John, I thought it was going to be a jumbotron.

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Keep away from Miss Margarita Mean...

Well, it is the Chamber of Commerce.

From an OU/Daktronics press release.

So much for that. I was actually excited about the new 'jumbotron'.

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Keep away from Miss Margarita Mean...

I don't know how anyone could be disappointed with this.......

Construction last week began at the Univ. of Oklahoma's (OU) Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on a new "state-of-the-art" $4.5M HD video screen in the south end zone, scheduled for completion before the '08 college football season, according to Jake Trotter of the DAILY OKLAHOMAN. The board will be 113.5 feet wide and 32.5 feet tall, totaling 3,689 square feet, and is "expected to be among the five largest in the nation." OU also is installing a new sound system, and the athletic department is "in the process of securing HD video cameras for Sooner Vision." The video board is the final piece of a $9.6M project that included a video board for the north end of the stadium, installed before the '07 season, as well as a new "center-hung video scoreboard at the Lloyd Noble Center," which was mounted prior to the '07-08 college basketball season. Daktronics built the two football video boards and the basketball board. The renovations are "part of Phase IV of a Memorial Stadium expansion and improvements project"

Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Installing $4.5M HD Video Screen

This is a football thread now?

Eh.. football. They started taking the scoreboard down before spring commencement at OU. The entire front was off during the spring commencement.

I'm impressed with what FSB did with this.

The LED screen is an awesome element, and if you notice in the video, it is right smack in front of the intersection of McGee/Broadway & EK Gaylord, so when cars are stopped there, they will be watching the Chamber's great promo videos for OKC.

Which frankly strikes me as just more visual clutter. I hope we don't look like 'Blade Runner' ten or fifteen years from now.

I am glad that the chamber is getting space needed for all their employees. They have been cramped for a long time and also the CVB will be able to share the same space. Downtown is changing for the better and why shouldn't the chamber have a space that reflects those changes?

It's no different than Times Square or any other place with large LED video boards. I don't know how it's "Blade Runner"...

Has construction started on this?

Not yet. Keep in mind large buildings take awhile to break ground, you have to assemble a team of engineers, architects, planners and then put out RFP's for each part of construction down to the exact details of everything, hence why Devon is taking until 2012 to complete. This is expected to open in 2010 though.

For media and updates on the new building: http://www.okcchamber.com/newbuilding

Regarding the topic's title. I think "breaking news" is a bad idea for a subject line on a BBS thread. This was breaking news 2 months ago. It isn't anymore.

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Well, okay... I hope we don't look like Times Square ten or fifteen years from now.

I really like the design and it will really be in a featured location, with plenty of quick parking for those that want to stop in and get some ideas of things to do in town.

Yet another great addition to downtown!

I like it too, just wish it was taller with either leasable office space or residential. The design is fantastic. We'll need some taller buildings after Devon goes up!

Very cool looking building. Will be a welcome addition downtown!

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According to the link above, they are expected to break ground later this fall.

Why not? I sure do.

Worldwide, video enhancements on buildings help create interest and excitement in urban environments. I should say this is usually the domain of cities such as New York, Tokyo, etc. For OKC to start providing this kind of exciting environment is progressive, exciting and appropriate. We need to start supporting this kind of more advanced design enhancements and join the top cities in the world. As it was stated in announcing the Devon plans, being biggest is overrated and a fleeting opportunity. Being best is lasting. OKC will never be among the biggest cities in the world, but it can be among the best.

As I stated in another thread, I hope the expanded Ford Center features a big video screen over it's entrance and facing the new plaza.

Especially since it will front on the new boulevard, it could be a great promotional showcase for events and OKC in general, plus it could be a public gathering place for viewing important events.

The screen at the new Chamber HQ would be used slightly differently, but would be a great promotional tool.

Given what we've been through limiting billboards on the crosstown expressway, it seems ironic to me that we would now equate more visual clutter with progress.

Would everyone think this would be just as cool if it were on North May Avenue?

ever been to TOKYO?
i love any type of lit up, flashing, eyecandy or videoscreen clutter they can lay on me.
BRING IT ON, i say!