Ideas 4 MAPS

[jedicurt]

Yeah this was kind of my point, I probably just didn't do a good job getting that.

I don't think we have the population to support a ton of different sports. I feel like even college basketball support has slowed down due to the Thunder.

And the NBA may not been as popular as it is now, but I guarantee it was way more popular than MLS has been. You need a good base to start with, and the MLS just doesn't have that IMO.

and that is why i'm more inclined to support projects that have a more immediate impact. like streetcar expansion, more sidewalks, walking trails, bike lanes and bike trails, the arena at the state fair... sure that one won't be as pretty as a soccer stadium, but it will be used significantly more and provide much more of an economic impact

[Johnb911]

I am not trying to be pro or con on a soccer stadium, but I wanted to point out, the NBA wasn't popular in OKC before the Thunder. Minor league hockey used to be incredibly popular in OKC and isn't anymore. Saying that MLS (which is obviously a long shot) wouldn't be popular because it isn't now doesn't jive with how sports have always worked in OKC. If you put a good product and the market is there then MLS soccer could be successful even if it's not now. Also, building a stadium downtown with amenities like restaurants and bars around it is not comparable to Taft Stadium or other options in the metro. If OKC had a real chance at getting an MLS team I think it would be successful. Even upgrading to a new stadium near downtown could lead to a lot of success for the Energy. Of course, even the MLS will never be as popular as the NBA in OKC, but that doesn't mean it couldn't be a success. I just think there's been a lot of strawmen set up and knocked down in this thread. But, to be clear, I'm not arguing that a soccer stadium is the best item for MAPS 4. I'll leave that to others.

I'm not pro-stadium. If we didn't already have a venue like taft which could be used to host big time high school football games, I'd probably be more inclined. But to argue that we don't want one because lots of people here watch Premier League over MLS is silly. Of course they do. We don't have an MLS team. Go to Kansas City. Go to Orlando or Atlanta or Seattle or Portland or Toronto or Columbus or Sacramento or Nashville. Ask them if they only pay attention to the European leagues and don't support MLS.

[dankrutka]

But to argue that we don't want one because lots of people here watch Premier League over MLS is silly. Of course they do. We don't have an MLS team. Go to Kansas City. Go to Orlando or Atlanta or Seattle or Portland or Toronto or Columbus or Sacramento or Nashville. Ask them if they only pay attention to the European leagues and don't support MLS.

Did you mean to quote to my post? I didn't make that argument.

[Johnb911]

Did you mean to quote to my post? I didn't make that argument.

I was tacking on in agreement with you. Sorry, unclear

[Pete]

Keep in mind we are a very long way from getting an MLS franchise and I seriously doubt that will be secured by the time there is a MAPS 4 vote -- if ever.

[OKCRT]

Sidewalks in all neighborhoods and free 4-5 g wifi is something that would benefit a lot of folks around the whole city.

Prob. not something the Chamber wants but so what.

[shawnw]

maybe not bad planning, but definitely bad optics. kinda like prioritizing the convention center, which was definitely a need, but not a want of the people. which means, hello stadium!

[hoya]

I'm surprised there's no push for the convention center expansion.

[shawnw]

give it a minute

[Pete]

^

And projects that encourage people to walk and ride their bikes and recreate rather than just sit around watching other people play sports.

[hfry]

What I think will be interesting is maps 3 was 777 million. Now assuming they want an reasonable increase in collection I'm guessing maps 4 will be at or over 1 billion. The big 5 projects of maps 3 was 667 million so in essence 85% of the total budget give or take a little on the math. What big time projects are going to be game changing that add up to almost a billion dollars. We know they are already pushing the soccer stadium but it's price if done correctly won't come close to some of the big projects from Maps 3. I'm sure they will have something for the river and fairgrounds again but trails and all these improvements which I'm sure they will include won't be a drop in the bucket to the overal budget unless they go all out which I don't see them doing.

[Zuplar]

You know I wouldn’t be opposed to waiting on a MAPS 4. Maybe let these projects we got going on get complete and see what our needs are in 3-4 years after we’ve had time to use the park, time to itilize the streetcar, etc. maybe what we’ll want to invest in after we’ve had time to use what we’ve invested in opinions may change.

Plus I’d like to see how the private sector responds to these projects. Just a thought.

[OKCRT]

The only way a soccer stadium should be built is with a promise of MLS team. You don't build a 100-200 mil. major league stadium for anything less IMO. They would be nuts if they built that type of a stadium for the minors. The minors play in a 10 mil. dollar stadium. I assume when I hear maps for stadium talk it's for a first class major league stadium. Plus STL just put forth a privately funded soccer stadium for an mls team and it's sure to get the nod. I believe it will be built by some billionaire Enterprise Car rental and World Wide Tech folks. Deep pocketed people.

[catch22]

Well I won’t be voting for or against, but I hope that it is a well balanced ballot that includes things that benefits many different interests.

[mugofbeer]

The cost to build a 20k seat stadium in OKC would be more like $80 - 85 million, not $200m if built, say, on the south side of the Fairgrounds and not on the Cotton Gin site

[OKCRT]

The cost to build a 20k seat stadium in OKC would be more like $80 - 85 million, not $200m if built, say, on the south side of the Fairgrounds and not on the Cotton Gin site

Prob. well over 120 mil by the time it was built and you don't spend that kind of jack on minor league soccer.

[TheSteveHunt]

Lets raise some big bucks, start a shady hedge-fund with it, and turn OKC into a Dubai style paradise in preparation for the upcoming apocalyptic version of America!

[jedicurt]

Lets raise some big bucks, start a shady hedge-fund with it, and turn OKC into a Dubai style paradise in preparation for the upcoming apocalyptic version of America!

thank you as always for your insight and contributions to a topic discussion

[David]

I'm very mixed on the soccer stadium on account of the worry that the city pushing it too hard may sink the entire ballot, but if there is good public support for it then sure. I'll be curious to see if any polling looks like for this once they narrow down the items.

Personally I'm pushing for more streetcar track, with a focus on a line down to Capital Hill as the #1 destination. Hey, maybe even find a spot down by Wiley Post Park to put the soccer stadium and make sure to run the streetcar extension by it.

[gopokes88]

I think you guys are wayyyyyyy over estimating the cost of a soccer stadium. It will be around $60million and built so it can be upgraded and expanded easily for MLS or if USL becomes the premier league.

They’ll design and build it to the quality of a Texas high school football stadium. That’s about what those are running.

[Pete]

^

Yes, but this will be built on land in the core, not some suburban field already owned by a school district.

Land alone for a project this size would be very high (both acquisition and required infrastructure), which is why the Energy have been considering setting up temporary shop in Chisholm Creek.

[gopokes88]

^

Yes, but this will be built on land in the core, not some suburban field already owned by a school district.

Land alone for a project this size would be very high (both acquisition and required infrastructure), which is why the Energy have been considering setting up temporary shop in Chisholm Creek.

what did the convention center land sell for?

[jedicurt]

^^^^^^^ this... it's not the cost to build the stadium... its the cost of where they would want to build the stadium

[Pete]

Here is another image from that same planning session.

We have no way of knowing how many ideas were suggested, what the count was for each, who was in attendance and what the process was.

And, BTW, there were only six stickies for Stadium. Let's pump the brakes on calling this some sort of mandate.

[gopokes88]

It still blows me away how many people don’t understand what maps is for.

Sponsoring an NCAA bowl game is all time non sensical ridiculous idea.