New Downtown Arena

[Canoe]

Don't know what this thing is for segregating out the old, but amongst my "old" friends we are all in support of it.... and btw, in general, we probably have more fun than the "youngs" anyway.

Something to look forward to I suppose.

[SouthOKC]

no.

Do you have any additional insight?

I tend to believe for any artist considering which venue to choose between OKC and Tulsa it comes down to the bottom line negotiated with the management company.

Tulsa has an advantage by not needing to comp the Thunder a percentage. So the question becomes are we being told there is a need for a new arena that can draw more artists simply so new seating arrangements can get us back to a level place with Tulsa.

This makes more sense to me than the great “loading dock” myth that they mayor hasn’t mentioned a single time in any official statement.

[bigsmooth]

Well, if this gets voted down and we lose the Thunder, I guess we can use the Paycom for cockfighting if Stitt gets what he wants. SMH

[chssooner]

Do you have any additional insight?

I tend to believe for any artist considering which venue to choose between OKC and Tulsa it comes down to the bottom line negotiated with the management company.

Tulsa has an advantage by not needing to comp the Thunder a percentage. So the question becomes are we being told there is a need for a new arena that can draw more artists simply so new seating arrangements can get us back to a level place with Tulsa.

This makes more sense to me than the great “loading dock” myth that they mayor hasn’t mentioned a single time in any official statement.

So your conspiracy theory thst hasn't been mentioned ever by anyone aside from you is more plausible than one many on here have said is a fact, including, me, who has friends who work for the arena?

Got it. SouthOKC has everything figured out

[SouthOKC]

So your conspiracy theory thst hasn't been mentioned ever by anyone aside from you is more plausible than one many on here have said is a fact, including, me, who has friends who work for the arena?

Got it. SouthOKC has everything figured out

The Thunder have a contract that lays out the compensation they receive. No conspiracy involved with that statement.

I just find it interesting the mayor outlined a new arena would help attract top acts, but never once mentioned the loading docks. Either it’s not an issue or he doesn’t view it as something that couldn’t easily be overcome.

[Dob Hooligan]

Do you have any additional insight?

I tend to believe for any artist considering which venue to choose between OKC and Tulsa it comes down to the bottom line negotiated with the management company.

Tulsa has an advantage by not needing to comp the Thunder a percentage. So the question becomes are we being told there is a need for a new arena that can draw more artists simply so new seating arrangements can get us back to a level place with Tulsa.

This makes more sense to me than the great “loading dock” myth that they mayor hasn’t mentioned a single time in any official statement.

I don’t want to appear dismissive, so, I will say that I’m guessing the touring and arena management business is so closely aligned that there is zero benefit to any artist regarding some percentage of revenue on suites. Like, the Tulsa arena management company would take the same percentage for themselves and not share with the city. I think the touring entertainment business is very small at the top.

[Rover]

The Thunder have a contract that lays out the compensation they receive. No conspiracy involved with that statement.

I just find it interesting the mayor outlined a new arena would help attract top acts, but never once mentioned the loading docks. Either it’s not an issue or he doesn’t view it as something that couldn’t easily be overcome.

People who actually know, know. The fact you don’t know that it’s an issue is telling.

[chssooner]

The Thunder have a contract that lays out the compensation they receive. No conspiracy involved with that statement.

I just find it interesting the mayor outlined a new arena would help attract top acts, but never once mentioned the loading docks. Either it’s not an issue or he doesn’t view it as something that couldn’t easily be overcome.

No, because mentioning mundane details doesn't benefit 90% of the public. He has mentioned loading docks a lot on facebook comments and instagram posts. He knows they are a problem, but he also knows nuts and bolts aren't sexy. He isn't being deceitful, because he has acknowledged the true problem if anyone wants to go further than the press releases. He has gone in-depth in numerous comments on social media.

Done discussing this.

[LocoAko]

Not sure if it has been shared yet, but the long-awaited Chamber of Commerce study on the economic impact of the arena was finally released tonight. Take from it what you will.

https://www.velocityokc.com/clientup..._OKC_Arena.pdf

INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY OF RESULTS

The City of Oklahoma City is proposing to build a new arena that would host Oklahoma City Thunder
games and other events. This new arena would replace Paycom Center where the Oklahoma City Thunder
has played since they moved to Oklahoma in 2008. In 2022-23, Paycom Center hosted 43 Thunder home
games, 23 Oklahoma City Blue home games and 47 other ticketed events including concerts and other
sporting events. Attendance at Oklahoma City Thunder games and other events has largely rebounded
from the pandemic with close to 1.1 million people attending events at Paycom Center in 2022-23, and
average attendance at Oklahoma City Thunder games is continuing to increase 2023-24. This analysis
provides a framework for understanding the economic and tax impacts that the arena supports using
information provided by ASM Global and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The report includes the continuing
economic impacts of jobs supported by the operations of the arena and the Oklahoma City Thunder,
visitor spending outside the arena, and tax revenues from visitors and employees. All total, the arena
supports an estimated annual economic impact of $590.0 million in Oklahoma City.

- Paycom Center currently hosts 114 events per year. The number of ticketed third-party events could
increase. The operations of the arena and the operations of the Oklahoma City Thunder support an
annual economic impact of $513.0 million, directly and indirectly supporting close to 2,500 jobs and
$273.8 million in annual labor income.

- With a total of about 472,900 non-local visitor days per year for basketball games and ticketed thirdparty events, the arena supports an estimated $45.5 million in annual visitor expenditures outside the
arena for lodging, food, retail and local transportation. This level of visitor generates an induced
economic impact of $77.0 million per year, supporting 795 jobs at local businesses.

- The estimated construction cost for a new arena is $900.5 million, including $693.0 million in hard
costs that create local economic impacts. The estimated economic impact of construction could total
$1.3 billion, supporting over 10,000 jobs during the construction period.

- In addition to these economic impacts, local spending by ticketed event attendees in the arena and
outside the arena, as well as household spending by arena staff, Oklahoma City Thunder players and
staff, and indirect and induced workers supported by the operations of the arena supports $9 million
in city taxes, $4 million in county, school and other local district taxes and $17 million in state taxes
each year.

[Servicetech571]

$900 million divided by 500K population works out to be roughly $1,800 per person. It's not "just a penny".

Another way to look at it is if you spend $30k per year, that's $300 in sales taxes for the stadium. $300/yr x 6yrs is $1,800. Of course, the amount you pay will depend on how much you spend in OKC and how much you order online.

The question is, is a new stadium worth $1,800 to you, or would you rather spend the money on something else? Or would you rather end the "temporary tax" and put the $1,800 in your pocket?

[Servicetech571]

Understand OKC is not gonna EVER let this "temporary tax" die, it's too much revenue.

They have 5 yrs to find something voters will approve to keep this going. Dec 12 vote is simply the "first offer". If they can get voters to pay 95%, why would they make us a better offer? We need to hold out for a better offer.

[Dob Hooligan]

$900 million divided by 500K population works out to be roughly $1,800 per person. It's not "just a penny".

Another way to look at it is if you spend $30k per year, that's $300 in sales taxes for the stadium. $300/yr x 6yrs is $1,800. Of course, the amount you pay will depend on how much you spend in OKC and how much you order online.

The question is, is a new stadium worth $1,800 to you, or would you rather spend the money on something else? Or would you rather end the "temporary tax" and put the $1,800 in your pocket?

Your 500,000 population number is too low for any tax payer calculation. The OKC metro is about 1.5 million.

[Cocaine]

Understand OKC is not gonna EVER let this "temporary tax" die, it's too much revenue.

They have 5 yrs to find something voters will approve to keep this going. Dec 12 vote is simply the "first offer". If they can get voters to pay 95%, why would they make us a better offer? We need to hold out for a better offer.

You realize a ton people are gonna say we must vote yes and the thunder will leave if we vote no. And that a 20 year old arena is just too old compared to arenas built in the 90s that you see in other nba cities. I certainly hope no wins out this election because 970 million or more public would go into this new arena and we can get a better deal if we just wait longer. But maybe the urgency from the mayor and public officials is due to the amount of money that will be made off the people. So even if we waited and got a much better deal that’s more money that corporations pay or even an arena that cost less and isn’t a flashy would mean less money for construction companies.

[Urbanized]

Your 500,000 population number is too low for any tax payer calculation. The OKC metro is about 1.5 million.

Yes, and it’s not just those 1.5 million who divvy up the tax burden. EVERYONE who makes purchases in OKC will contribute. Exurban, small town and rural folks who come to OKC to shop, for business, to dine out. Folks traveling down 1-35, I-44 and I-40, stopping for fuel, to dine, overnight. Truck drivers. Conference and convention attendees. Tourists. Equipment purchases made in the city, by individuals and businesses, from near and far. Business purchases of all types, which for even small businesses is far greater than the average household.

Not to minimize that yes, individual taxpayers and families will be contributing this effort via taxes, the average household will spend only a few hundred year, not the inflated number above. AND THEY ARE ALREADY PAYING IT. This is not a new tax; it’s a continuation of a tax amount that we’ve paid for years.

The beauty of a sales tax paid in a regional metropolis is that people from somewhere else help pay for it to a massive extent. To suggest otherwise comes either from a place of low information or of intellectual dishonesty.

[LocoAko]

You realize a ton people are gonna say we must vote yes and the thunder will leave if we vote no. And that a 20 year old arena is just too old compared to arenas built in the 90s that you see in other nba cities. I certainly hope no wins out this election because 970 million or more public would go into this new arena and we can get a better deal if we just wait longer. But maybe the urgency from the mayor and public officials is due to the amount of money that will be made off the people. So even if we waited and got a much better deal that’s more money that corporations pay or even an arena that cost less and isn’t a flashy would mean less money for construction companies.

Is there any—and I do mean any—evidence that a better deal would happen if we turn this one down? That there'd be a second (or third) chance at this?

I would rhetorically ask if you think the city leadership purposefully got (in your eyes) a bad deal and doesn't want what's best for the city, but you've basically gone on the record as thinking there's a conspiracy here to financially benefit the mayor and/or the construction companies, so... I got nothing.

[Dob Hooligan]

You realize a ton people are gonna say we must vote yes and the thunder will leave if we vote no. And that a 20 year old arena is just too old compared to arenas built in the 90s that you see in other nba cities. I certainly hope no wins out this election because 970 million or more public would go into this new arena and we can get a better deal if we just wait longer. But maybe the urgency from the mayor and public officials is due to the amount of money that will be made off the people. So even if we waited and got a much better deal that’s more money that corporations pay or even an arena that cost less and isn’t a flashy would mean less money for construction companies.

Lemme hit my favorite points again...

What is a better deal?

What do the other 30 NBA (and maybe the 30 NHL) teams pay?

I think the Miami Heat pay zero rent.

[Thunderbolt]

$900 million divided by 500K population works out to be roughly $1,800 per person. It's not "just a penny".

Another way to look at it is if you spend $30k per year, that's $300 in sales taxes for the stadium. $300/yr x 6yrs is $1,800. Of course, the amount you pay will depend on how much you spend in OKC and how much you order online.

The question is, is a new stadium worth $1,800 to you, or would you rather spend the money on something else? Or would you rather end the "temporary tax" and put the $1,800 in your pocket?

Do you understand how sales tax works?????????

[floyd the barber]

To be honest, Thunder games are the only reason I go downtown nowadays, and that's few and far between. I haven't been since Chris Paul was on the team. Not by personal choice. Definitely would go to more games if I could.

There are only so many times I can go see the Myriad Gardens.

[catcherinthewry]

The question is, is a new stadium worth $1,800 to you, or would you rather spend the money on something else? Or would you rather end the "temporary tax" and put the $1,800 in your pocket?

LOL. You would have to spend $180,000 in OKC to pay $1,800 in this tax.

[Urbanized]

LOL. You would have to spend $180,000 in OKC to pay $1,800 in this tax.

Yep, and also it would have to all be spent on taxable purchases. Things like mortgage, rent and many other personal expenses don’t require sales tax.

[clz46]

I do pay yearly to go to the games and have for a number of years. Even though I would like the owners to pay more and each year the payment goes up.. I will vote to build a new arena. The biggest problem I have is inside the walkway is very crowded when going in and leaving after the game.

[chssooner]

$900 million divided by 500K population works out to be roughly $1,800 per person. It's not "just a penny".

Another way to look at it is if you spend $30k per year, that's $300 in sales taxes for the stadium. $300/yr x 6yrs is $1,800. Of course, the amount you pay will depend on how much you spend in OKC and how much you order online.

The question is, is a new stadium worth $1,800 to you, or would you rather spend the money on something else? Or would you rather end the "temporary tax" and put the $1,800 in your pocket?

Every day, I say "this is the dumbest thing I've ever read". And then I see crap like this...I didn't realize only OKC citizens were paying for this, and nonresident are exempt.

$1,800 / $.01 = $180,000. No, not every person will spend that. Maybe take a breather, and get just a little education on how sales tax works.

[PhiAlpha]

$900 million divided by 500K population works out to be roughly $1,800 per person. It's not "just a penny".

Another way to look at it is if you spend $30k per year, that's $300 in sales taxes for the stadium. $300/yr x 6yrs is $1,800. Of course, the amount you pay will depend on how much you spend in OKC and how much you order online.

The question is, is a new stadium worth $1,800 to you, or would you rather spend the money on something else? Or would you rather end the "temporary tax" and put the $1,800 in your pocket?

Are people who live in OKC the only ones being taxed? Weird that they can differentiate between OKC residents and those from the suburbs and elsewhere who are spending money here when collecting sales tax…

[April in the Plaza]

Every day, I say "this is the dumbest thing I've ever read". And then I see crap like this...I didn't realize only OKC citizens were paying for this, and nonresident are exempt.

$1,800 / $.01 = $180,000. No, not every person will spend that. Maybe take a breather, and get just a little education on how sales tax works.

Yea, the true number is somewhere in the neighborhood of $1,000 to $2,500 per OKC household. Median household is likely at $1500 during the collection period. Each household averages 2.5 people.

270,000 households x $1500 = 405 million

Non-OKC residents (assuming 25% share) = 225 million

OKC businesses = roughly 270 million

[TheTravellers]

To be honest, Thunder games are the only reason I go downtown nowadays, and that's few and far between. I haven't been since Chris Paul was on the team. Not by personal choice. Definitely would go to more games if I could.

There are only so many times I can go see the Myriad Gardens.

We go to plays, ballets, concerts (not very often at Paycom, though), circuses (at Paycom), restaurants, museums, retail, and films downtown. You're missing out...