USA BMX to move headquarters to Tulsa

[sgrizzle]

Marq Lewis is pushing back against the idea of locating the BMX facility to the Greenwood area. He apparently wants some set asides re: jobs and community re-investment. This could get interesting.

I believe BMX isn't taking the whole property, there is room for other development, and then take possible sale/lease funds for community investment.

[patric]

I can't say with 100% certainty, but I doubt major demo contracts happen without the approval of the Fair Board which happens to include all three county commissioners.

If Randi Miller could make good on her promise to turn Bells Amusement Park into a parking lot...

[sgrizzle]

If Randi Miller could make good on her promise to turn Bells Amusement Park into a parking lot...

No, she said "anyone who believes the Bells property would become a parking lot is grossly misinformed"

Of course maybe she was positive her BFF's at "Can't pay the water bill" water park were going to take it over.

[TulsaRufnex]

If they'd only dismantled the upper deck and left lower deck seating, it would have been far easier.
I know the A's would like to return next year, and will be working towards that end if at all possible.
I'd like to have our soccer team back at the fairgrounds next year, if for no other reason, just so any curious members of the voting public could view the needless devastation.

https://twitter.com/JohnnyFreedom73/status/751852479890030592


Until then, myself and about 30-50 other A's fans will trek to Wichita tonight for a playoff game.
Which is probably more than the Roughnecks supporters who drove to OKC last week.

[BKDotCom]

Plot twist:

County contract at issue in failed deal to house BMX at Expo Square would have ended before construction
Contract cited as barrier to BMX site plan set to end before facility could be built

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/local/county-contract-at-issue-in-failed-deal-to-house-bmx/article_bd3e3da4-0f05-5549-a9dc-c749c68dbe8e.html

The original "Beverage Agreement" began Jan. 1, 2003, and was amended and restated effective Jan. 1, 2008, for a 10-year span.

That means the contract needs to end or be renegotiated this year before it sunsets Jan. 1, 2018.

The city of Tulsa hadn't planned on funding construction of the BMX facility until after that date with plans to open the facility closer to 2020, indicating the agreement itself is not the sole factor in the project's displacement.

[swake]

Plot twist:

County contract at issue in failed deal to house BMX at Expo Square would have ended before construction
Contract cited as barrier to BMX site plan set to end before facility could be built

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/local/county-contract-at-issue-in-failed-deal-to-house-bmx/article_bd3e3da4-0f05-5549-a9dc-c749c68dbe8e.html

So the county not only kicked the Athletics out of the stadium and started selling the seating (for all of $11k!!) based on a contract with USA BMX that didn't yet exist. They ended contract negotiations with USA BMX based on an expiring contract with Coke that would have no impact on USA BMX?

That's some stellar Expo Square management the county has there. I guess nothing changes. Idiots. No wonder the jail is always in crisis.

[Hoss]

So the county not only kicked the Athletics out of the stadium and started selling the seating (for all of $11k!!) based on a contract with USA BMX that didn't yet exist. They ended contract negotiations with USA BMX based on an expiring contract with Coke that would have no impact on USA BMX?

That's some stellar Expo Square management the county has there. I guess nothing changes. Idiots. No wonder the jail is always in crisis.

It's almost like Randi Miller is still commisioner...

[swake]

It's almost like Randi Miller is still commisioner...

With a bunch of uncashed rent checks from Big Splash all over her desk.

[sgrizzle]

With a bunch of uncashed rent checks from Big Splash all over her desk.

They would've bounced anyway.

[cannon_fodder]

Remember when they kicked out Bell's and promised us "not a giant surface parking lot."  And we all laughed and laughed...

[TulsaRufnex]

I'd like to know if an investigative reporter can see if the Drillers and/or Bob Funk Jr/Prodigal Sports have their fingerprints anywhere near this situation.
It would sure be in the interest of a certain local USL pro soccer team if Tulsa Athletic simply faded away and had to play their games at Veterans Park like a good little pawn.
So the Drillers/Funk Jr can sell the club to someone who will take a deal to move out of downtown Tulsa to Jenks...

What several entities did to Tulsa Athletic after they drew over 3,400 fans their first year at the fairgrounds in 2013 (despite not having access to the huge parking lot in the middle of the horsetrack) stinks to high heaven.

[RecycleMichael]

bitter conspiracy rumors are beneath discussion.

[TulsaRufnex]

bitter conspiracy rumors are beneath discussion.

This is a political travesty and those responsible need to be held accountable.

The Drillers and Prodigal LLC have had serious conflicts of interest since Day One.
And no use for the Tulsa Athletics except as a subservient feeder club.

Remember Bells...

http://napha.org/DISCUSSIONS/tabid/57/aft/2390/Default.aspx

"There are people who benefit financially if we're gone," Bell said. "And whoever that is, that's the reason we're out of there."

One of those people could be the Bells' main competitor, Jerry Murphy. Murphy has provided the midway for the Tulsa State Fair since the early 70s. The Murphy family also owns Big Splash. After decades of peaceful coexistence, Robby Bell says things went sour between the two families in 2005.

The Bells say that was a tough year for them, because the Fair Board had converted a parking lot next door into an RV park. The Bells say it hurt their business so much they convinced the Fair Board to lower their rent payment that year. And the Bells didn't stop there. To lure more people to the fairgrounds during the fair Bell's printed discount coupons in the paper, they say even though the whole fair benefited, Jerry Murphy saw it as more competition.

Murphy made his feelings known in a letter to the fairgrounds CEO, saying "Bell's should spend more time taking care of their own, tired equipment and quit blaming everyone else for their demise."

But the Bells think the Murphys did more than just write a letter. Records show Jerry Murphy's wife gave $5,000 to the campaign of Fair Board Chairman Randi Miller in 2004. And Jerry Murphy himself gave $5,000 to the campaign of new county commissioner John Smaligo, four months after he won his seat on the board, and four months after Bell's lease expired. But Fairgrounds CEO Rick Bjorklund says there was nothing more to the Fair Board's decision than just good business.

[TulsaRufnex]

So the county not only kicked the Athletics out of the stadium and started selling the seating (for all of $11k!!) based on a contract with USA BMX that didn't yet exist. They ended contract negotiations with USA BMX based on an expiring contract with Coke that would have no impact on USA BMX?

That's some stellar Expo Square management the county has there. I guess nothing changes. Idiots. No wonder the jail is always in crisis.

Athletics were paying $5800 per month (first year was $5500 per month) AND the county was getting 100 percent of all concessions revenue.
Athletics were performing most (if not all) stadium and field maintenance.
Bait + switch = Parking lot instead of a soccer team that was still managing to draw average crowds of 2200 fans per game in 2016.

[sgrizzle]

I'd like to know if an investigative reporter can see if the Drillers and/or Bob Funk Jr/Prodigal Sports have their fingerprints anywhere near this situation.
It would sure be in the interest of a certain local USL pro soccer team if Tulsa Athletic simply faded away and had to play their games at Veterans Park like a good little pawn.
So the Drillers/Funk Jr can sell the club to someone who will take a deal to move out of downtown Tulsa to Jenks...

What several entities did to Tulsa Athletic after they drew over 3,400 fans their first year at the fairgrounds in 2013 (despite not having access to the huge parking lot in the middle of the horsetrack) stinks to high heaven.

Where you see conspiracy I see a group who never considered the Athletics to be a real tenant. Bells was big business for decades. The Athletics were just a way to make a few bucks before they tore down the stadium. If they could have, the health department, horse track and stadium would have been gone years ago.