Taft Stadium

[BoulderSooner]

Sacramento spend 3 mil on their 8k usl stadium in 2014. This doesn’t have to cost that much money

[SEMIweather]

Sacramento spend 3 mil on their 8k usl stadium in 2014. This doesn’t have to cost that much money

Exactly. In fact, the more I think about it, the more likely it seems to me that they're going to go the pop-up stadium route after this season in an attempt to boost interest back up. I'm sure Prodigal can fully fund a 7,000-8,000 seat pop-up stadium. From there, try to market the team better, and make a push for a permanent stadium if/when the pop-up stadium starts selling out consistently. Now, I do have my doubts about whether they can market the team successfully, as the last 2-3 seasons have been uninspiring at best in that regard, but the fact that they brought in the co-founder of one of the most successful teams in the USL at least gives me hope that they're going to try.

[d-usa]

Some articles on stadiums:

http://www.us.jll.com/united-states/...soccer-stadium

http://midfieldpress.com/2017/08/14/...vision-soccer/

"So how many billions of dollars would a North American city have to pay for a great-looking stadium that could seat up to 27,528 fans? Vancouver paid $14.4 million. In the world of big-time sports, $14.4 million is pocket change."

https://soccerstadiumdigest.com/2018...en-next-month/



https://www.thecoast.ca/RealityBites...er-this-summer

"Current plans call for an easy-to-assemble facility with two large bleachers seating 5,000 to 6,000 people. Martin says it may even have a beer garden for refreshments.
...
While it’s too early for him to discuss financials, Martin told reporters the combined costs for a team and stadium would run between $3 to $4 million, and will be financed by private investors. The company isn’t asking for funding from HRM, and SAE will assume all installation and management costs."

[d-usa]

Exactly. In fact, the more I think about it, the more likely it seems to me that they're going to go the pop-up stadium route after this season in an attempt to boost interest back up. I'm sure Prodigal can fully fund a 7,000-8,000 seat pop-up stadium. From there, try to market the team better, and make a push for a permanent stadium if/when the pop-up stadium starts selling out consistently. Now, I do have my doubts about whether they can market the team successfully, as the last 2-3 seasons have been uninspiring at best in that regard, but the fact that they brought in the co-founder of one of the most successful teams in the USL at least gives me hope that they're going to try.

And worst case scenario, if the Energy FC ends up folding at some point it would be a lot easier to put that stadium back in the shipping containers it arrived in and sell it to somebody else than it would be to to sell any kind of permanent stadium.

[mugofbeer]

Being out of the market but being knowledgeable about Taft Stadium, what is unacceptable about the nicely remodeled Taft creating the need for a new stadium?

[d-usa]

The size of the field is below USL standards and the team cannot host any US Open Cup games because of the size.

[SEMIweather]

And worst case scenario, if the Energy FC ends up folding at some point it would be a lot easier to put that stadium back in the shipping containers it arrived in and sell it to somebody else than it would be to to sell any kind of permanent stadium.

Yeah, attendance is pretty dire this year but I have to believe this market is big enough to support a second-division soccer team. I just don't think they've ever been promoted quite right, so interest has really fallen off once the initial buzz calmed down. Hopefully Prodigal either fixes that, or eventually sells the team to someone who can succeed in this market. MLS has always seemed like a pipe dream, but OKC is just about middle of the road in terms of USL markets. I don't think there's any reason the Energy can't at least draw 5,000 per game.

[bombermwc]

As someone else mentioned above, the sun in Oklahoma is a pretty big issue. And being the time of year that they have the games, its going to be the hottest part of the day and the sun is up till after 9. Granted, it gets cooler by 8-830, but that's halfway through the game. When we get to the permanent stadium, i think the awning for sun shade is going to be a necessary item.

I was never a big fan of them using Taft and you can go back in this very thread to find me voicing that and about how Taft is first and foremost a HS stadium and any work done there should be for the betterment of OKCPS kids, not anyone else. The Energy just helped and made some extra changes. But they've stayed their time, and it's time they moved on. Good leadership from the ownership would have capitalized on the first year buzz to put money away for a new stadium. What i'm seeing is that they were hoping the city would step in and provide the land or even the stadium, so that money is gone and squandered. Lost opportunity.

I dont want the city paying for a facility for a minor league team. This isn't like the Dodgers where the stadium was a crown jewel in a MAPs project. We could do that, and im no opposed to that, IF the stadium can be used for other things. And that's where i think the deal breaks down. OKC would be looking at 30-40k seats for a stadium that can host anything worth its time. If you're looking at 5-6 attendance max right now, that's gonna make the place feel super empty. That's high school football stadium numbers. You can still build a VERY nice high school size stadium for those dollars and that size though. Look at basically any 6a Texas high school on how fancy-pants those can get. BUT, i dont think that's a deal OKC residents should pay in to. If its multipurpose, then you can host high school playoffs, band contests, DCI, etc. If it has to be soccer specific then you lose everything except some small soccer events. And come on, who wants to come to a pop-up stadium fora soccer event? Maybe some local high school age team tournies or something, but your extremely limited.

[jedicurt]

Hopefully Prodigal either fixes that,..

hahahahahaha... as someone who sat on the season seat holder advisory board for the Barons... I wouldn't hold my breath. Prodigal keeps doing things the same way and waiting for different results.

[Johnb911]

If its multipurpose, then you can host high school playoffs, band contests, DCI, etc. If it has to be soccer specific then you lose everything except some small soccer events.

Agree with pretty much all your points, just want to point out that Children's Mercy Park in KC hosts other types of events, from concerts to lower division college football playoff games (can't remember if it's NAIA or what). Not sure on field dimensions, but would rugby would work as well? Depending on how much you wanted to put on your turf.

I had season tickets for the first year of the team back when they were playing at McGinnuess. Then we had kids and had to give up the tickets but I hope to get them back one day. One thing I dislike about Taft is the lack of nearby amenities, IE bars and restaurants near that I want to go to. BMG was great because you could easily walk across western and hit up the barfecta. I guess I don't really see that improving with the pop-up stadium if they're just looking to get it up (especially if it goes on the fairgrounds).

Another thing (and maybe it's just me) but I feel like it's harder for the average sports fan to engage with minor league teams, especially a team like the Energy where it isn't part of a professional team's identity (I know there's the relationship with FC Dallas but I don't think that's the same). The rosters are so fluid, it's more difficult to build the 'relationships' with players like many people feel they have with their favorite pro team. The product on the field can be so dramatically up and down as a result.

[Rover]

Basketball Cavalry here didn’t have great attendance. Thunder has a very long sold-out streak going. Minor league attendance doesn’t necessarily predict major league attendance. People know the difference and will pay for better play and better competition, as well as for a big-league experience.

[okccowan]

I wish Rayo OKC would have succeeded. They signed better players and were more exciting to watch than Energy.

[Laramie]

Basketball Cavalry here didn’t have great attendance. Thunder has a very long sold-out streak going. Minor league attendance doesn’t necessarily predict major league attendance. People know the difference and will pay for better play and better competition, as well as for a big-league experience.

Agree, this is why you wouldn't want to use poor minor league attendance as an indicator to gauge future major league performance. There are other demographic factors to better gauge a market's potential. OKC & Fort Worth had better CHL minor league hockey attendance than Dallas & Nashville; cities where the NHL looked at the TV Households, potential corporate support & long-term viability to sustain a franchise.

Taft Stadium is a great high school venue with emphasis on the HS sports like football, soccer, track & field.

A new regulation soccer specific stadium with room for expansion could help the sport immensely. OKC has a competitive NBA arena, great AAA baseball venue; however let's address the need for a soccer-American football venue. It would give us a well rounded season of sports on OKC's highest level that could support minor league football. A soccer specific stadium could be used for outdoor concerts and large gatherings.

[PaddyShack]

I wish Rayo OKC would have succeeded. They signed better players and were more exciting to watch than Energy.

Debatable on whether it was more interesting... If you mean unruly supporters chunking bottles and trash at players than yes, it might have been more exciting.

I too would have liked to see the club remain, but their ownership group was too fractured and then to have their Spanish investor club get relegated just didn't spell success for a new club. I wouldn't mind seeing other teams in the metro area, maybe a USL D3 team along with a NIISA or whatever the new Div 4 league will be. I am all in for having more soccer around.

[SEMIweather]

Debatable on whether it was more interesting... If you mean unruly supporters chunking bottles and trash at players than yes, it might have been more exciting.

I too would have liked to see the club remain, but their ownership group was too fractured and then to have their Spanish investor club get relegated just didn't spell success for a new club. I wouldn't mind seeing other teams in the metro area, maybe a USL D3 team along with a NIISA or whatever the new Div 4 league will be. I am all in for having more soccer around.

An NWSL club would be nice, might be a bit of a pipe dream, though.

[Laramie]

Debatable on whether it was more interesting... If you mean unruly supporters chunking bottles and trash at players than yes, it might have been more exciting.

I too would have liked to see the club remain, but their ownership group was too fractured and then to have their Spanish investor club get relegated just didn't spell success for a new club. I wouldn't mind seeing other teams in the metro area, maybe a USL D3 team along with a NIISA or whatever the new Div 4 league will be. I am all in for having more soccer around.

USL D3 https://www.usld3.com/

NISA (National Independent Soccer Association) https://www.nisaofficial.com/

An NWSL club would be nice, might be a bit of a pipe dream, though.

NWSL (National Women's Soccer League http://www.nwslsoccer.com/

Kenn.com (Attendance): http://www.kenn.com/the_blog/

[PaddyShack]

An NWSL club would be nice, might be a bit of a pipe dream, though.

I have been wanting the Energy FC ownership group to start a NWSL club. With the DA academy getting started and the success of the WPSL club Oklahoma City FC, I think the metro is ready for the top flight of Women's professional soccer.

[Pete]

Looks like the Energy may be moving to Chisholm Creek:

http://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r...-far-North-OKC

[bombermwc]

Boooooo

[Pete]

There has been discussion about the possibility of removing the track at Taft to make it more soccer-friendly.

As you can see from this recent photo from https://www.facebook.com/EnergyFC, that does not appear to be happening. Looks like they are just replacing the turf and the field is still very narrow by soccer standards.

[Richard at Remax]

Is there still talks of building the stadium in Chisholm Creek? IMO that's still the best case scenario

[shartel_ave]

Is there still talks of building the stadium in Chisholm Creek? IMO that's still the best case scenario

I think east of Omni would be a great place and right in the center of the city just off 40 and 235

[Pete]

Is there still talks of building the stadium in Chisholm Creek? IMO that's still the best case scenario

No, that ship has sailed. One big factor was that the Energy did a bunch of focus groups with their fans and found there wasn't a lot of support for that location.

The Energy will almost certainly stay at Taft until the new MAPS stadium is built and open, something that is going to take at least 5 years.

[Grant]

I could see this spot for the stadium as well, to bad that entire area is split by OKC blvd, I'm referring to the above road areas that you have to walk under on western and blackwelder


You are talking about the area I highlighted right?

Attachment 17554

Yes, that's the area I'm referring to.

Regarding the idea that the Farmers Market area is 15-20 years away from walkability/community, I strongly disagree. With a huge stadium development and the associated large influx of people (and their spending money), all you'd really need is a little bit of streetscaping to clean it up.

You've already got the Farmers Market itself, Palo Santo, Powerhouse, Loaded Bowl, a yoga place, a plant shop, a couple small retail outlets, Urban Agrarian, Bad Axe Throwing, Anthem, Lively, two Strawberry Fields projects, that weird outdoor weed place, and a new gas station within 2 blocks of this place. It's ready made for a big investment like the stadium. You'd basically have a full, lively, soccer fan neighborhood pop up overnight with the stadium and a little streetscaping. Both of which would spur more investment in the huge old building stock nearby. It's a knockout just waiting to happen.

[Pete]