Why do Oklahoma Citians seem to have a Dallas Crush?

[dcsooner]

I get it, Dallas is a Big City, with big city ammenities, but what I simply do not get this all encompassing desire to be like Dallas. Folks, OKC is not like Dallas in terms of Scale, Mass, Wealth, etc. It is like Dallas in terms of topography,weather, general western feel. OKC will not and cannot expect to have the volume or diversity of available shopping, eating or entertainment options; it is simply too small relative to Dallas. I really get tired of people on this forum comparing OKC to every city in Texas. There are other cities in this country that we could emmulate besides those in Texas, we might even begin to appeal to a broader more diverse populous if we attempted to embrace some of the develpment, attactions, retail options found in large East and West Coast (oh no!) cities. I may be in the minority but so be it that's my opinion.

[Bellaboo]

I hate Dallas, and I hope we never come close to 'how it is'. I have relatives that live over by Ft Worth and it's amazing to me how thay have to plan their day around the traffic. I could care less about the high end stores, etc.....fwiw

[Sheetkeecker]

Simple. It is the nearest big city we all go to for the first time. And one we can drive to when in high school, that was a lot of fun and different from and bigger than OKC. Boston people love NYC. The OU-Texas game makes many familiar with it too.

[BBatesokc]

Must depend on your circle of friends. I can't recall the last time anyone I associate with giving the slightest hint they wanted OKC to be more like Dallas.

Sure, its a destination spot because its a big city, not that far away and occasionally offers concerts and venues not found hear - but that scenario applies everywhere across the country.

[G.Walker]

I get it, Dallas is a Big City, with big city ammenities, but what I simply do not get this all encompassing desire to be like Dallas. Folks, OKC is not like Dallas in terms of Scale, Mass, Wealth, etc. It is like Dallas in terms of topography,weather, general western feel. OKC will not and cannot expect to have the volume or diversity of available shopping, eating or entertainment options; it is simply too small relative to Dallas. I really get tired of people on this forum comparing OKC to every city in Texas. There are other cities in this country that we could emmulate besides those in Texas, we might even begin to appeal to a broader more diverse populous if we attempted to embrace some of the develpment, attactions, retail options found in large East and West Coast (oh no!) cities. I may be in the minority but so be it that's my opinion.

I don't think people in Oklahoma City envy Dallas as much as you think. Anyone with economic sense would know that Oklahoma City will never be a large city like Dallas. Therefore, people who compare Oklahoma City to Dallas is lacking basic sense of economic growth re cities. Dallas is the 4th largest metropolitan area in the nation behind, NYC, LA, Chicago. And it is projected to be the fastest growing metro area in the nation between now and 2020, adding 1.5 million people. It is also considered an Alpha city or Global City. Dallas is a great place to visit, but all it is, is just a big city. I think its fortunate for Oklahoma City to be only 2.5 hrs away from a Alpha City, which actually does benefit Oklahoma City more than people know.

[Steve]

Dallas crush? Oh please. Heck no. Fort Worth or Austin - now those are beautiful girls. But Dallas is butt ugly.

[Jchaser405]

I agree with the above comments, I think it is due to the proximity that there seems to be a "crush-like" feeling. The thing I fear is that we ,as an up and coming city, are trying to emulate things various cities have and are attempting due to unique constraints which we are not facing. I hope OK capitalizes on this moment and momentum to establish our own identity...... shop local(lol).

[G.Walker]

yea, Austin is my city of choice. If I were to ever move, I would move to Austin.

[SoonerDave]

I have lived here nearly all of my 47 years, and I have absolutely NO desire WHATSOEVER for OKC to be "more like Dallas." In fact, I was infuriated a few years ago when the State Fair folks hired a guy to "revamp" (translate: destroy) our state fairgrounds, and all he did in reality was reinvent it in the image of the Texas State fairgrounds in Dallas.

I have nothing against Dallas, enjoy going there once or twice a year, fun place for OU-Texas, but that's a long way from saying I want OKC to be like them. No reason OKC can't chart its own course, and cherry pick some of the nice things in Dallas (or KC, or StL, or <insert favorite surrounding city>) that we deem appropriate for us.

[MDot]

Yeah, I have no desire for Oklahoma City to be Dallas. I don't know why you decided to create a thread just to get this off your chest but nobody around here has a crush on Dallas and I'm not sure why you believe that. People bring up Dallas but they don't make a big deal about wanting to be them. I'm going to go with the trend and say I prefer Austin over Dallas each and every day as well.

And just so you know, progressiveboy lives in Dallas, not Oklahoma City, you got worked up and created this thread because somebody who lives in Dallas posted something about Dallas... Niccceee......

[Just the facts]

When people say they don't want to be like Dallas, what does that mean? And is raving over the new 10 lane freeway contradictory?

[Pete]

I think the things most people envy are the restaurants and retail choices and perhaps more big-league pro sports.

[metro]

Another dumb Dallas rant thread.

[MDot]

When people say they don't want to be like Dallas, what does that mean? And is raving over the new 10 lane freeway contradictory?

It means we want to be our own city, not a mock up of a mega-city. And no, Dallas isn't the only city with a 10-lane freeway.

[adaniel]

Yeah, I have no desire for Oklahoma City to be Dallas. I don't know why you decided to create a thread just to get this off your chest but nobody around here has a crush on Dallas and I'm not sure why you believe that. People bring up Dallas but they don't make a big deal about wanting to be them. I'm going to go with the trend and say I prefer Austin over Dallas each and every day as well.

And just so you know, progressiveboy lives in Dallas, not Oklahoma City, you got worked up and created this thread because somebody who lives in Dallas posted something about Dallas... Niccceee......

This thread is odd. But with all due respect to dcsooner, I think he gets a lot of his information of the internet, while coming back very little to this area. I think he has a lot of preconcieved notions about OKC, just judging by the tone of some of his posts (dcsooner you are more than free to correct me if this is not that case).

OKC "imitates" Dallas because we are in the same region and tend to have overlapping characteristics and approachs. Birmingham and Charlotte share a lot of the same traits with Atlanta but I don't think you would find anyone who would say that they have an Atlanta crush.

For whats its worth I think OKC is doing a good job doing its own thing, or at least taking ques from other cities across the US instead of just looking at what others in the region have done. Would you find a river rowing district in Dallas? Unless you want to row in the gloried flood ditch otherwise known as the Trinity River, the answer is no.

Signed, an ex Dallasite who's been living in OKC/Norman for the past 6 years.

[CurtisJ]

If anything I'm crushing on Kansas City, but shes playing hard to get...

[Just the facts]

It means we want to be our own city, not a mock up of a mega-city. And no, Dallas isn't the only city with a 10-lane freeway.

What does this mean? If OKC wanted to be like Dallas what should we do first?

[MDot]

What does this mean? If OKC wanted to be like Dallas what should we do first?

You seriously don't understand that? LOL you have me stumped, I have no clue what our first move would be to be more like Dallas. Perhaps pack up the city and move it to north Texas?

[Just the facts]

Yes, I seriously don't understand. Let me ask you the same question a different way. Name one specific thing you don't like about Dallas.

[MDot]

You seriously don't understand that? LOL

Disregard this Kerry, I misunderstood what you were saying.

[MDot]

Yes, I seriously don't understand. Let me ask you the same question a different way. Name one specific thing you don't like about Dallas.

The size of it.

[dankrutka]

Yes, I seriously don't understand. Let me ask you the same question a different way. Name one specific thing you don't like about Dallas.

I'm in Dallas and Fort Worth 1-2 weekends a month... the things I like about Dallas are the things I like about any more urban city, but you can also see some of the problems. For one, people in Dallas are pretty full of themselves. They think Uptown is some kind of mecca that is unrivaled anywhere. I had some friends who moved from Norman after OU to Uptown and they always talked about how stuck up everyone in the area was. So, while Dallas has some good things, the people leave a lot to be desired. As OKC develops more "upscale" and gentrified areas the same thigng will probably happen. The general humility and unabrasiveness of OKlahoman's is one of our best qualities. I don't want us to end up like the Dallas yuppies. Then we're just another city...

[RodH]

Yes, I seriously don't understand. Let me ask you the same question a different way. Name one specific thing you don't like about Dallas.

It is in Texas.

[MDot]

The size of it.

Let me be more specific. The population of it. Also the attitude KT mentioned.

[Bellaboo]

Yes, I seriously don't understand. Let me ask you the same question a different way. Name one specific thing you don't like about Dallas.

Traffic, air pollution, airport (easier to pass thru than check in), HUMIDITY, the brainwashed egos of a few texans.........lol