New Downtown Arena

[Rover]

I think, if you’re The Chamber and Holt, the process is somewhat similar to dating. If you are a 3 or a 4 on a good day (which is probably a fair rating for the current deal), you can’t try to run the full court press on a complete 10 (the OKC Taxpayers holding the purse strings on 1.6 Billion Dollars).

Finesse, and no small measure of panaché, is absolutely required.

Huh?

[April in the Plaza]

Huh?

Did I stutter?

[soonermike81]

Lmao!!

[aDark]

Did I stutter?

You didn't stutter. But you also didn't make any sense.

Can you just say your point instead of providing the weird analogy? It truly is confusing.

[April in the Plaza]

You didn't stutter. But you also didn't make any sense.

Can you just say your point instead of providing the weird analogy? It truly is confusing.

I think my point is best exhibited by Holt’s recent collaborations with an ice cream store and brewery. I’m sure there will be a “dave” pizza on the menu at Eastside Pizza House, too.

He understands that trying to hard sell the city a **** Sandwich deal, on its merits, is probably not the move amidst this historic and non-transitory inflation.

Rather, he has smartly chosen the Bread and Circuses approach. Definitely a fitting move given the target audience.

[BoulderSooner]

I think my point is best exhibited by Holt’s recent collaborations with an ice cream store and brewery. I’m sure there will be a “dave” pizza on the menu at Eastside Pizza House, too.

He understands that trying to hard sell the city a **** Sandwich deal, on its merits, is probably not the move amidst this historic and non-transitory inflation.

Rather, he has smartly chosen the Bread and Circuses approach. Definitely a fitting move given the target audience.

lol more gibberish .. that is also not correct

[john60]

Is there a reason they aren't running any sort of ads or campaigning for the vote at the Thunder games? I assume there is a reason, but does anyone know?

This is confusing to me, too. The only thing I can think of is that the campaign believes because of it being a special election, there will be a low turnout, and the low turnout vote is a solid "yes". More publicity = more turnout = more likely that it is a close vote.

[BDP]

I think, if you’re The Chamber and Holt, the process is somewhat similar to dating. If you are a 3 or a 4 on a good day (which is probably a fair rating for the current deal), you can’t try to run the full court press on a complete 10 (the OKC Taxpayers holding the purse strings on 1.6 Billion Dollars).

Than again, it's always the 6 that thinks they're a 10 that goes home alone.

[Bill Robertson]

This is confusing to me, too. The only thing I can think of is that the campaign believes because of it being a special election, there will be a low turnout, and the low turnout vote is a solid "yes". More publicity = more turnout = more likely that it is a close vote.

There could be something to this. "For" voters are likely to get out. Keep it out of the minds of the "no" voters. Not sure if that's wise but there is some logic there.

[PoliSciGuy]

This is confusing to me, too. The only thing I can think of is that the campaign believes because of it being a special election, there will be a low turnout, and the low turnout vote is a solid "yes". More publicity = more turnout = more likely that it is a close vote.

Not great for democracy in general if your strategy is to lower turnout as much as possible

[unfundedrick]

Not great for democracy in general if your strategy is to lower turnout as much as possible

I don't want to turn this into a political issue but that has been the Republican strategy for years.

[chssooner]

Glad to know people here think the absolute worst of Mayor Holt and OKC. Just means I can now place a bias on everything you say.

[Rover]

I think my point is best exhibited by Holt’s recent collaborations with an ice cream store and brewery. I’m sure there will be a “dave” pizza on the menu at Eastside Pizza House, too.

He understands that trying to hard sell the city a **** Sandwich deal, on its merits, is probably not the move amidst this historic and non-transitory inflation.

Rather, he has smartly chosen the Bread and Circuses approach. Definitely a fitting move given the target audience.

Wow. Just wow.

[April in the Plaza]

Wow. Just wow.

Feel free to address the merits, Chief.

And, while we’re on the topic of Holt, why hasn’t he produced the study supporting his claim that home games generate $600 Million/yr in annual economic impact?

That’s a pretty different number from the number the City claimed just a couple years ago (https://www.oklahoman.com/story/spor...y/60508289007/).

Seems like Holt is lying? But who cares since he’s such a cool guy and has a beer collabo, right?

[caaokc]

I think my point is best exhibited by Holt’s recent collaborations with an ice cream store and brewery. I’m sure there will be a “dave” pizza on the menu at Eastside Pizza House, too.

He understands that trying to hard sell the city a **** Sandwich deal, on its merits, is probably not the move amidst this historic and non-transitory inflation.

Rather, he has smartly chosen the Bread and Circuses approach. Definitely a fitting move given the target audience.

It’s pretty cringe

[Timtoomany]

I hope the first event they put on at the new arena is an OKCTalk contributor's debate. I'd pay to watch that. Guaranteed sell-out!

[chssooner]

Feel free to address the merits, Chief.

And, while we’re on the topic of Holt, why hasn’t he produced the study supporting his claim that home games generate $600 Million/yr in annual economic impact?

That’s a pretty different number from the number the City claimed just a couple years ago (https://www.oklahoman.com/story/spor...y/60508289007/).

Seems like Holt is lying? But who cares since he’s such a cool guy and has a beer collabo, right?

Where on earth did he claim each year, the Thunder generated $600 million per year? If he said that, it was obviously a mistake, and nothijg more. That's $15 mill per home game, and I have never heard him say that.

Do you mean where he said they have generated that since coming here?

https://news.yahoo.com/clock-ticking...113000238.html

[April in the Plaza]

Where on earth did he claim each year, the Thunder generated $600 million per year? If he said that, it was obviously a mistake, and nothijg more. That's $15 mill per home game, and I have never heard him say that.

Do you mean where he said they have generated that since coming here?

https://news.yahoo.com/clock-ticking...113000238.html

“One economic impact study pegs the direct annual economic impact of the Thunder at $600M and 3,000 jobs, according to Mayor Holt.“

Source: https://kfor.com/news/local/okc-mayo...cost-900m/amp/

“ @Jeff Porter This is false. The markets our size (New Orleans and Memphis) received zero team contribution. You’re proposing to walk away from 30 years of $600M of annual economic impact. We have to keep our eyes on the big picture . . .”

Source: Facebook on October 14

[BoulderSooner]

Glad to know people here think the absolute worst of Mayor Holt and OKC. Just means I can now place a bias on everything you say.

it makes it nice

[Dob Hooligan]

$15 million per game "economic impact" is probably right. Quick math puts $15 million divided by 18,000 attendance at $833 per person. Figure $200 direct spend and you only need to trickle $633 over 5 or 5 change of hands of the dollar. Pretty legit for the metric.

[chssooner]

“One economic impact study pegs the direct annual economic impact of the Thunder at $600M and 3,000 jobs, according to Mayor Holt.“

Source: https://kfor.com/news/local/okc-mayo...cost-900m/amp/

“ @Jeff Porter This is false. The markets our size (New Orleans and Memphis) received zero team contribution. You’re proposing to walk away from 30 years of $600M of annual economic impact. We have to keep our eyes on the big picture . . .”

Source: Facebook on October 14

So a typo, I would presume. Unless he has another study he was using, which includes all ancillary incomes, as well (sales tax, restaurant, hotels, etc). I don't know.

But I lean towards the former, and I doubt he was just lying. But again, the fact you flat out called him a liar shows your bias in the situation. We know which way you will be voting.

He may have mistyped that, or maybe there is something we haven't seen that shows that number. I don't think he would just lie through his teeth.

[April in the Plaza]

So a typo, I would presume. Unless he has another study he was using, which includes all ancillary incomes, as well (sales tax, restaurant, hotels, etc). I don't know.

But I lean towards the former, and I doubt he was just lying. But again, the fact you flat out called him a liar shows your bias in the situation. We know which way you will be voting.

He may have mistyped that, or maybe there is something we haven't seen that shows that number. I don't think he would just lie through his teeth.

Definitely not a typo. Looks like he decided to 10x the City’s 2018 economic impact numbers.

“@Shane M R-h We are big league today. I think a top tier arena can certainly expand some aspects of our economy, but in many ways it is maintaining our status. No arena, no team, no big league status. Away goes $600M a year in direct economic impact . . .”

[aDark]

I think my point is best exhibited by Holt’s recent collaborations with an ice cream store and brewery. I’m sure there will be a “dave” pizza on the menu at Eastside Pizza House, too.

He understands that trying to hard sell the city a **** Sandwich deal, on its merits, is probably not the move amidst this historic and non-transitory inflation.

Rather, he has smartly chosen the Bread and Circuses approach. Definitely a fitting move given the target audience.

April, for us to understand your "point" you'd have to have been making a point. Your first comment literally doesn't make sense.

As to your second post, the one about "bread and circuses", I'm pretty sure that Mayor Holt makes it his full time job to market himself to the community. His high level of activity with local businesses happens year round, even in non-campaign years. As someone else mentioned this is not his first time having his name/identity tied into a local beer/brewery. Also, when the local ice cream shop sells Holt ice cream or whatever, and he posts about it on his social media, they are driving eyeballs to their brand just as much to his.

If I understand your conspiracy (admittedly I may not as your writing is confusing af) I *think* you're implying that Mayor Holt is doing extra non-Thunder activities/posts to distract the voting public from the impending vote. Should I assume that if Holt was saturating your social feeds with an aggressive push for the arena, instead of ice cream, you'd criticize that too?

[chssooner]

Definitely not a typo. Looks like he decided to 10x the City’s 2018 economic impact numbers.

“@Shane M R-h We are big league today. I think a top tier arena can certainly expand some aspects of our economy, but in many ways it is maintaining our status. No arena, no team, no big league status. Away goes $600M a year in direct economic impact . . .”

Like I said, there is obviously something he has showing a $600 million true impact. Like Dob said above. We get it, you think the worst in Holt.

[warreng88]

In case anyone cares; from Steve's chat:

Question: From the post is September about the new arena:

"One economic impact study pegs the direct annual economic impact of the Thunder at $600 million and 3,000 jobs."

OKC VeloCity | Mayor Holt announces plan to build arena without tax increase, extending agreement with Thunder beyond 2050 (velocityokc.com)

I have heard that number over and over, but never saw the study of the direct economic impact of $600 million. Can you site which study that was?


Answer: That is from a preliminary study conducted by the Thunder. The chamber commissioned a study that is currently underway and will be released this month.