USA BMX to move headquarters to Tulsa

[cannon_fodder]

I haven't heard that it is off...

Here is the article from April of 2016, officially announcing the move.  The CEO and all the officers appear to still be in place.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/homepagelatest/usa-bmx-moving-headquarters-to-tulsa/article_9a31bd8f-a016-5b8e-80a0-49297a65a892.html

Here is an article from March 13, 2017, they quote people involved with and another who works for BMX.  Both seem excited about the move and don't mention it is off.
http://www.pryordailytimes.com/news/bmx-headquarters-moves-to-tulsa-mayes-county-sees-fringe-benefits/article_17c7b968-07ff-11e7-9b10-3fe5ebd45355.html

If you drive by the old Driller's stadium, it is being disassembled.  The stadium itself is pretty much down to the bones (seats gone, cover over the seating gone, etc.).  Which would indicate something is happening.

Also, I recently had an excuse to talk with the Tulsa Sports Commission and it hopes the build out will be done and BMX will move by the end of 2018.  So unless something changed recently or the person at the Commission I spoke with was out of the know...

But, please call BMX directly and ask!  It would be very disappointing if that were true.
https://www.usabmx.com/site/sections/56

[Conan71]

I haven't heard that it is off...

Here is the article from April of 2016, officially announcing the move.  The CEO and all the officers appear to still be in place.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/homepagelatest/usa-bmx-moving-headquarters-to-tulsa/article_9a31bd8f-a016-5b8e-80a0-49297a65a892.html

Here is an article from March 13, 2017, they quote people involved with and another who works for BMX.  Both seem excited about the move and don't mention it is off.
http://www.pryordailytimes.com/news/bmx-headquarters-moves-to-tulsa-mayes-county-sees-fringe-benefits/article_17c7b968-07ff-11e7-9b10-3fe5ebd45355.html

If you drive by the old Driller's stadium, it is being disassembled.  The stadium itself is pretty much down to the bones (seats gone, cover over the seating gone, etc.).  Which would indicate something is happening.

Also, I recently had an excuse to talk with the Tulsa Sports Commission and it hopes the build out will be done and BMX will move by the end of 2018.  So unless something changed recently or the person at the Commission I spoke with was out of the know...

But, please call BMX directly and ask!  It would be very disappointing if that were true.
https://www.usabmx.com/site/sections/56

I know the grandstand for Tulsa Speedway Fair Meadows was being dismantled but I had not noticed anything happening at Driller's Stadium when I was in Tulsa last week, then again I wasn't looking for that either.

[sgrizzle]

http://www.sportsdestinations.com/management/marketing-sponsorships/record-year-2016-usa-bmx-and-track-success-increas-12637

This is from 9 days ago

[sgrizzle]

Update: No longer at Fairgrounds

https://www.readfrontier.org/stories/soda-sales-likely-to-keep-proposed-bmx-training-facility-from-expo-square/

[BKDotCom]

Sears and Gordman's across the street?

why would a venue agree to a pouring rights contract like that?

[sgrizzle]

Sears and Gordman's across the street?

why would a venue agree to a pouring rights contract like that?

Many large venues, airports, etc. agree to them. They get straight cash and/or heavy discounts.

[Conan71]

Sears and Gordman's across the street?

why would a venue agree to a pouring rights contract like that?

A better question is though, why would it make any difference to USA BMX when they are getting a $15 million facility paid for by tax payers?

Looking on their website at their sponsors or corporate partners, I don't see any drink companies affiliated with them.  Taking a wild stab at who they might have as a partner, I Googled Monster Energy, USA BMX and got some hits, but I'm still not clear if Monster sponsors some riders or teams or if they are a corporate partner.

[BKDotCom]

A better question is though, why would it make any difference to USA BMX when they are getting a $15 million facility paid for by tax payers?

Looking on their website at their sponsors or corporate partners, I don't see any drink companies affiliated with them.  Taking a wild stab at who they might have as a partner, I Googled Monster Energy, USA BMX and got some hits, but I'm still not clear if Monster sponsors some riders or teams or if they are a corporate partner.

No Mountain Dew?!

THE DEAL'S OFF!

[RecycleMichael]

Governments need to be careful with naming rights and pouring rights, etc. Expo Square has exclusive rights to everything. I did events there for two decades and had many arguments about feeding my volunteers, adding my own security, etc.

I think the pouring deal they have with Coca Cola has benefited Expo Square to date. It has meant their logo on stuff, but who cares? It is a Fairgrounds, not a museum.

Sad to see this not work. I grew up at the old Oiler Park and just think that corner is ripe for something cool.

[cannon_fodder]

Pouring rights are almost ubiquitous from pro stadiums to high schools.  But I'm a bit surprised there is zero wiggle room either on Expo's side or BMX side (one to save face, one for a space and a $15mil facility).  How long could the pouring deal be for anyway?

Really sucks for the Tulsa Athletics.  They had made the old Driller's stadium a nice little home for themselves, I get that it wasn't there's and they had to move when something else could benefit the public using the same space.  But now it appears we kicked out another local interest at Expo square and will be left with another blank space.   

[DTowner]

Pouring rights for 24 years seems excessive.  This is very disappointing because the spirit, if not the specifics, of the $15 million subsidy was to build it at the site of the old Driller's stadium.  Now we are stuck with a decaying unused stadium and the $15 million (and the attendant economic benefits) will likely end up in suburbia.

I was lukewarm at best to this particular part of the vision package and now it looks far worse than we were promised.

[TulsaGoldenHurriCAN]

Pouring rights for 24 years seems excessive.  This is very disappointing because the spirit, if not the specifics, of the $15 million subsidy was to build it at the site of the old Driller's stadium.  Now we are stuck with a decaying unused stadium and the $15 million (and the attendant economic benefits) will likely end up in suburbia.

I was lukewarm at best to this particular part of the vision package and now it looks far worse than we were promised.

Yeah, this ruins this unless some sort of miracle can be worked out. You would think they would have had this sorted out BEFORE dismantling and destroying the stadium. It could've been used for the Athletics. Now it looks about worthless.

I would prefer they cancel it altogether. That $15 million won't go far on a brand new facility from scratch (they were going to redo the Health center and I am not sure about salvaging any of drillers stadium).

Maybe there's an "unused" park out there on the river they can hand over!

[DowntownDan]

This sounds extraordinarily dumb.

[AdamsHall]

This sounds extraordinarily dumb.

Agree.  I am going with idiotic.

[swake]

Agree.  I am going with idiotic.

I believe that was done during Randi Miller's time with the county.