm Creek.


This is yet another silly argument. The new field is already in and the track isn't going anywhere. And there were very good reasons behind all of those decisions.

[Bill Robertson]

Not to argue, but I have not seen a band competition at Taft for some time.

And I was not saying Taft should cater to the Energy, rather as a football spectator and marching band alum, I have always preferred trackless stadiums. Much better fan experience to be closer to the action. My point was why the HS track and field facility, which is more appropriately sized for Track and Field events was not upgraded with seating for such events and Taft allowed to have larger stands, larger field size for football, band, soccer, lacrosse, graduation, outdoor concerts, etc.

I know a lot of the divisional T&F meets are happening at PC North or Original instead of Taft and most others happen in suburbs like Edmond, Norman, and Yukon.

Removing the track wouldn't put fans closer to the football field unless another major remodel was done. Not very likely to ever happen. I agree with Pete that the whole track or no track is a silly argument.

[PaddyShack]

Maybe I should have prefaced, when they did the first remodel of Taft, that is when they should have left out the track.

[bombermwc]

Not to argue, but I have not seen a band competition at Taft for some time.

And I was not saying Taft should cater to the Energy, rather as a football spectator and marching band alum, I have always preferred trackless stadiums. Much better fan experience to be closer to the action. My point was why the HS track and field facility, which is more appropriately sized for Track and Field events was not upgraded with seating for such events and Taft allowed to have larger stands, larger field size for football, band, soccer, lacrosse, graduation, outdoor concerts, etc.

I know a lot of the divisional T&F meets are happening at PC North or Original instead of Taft and most others happen in suburbs like Edmond, Norman, and Yukon.

It's been a hot minute, but there was actually a DCI event there about 15 years ago for the smaller divisions. It wasn't advertised like anywhere. A friend of mine happened to have seen it and so we ran up there and it was pretty stinking cool. The event changed a bit and moved to Mustang HS in the years after Mustang renovated their stadium. This was before OKCPS rebuilt the seating so those high angle site lines were pretty amazing. It really is a shame that the new seating lost that high angle, but you can appreciate it when you walk up the steps LOL.

[catcherinthewry]

Maybe I should have prefaced, when they did the first remodel of Taft, that is when they should have left out the track.

If they'd left out the track how much closer would the stands be to the field?

[Bill Robertson]

If they'd left out the track how much closer would the stands be to the field?

Just a estimate from the picture in my head but maybe 20ft.

[catcherinthewry]

Just a estimate from the picture in my head but maybe 20ft.

I was responding to the remodel, not the original design. And the answer is no closer.

[Bill Robertson]

I was responding to the remodel, not the original design. And the answer is no closer.

Ok. Absolutely true in that case. I was thinking back to the post about if the track was left out during the remodel.

[bombermwc]

If they'd left out the track how much closer would the stands be to the field?

zero feet because you're not going to pick up the stadium and move it. They also aren't going to shift it all to one side of the stands, only to double the green space for the other side.
If you take the track out, you just add more green space of nothing. It'll look like UCO's field.

[ABryant]

Everything seems good. The Energy resurfaced the stadium. Oklahoma City will build a soccer field. I am unsure if Bill's across the street will ever accept credit cards.

[SEMIweather]

Just making sure everyone in this thread realizes, regulation-sized soccer fields are wider than football fields, this would be the entire reason for removing the track.

[bombermwc]

Just making sure everyone in this thread realizes, regulation-sized soccer fields are wider than football fields, this would be the entire reason for removing the track.

I understand that, but it means that the stadium looses something it has, just for the Energy, which is a temporary user. I would argue, they can continue to make do until they build their own.

I'm not an OKPS student or parent or anything like that, but I am protective of education resources being used in ways that do not benefit education. If you can show me how removing the track and expanding the turf will help OKCPS in some way (even though the high school soccer regulation field fits here), then great. Otherwise, I can't support this.

[PaddyShack]

I understand that, but it means that the stadium looses something it has, just for the Energy, which is a temporary user. I would argue, they can continue to make do until they build their own.

I'm not an OKPS student or parent or anything like that, but I am protective of education resources being used in ways that do not benefit education. If you can show me how removing the track and expanding the turf will help OKCPS in some way (even though the high school soccer regulation field fits here), then great. Otherwise, I can't support this.

HS regulation soccer is still wider than a football field.
American Football field: 120yd x 53 1/3yd
HS Soccer field: 100-120yd x 55-80yd