DT Getting Ready for NBA Playoffs

[Double Edge]

Wrong. I did not get denied a sign. I have been through the process more than once getting signs approved to know we have codes and to understand why... zoning, planning, city council etc. (As well as PUDs SPUDs and many building permits.) You want giant private advertising hanging above the city on the sides of buildings... fine, get ready to let every business do the same. Were I in the outdoor advertising business or the event promotion business I've be licking my chops over this.

[betts]

Wrong. I did not get denied a sign. I have been through the process more than once getting signs approved to know we have codes and to understand why... zoning, planning, city council etc. You want giant private advertising hanging above the city on the sides of buildings... fine, get ready to let every business do the same. Were I in the outdoor advertising business or the event promotion business I've be licking my chops over this.

They've had three years to lick their chops and we haven't heard a thing. I suspect most businesses in OKC are proud of the Thunder, are enjoying their success and don't see this as "advertising" or see any correlation to business practices. Rather, it's a celebration of accomplishment that has given a lot of people a lot of enjoyment.

[Spartan]

I think Double Edge is missing the point. He seems to be arguing more against the over-hyping of professional sports in a culture that ravenously eats up sports idols but doesn't give academics, philosophers, artists, etc the same respect. I just got caught up on watching Portlandia, so I feel like I'm at one with this train of thought.

However, it completely overlooks the fact that the Thunder do have excellent community relations, unlike many pro teams, and right now OKC and Thunder pride are intrinsically combined. I don't think this is the place for a moralistic argument against the excesses of pro sports mania, when the Thunder are clearly one of the more heart-warming examples of that (everyone loves an underdog, especially when you can claim ties).

I don't think Budweiser is a good counterexample, but for instance, the Dutch feel very strongly about the Amstel beer brand, ergo Holland is plastered in Amstel advertising, and it does seem to border a little bit on community relations. Same with Coca Cola in Atlanta or Target in Minneapolis. In an economic sense, that's all pure advertising, even if it is still disguised in a way that also benefits community relations.

[Just the facts]

Wrong. I did not get denied a sign. I have been through the process more than once getting signs approved to know we have codes and to understand why... zoning, planning, city council etc. (As well as PUDs SPUDs and many building permits.) You want giant private advertising hanging above the city on the sides of buildings... fine, get ready to let every business do the same. Were I in the outdoor advertising business or the event promotion business I've be licking my chops over this.

I know downtown has its own zoning standards that don't apply to the rest of the city so if someone came up with something that looked good and was appropriate on the side of a tall building I would probably support it. In fact, I wish they would animate it and throw in some LED lights or neon. I would also like to see someone do the 3D projection stuff on one of the buildings.

[skanaly]

That is incredible, very cool!

[BDP]

This is between two private entities agreeing to put up a banner on private property -- with private dollars.

Well, that's kind of a stretch. There is a whole lot about the thunder that is far from private.

And I can't figure out if you don't like large outdoor advertising or you just don't like that you can't do it too. I can understand both arguments, but not really at the same time. Probably the best thing to do would be to ask the design review committee for your business's district for a variance. If you don't have a review committee in your district, then here's an opportunity to start one yourself.

In any event it would be very easy for the city to write code that restricted the size and type of outdoor adverting and include exceptions for ventures affiliated with the cit (of which the Thunder is one, any way you look at it) or for the Thunder specifically. I wouldn't worry about it getting out of hand.

[catch22]

Well, that's kind of a stretch. There is a whole lot about the thunder that is far from private.

And I can't figure out if you don't like large outdoor advertising or you just don't like that you can't do it too. I can understand both arguments, but not really at the same time. Probably the best thing to do would be to ask the design review committee for your business's district for a variance. If you don't have a review committee in your district, then here's an opportunity to start one yourself.

In any event it would be very easy for the city to write code that restricted the size and type of outdoor adverting and include exceptions for ventures affiliated with the cit (of which the Thunder is one, any way you look at it) or for the Thunder specifically. I wouldn't worry about it getting out of hand.

The city is not paying for it that is my point. Sure other parts of the Thunder may have been helped by public monies...but it is still a private entity. Most large private businesses have received benefit from local or even federal governments, does not make them a government run company.

Also, maybe you misunderstood my post but I am in full favor of the banners, not sure why this post was aimed at me.

[Double Edge]

Private entity to private entity does not matter one bit. We have ordinances that deal with signs, billboards, advertising murals. You have to comply or get a variance, which they apparently did. If large signs, billboards and other advertising were generally allowed, which they aren't, downtown would be covered in them.

No, I do not seek to do this at my business and I do not want to see it in other parts of the city, which is why I was appalled to physically see it going up, especially when I know the standards and ordinances for the city were to not allow this type of thing.

This does not meet the former standard. It is a variance in every sense of the word.

[Snowman]

Private entity to private entity does not matter one bit. We have ordinances that deal with signs, billboards, advertising murals. You have to comply or get a variance, which they apparently did. If large signs, billboards and other advertising were generally allowed, which they aren't, downtown would be covered in them.

No, I do not seek to do this at my business and I do not want to see it in other parts of the city, which is why I was appalled to physically see it going up, especially when I know the standards and ordinances for the city were to not allow this type of thing.

You did not even notice them the last several years this has been done and are now appalled.

[Double Edge]

You did not even notice them the last several years this has been done and are now appalled.

your point? I should police the activities of the Thunder more? I should go downtown more? what?

[Pete]

There were public hearings where these variances were granted. Too late to do anything about it now.

Next year, go to the Downtown Design Review Committee and raise your concerns.


And if you have legitimate concerns about this sort of thing in the future, pay attention to their meeting agendas which are always posted on-line and in advance.

[Double Edge]

I just might do that, and in the meanwhile I'll voice my opposition and raise awareness as I feel the need.

[betts]

To me, it's a delightful sight when I'm out on my stoop. It means the playoffs are coming soon and that we're in. So, as a downtown resident, I appreciate the visual celebration of our team's success. I'll be happy to tell the DDRC my opinion as well.

[Easy180]

Man if sports banners cause some to get upset then I'm thinking life is good round here

Other countries worry about shelter and food and we worry about our skyscrapers displaying banners lol...Let's all take a moment and thank our lucky stars

[MDot]

Man if sports banners cause some to get upset then I'm thinking life is good round here

Other countries worry about shelter and food and we worry about our skyscrapers displaying banners lol...Let's all take a moment and thank our lucky stars

The truth.

[Double Edge]

Man if sports banners cause some to get upset then I'm thinking life is good round here

Other countries worry about shelter and food and we worry about our skyscrapers displaying banners lol...Let's all take a moment and thank our lucky stars

Life is good. How much do some people (fans) spend to pay for those banners, not to mention make the Thunder payroll? As for me, I have enough to enjoy lunch downtown on Saturday like I was when I saw this but maybe I'll do that elsewhere and let the Thunder fans have it.

Come to think of it, the last time I dropped in prior on a Saturday afternoon a game let out just as I got to Sheridan and Reno. I can do without that too. Too many other placed to spend my money.

[Cooper_GOIVM]

By coopross81 at 2012-04-21


By coopross81 at 2012-04-21

[Just the facts]

Man if sports banners cause some to get upset then I'm thinking life is good round here

Other countries worry about shelter and food and we worry about our skyscrapers displaying banners lol...Let's all take a moment and thank our lucky stars

The 1%ers and their problems.

[BDP]

Also, maybe you misunderstood my post but I am in full favor of the banners, not sure why this post was aimed at me.

Sorry. Bad aim on my part. I think I confused the post as being authored by Double Edge.

But I do think the Thunder's status as a wholly private venture is pretty blurry. It is run that way, but they're not working off any of the public investment that made it possible in any direct way. I'm not saying it wasn't a great and worthwhile investment by the people of the city or that the city does not receive a ton of indirect economic benefit from it, I'm just saying that the Thunder would not exist without public investment and that should be considered, imo.

[Larry OKC]

They put all those Thunder banners up last year and I believe the year before without creating any problems.

I think everyone understands the difference between promotion a community-based sports team and advertising for a product.

Sorry, but respectfully disagree on this as it is a privately owned, for profit business. While the community paid for their place of business, the City has no ownership stake in the team or profit sharing agreement (like we did with the Hornets). This is not to say that the City doesn't get anything from it (like the "free" advertising it gets). These banners are advertising a product just like any other advertising. In this case the product is the Thunder.

I understand where DE is coming from, and the point he is making is, if rules/standards exist, they need to be applied fairly. Just as when they were debating restrictions on brightness, square footage etc of outdoor electronic display signs. Do those same rules/regulations apply to the new signage put on the Arena? Or did the City make themselves exempt from the rules they are passing on others (not uncommon for folks in power to do this, no matter if it is local, state or federal).

[Bellaboo]

Life is good. How much do some people (fans) spend to pay for those banners, not to mention make the Thunder payroll? As for me, I have enough to enjoy lunch downtown on Saturday like I was when I saw this but maybe I'll do that elsewhere and let the Thunder fans have it.

Come to think of it, the last time I dropped in prior on a Saturday afternoon a game let out just as I got to Sheridan and Reno. I can do without that too. Too many other placed to spend my money.

I doubt anyone will miss your money, especially during the playoffs when you'd just be in the way. LOL

[BoulderSooner]

Sorry, but respectfully disagree on this as it is a privately owned, for profit business. While the community paid for their place of business, the City has no ownership stake in the team or profit sharing agreement (like we did with the Hornets). This is not to say that the City doesn't get anything from it (like the "free" advertising it gets). These banners are advertising a product just like any other advertising. In this case the product is the Thunder.

I understand where DE is coming from, and the point he is making is, if rules/standards exist, they need to be applied fairly. Just as when they were debating restrictions on brightness, square footage etc of outdoor electronic display signs. Do those same rules/regulations apply to the new signage put on the Arena? Or did the City make themselves exempt from the rules they are passing on others (not uncommon for folks in power to do this, no matter if it is local, state or federal).

the city had to get a variance from the board of adjustment ..for the arena video board .. just like the brewers/tyler media had to get one for their ad boards going into bricktown

[Double Edge]

I doubt anyone will miss your money, especially during the playoffs when you'd just be in the way. LOL

Exactly. Thunder owners and fans are what matter!

[kevinpate]

Exactly. Thunder owners and fans are what matter!

Nah. If that were true,they'd be exempted from the need to get a variance and keggers or at least rootbeer parties could be had anytime of any day along Reno with fans or owners shutting down the street without asking anyone else ahead of time.

I get it, you don't like the big banners, but sheesh, they did what anyone would have to do to ... they asked for and received approval via a reasonably well known variance process. I imagine if the Heart Walk this past weekend had the funding, they could of done the same thing and put up some honking big banners round town, though I would hope that's never seen as the best use of their funds.

[Bellaboo]

Exactly. Thunder owners and fans are what matter!

I'm a fan so maybe so.........................