New Tulsa Roughnecks soccer logo for 2015 at ONEOK Park

[cannon_fodder]

I live within walking distance of the Expo Center. I go to Athletics games there and have tons of fun. I want Expo square to be heavily utilized.

BUT - it is a crappy location for a professional sports team of any league.

People come. See the game. And leave. There is nothing there to develop. Nothing to keep people in the entertainment district. Nothing to draw people to stay at a hotel, get something to eat, or have a drink after the game. Think about the BOK Center, even being a fantastic draw on a global level, it still took years to draw a small level of entertainment development nearby (and, arguably, that is tangentially related to the BOK Center). Whereas the Arena in OKC feeds Bricktown. FedEx Forum in Memphis feeds Beale Street. The Sprint in Kansas City fuels the Power and Light District. The Target Center and Target Field around Nicollet Mall ("main street") in Minneapolis.

Entertainment venues need to be near entertainment districts. It is as much about the experience as the event itself. Its about capturing additional sales revenue if nothing else.

Can you imagine if we had the Aquarium, BOK Center, and OneOK Field within ~5 blocks of each other? Other attractions would organically grow nearby (movie theaters, Bass Pro, etc.). That's why most cities try to put things together instead of plopping them here, there, or wherever their friends were able to put together land deals.

The old baseball stadium could be a soccer specific stadium for high school or tournaments (with many fields occupying the infield of the horse track) - but otherwise it is not a very good location.

[RecycleMichael]

If I were in charge, I would turn the old Health Department building 4616 E. 15th into a hotel. It is interesting that Expo Square built a new fence and gates all over and purposely excluded the stadium and the Health building outside the gates.

They are attracting very rich people to these horse shows and the only hotel on the property has rooms the size of the closets in my house. Why force these tourist/customers to leave the property?

[Conan71]

If I were in charge, I would turn the old Health Department building 4616 E. 15th into a hotel. It is interesting that Expo Square built a new fence and gates all over and purposely excluded the stadium and the Health building outside the gates.

They are attracting very rich people to these horse shows and the only hotel on the property has rooms the size of the closets in my house. Why force these tourist/customers to leave the property?

Where has the HD moved to?  No idea they were no longer there.

[Hoss]

Where has the HD moved to?  No idea they were no longer there.

They moved some time ago to the building south of the current QT HQ at 51st and 129th East Ave.  I can remember taking mom there some years ago when she started up on Soonercare for the first time.

[rdj]

I believe the people in that building moved to either 3rd & Utica or 56th St N & MLK.

The racetrack will not go away until Expo Square is able to replace the revenue provided by the Native American tribes thru the class III gaming compact.  Expo Sq receives money every year to not become a "Rasino" by adding gaming to the facility.  Former Tulsa County Commissioner Perry convened a committee to make a recommendation to the "Fair Board" about what to do with Drillers Stadium.  If I understand correctly there was a strong sentiment in the room to capture the entire 1/2 mile of frontage along Yale along with the THD building and do an RFP for development that would include retail, a hotel capable of supporting conventions/shows and public spaces for entertainment.  The thought was a long term ground lease could help offset the income that comes from the casinos and when coupled with the income generated would be a net positive.  There was also work being done at the Capitol to insert a clause into the gaming compact that would allow the county to "lease" their racing days to a tribe in lieu of receiving the payment.  That would have let them shut the race track down.  I have no idea what ever happened to those recommendations but that certainly hasn't come close to happening.

[TulsaRufnex]

ADVANCED NOTICE OF VERY IMPORTANT UPCOMING ANNOUNCEMENT FROM TULSA ROUGHNECKS FC!

ONEOK Will Install Orange Pitch Ahead Of Saturday's Matchup Vs. Austin Aztex
Apr 01, 2015  12:30 PM CST

TULSA, OK - April 1, 2015 - In a calculated strategic move and one that's sure to shock the soccer world, Tulsa Roughnecks FC groundskeeper Gary Sheppard confirmed today that the club has partnered with T. Boone Pickens, Oklahoma State University, and TurfRite Labs to install an orange pitch ahead of this Saturday's match against Austin Aztex. The specially colored pitch will be the first of its kind and required special dispensation from FIFA, soccer's governing body.

The pitch is 100 percent grass, grown by TurfRite Labs, a Syracuse, NY-based agricultural laboratory. Dr. Chris Jones from TurfRite Labs has been working on the project for nearly two years: "When Mr. Pickens first approached us about growing orange grass we thought he was crazy. But it turns out not only was it possible, it actually has properties which make it perfect for bounce, performance and durability."  According to Sheppard, depending on how the field responds to wear and tear, it will be donated back to OSU for the upcoming fall 2015 football season.

TurfRite was able to perform the feat by modifying the DNA strands in regular bermuda grass with orange enzymes found in carrots, oranges, and certain varieties of peppers. The grass took 11 months to grow, and was grown as an entire field in Stillwater before being transported to OneOk. The goal was to have it ready in time for the club's first USL game against OKC Energy FC, but the front office wanted to make sure it was the perfect length and durable enough to be transported to the stadium.

Head Coach David Irving thinks it may even give his team a tactical advantage, stating, "Our players will be virtually camouflaged against the pitch making it difficult for the opposition to spot them making runs. Imagine Andy Lorei or Adam Black slipping into the box unnoticed and unmarked. Lethal."

The orange turf is just the latest in the club's mission to do things differently.  Sheppard continued, "I mean, orange is really our thing, man -  and this is really just the next step in our mission to "Paint Tulsa Orange."

[Hoss]

Apr 01, 2015  12:30 PM CST

That is all...

[dbacksfan 2.0]

Will lead opening ceremonies.

[DolfanBob]

Well they grow blue grass in Boise. Or is that Kentucky? 

[swake]

This is a hybrid. This is a cross bluegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, featherbed bent, and northern California sinsemilla.

[dbacksfan 2.0]

This is a hybrid. This is a cross bluegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, featherbed bent, and northern California sinsemilla.

Play an entire game on it and then get blown to the bageeezus belt afterwards.

[swake]

Play an entire game on it and then get blown to the bageeezus belt afterwards.

Which is nice.

[Hoss]

[swake]

[Conan71]

Some great Caddyshack memories right there!