Boathouse Row

[Doug Loudenback]

Thanks Pete & all ... this is an exciting development, glad to see it.

[Snowman]

Love these fantastic photos of this very dynamic and exciting development on the Oklahoma River. I did notice that at least in the third image that everyone was hanging out under the shade provided by the Finish line tower. I realize that it is the finish line so that is where everyone is going to want to be but it seems to mee that the area being completely devoid of trees makes for a fairly harsh environment to want to spend a great deal of time in. I get the aesthetic of the landform accentuating the built form and the modern clean lines of the architecture being uninterrupted, however these are first and foremost venues for competition and the spectators that hopefully come with it. Just my two cents for what it is worth...I would be interested to hear some experiences of those who went out and stayed for an entire event and see what they thought in relation to the lack of trees. They would need to be carefully planed and sited so as not to obstruct the views of the course, though.

The trees would have to be set back far enough in the area around the tower that they would be useless for shade at least on the east side, since they can not block the view of the officials in the tower per course standards. I expect the reason their is not much around the Devon boathouse and the finishline tower is they did not want anything on the newly sodded ground, because east and north of that their was hardly any free space between the tents for vendors, food court, athlete staging area, boat storage racks and team tents (most people hang out in their clubs tents anyway when they are not racing or preparing, which will be set up if their are trees or not). In the future they will not be able to use all the grass areas like they did at this event due to building 2 or 3 more boathouses on that land and the parking lot extension.

[Snowman]

Someone had asked a while ago about where the video screen that was mentioned in the finish line design would be, they did some tests recently.

[dankrutka]

I like it. Didn't know it was going there. Is that permanent?

[Snowman]

It is part of the ramp support so I hope it is permanent.

[Pete]

Looks like this is just a screen and projector, not a video board... Correct?

[Snowman]

correct

[dankrutka]

Okay. That makes more sense. That would be a great place to watch a movie at night.

[bombermwc]

I'm kinda thinking they wouldn't leave a projector out like that. Surely, it's just a test for a future video board.

[BBatesokc]

I'm kinda thinking they wouldn't leave a projector out like that. Surely, it's just a test for a future video board.

No need to leave it out. These units are very portable. I have one that we setup outside and project to a 12' outdoor screen for movie nights.

[UnFrSaKn]

Chesapeake Finish Line Tower dedicated today. I was wondering what was going on, when I was straight across on the other side of the river. There were people milling around, and two speakers were setup. A man was mic testing on the ground level, and on the upper floors.

[dankrutka]

I'm kinda thinking they wouldn't leave a projector out like that. Surely, it's just a test for a future video board.

No. I think it's for a mobile projector to be used to show movies there, but they only have the projector out when it is being used. There's a power outlet that was just put in the ground right where the projector goes.

I think the video board(s) will go in a different place. I think the rendering show a video board on the Lincoln bridge.

[Snowman]

Chesapeake Finish Line Tower dedicated today. I was wondering what was going on, when I was straight across on the other side of the river. There were people milling around, and two speakers were setup. A man was mic testing on the ground level, and on the upper floors.

http://newsok.com/article/3604178

The mayor's tour ended up going through the tour I was on, the details Rand Elliott was going into for the mayor was much more interesting than the general tour we were getting. The man at the mic was likely Aubrey McClendon, Mike Knopp (the boathouse foundation director) or Mayor Cornett as they did about 90% of the speaking.

[bombermwc]

No. I think it's for a mobile projector to be used to show movies there, but they only have the projector out when it is being used. There's a power outlet that was just put in the ground right where the projector goes.

I think the video board(s) will go in a different place. I think the rendering show a video board on the Lincoln bridge.

That seems short sighted to me then. You limit yourself a lot when you tie yourself down with the projector like that rather than a board. Not only it out there in the open waiting for something to happen to it (during the event), but it means you can't do anything with it at other times. So it's out for an event...ok. What about the other 99% of the time? And then you have to set up and break down the thing every time you have an event. Which means you have to pay someone to do that...either on site staff, or someone else. With a board, you can always sell advertisement space as well, put up announcements, etc all the time rather than just events. They just seem to have missed a lot of opportunities by doing it the way we did things in the 80's. And with LED systems being as cheap as they are now, that small size wall is sooo cheap. Many high school football stadiums have bigger screens on their scoreboards lol.

[dankrutka]

Pay someone to set it up?!? It takes about 30 seconds and almost no effort. No one is going to mess with the projector during an event. There are permanent boards going up in the near future. I think it's smart that they're using an area on the building for movie nights or events, especially until the permanent ones are done. To be honest, I'm not sure I understand your argument at all...

[Snowman]

That seems short sighted to me then. You limit yourself a lot when you tie yourself down with the projector like that rather than a board. Not only it out there in the open waiting for something to happen to it (during the event), but it means you can't do anything with it at other times. So it's out for an event...ok. What about the other 99% of the time? And then you have to set up and break down the thing every time you have an event. Which means you have to pay someone to do that...either on site staff, or someone else. With a board, you can always sell advertisement space as well, put up announcements, etc all the time rather than just events. They just seem to have missed a lot of opportunities by doing it the way we did things in the 80's. And with LED systems being as cheap as they are now, that small size wall is sooo cheap. Many high school football stadiums have bigger screens on their scoreboards lol.

It has only been described as a screen in the design documentation with no real mention of uses till recently, it has started to sounds like it is more for community events than showing the race. Which since most races take place during the day it would have to be an unusually bright projector to see anything on it at most of them, the night races being the exception but even then it is not really positioned to where most spectators would see it anyway.

[Rover]

Only on this board would the type of projector and screen be so controversial. LOL.

[Pete]

Here are some photos from the top of the tower at the dedication ceremony:

[bombermwc]

OMG don't make it into a bigger issue than it is Rover. I'm simply saying that a little more thought on the thing would have made it a much more useful (day and night) item with less work involved as well. Geez. You may commence untwisting your panties now.

[kevinpate]

Nice views from the Finish Line Tower. Thanks for posting.

[Rover]

OMG don't make it into a bigger issue than it is Rover. I'm simply saying that a little more thought on the thing would have made it a much more useful (day and night) item with less work involved as well. Geez. You may commence untwisting your panties now.

LOL. I wasn't making it any issue...just observing how it had become one. I love some of the rabbit trails that happen on this board. So, now that you are through lecturing me (you probably aren't though), you can relax. Skin shouldn't be so thin.

I love reading this board. Mostly it is very informative and thought provoking, and sometimes just amusing.

[iMAX386]

Big week for the boathouse row: http://newsok.com/article/3608452

[MDot]

Very cool to have this going on here.

[BoulderSooner]

any one have any idea when the OU boathouse will break ground ... it was fully funded as of june or july?

[Pete]

Yeah, I don't understand the hold-up on the OU Boathouse. Perhaps they are waiting until after the big events this weekend... Everything else on the capital projects priority list is either complete or under construction.

I know UCO still needed to raise some money for theirs, even though they've already raised several million.

Maybe they want to start them at the same time and OU is waiting on UCO?