New sports bar downtown

[brianh]

If you stood in front of the place on an evening or weekend for an hour, you could count the foot traffic on one hand, except the couple times a month there's a major event at the BOK.

That's because there is nothing like it over there to walk to. Seems like a good location to me, a block away from the towers and right behind the bankruptcy court; it's genius.

[TheTed]

Don't get me wrong. I'd definitely patronize this place. I've been walking from downtown to the White Owl to watch football on Saturdays, as nowhere downtown has lots of HDTVs with lots of sports channels/packages like the White Owl.

But I walk and bike around desolate parts of downtown at nights and on weekends constantly and hardly ever see anybody else around other than bums.

If this rumor is true, I wish this place luck. But the BOK Center event traffic would account for such a small percentage of sales, that I question whether there'd be enough business to sustain this place the 99% of the time when that part of downtown is completely lifeless.

[wordherder]

not happening.

You sure?  I was down at the shopping center last week and saw some folks in and around the space.

[PonderInc]

If you stood in front of the place on an evening or weekend for an hour, you could count the foot traffic on one hand, except the couple times a month there's a major event at the BOK.

Don't get downtown much, d'ya?

Let's look at what's coming up at the BOK Center:
Oct 9 - Creed
Oct 10 - River Rush
Oct 12 - Miley Cyrus
Oct 14 - OKC Thunder vs. Miami Heat
Oct 20 - Star Wars in concert
Oct 24 - Oilers vs. Wichita
Oct 27 - Oilers vs. Rapid City
Oct 30 - So You Think You Can Dance Tour
Nov 3 - Oilers vs. Allen
Nov 7 - Alan Jackson

Looks like a few things are coming up in the next few weeks.  And, of course, that doesn't include the constant stream of events at Cain's Ballroom, the PAC, etc.

On concert/event nights, there aren't enough bars and restaurants downtown to handle the pre/post rush.

In the meantime, if they utilize this building so that folks can enjoy a drink while looking out the upstairs windows, they should have a pretty cool view on any night.

Sounds like a great spot to me.  Hope it works out!

(I agree about the need for street level windows...but the lack of 1st floor windows could be a plus for a bar, depending on their plans for the space.)

[jbk]

You sure?  I was down at the shopping center last week and saw some folks in and around the space.

might be with new people but the original plan is no more.

[TheTed]

Don't get downtown much, d'ya?

Let's look at what's coming up at the BOK Center:
Oct 9 - Creed
Oct 10 - River Rush
Oct 12 - Miley Cyrus
Oct 14 - OKC Thunder vs. Miami Heat
Oct 20 - Star Wars in concert
Oct 24 - Oilers vs. Wichita
Oct 27 - Oilers vs. Rapid City
Oct 30 - So You Think You Can Dance Tour
Nov 3 - Oilers vs. Allen
Nov 7 - Alan Jackson

Looks like a few things are coming up in the next few weeks.  And, of course, that doesn't include the constant stream of events at Cain's Ballroom, the PAC, etc.

On concert/event nights, there aren't enough bars and restaurants downtown to handle the pre/post rush.

In the meantime, if they utilize this building so that folks can enjoy a drink while looking out the upstairs windows, they should have a pretty cool view on any night.

Sounds like a great spot to me.  Hope it works out!

(I agree about the need for street level windows...but the lack of 1st floor windows could be a plus for a bar, depending on their plans for the space.)

I live and work downtown. I spend 99% of my time downtown. I walk desolate downtown streets nightly. I bike downtown daily.

I quantified my statement as referring to major events. The upper level is opened for events a couple times a month. The smaller events do very little to bring downtown to life. If I don't pass right by the arena, I don't even notice when there's a hockey game or minor concert. Everybody parks within a block, maybe two blocks.

[Conan71]

Nov 3 - Oilers vs. Allen
Nov 7 - Alan Jackson

For a second, I thought it was Oilers vs. Alan Jackson.  "I never knew Alan Jackson was such a keen hockey player.  Especially good enough to take on an entire CHL team".

[Hoss]

For a second, I thought it was Oilers vs. Alan Jackson.  "I never knew Alan Jackson was such a keen hockey player.  Especially good enough to take on an entire CHL team".

He might with this team.

[brianh]

Since it has no windows, maybe an expansion location for Night Trips or Cloud 9, pretty sure that is what downtown is missing.

[sgrizzle]

I live and work downtown. I spend 99% of my time downtown. I walk desolate downtown streets nightly. I bike downtown daily.

I quantified my statement as referring to major events. The upper level is opened for events a couple times a month. The smaller events do very little to bring downtown to life. If I don't pass right by the arena, I don't even notice when there's a hockey game or minor concert. Everybody parks within a block, maybe two blocks.

A lower level event is still 5,000-9,000 people typically. Chances are, at least a couple of them drink.

[JoeMommaBlake]

For what it's worth, we get little to no bump from any of the hockey type events. The larger events like Miley Cyrus turn a weekday in to a weekend type crowd (for an hour and a half before the show), and turn a weekend night into a really good one. We're smaller than two of our neighbors (El Guapos and McNellies) and on most arena nights, none of us are forced on to a wait. There are exceptions. Dave Matthews (younger cooler drinking type crowd) was a crazy night with a wait, while one week later Creed (Affliction shirt wearing popped collar feaux-hawk crowd) was not that notable and we were on a wait only for a small time. Anyway, the perception that the downtown restaurants are at capacity when we have arena events is simply not true. If it is, then it's true for restaurants other than mine...which sucks and would be indicative of a greater problem at Joe Momma's. The events help, don't get me wrong, but there is definitely not a shortage of seats on most BOK dates. That perception probably hurts us and causes people to eat on Cherry Street or Brookside before driving into downtown.

Maybe the Oilers will turn it around and the crowds will grow to unmanageable levels...We can dream.

[Hoss]

For what it's worth, we get little to no bump from any of the hockey type events. The larger events like Miley Cyrus turn a weekday in to a weekend type crowd (for an hour and a half before the show), and turn a weekend night into a really good one. We're smaller than two of our neighbors (El Guapos and McNellies) and on most arena nights, none of us are forced on to a wait. There are exceptions. Dave Matthews (younger cooler drinking type crowd) was a crazy night with a wait, while one week later Creed (Affliction shirt wearing popped collar feaux-hawk crowd) was not that notable and we were on a wait only for a small time. Anyway, the perception that the downtown restaurants are at capacity when we have arena events is simply not true. If it is, then it's true for restaurants other than mine...which sucks and would be indicative of a greater problem at Joe Momma's. The events help, don't get me wrong, but there is definitely not a shortage of seats on most BOK dates. That perception probably hurts us and causes people to eat on Cherry Street or Brookside before driving into downtown.

Maybe the Oilers will turn it around and the crowds will grow to unmanageable levels...We can dream.

I'll do my part to make sure people know, but it depends on how well this new coach can make this team.

He did just sign a new behemoth of a forward today though (6'6", 245lbs).  We'll see starting Oct 24th.

[Conan71]

Well I did eat at Joe Momma's tonight, FYI.

[Hoss]

Well I did eat at Joe Momma's tonight, FYI.

Come to a game, big man.  Hell, I'll even buy you a drink.  You'll know how to find our group.  Just ask any of the Oiler staff where to find the most obnoxious fans.

[Wilbur]

I'll be at the Oct 24 game.