2028 Olympics in OKC

[Pete]

^

That Devon naming money should come in handy.

[dankrutka]

This is maybe a naive question, but is it even plausible to add large scale shade structures over the stands? Maybe they’re not conducive to baseball/softball fields because you tend to see them on soccer stadiums. I ask because it seems like the only knock against OKC as the softball capital is extreme summer temperatures.

[Snowman]

This is maybe a naive question, but is it even plausible to add large scale shade structures over the stands? Maybe they’re not conducive to baseball/softball fields because you tend to see them on soccer stadiums. I ask because it seems like the only knock against OKC as the softball capital is extreme summer temperatures.

Plausible is one thing, if you were willing to spend a ton of money it could be incorporated into a design. However it would be way easier to do in a new stadium. To do it in the existing stadium would be a mess. At this point would probably have to build that independent of the existing stadium. So need to move the field on the west of the stadium, there is also existing buildings around 75% of the stadium that would be in the way of piers for those, with the plausibly easiest part to work piers near stadium being the loading dock for the stadium.

It does not seem as much if it would be conductive or not to baseball/softball, it seems more related to European/American designs of stadiums kind of diverged a bit while there was more regionalism to the sports world than there is today. With soccer having more international crossover than many of the major outdoor stadium sports, and European teams tending to be among the most well funded soccer teams, that is where a lot of international teams would look to for what is state of the art.

[Laramie]

There are some improvements that could be made that would benefit the stadium. Rebuild the portable outfield bleachers where you have seats with cup holders; design the outfield sections where the stands can be moved/adjusted
for men vs women's softball.

Eventually, IMO you want Devon Park to seat 15,000. In addressing the Oklahoma summer heat some kind of shade protection will be needed.

[bombermwc]

I'm wondering how temporary the stands at the rapids will be. And similarly to the discussion above, any plans for some sort of sun shading there. I dont think people would be sitting in the rapids stands for as long, but I could be wrong. That would be a LOT of sun for that event too. Even something simple like a tarp coverage would suffice if it's temporary.

[traxx]

Can't wait until we paint the water tower to say OKC28 and leave it like that for 40 years.

[bison34]

Making a lot of permanent changes that are necessitated by a one-time event isn't super prudent. Making changes that have long been needed, just sped up by the Olympics coming here is different.

There are plenty of things that can be temporary, when it comes to getting ready for the 2028 Olympics.

[Dob Hooligan]

Can't wait until we paint the water tower to say OKC28 and leave it like that for 40 years.

I gotta tell you I loved the OK89 water tower, and wish they had put the logo back on when they painted it a couple years ago.

[Ginkasa]

I could be wrong but I would assume there won't be any "OKC28" branding; not officially anyway. LA is still the hosting city, officially speaking.

I wouldn't mind more "OK/LA" branded stuff, though. I always dig that.

[HOT ROD]

they could do an OK28 version, just include a small footnote of the LA28 logo imbedded.

Yes, we are helping LA but we should be able to promote OKC as co-host in some way.

[unfundedrick]

they could do an OK28 version, just include a small footnote of the LA28 logo imbedded.

Yes, we are helping LA but we should be able to promote OKC as co-host in some way.

I suspect the LA Olympic committee will have strict guidelines about what will be allowed.

[unfundedrick]

I'm wondering how temporary the stands at the rapids will be. And similarly to the discussion above, any plans for some sort of sun shading there. I dont think people would be sitting in the rapids stands for as long, but I could be wrong. That would be a LOT of sun for that event too. Even something simple like a tarp coverage would suffice if it's temporary.

That reminds me of when I went to the LA Olympics in 84. One of the events I attended was the swimming and diving which was held at an outdoor pool next to the LA Coliseum. They had temporary stands built next to the pool. I guarantee there was no shade provided and it was very warm.

[Pete]

I found this stuff in an old scrapbook.

I went to ice hockey and diving and then volunteered for a couple of days. Apart from Olympics years, Olympic Festivals were yearly and ran from 1978 until 1995.

The OCCC Aquatic Center was built in 1989 and served as the outdoor venue for all aquatic competitions during the festival. In 1991, the college enclosed the facility and in 2015 it was closed for good.

This was a huge thing in 1989 which was pretty much the nadir for OKC, which is why I left later that year. Man oh man, how far we have come.

[jn1780]

Speaking of the old OCCC Aquatic Center, did they ever get around to converting that space to classrooms or is it just sitting there abandoned?

[Pete]

I watched some of the Kayak Cross competition today, where all 4 competitors go into the water at once then battle it out to be the first across the finish with fewest deductions (missed or hit gates). It's really fun to watch; people calling it 'Mario Kart in boats'.

This is how the course looks in Paris; fun to imagine for OKC:

[PhiAlpha]

The Kayak Cross was a great addition. Way more fun than the single races.

[mattjank]

The Kayak Cross was a great addition. Way more fun than the single races.

Its fun and will hopefully attract more viewers. Who doesn't love a car crash.

But as a paddler, the competition against the clock really shows off who is better paddler and can use the water and features to absolutely fly, not just muscle through. Kind of like long drive contests vs. an all around golfer.

Won't be everyone's cup of tea, and that's fine. Hopefully the additional eyes will convert to the traditional.

[PoliSciGuy]

I watched some of the Kayak Cross competition today, where all 4 competitors go into the water at once then battle it out to be the first across the finish with fewest deductions (missed or hit gates). It's really fun to watch; people calling it 'Mario Kart in boats'.

This is how the course looks in Paris; fun to imagine for OKC:

I really hope, for spectators' sakes, that we can build some facilities with shade or overhangs or something, otherwise it'll be brutal

[Pete]

I really hope, for spectators' sakes, that we can build some facilities with shade or overhangs or something, otherwise it'll be brutal

Especially if the stands are facing south, which is almost certainly going to be the case.

I was just outside for about 15 minutes and it's just unbearably hot, as it always is at the end of July and early August.

[Pete]

I really hope, for spectators' sakes, that we can build some facilities with shade or overhangs or something, otherwise it'll be brutal

Especially if the stands are facing south, which is almost certainly going to be the case.

I was just outside for about 15 minutes and it's just unbearably hot, as it always is at the end of July and early August.

The announcers have been complaining about the heat in Paris and it's only been in the mid-80s. They are in for a rude awakening in OKC.

[PhiAlpha]

Its fun and will hopefully attract more viewers. Who doesn't love a car crash.

But as a paddler, the competition against the clock really shows off who is better paddler and can use the water and features to absolutely fly, not just muscle through. Kind of like long drive contests vs. an all around golfer.

Won't be everyone's cup of tea, and that's fine. Hopefully the additional eyes will convert to the traditional.

For sure! The clock races just aren’t near as fun from a spectator perspective. Having both formats is great for the sport

[PhiAlpha]

Especially if the stands are facing south, which is almost certainly going to be the case.

I was just outside for about 15 minutes and it's just unbearably hot, as it always is at the end of July and early August.

We’re very fortunate that the humidity is unusually low right now. The drier heat the last few days has been much more tolerable and the mornings have been great. Though once it starts getting into 100+ territory, its miserable either way.

[Pete]

Imagine all those Europeans (kayaking is largely a European sport) sitting in the full 100-degree Oklahoma sun for 2-3 hours.

There is no scenario where the weather isn't absolutely scorching for the 2028 games in OKC.

[dankrutka]

Extensive shading structures, misters, and fans need to be built into the stands.

[ourulz2000]

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmw...stance%20sites.
From 1996 Atlanta Games:

The ACOG system monitors the approximately 100 medical-assistance sites at the venues (1). In Atlanta, the daily temperatures during July 6-23 ranged from 66 F to 95 F (19 C-35 C); in addition, an estimated 2.2 million persons are attending the games. During July 6-23, a total of 2912 spectators and staff were treated by physicians at medical-assistance sites. Of these, 372 (12.8%) persons were treated for heat-related conditions, including heat cramps/dehydration, heat syncope, and heatstroke; 10 persons were transported to hospitals for treatment.

The 2028 Games will be Fri, Jul 14, 2028 – Sun, Jul 30, 2028.

FWIW, it got up to 105 degrees at one point during the 1984 LA Games and 99 at one point in the 2004 Athens Games.

Attachment 19077

For all we know, it could be a rainy July in 2028. In July 2023 Oklahoma County received 8 inches of rain compared with the average of 4.5.