Maps 3 new consideration...

[Patrick]

I agree with PUG...If the city leaders don't all but guarantee a new arena in the next few years it will be the KC Sonics and we will be watching only an occasional exhibition game....Just not gonna happen w/o some assurances

Also keep in mind...It will be difficult to get big time free agents to come to our fine city w/o paying them substantially more than larger cities....An awesome arena with world class facilities would go a long way in recruiting

But, shouldn't Kansas City have a plan to replace the Crystal Palace in 5 years too? I don't see the difference. You're trying to say that arenas only have a life of 5 years. What does that say about other arenas in the league, like Madison Square Garden?

[PUGalicious]

So what are we going to do, spend $500 million every 5 years to build a new arena? I don't know any city that would do that. The city of Seattle is different....they have a 30 year old arena that needs replacing. When the Ford Center is 20-30 years old, it will need replacing as well. For now, we have a new arena.

Who said every 5 years? When we built the Ford Center, there were many who predicted that it would not be NBA suitable long term.

And, the reality is, we have to give reasons for players to be excited about coming to play in Oklahoma City. We have to be honest and say that compared to Seattle or Miami or Dallas or even Kansas City, Oklahoma City doesn't have a world-class reputation. If we build first class facilities, it will be one incentive for a player to get excited about playing here.

But, it's no skin off my nose. If we don't get the NBA team, we don't get it. But if we want it, there will have to be a new arena or a nearly complete overhaul of the Ford Center. That's the reality.

[soonerliberal]

Spending $20 million in updates and upgrades to the Ford center would be able to easily hold us over for at least 10 more years. There is no reason for us to build a brand new arena when we currently have two conveniently located in the heart downtown, including one new one. The AA Center in Dallas cost 5 times as much as our beloved Ford Center, yet when I visit it, I do not notice where the extra $400 million went.

We have a good arena. Some updates, particularly beautification on the first level, and locker room updates, would be nice, but we don't need a new arena. Let's focus on the other things that need to be done before we waste another few hundred million.

[okclee]

I am totally conviced that the Ford Center has about 5 good years left and that is with upgrades. There will be some sort of new arena agreement for Bennett to bring his Sonics to Okc.

There will also be a practice facility for the new team, this has already been stated by Mayor Mick. The city of Cleveland just finished their new downtown practice facility belonging to the Cavs for a cool 20 Million.

[Patrick]

Spending $20 million in updates and upgrades to the Ford center would be able to easily hold us over for at least 10 more years. There is no reason for us to build a brand new arena when we currently have two conveniently located in the heart downtown, including one new one. The AA Center in Dallas cost 5 times as much as our beloved Ford Center, yet when I visit it, I do not notice where the extra $400 million went.

We have a good arena. Some updates, particularly beautification on the first level, and locker room updates, would be nice, but we don't need a new arena. Let's focus on the other things that need to be done before we waste another few hundred million.

I agree completely.

[Patrick]

There will be some sort of new arena agreement for Bennett to bring his Sonics to Okc.

I highly doubt that. I think what you'll see is a complete overhaul of our NEW arena.

There will also be a practice facility for the new team, this has already been stated by Mayor Mick. The city of Cleveland just finished their new downtown practice facility belonging to the Cavs for a cool 20 Million.

Now that will happen.

[jbrown84]

Heck, we could devote $50 million to updating it and that would be 1/10th the cost of a new one.

[Patrick]

The inside of the Ford Center looks like an arena where they ran out of $$ when they were about 65% finished, I thought it looked like crap on the inside from the begining.

If we land a permanent franchise, we definately need a better arena

Let's spend the 100 million or whatever to finish the Ford Center before we discuss building a new arena. We have a habit in this town of not completing things. Let's complete something for once.

[jbrown84]

But, shouldn't Kansas City have a plan to replace the Crystal Palace in 5 years too? I don't see the difference. You're trying to say that arenas only have a life of 5 years. What does that say about other arenas in the league, like Madison Square Garden?

I think the difference here is that our arena was built bare bones, so as is, it's shelf life is very short, but with $50 million in upgrades it should be fine for 10-12 years.

[Patrick]

Heck, we could devote $50 million to updating it and that would be 1/10th the cost of a new one.

Yeah, and I just don't see our city putting up $500 mill for a new arena right now, when we already have a brand new arena. Maybe 50-100 mill for improvements to the existing arena to cover us for now.

The Core to Shore Project is going to cost too much, and that will be the focus of MAPS 3.

Maybe 10-15 years from now, after improvements have been maxed out at the Ford Center, we can discuss building a new world class arena.

[Patrick]

I think the difference here is that our arena was built bare bones, so as is, it's shelf life is very short, but with $50 million in upgrades it should be fine for 10-12 years.

I agree with that.

[Easy180]

Might be fine with you but I can assure you Bennett will not come here if we expect him to stay in the Ford Center for more than 5 years (With extensive upgrades)

[Patrick]

Might be fine with you but I can assure you Bennett will not come here if we expect him to stay in the Ford Center for more than 5 years (With extensive upgrades)

You have no evidence to prove that.

[soonerliberal]

Am I alone in thinking this?:

We can spend $500 million on a new arena and let the current two we have rot or we can invest $500 million in actually doing a second revival of the city. $500 million could be spent on relandscaping our city streets and freeways, rebuilding more schools, creating the foundation for a light rail system, committing even more money to the arts and Arts district, continuing to revive the Fairgrounds into a world class facility, making our existing city parks beautiful and safe, create a Hispanic "downtown", revive the Farmers market, continue the River's growth, and begin the city's Core to Shore projects.

All of that or a new arena?

[Easy180]

Arena...We LACK quality entertainment and name recognition...Nicer parks and fairgrounds aren't gonna help us move up on the map except for retirement folks

Plus it won't be anywhere near $500 mil...Spent less than 100 on the Ford Center

[soonerliberal]

In addition, one would have to be crazy to think that the taxpayers of Oklahoma City would approve a tax to pay for a new arena when we have one that is less than five years old.

[John]

The Ford Center will become the 2nd use arena, and the Cox Center's arena bowl will be converted into convention space.

At the latest, construction needs to start in 4 to 5 years on our new arena. If we go all out and not build a bare bones arena, the new one can last for 20 or so years.

[okclee]

In the world of NBA arenas we purchased a Kia, it is a top of the line Kia, but it is still a Kia. (nothing against Kia's by the way) Now you can paint this Kia, put a new stereo in your Kia, and "pimp your ride" all you want. The fact is that it is still a Kia.

Now the new arena will be a Bentley, with all of the bells and whistles. So say 20 years from now what do you want to be driving. Your Kia or your Bentley?

[Easy180]

In the world of NBA arenas we purchased a Kia, it is a top of the line Kia, but it is still a Kia. (nothing against Kia's by the way) Now you can paint this Kia, put a new stereo in your Kia, and "pimp your ride" all you want. The fact is that it is still a Kia.

Now the new arena will be a Bentley, with all of the bells and whistles. So say 20 years from now what do you want to be driving. Your Kia or your Bentley?

[jbrown84]

I really don't understand what's different between a Kia and a Bentley besides better asthetics, which surely don't cost 5 times as much.

[PUGalicious]

I really don't understand what's different between a Kia and a Bentley besides better asthetics...

Are you serious???

[jbrown84]

a "kia" and a "bentley"

in other words, what is different about a $500 million dollar arena from the Ford Center besides all the glass and chrome? that can't be worth $400 million.

[Patrick]

It's not even worth talking about, because city leaders have no plans to build a new arena. I talked to one leader this afternoon who laughed about the idea of building a new arena in 5 years, saying, we already have a new arena, that just needs improvements. I agree. The Ford Center has at least a 20 year lifespan, with appropriate improvements. Let's spend $100 million upgrading the Ford Center, and $400 million on Core to Shore.

Otherwise, we end up with a world class arena surrounded by the slums south of the current I-40.

[Patrick]

And BTW, for $100 million, we can turn Ford Center into a pretty top notch arena, with all of the glass, bells and whistles, etc.

It's more like comparing a Toyota to a Lexus. They both have the same drive train. Just one has the fancy asthetics, and the other is plain. Let's make the upgrades on the Toyota, and turn it into a Lexus.

[Pete]

Keep in mind that any NBA team would bare at least part of the cost of whatever arena they play in. No city is just going to give them one... At best, they get some tax incentives and sponsorships but they still have to come up with some money and pay rent.

There is an expense side to their ledger, not just revenue. If they could have a very nice arena by spending another $100 million in upgrades -- even if that was only for the next 5 to 10 years -- that would save the team a lot of money, too.

Everyone agrees the Ford Center is alread about mid-pack in terms of NBA arenas. Another $100 million (or less) would put it well up there and when things get to the point we can no longer keep up -- and we'll see that coming years ahead -- that's when we build a new arena.

In the mean time, we need to allow for it -- in our land usage planning -- for that day will surely come.