New arena or upgrade the Ford Center?

[y_h]

The beauty of having the Ford Center in place is that it will be a nice, serviceable arena for an NBA team for a few years while a new, basketball-only facility is built for the Sonics. Having a fairly new, multipurpose arena in place means that you can build a slightly smaller, upscale facility for the Sonics without having to worry about accommodating an ice sheet, rodeo surface, tractor pull course, etc. The Ford Center will continue to serve as a top-tier venue for non-major league sports attractions and other purposes.

The University of Missouri recently put up a 15,000 seat, basketball only facility with club seats, luxury suites and the whole ball of wax for $25 mil. It's a beautiful facility and the seats are incredibly close to the action. With a construction budget some ten times what they needed in Columbia, the sky is the limit as far as what could be put up in OKC . . . and the inflation factor isn't going to be a huge difference between OKC and Columbia. Even if it's double, you're still talking about having five times the money to put up an arena.

Having been to the Ford Center I can say that it's a very nice building and will continue to do well as a temporary home to an NBA franchise, but given the present state of the art of pro basketball arenas it will not measure up beyond "middle of the road." That's the unfortunate reality. Accordingly, if the Sonics are coming there will almost likely have to be an understanding that Ford Center is not the final destination but will be a fine temporary home.

[jbrown84]

I don't think we should build it with less seating.

[Kerry]

I reserve the right to change my mind on the stadium situation. I could actually get behind a basketball only facility. Since the arena wouldn't have to be modifiable the price tag would be much much lower. Plus it is a better environment for the fans because they are closer to the court. A second arena would free up the Ford Center for hockey, concerts, AF2 (think we could also support AFL), and Lacross. Then the Cox Convention center could be expanded into the current arena. I guess I would have to see a price tag.

[PUGalicious]

The Ford Center was designed with NBA and NHL specifications and is a top-notch venue.

Maybe we all should just start typing in this size to make our point... it's not obnoxious or anything...

[andy157]

Will have to do both to obtain and retain an NBA team

Do you think they will include the building of a new arena in Maps 3? Or, will it be a stand alone vote?

[metro]

It's all a moot point now, they'd be stupid to put a new Bball arena in MAPS 3 now that we've just passed this, if anything, perhaps a soccer stadium, similar to Pizza Hut park would be nice near the river, especially with many adjoining youth soccer fields. I expect a new convention center, boulevard and C2S improvements, and mass transit to be the big ticket items in MAPS 3.

[andy157]

Why does the Ford Center need more luxury boxes? We are middle of the pack in the NBA for the number of luxury boxes. I'm not sure what the seating capacity of the Ford Center boxes are but I have been in a luxury box at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa and it was much smaller than I expected. My understanding is that the lockers rooms are among the largest in the NBA. Granted the city does need to build a practice facility but that is a given.

The Ford Center should last until 2019.

Why more boxes?So we can compete with all of the other major league city's, and to keep the owners from losing so much money. Would be my guess.

[andy157]

Yeah, there really needs to be a both option. As in upgrade the arena enough for 5+years until a new one can start construction.

I agree. The solution to pay for the temporary upgrades has been dealt with. But we will still have to pay for the new arena in 5 years. How are we going to pay for that?

[jbrown84]

I think we can wait 10 years with this caliber of upgrade. Easy.

[bornhere]

I think it will be closer to five. There also may have to be some 'consolation prize' for Bob Funk.

[OSUFan]

There is 0% chance we build anything anytime soon.

[betts]

I agree. The solution to pay for the temporary upgrades has been dealt with. But we will still have to pay for the new arena in 5 years. How are we going to pay for that?

What? There will be no new arena in five years. Even if it were necessary, which it will not be, no one would ever vote to pass a tax for a new arena in five years, me included.

[MikeLucky]

The beauty of having the Ford Center in place is that it will be a nice, serviceable arena for an NBA team for a few years while a new, basketball-only facility is built for the Sonics. Having a fairly new, multipurpose arena in place means that you can build a slightly smaller, upscale facility for the Sonics without having to worry about accommodating an ice sheet, rodeo surface, tractor pull course, etc. The Ford Center will continue to serve as a top-tier venue for non-major league sports attractions and other purposes.

The University of Missouri recently put up a 15,000 seat, basketball only facility with club seats, luxury suites and the whole ball of wax for $25 mil. It's a beautiful facility and the seats are incredibly close to the action. With a construction budget some ten times what they needed in Columbia, the sky is the limit as far as what could be put up in OKC . . . and the inflation factor isn't going to be a huge difference between OKC and Columbia. Even if it's double, you're still talking about having five times the money to put up an arena.

Having been to the Ford Center I can say that it's a very nice building and will continue to do well as a temporary home to an NBA franchise, but given the present state of the art of pro basketball arenas it will not measure up beyond "middle of the road." That's the unfortunate reality. Accordingly, if the Sonics are coming there will almost likely have to be an understanding that Ford Center is not the final destination but will be a fine temporary home.

Actually the Mizzou arena was built with a cost of about $75 million..... and you really can't compare college to pro venues. The professional venues need a lot more of the "revenue generating" features like luxury suites, club levels etc. We will be spending around $200 million for the Ford Center and in my opinion we should at least double that for the next arena. In a smaller market it's important to keep the corporate dollars and fan interest high even at times when the team won't be the actual catalyst for that......

Personally, I think our next arena could be a way to truly set ourselves apart. It could be our iconic and distinctive way to show how serious we are about these types of endeavors and how they can help the community....

Personally I would like to build something like this arena:



Saitama Super Arena - Facility Information

It would be expensive.... but we can have it configurable for a top notch NBA facility or as a 40,000 seat stadium. We could bid for Final Fours, division II/III championship football games, OU could play scrimmages there, OSU could play games there (ha ha), MLS, large political conventions.... you get my point.

But, it would be the most unique and identifiable stadium/arena in the US and it would truly set us apart, as well as make OKC more viable for some pretty major events.


Configured as stadium:



Configured as arena:



Tandem use:



Even as a 6,000 seat Hall configuration:



It has concert settings ranging from 12,500 to 37,000:

12,500


16,000


22,000


30,000


37,000


I know it would be really expensive, but it's something so versatile that it would be something that would serve our city for upwards of 30 years...... or more......

Just an idea......

[andy157]

I think it will be closer to five. There also may have to be some 'consolation prize' for Bob Funk.

Why, so he won't feel left out?

[bornhere]

Yes.

[andy157]

What? There will be no new arena in five years. Even if it were necessary, which it will not be, no one would ever vote to pass a tax for a new arena in five years, me included.

I didn't say we needed one. But others have. I was just curious how we would be paying for it.

[betts]

Why, so he won't feel left out?

I would bet a lot of money neither will happen. Bob Funk will need to buy something better than a CHL team to require new facilities. When you're playing Odessa and Laredo, the Cox Center is very adequate, with the Ford Center thrown in for open dates if desired.

And, the Ford Center had better last fifteen years without needing a redo. I think you're looking at those much earlier posts, when we were intially talking about a ten million Ford Center upgrade.

[andy157]

I would bet a lot of money neither will happen. Bob Funk will need to buy something better than a CHL team to require new facilities. When you're playing Odessa and Laredo, the Cox Center is very adequate, with the Ford Center thrown in for open dates if desired.

And, the Ford Center had better last fifteen years without needing a redo. I think you're looking at those much earlier posts, when we were intially talking about a ten million Ford Center upgrade.

Granted I was looking at earlier post. But I didn't see any mention 10 mill. But even Bennett was quoted as saying we would need a new arena.

[betts]

Granted I was looking at earlier post. But I didn't see any mention 10 mill. But even Bennett was quoted as saying we would need a new arena.

Maybe I'm confused about sites, since it was discussed at Hornets' Central as well, and it was much lower figures than $100 million. But Bennett said that a long time ago, and I think that when they looked at the Ford Center and what could be done with it, this plan seemed acceptable and economically feasible. Having visited multiple other arenas, I believe what I've seen on the plans will be very nice for OKC for years to come.

[andy157]

Maybe I'm confused about sites, since it was discussed at Hornets' Central as well, and it was much lower figures than $100 million. But Bennett said that a long time ago, and I think that when they looked at the Ford Center and what could be done with it, this plan seemed acceptable and economically feasible. Having visited multiple other arenas, I believe what I've seen on the plans will be very nice for OKC for years to come.

Lets hope so.

[SouthsideSooner]

The Mayor has said the Ford Center should take us in to the 2020's. That sounds about right. The Cox Center will be about 50 years old.

I believe the plan is to tear down the Cox Center and build the new arena there, maintaining our side by side arena setup.

So.....looks like MAPS 4 or 5.