New Convention Center Plans

[swake]

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080420_1_A1_hReno31082


Here are the plans for the expansion of the Convention Center. As was stated earlier the old arena is staying. This looks like a huge addition, much larger than I had thought it was going to be. Construction is supposed to start in September with a total cost of $50.5 million. The project is supposed to be completed in late 2009.

[godboko71]

Truthfully think this will be good for downtown, though I hope at some point the city outright sells the old center and old city hall building to a hotel developer or to the current management company (atleast the old center anyway.)

Either way will be great should help attract show events that already have spill over and need more space, and high school and such will most likely be able to rent the space.

[sgrizzle]

Like swake stated, it looks much larger and having a nice 3rd street entrance is great. They are still hoping someone takes the city hall and city council buildings and builds something that will directly butt up to the convention center.

[cannon_fodder]

Was the demolition cost that high on the old "arena" that it provides for this expansion - or are we just leaving the old arena as is without any improvements (I argued that it was OK, just needed some work.  Paint, ceiling fixes, and bathrooms notably).

IMHO this is a great move.  Many conventions and events (basketball) demand a sister facility on site to host.  This will allow us to bill the old arena as a sister venue and provide not only overflow, but an alternative venue for things that want to be downtown but don't want 18,000 seats but are too big for the PAC or the Brady.

+1, good move City.

[T-TownMike]

This is huge news. Conventions generate alot of revenue.

[bluelake]

lol did anyone read the comments under that article at the TW website?  more whining than at a vineyard [}:)]