New Arena (formerly Prairie Surf)

[jn1780]

It would be in our best interests to keep the Cox Convention Center especially since we invested $50 million in renovations from MAPS I; that's more than twice the cost of original construction. The Cox Center (Old Myriad) initially cost voters $23 million when it was built in 1973: Cox Convention Center - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. What happen to the plans to downsize the Great Arena (inside Old Myriad) to accommodate 7,500? Those plans if I recall included keeping the upper level seating for rodeos, trade shows, bike racing etc., renovate the lower level for exhibition space.

We will eventually have to evaluate the feasibility of replacing or renovating the Chesapeake Energy Arena once it gets past 20-25 years. We're talking about 2022-25. The Civic Center Music Hall (old Minicipal Auditorium) was a grand old palace in its day and it's one of the few historic structiures we didn't tear down.

The City is really going to have to do some extensive planning as to the direction we want to take OKC. This will include investing in consulting firms to help chart our needs for the immediate future.

There will be more than enough space for these things in the new Convention Center and tons of money has been invested in equestrian and rodeo facilities at the State Fair. Plus, a new expo center is about to be built there.

That just leaves the shows that need an arena. Anything big and worthwhile is going to pick the bigger and nicer arena. Outside of Baron games, the arena floor space at the Cox probably only gets use when the rest of the exhbition space is completely full.

[Laramie]

There will be more than enough space for these things in the new Convention Center and tons of money has been invested in equestrian and rodeo facilities at the State Fair. Plus, a new expo center is about to be built there.

That just leaves the shows that need an arena. Anything big and worthwhile is going to pick the bigger and nicer arena. Outside of Baron games, the arena floor space at the Cox probably only gets use when the rest of the exhbition space is completely full.

My main concern is poor planning; these are the kinds of decisions which cause voters to believe that some MAPS projects are a waste. You're right, we fumbled the ball on the Cox Convention Center if there is no longer a use for this facility. You think this doesn't concern voters?

Do we have any idea what our convention facility needs are going to be five, ten or fifteen years down the road? Some rodeo and or esquestian events would be better situated in the downtown setting. Now we're ready to throw $76 millions into a pile of trash...

Voters are really turned off when the decision is made to demolish school buildings and taxpayer funded buildings such as the Cox Convention Center. Do what you promised the voters you were going to do with these structures. Changing the horse while crossing the middle of the stream is not going to make the grade.

There will be more than enough space for these things in the new Convention Center and tons of money has been invested in equestrian and rodeo facilities at the State Fair. Plus, a new expo center is about to be built there.

That just leaves the shows that need an arena. Anything big and worthwhile is going to pick the bigger and nicer arena. Outside of Baron games, the arena floor space at the Cox probably only gets use when the rest of the exhbition space is completely full.

Do we know what direction we are going to take downtown events? Do we know that the space in the new convention center is going to be accomplish our future needs. Our downtown hotel needs are coming along. If we want to move from a Tier III to a Tier II convention city we are going to have to attract the type of events which will help up accomplish accommodations for downtown. The fairgrounds facilities are coming along fine; however, having the options for a downtown setting shouldn't be ruled out.

I'm well aware that the Myriad Convention Center was completed in the early seventies when a bond issue barely passed. I voted for it. We've pumped twice the original amount into upgraded that facility with MAPS I and now you want to tear it down?

Why not reconstruct the old Stockyards Coliseum if we're going to throw away millions of dollars?

Face it people, we have got to use our MAPS money wisely. I know MAPS is for capital improvements; however, when we have safety issues (Police & Fire) opposing MAPS because they don't understand how budgets work and they can only sipen the use tax money to expand their departments--do we need this type of drama?

We need:

1. A strategic comprehensive plan on what we want to do with the future developments of OKC through MAPS.
2. To assess where we want to develop certain projects in our city.
3. To educate voters about bond issues, MAPS sales tax referendums and school millage issues and how these things work.

We have a great thing going in Oklahoma City and we are the envy of many cities. Let's move forward and plan ahead where we are not imploding and/or tearing down the projects we just built.

Does this mean investing money in hiring more consulting firms to do our needs assessment? LET'S GET IT RIGHT!