State Fairgrounds

[Pete]

The Transportation Building, Carriage Hall and the courtyard between them will all be demolished.


Time for Friends for a Better Fairgrounds?

[SoonerDave]

The Transportation Building, Carriage Hall and the courtyard between them will all be demolished.


Time for Friends for a Better Fairgrounds?

Darn. Really kinda hoped I'd been wrong on that one. Like I said, scorched earth.

[OklahomaNick]

To address several points:

The fairgrounds building will be FLEX space for things like car shows and landscaping expos with heavy machinery in use on the floor. The convention center will be professional meeting space and grand hall dinner space with carpet and nice finishes. Two completely different concepts. Both really needed for OKC.

I almost fell out of my chair when I read that we should try and save the travel and transportation building! (although that wouldn't be the first time that happened by reading a post on here)
They have done their best to rehab that space, but it is dreadful from the interior, to the bathrooms, to the appeal of the exterior. Wow.. I just can't believe someone wants to salvage it.

This WILL be a game changer for the fairgrounds, and I love the rendering.

[Pete]

Yes, the Transportation Building is really dreadful.

Perhaps they can relocate the items in the courtyard.

[SoonerDave]

Yes, the Transportation Building is really dreadful.

Perhaps they can relocate the items in the courtyard.

Yes, just to clarify, that was what I was hoping for...some preservation of those items, very little point in tossing big $ in saving the building itself

[Urbanized]

That said, I have some good concert memories of the T&T building. Pearl Jam/Urge Overkill; Nirvana/Breeders/Shonen Knife; Public Image Ltd/Big Audio Dynamite II/Live/Blind Melon; Smashing Pumpkins. I saw all of those bands there. I will tip my cap to the T&T building when it comes down.

[Pete]

Yes, for a number of years (at least throughout the 80's) a group of friends always organized a huge Halloween party there as well.

I'm always sad to see any of my history go but in this case that building was really, really rough even 30 years ago.

[Urbanized]

Actually, when I think about it some more, that last show might actually have been in a different building at the fairgrounds. Yeah, tear the sucker down.

[Pete]

Nirvana also played there in 1993. Love everyone of those bands you listed, Urbanized.


Just goes to show the sad state of OKC music venues in the 80's and 90's.

[Larry OKC]

I can't find it right now, but the "duplication" of convention center space was brought up during the campaign (maybe in one of the "Breaking Through" luncheons?) and as others have pointed out, they serve different cliental. Similar to the duplication going on with the MAPS 3 Park and the Myriad Gardens...many of the same items but a difference in the scope of crowds each can handle.

In reading some history about the original MAPS, there was opposition by the Meridian motel corridor in revamping the Cox with MAPS. they were afraid that it would take business from them so plans were made even back then to beef up the Fairgrounds facilities to get them onboard with MAPS. That thought process seems to be intact.

[SOONER8693]

The Oklahoma State Fair is dead. Nothing of interest to most people is left. All that is there are things that attract a "low life" element of gangbangers, teenagers looking for an excuse to get drunk and laid, and people who generally look like they just crawled out from under a rock. The Kansas and Texas state fairs are light years ahead of the joke Oklahoma calls a state fair.

[Snowman]

I guess they are completely shutting the door on fixing the space needle since they are planing to make a reflecting pool around it with no pedestrian connection

[Plutonic Panda]

The Oklahoma State Fair is dead. Nothing of interest to most people is left. All that is there are things that attract a "low life" element of gangbangers, teenagers looking for an excuse to get drunk and laid, and people who generally look like they just crawled out from under a rock. The Kansas and Texas state fairs are light years ahead of the joke Oklahoma calls a state fair.

REALLY!?!? Did you go to the fair this year? It looked just like the fair in Texas as far number of people go. I think the state fair is alive and well but thats me.

[ljbab728]

The Kansas and Texas state fairs are light years ahead of the joke Oklahoma calls a state fair.

I have been to the Texas State Fair over 40 times while attending the OU-Texas game. I never saw anything there that made me say WOW. It's basically what you would see at the Oklahoma State Fair.

[Dustin]

I have been to the Texas State Fair over 40 times while attending the OU-Texas game. I never saw anything there that made me say WOW. It's basically what you would see at the Oklahoma State Fair.

Yup.. They basically haul around the same crap to every state fair around the country.

[catch22]

Yup.. They basically haul around the same crap to every state fair around the country.

Even the Tulsa State Fair?

Hehehe.

[Bill Robertson]

I almost fell out of my chair when I read that we should try and save the travel and transportation building! (although that wouldn't be the first time that happened by reading a post on here)
They have done their best to rehab that space, but it is dreadful from the interior, to the bathrooms, to the appeal of the exterior. Wow.. I just can't believe someone wants to salvage it.

This WILL be a game changer for the fairgrounds, and I love the rendering.

Yes, the Transportation Building is really dreadful.

Perhaps they can relocate the items in the courtyard.

I hated to see the monorail and racetrack go. I will hate to see the needle have a similar fate. But the Transportation building is just a metal building pretty much like any other metal building. And one which needs a lot of work. It has no architectural or historical significance. It will be a good thing for it to be replaced with something larger with new mechanical elements.

I was at the south side of the fairgrounds a few days ago and saw what I think is the rocket that was in the courtyard laying on it's side by a parking lot. I didn't really pay any attention then but now I'm going to go by and double check.

[SoonerDave]

I hated to see the monorail and racetrack go. I will hate to see the needle have a similar fate.

Is it a given they're going to rip the Needle down? Is there even a glimmer of hope we can save the thing, or are TPTB bent on destroying it, too?

[CaptDave]

Even the Tulsa State Fair?

Hehehe.

That is the one I have never understood... which one is the "real" state fair of Oklahoma.

[Larry OKC]

That is the one I have never understood... which one is the "real" state fair of Oklahoma.

Since we don't call ours the Oklahoma City State Fair, I would say that ours is the "real" state fair and Tulsans think they are their own state, with their own state fair...LOL

[Pete]

The official names for the one in OKC is the State Fair of Oklahoma. The one in Tulsa is the Tulsa State Fair.

They are both considered "state fairs". I don't think there is much difference other than the names.

[kevinpate]

Perhaps it began as the Tulsa State of Mind Fair, but then bumper sticker ink got more expensive?

Went parade marching and then fairolicking every year 8th grade - senior year. All in all, not a bad gig for a teenager.

[Snowman]

I guess regional fair does not have the same ring to it, it is not as if we are the only state with multiple cities holding it's own

[SoonerDave]

I guess regional fair does not have the same ring to it, it is not as if we are the only state with multiple cities holding it's own

And I bet "City Wide Carnival Featuring Games and Politically Incorrect Clowns On Dunk Tanks And Really Greasy Good Food" just wouldn't fit on a banner

[Tritone]

As I remarked on another thread, the word will be that space needle ridership is way down over the past two years (ignore that it was closed), so obviously it's no longer an attraction, doesn't fit the desired image (whatever that is), and needs to go. As some might say, "hear me now; believe me later."