New State Fair Coliseum

[Laramie]

Examination of the ticket prices in Tulsa & Wichita:


Oilers: https://tulsaoilers.com/single-game-tickets/

BOK Center Ice Hockey capacity: 16,753


Thunder: https://www.wichitathunder.com/

Intrust Bank Arena Ice Hockey capacity: 13,168

Appears that both arenas use the lower bowl seating for regular season games.

[d-usa]

I’m not saying that the State Fair should only use State Fair money for State Fair things.

But I think that they should only get MAPS money if they follow Open records Laws to show why MAPS money is needed.

[bombermwc]

This new arena could easily seat 9,350 for basketball (retractable floor & upper deck) and probably 8,250 for ice hockey. It could become the future home for the NBA G-League Oklahoma City Blue as well as a permanent home for an ECHL AA ice hockey franchise. The new SFA will have more use than The Peake.

I definitely think the city could support a real attempt at hockey again. Not just this fake stuff the Blazers are doing right now. But i do not think that we can also support a G-League basketball team. Part of the popularity of the things we have, is because there aren't really other options in town for those things. Just like if we had a MLB team, the Dodgers wouldn't be here (but that's not gonna happen...whole other story). That being said, we have the Myriad still and it's perfectly fine for those games, especially after the renovations. We just need someone to step up to get the team going at that level again. Maybe the Myriad is too expensive for the crowd size, but do we know what the rental on a brand-spankin' new SFA would be? Maybe that situation wouldn't be any better?

I totally agree that the SFA will CONTINUE to be a very busy place. But i dont want to make assumptions on what would be there and artificially inflate the usage possibilities. I also agree that flex seating is important. I can't think of too many arenas that dont have that for that very reason.

[Laramie]

Thunder supports their G-League franchise with a lease at the Cox Convention Center. The crowds probably average less than 500. Probably more of a convenience to have the team in close proximity to view player development. If they wanted to make money off the G-League they would be looking at communities like Enid, Shawnee, Fort Smith, Wichita Falls or Lawton where those cities would benefit from the G-League brand.

Ice hockey IMO will be a challenge and risk. The AA ECHL vs. AAA AHL where OKC wasn't able to establish any rivals. There were potential AHL rivals in NBA cities like San Antonio, Houston, Toronto, Cleveland & Milwaukee.

The AA ECHL should present a better situation with nearby Tulsa & Wichita; cities with past rivalries in driving distance of OKC where fans will be more likely to follow the team.

Rumor: Thunder has complete autonomy over Chesapeake Energy Arena; therefore it wouldn't be in there best interest to share the arena. An ice plant for the rink wouldn't set well. The new SFA may be the potential future for ice-hockey; that's why I don't see a power grab for fans at the new SFA. Another option, Thunder will probably schedule the future G-League games at The Peake once the Cox CC is no longer an option.

[baralheia]

I definitely think the city could support a real attempt at hockey again. Not just this fake stuff the Blazers are doing right now. But i do not think that we can also support a G-League basketball team. Part of the popularity of the things we have, is because there aren't really other options in town for those things. Just like if we had a MLB team, the Dodgers wouldn't be here (but that's not gonna happen...whole other story). That being said, we have the Myriad still and it's perfectly fine for those games, especially after the renovations. We just need someone to step up to get the team going at that level again. Maybe the Myriad is too expensive for the crowd size, but do we know what the rental on a brand-spankin' new SFA would be? Maybe that situation wouldn't be any better?

I totally agree that the SFA will CONTINUE to be a very busy place. But i dont want to make assumptions on what would be there and artificially inflate the usage possibilities. I also agree that flex seating is important. I can't think of too many arenas that dont have that for that very reason.

It's important to remember that once the new convention center opens, the medium-term plan is for the Myriad/Cox Convention Center to go away.

[Pete]

This was a full-page ad in today's Oklahoman. It appears the State Fair Park is using our tax dollars to urge us to spend more tax dollars on the State Fair Park.

Ironically, the 'A Different MAPS' article was just a few pages later.

[d-usa]

That’s enough to make me opposed to them getting included.

[5alive]

+1

[jn1780]

Why dont they show a few charts to show current budget and revenue if their going to spend the time begging for more people.

[Quicker]

As much as Laramie and others have mentioned hockey in relationship to the new arena, I have seen no mention of it in the promotional materials. They mention horse related events, basketball tournaments and ice shows but any mention of hockey is conspicuously absent...

I can’t help but wonder if it’s because it would create too many scheduling conflicts with horse related events ...

[Laramie]

The State Fair Arena was built in 1963; opened in 1965 (54 years old) for a cost of $2 million. Oklahoma City no longer boast like we did in the 70s of having one of the top ten State Fair's in the country.

If you think for one minute the State Fair Board Trust have a nest egg of money stashed away; it doesn't make sense. Some of you are willing to KILL MAPS because you think the State Fair Board Trust is hiding their financial portfolio--again there's nothing to see.

Kill MAPS over a perceived notion that the SFB Trust is hiding something. You'll lose all of these horse shows, which according to populous have an economic impact of $300 million on our local economy--they will be welcomed in Fort Worth, Tulsa, Enid and other municipalities, and like the NFR you will never get these events back.

By the time you finally build a new arena, like we did with The Peake--the NFR and the horse shows will be gone forever.

[5alive]

A simple fix. If there is nothing being hid, open the books and show us. Do this and the problem is solved.

[Laramie]

As much as Laramie and others have mentioned hockey in relationship to the new arena, I have seen no mention of it in the promotional materials. They mention horse related events, basketball tournaments and ice shows but any mention of hockey is conspicuously absent...

I can’t help but wonder if it’s because it would create too many scheduling conflicts with horse related events ...

You bring up a good question & argument; I don't claim to know. Ice hockey may be done for our city. IMO, if more emphasis was placed on not only replacing the 'Big House' for high school basketball sports; add the ice hockey piece, the new State Fair Arena would gather more support since the Thunder aren't willing to share the Chesapeake Energy Arena.

[Laramie]

A simple fix. If there is nothing being hid, open the books and show us. Do this and the problem is solved.

Agree 100%.

Get this over and behind us since so many are willing to make this an issue. However, at this stage of the game--many won't believe what they see. This SFB Trust issue is long overdue--it's divisive and continues to raise more questions.

It never should have played out this long--it's not like you're trying to get Trump's tax returns.

[d-usa]

My understanding is that the State Fair Board gets a lot of money earmarked specifically to the State Fairgrounds: proceeds from events, a portion of the hotel tax, etc.

How much are they getting, where is it going, why aren’t bonds an option for this?

Why the refusal to be open about funding and spending?

[Dob Hooligan]

I do not for one minute think the SFP management are crooks. I think they have been allowed to operate as "the Gaylord family pet project" for so long that they just don't know why anyone would ask them any questions. Another reminder that in many ways Oklahoma City is still a big small town.

I think it is time for the State Fair Board to engage in a PR campaign and show how honest they are. Actually ask for community input. Tell us where their offices are. Have an area that displays their 5 year, 10 year, 25 year plan and vision. Sell us, not tell us (although I'm not sure if they even care enough to tell us) about what their goal is for their byzantine and arrogant traffic & parking setup. Why their eternal use of temporary, orange plastic and/or concrete traffic walls represent attractive and intelligent traffic management. How they are good neighbors and care about what happens outside of their $50 a line foot black steel fencing.

Having said that, I am totally in favor of the new arena. I think it will be a great benefit to Oklahoma City. And I think the best way to get hockey back in OKC is to badger them into using the brand new arena with ice making ability. That the city wide MAPS money paid for.

[d-usa]

Ageee.

I think it’s worth noting that I’m not against an arena period, I am against giving them the money for an arena while knowing nothing about their internal operation and budgets.

[mugofbeer]

Maybe Dr. She did, who is active on other threads, would care to tell readers how the oversight committee is able to operate in secrecy and how to force them public.

[bombermwc]

It's important to remember that once the new convention center opens, the medium-term plan is for the Myriad/Cox Convention Center to go away.

We actually haven't seen the city sat that yet though. I know a lot of people here want that to happen, but im not going make that assumption until the city says they're going to shutter the place. And i really dont think they're going to do that.

[jedicurt]

As much as Laramie and others have mentioned hockey in relationship to the new arena, I have seen no mention of it in the promotional materials. They mention horse related events, basketball tournaments and ice shows but any mention of hockey is conspicuously absent...

I can’t help but wonder if it’s because it would create too many scheduling conflicts with horse related events ...

it's because those that wanted to bring hockey here just a few years ago, said they wouldn't be back to even consider us until there was a long term place to play, since the peake is a no, and there is no long term commitment to the Cox... so those people won't even come back (if they ever do decide to come back) until an arena is already in place. i'm not saying that i know of any active plans to bring hockey back. i just know that when the Stars organization was looking here a few years ago, they were told no to the Peake, and they wouldn't do the Cox center since there was no long term commitment from the City of actually having a place to play were the Cox center to be destroyed. And so they left and said they could not consider OKC until there was a long term solution.

again, i'm not saying if we build a location, that hockey will come back, and that is why it isn't mentioned... because there probably currently is no plans for hockey to return to OKC... but without having a facility (since the Thunder won't share) that percentage will continue to stay at 0.0% chance, if we don't have another place that could be available. scheduling for these types of things is rarely ever a true deal breaker... and it shouldn't be with the Peake... the thunder just don't want to share... if San Antonio can share with an AHL, Dallas with an NHL, and Staples center able to work the schedule of 2 NBA, one NHL, and concerts and other events... you can't tell me that we can'd figure out scheduling...

[jedicurt]

We actually haven't seen the city sat that yet though. I know a lot of people here want that to happen, but im not going make that assumption until the city says they're going to shutter the place. And i really dont think they're going to do that.

but when the Stars were here to look at the possibility of bringing an ECHL team here... they were specifically told by the city that the city could not commit any long term commitment of the Cox center being a place they could play... so while they city hasn't actually said that yet... they aren't denying it either...

and i have second hand knowledge of those conversations, that i have no reason to not believe, because they were in those conversations.

[Jersey Boss]

^^^ Or it could be a more palatable than saying "We don't want the Thunder ownership mad at us"

[jedicurt]

^^^ Or it could be a more palatable than saying "We don't want the Thunder ownership mad at us"

????

why would the DSE (the ownership group for the Stars) care at all about Thunder ownership being mad at them? or are you saying the City didn't want Thunder ownership mad at them? i'm confused by what you are saying

[hoya]

I don't see any reason why the Thunder should share with a minor league hockey team. Yes, I know it's possible to use the Chesapeake for both. But minor league hockey is such a tiny draw compared to the NBA that there's no reason to fight that battle.

[jedicurt]

I don't see any reason why the Thunder should share with a minor league hockey team. Yes, I know it's possible to use the Chesapeake for both. But minor league hockey is such a tiny draw compared to the NBA that there's no reason to fight that battle.

because it get used and therefore generates additional revenue for another 36 nights a year... people don't want cities to build stadiums for billionaires, but also dont want cities to actually use them to generate revenue when they could... just blows my mind

also, i sort of agree... and it's perfectly okay for a minor league hockey team to play at a smaller venue.. and that is why we would need something like a new state fair arena to do so... for the city to show a long term commitment to another facility besides the Peake