Development that will make Dallas and KC Jealous?

[bchris02]

Great work d-usa. That is the one thing that has been mentioned that does work for all the hints that have been put out there. Just about every other guess has either contradicted one or more of Steve's hints or has been totally absurd. It is also within scope. Steve said that some people were getting their hopes far too high about this project. A soccer stadium would be a game changer for Bricktown yet it wouldn't be the second coming of Christ.

[bchris02]

But man Bricktown would be messed up. Although... by the time the whole thing could even happen (funding, plan, approval, construction, etc), Phase 1 of the streetcar might be online, so maybe folks are parking and riding elsewhere downtown... hmmm... interesting at least.

Might be a good excuse for Hogan to build structured parking like he should have done from day one.

[Plutonic Panda]

So you think just because the soccer stadiums in Dallas and KC aren't downtown that'll make them jealous? I doubt that.

[bchris02]

So you think just because the soccer stadiums in Dallas and KC aren't downtown that'll make them jealous? I doubt that.

I honestly don't think there is anything OKC could realistically get that would make those cities jealous. Even Kansas City already has virtually everything anybody could wish for in OKC, let alone Dallas. For a long time I've thought that whatever this project is, the way it would make Dallas and KC jealous is that it would be in downtown OKC instead of the suburbs. This would fit that bill. As discussed in the Convention Center thread, having a wide array of entertainment options clustered together is a great asset for a city.

[d-usa]

I'm an FC Dallas can and I think they did a great job on their stadium. But the one thing I hear over and over again, at games and online, is that a lot of folks hate that the stadium is in Frisco and that the stadium should have been build downtown. That's what made he rumor stand out for me and what guided me to the guess I made.

Parking would be rough. There is room for some parking, and I would imagine that fancy visitors paying for suites would get to park there. But other than that it would be rough for a few months, especially during playoff time for the Thunder! But other than that I think Bricktown could handle any two teams playing at once, especially a Energy/Dodgers combination.

But I also admit that as a soccer can I would love the stadium there and that could easily give me rose colored glasses.

[hfry]

^^^ Very well said. I think its not so much what we get compared to Dallas and KC but its location and its usefulness/something we don't have that makes it envious. The soccer statidum would be a great addition to brick town and if done right could really help grow the east Bricktown side. My idea lately has been an entertainment centered mixed use development. And while it would be nothing the other cities don't have, I think new is exciting and would add a completeness to Bricktown which in itself is something to be jealous of.
Like midtown I think Bricktown's most attractive quality is its attainable empty parcels. When completely full in lets say 25 years bricktown has the potential to be a modern french quater style area that people can associate with OKC. I least that's my vision but it will require lots of work and cohesive effort to fix lower bricktown.

[bradh]

I absolutely believe that a downtown soccer stadium would make Dallas and Kansas City jealous. I know a lot of soccer fans in both cities and many can not stand where their current venue is. In fact in Dallas' case their rivals call them FC Frisco.

Sportings' park is actually close to KCK city limits.

[Plutonic Panda]

They already have great soccer stadiums. Not everything has to be downtown. If you think us getting a soccer stadium in Bricktown will make Dallas or KC jealous, then you can think that because I promise you, no one from either of those cities is going to be driving through OKC and thinking "man, I'm so jealous of this city because they have a soccer stadium downtown." I support building a soccer stadium downtown, but as far as that making other cities jealous, that is just funny to me.

[Zorba]

Snip

Great, well thought post. I am not much of a soccer guy, but a very interesting idea. BTW: You can make measurements on Google Maps: https://support.google.com/maps/answer/1628031?hl=en That way you can check your scaling.

[Zorba]

So you think just because the soccer stadiums in Dallas and KC aren't downtown that'll make them jealous? I doubt that.

The Redhawks stadium made Tulsa so jealous they had to move theirs a few miles down the road to put it in downtown. Moving stadiums to downtown areas has been a big push in many cities.

Especially if the stadium could be used for decent sized outdoor concerts, it would be amazing. I can't think of any large outside concert venues in those cities that are in nice/dense parts of town. And outdoor concerts are much better than indoor. It could be like the setup of the Sprint Center being so close to Power and Light district in KC, except outside.

[bchris02]

The Redhawks stadium made Tulsa so jealous they had to move theirs a few miles down the road to put it in downtown. Moving stadiums to downtown areas has been a big push in many cities.

Charlotte had a perfectly good NBA arena in its suburbs but the powers that be wanted it downtown. It was a huge controversy because they put it to a vote, it failed, yet they built it anyways. They recently moved their minor league baseball stadium from the burbs to downtown just in the last couple of years. Downtown stadiums are a big deal to a lot of people.

[warreng88]

Have the Funks said when they are wanting to get their own stadium and not be using Taft? I seriously doubt they are looking at a new stadium this quick after completing $1,000,000 of their own money in renovations to Taft.

[d-usa]

Have the Funks said when they are wanting to get their own stadium and not be using Taft? I seriously doubt they are looking at a new stadium this quick after completing $1,000,000 of their own money in renovations to Taft.

Taft is nice, but in a weird location. No entertainment around, parking will be a nightmare, people might have an issue with going to evening games around May & NW 23rd, limited alcohol sales (not sure if that would be an issue, but it is a High School stadium), forced to work around school schedules. There could be reasons to try to move sooner than later.

In 2014 they mentioned 3-4 years while already doing construction on Taft, so let's say opening game in March for either 2017 or 2018.

Now it is 2015 and still sounds like stuff is in the planing stage for both the stadium with the 5 locations they were considering and/or the lot on California. So possible announcement sometime later this year, let's pretent Q3 2015. 6 more months to finish plans, get approval, other paperwork would put them in Q1 2016. One year to construct would put them Q1 2017 ready for opening game of the season in March. Even if there is a year in delays it would still put them within their original timeline.

[AP]

I asked that in the Energy FC thread but no one ever answered. I remember reading somewhere 3 years.

[Laramie]

I asked that in the Energy FC thread but no one ever answered. I remember reading somewhere 3 years.

The OKC Energy FC will use Taft Stadium as a two season gauge (2015-16). Look for the Funks-McLaughlin to partner with the city to get something on MAPS 4 - 2017.

Oklahoma City to Study Feasibility of Future MLS Stadium - Athletic Business

You could see a 20,000-25,000 seat soccer specific/American football stadium constructed around 2019-20. Energy FC appears to be headed in that direction with their recent training center development proposed:

OKC Energy FC to Build Training Facility at Northeast Regional Health and Wellness Campus | Commercial Property Executive

As far as Steve's comment about something that would make Kansas City & Dallas jealous; if it's more entertainment based than sports, your guess is as good as anybody's.

To be determined...

[gopokes88]

If it is a soccer stadium downtown than that's awesome. I think the powers that be are gravely underestimating the draw it would be. Especially since the MLS season doesn't clash with football season and has minor interference with NBA. The demand for good quality entertainment in this city is very high. In this sports obsessed state/city it wouldn't surprise me if a 10,000 seat stadium sold out every single game.

Proof is in the thunder pudding.

[warreng88]

Taft is nice, but in a weird location. No entertainment around, parking will be a nightmare, people might have an issue with going to evening games around May & NW 23rd, limited alcohol sales (not sure if that would be an issue, but it is a High School stadium), forced to work around school schedules. There could be reasons to try to move sooner than later.

Not sure what you mean about parking. It is right across the street from NW Classen High School which has a monster parking lot. People parked across the street from Bishp[ McGuiness all the time. If what you are saying is true, people would have to park south of Reno and cross to get to the new stadium.

Also, be careful when you talk about the area around there. There are multiple people on this board who live in the surrounding area that can attest to the increasing value of homes and "gentrification" of it.

[soonerguru]

Taft is nice, but in a weird location. No entertainment around, parking will be a nightmare, people might have an issue with going to evening games around May & NW 23rd, limited alcohol sales (not sure if that would be an issue, but it is a High School stadium), forced to work around school schedules. There could be reasons to try to move sooner than later.

In 2014 they mentioned 3-4 years while already doing construction on Taft, so let's say opening game in March for either 2017 or 2018.

Now it is 2015 and still sounds like stuff is in the planing stage for both the stadium with the 5 locations they were considering and/or the lot on California. So possible announcement sometime later this year, let's pretent Q3 2015. 6 more months to finish plans, get approval, other paperwork would put them in Q1 2016. One year to construct would put them Q1 2017 ready for opening game of the season in March. Even if there is a year in delays it would still put them within their original timeline.

Why? That is a nice area of town. Some people need to get out more and stop cocooning themselves in their homes like frightened turtles.

[Bullbear]

Haha I had no idea NW 23rd and May was so sketchy that people don't wanna come here..lol
having owned a home very near here for 13 years i'd say its not a bad area of town at all.

[Mr. Cotter]

Yeah... you guys can all walk over to my house for a beer after a game. Assuming you aren't murdered along the way, I think you'd have a good time!

[d-usa]

I used to live right on 23rd and never had a problem. But some people hear NW 23rd and they have a different idea about the area. Didn't mean any offense by repeating concerns others have had.

[Mr. Cotter]

I know. I'm just having fun.

Seriously though, the games being at Taft will actually get me to go. I'm not really a soccer guy, but I think it will be fun to go to a professional(ish) level game basically in the neighborhood.

[warreng88]

I used to live right on 23rd and never had a problem. But some people hear NW 23rd and they have a different idea about the area. Didn't mean any offense by repeating concerns others have had.

I read the post as you have a problem with people at 23rd and May and you are saying there is a perception of that area, which I agree with. I tell people where I live and I get a flinch a couple of times but when they actually see my house, it is a different story.

[AP]

There was someone in the Energy thread that made a joke about the area reminding opposing players of Nicaragua. I've been over there multiple times and never really felt unsafe. Maybe I'm just not seeing it...

[bradh]

it's not bad, and you certainly won't be bothered if you're among a big crowd of fans walking to/from a parking lot