Driller's Stadium Construction Progress

[TheArtist]

Taking a hopefull guess,,, I might suppose the Mantle family may have been hedging their bets and waiting to see what happened with the ballpark in Tulsa, aka whether it was actually going to happen or not and what kind of facility it was going to be. So now that we are this far, and renderings approved, perhaps we have a better stab at getting it. If it isnt already committed to OKC. It doesnt look like there is a place for it now in the new renderings, but even right across from the ballpark would be a neat place for it. 

[sgrizzle]

I believe the building that has the "East Village" sign on it was under consideration for the museum, it's right across the street. I also believe that if OKC was a done deal, it would be done. They want to see what else is going to be built and I've heard of about 6 different museums eyeing downtown currently.

[stymied]

Are you serious?   Do you have a source?   Sounds like a bit of bait and switch.  How does that work out with the fixed-price contract, I wonder?   

FWIW, I liked the original design better, standing alone.  But I think you guys are right.  This will look better in the neighborhood.

Contract is not fixed price.  It is a design-build with a guaranteed maximum price.  Big difference.  Suite numbers were reduced and lowered to second level only for budget reasons.  Trust approved changes in favor of other embellishments.  It is their park and they are spending the $60 million they way they want to, which includes changing their minds along the way so long as they stay under $60 million.

[Renaissance]

Contract is not fixed price.  It is a design-build with a guaranteed maximum price.  Big difference.  Suite numbers were reduced and lowered to second level only for budget reasons.  Trust approved changes in favor of other embellishments.  It is their park and they are spending the $60 million they way they want to, which includes changing their minds along the way so long as they stay under $60 million.

I'm Floyd and I approve of trading luxury boxes for aesthetics. 

[stymied]

Yeah stymied has had inside info throughout this process.

I don't know how I feel about the decrease in suites--I mean, in my mind I'm certain they're underestimating the draw of a downtown ballpark and building too small.  I made this complaint to one of the principals in this deal and his response was something along the lines of, "Sometimes it's better to have high demand than high availability."  This didn't strike me as incredibly populist, although nothing about the project has been incredibly populist.

But from a design point of view, it looks like moving the suites gave them the ability to create a more vertical element with the press box behind home plate.  From the limited renderings this seems to be an improvement.  I definitely want to see an updated site plan and get new capacity numbers.  If they can't jam 8000 people in there including the grass berms and party decks it'll be a shame.  I went to Drillers Stadium on the 4th of July this year with 11,000 other people to watch fireworks.  A downtown stadium could draw even more for the big games. 

This ballpark can still be stretched to meet AAA standards if they ever go that route, which is 10K I believe.  As it is now, for a bedlam game there they can get that many seated using the berms and 360 degree concourse for standing room only.

[stymied]

Taking a hopefull guess,,, I might suppose the Mantle family may have been hedging their bets and waiting to see what happened with the ballpark in Tulsa, aka whether it was actually going to happen or not and what kind of facility it was going to be. So now that we are this far, and renderings approved, perhaps we have a better stab at getting it. If it isnt already committed to OKC. It doesnt look like there is a place for it now in the new renderings, but even right across from the ballpark would be a neat place for it. 

This is what I have heard.  There is space to incorporate the museum if the support for this gains traction.  OKC has claimed the lead in the race to land the museum, but I have heard the family is just waiting to see more progress.  The Trust has a back up plan up their sleeve if the Mantle Museum doesn't happen.  Stay tuned...

[cannon_fodder]

All new AAA stadiums are over 10,000.  The smallest stadium currently the Las Vegas 51st with 9,334.  I imagine if we really wanted to increase the size of the stadium it would be pretty easy to do with stands in the outfield.
http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/aaaballparks.htm

Thanks for the info Stymied.

[Renaissance]

Thanks for those answers.  Karma for you!

[stymied]

Thanks for those answers.  Karma for you!

Thanks!  I need all the Karma I can get.

[stymied]

I'm Floyd and I approve of trading luxury boxes for aesthetics. 

It's now 23 suites, as one of the founders double wide suites was split into 2.

[Oil Capital]

Contract is not fixed price.  It is a design-build with a guaranteed maximum price.  Big difference.  Suite numbers were reduced and lowered to second level only for budget reasons.  Trust approved changes in favor of other embellishments.  It is their park and they are spending the $60 million they way they want to, which includes changing their minds along the way so long as they stay under $60 million.

Gotcha.   So, is it basically cost-plus, with a cap?   (and fwiw, the stadium construction contract is, I believe,  $39.2 Million, not $60 Million.)

[TheArtist]

Ok, I am going to go ahead and mention, with the hope that someone might listen lol, something that I noticed when I first saw the renderings. Wasnt going to bring it up, but in another forum there were some questions as to the "art-deco" elements of the building. In that vein, the first thing that caught my eye was the Banding elements around the building. The most common use of such horizontal banding elements in streamline type deco is to have the bandings in sets of 3. A lot of deco elements are repetitions of 3. I think it would give the building just a little more of a deco feel. Sometimes the typical person,,, well,,, needs a few more cues, or more obvious cues, to "get it". Having it be a classic, 3 band, would make the deco nature of the building more obvious to the everyday, huddled masses, viewer.

I like how they used the "eyebrow" and the curve, and the zink, and the brick, and of course the panels,,, But the very first thing I noticed was the 2 band instead of a 3 band going around, and wished they had done the more obviously, classic deco 3 band. Surely one more little line of bricks going around wouldnt be too much to ask for 



Adding one more banding of brick between the other two would add that extra touch of deco to the ballpark. Especially when viewing this side. The building is solidly contemporary enough that I dont think adding the more obviously deco 3band would detract from that. I think it would actually a fun touch, an "oh look at the deco element they added there" thing to the ballpark.  A lot of people are not going to register the 2 band as being a deco touch. The three band they will. 

[forevertulsa89]

In looking at the renderings it appears the ballpark actually attaches or is very close to the old buildings of greenwood. I think it would be really cool if they added like a party area or seats on the roof of those buildings like they do in Chicago. I think you could really incorporate these buildings as a fabric of the overall stadium.

[sgrizzle]

In looking at the renderings it appears the ballpark actually attaches or is very close to the old buildings of greenwood. I think it would be really cool if they added like a party area or seats on the roof of those buildings like they do in Chicago. I think you could really incorporate these buildings as a fabric of the overall stadium.

It has been suggested to Ruben Gant, but it's up to them what they do with their own property.

[godboko71]

In looking at the renderings it appears the ballpark actually attaches or is very close to the old buildings of greenwood. I think it would be really cool if they added like a party area or seats on the roof of those buildings like they do in Chicago. I think you could really incorporate these buildings as a fabric of the overall stadium.

That would add to the fun Factor, either way though I plan on being a season ticket holder when this baby opens

Baseball within walking distances from home, very exciting.