Baseball stadium for downtown?

[RecycleMichael]

Others on this forum keep mentioning a pending announcement about a baseball stadium downtown.

I keep hearing it is going to be announced between now and the election.

Does anybody have any idea when it will be announced and where it will be built?

[sportyart]

quote:

FOX 23 KOKI

(TULSA, Okla.) June 18 - The construction of Tulsa's new arena has reached a new milestone.  And it's one that makes it look much more impressive.

Work has begun on the BOK center's skin, the outer layer of the arena walls.  In the meantime, work continues at city hall to bring other projects downtown.

Among those projects is a possible new ballpark for the Tulsa Drillers.

On many summer nights, Drillers fans head to the fairgrounds to see the team and all that comes with it.  But soon they may have to go a new stadium to see their favorite team.

Tulsa's Director of Economic Development, Don Himelfarb, is working with the Drillers on a possible move.  They're considering several locations downtown and one spot on the river, but won't yet say exactly where.  "They're coming either adjacent to downtown or downtown itself."

The owner of the Drillers told FOX23 News he would prefer to move the team to a downtown location, something city officials are excited about.

Himelfarb says, "It's just going to bring alive nightlife and restaurants and other entertainment venues. It's the perfect prescription for bringing downtown alive."

Fans who do not want the team to move, say they'll still support the team even if their future summer nights are spent somewhere else.

And the Drillers owner says he would love to have the new stadium built by 2010, but he's not yet sure who's going to pay for it.

The city is also working on bringing several other developments downtown, including a new hotel, and retail area.  Both of those projects would be near the new arena.

Hope still out there for this project. This recent update got me to thinking that  the moving around City Hall will free up some land (Tulsa Development Authority) in the blue dome district (not the east end)  that would allow the construction of a stadium.

[sgrizzle]

If you placed it at the TDA area, it would be a central point to go into blue dome, greenwood and the east end.

I'm still hoping GDP builds it sine they had structured parking and below grade field.

[cannon_fodder]

I just hope there is AT LEAST as much private money involved in any stadium as there is public money.

Of course, if this does happen we will be left with another tenant loss at Expo and reduced capacity for the Bedlam series which will likely cause it to abandoned Tulsa.

Needless to say, I leery of such projects.

[sgrizzle]

What is attendance for bedlam?

I think the GDP plan was for 8,000ish seats. They have around 5,000 in attendance for driller games but 11,000 in seats so this meets halfway.

[sportyart]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

What is attendance for bedlam?

I think the GDP plan was for 8,000ish seats. They have around 5,000 in attendance for driller games but 11,000 in seats so this meets halfway.

11,184 were at the last Bedlam game. Link

[Renaissance]

I would hope that they would keep stadium capacity at greater than 10,000, and consider moving to AAA.  It's not out of the question, as the Drillers typically flirt with having the best attendance in AA.

[cannon_fodder]

AAA ball would be a much bigger draw and a LOT more money.  AAA ball players make an average of $54,000 a year (thank you I-Cubs program) and demand top notch facilities.  However, they also make appearances in the majors, get sent down, remain on contract etc. etc. - drawing more fans.  The Driller's seem like a farm-league team to me for some reason.  But I still enjoy the games.

Here is what Des Moines for its AAA club:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principal_Park

Seats 12K at a 1992 cost of $12 million.

[sportyart]

It seems that Global Development Partners have put a date on their project "In Spring of 2009, the East End will deliver a live/work/play/stay environment to Tulsa and a destination of choice for its regional trade area."

Link

And they have updated their brochure. Here is one of the photo's they have added:

[cannon_fodder]

This is there what - third announcement of a development in this area?

/I'm wishful but not holding my breath.

[sportyart]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

This is there what - third announcement of a development in this area?

/I'm wishful but not holding my breath.

Oh I hear ya.....everyone is saying that they are doing something in the east end, but nothing happens.

[sgrizzle]

I think the date was already there.

The rendering is new.

[sportyart]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

I think the date was already there.

The rendering is new.

I could not remember if it was on there before.

[Renaissance]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

I think the date was already there.

The rendering is new.

This still means they're doing something.

Hey!  Someone out there who knows . . . what is the status of the developer fight over the Nordam property?  Are we getting a Wal-Mart or a ballpark?  Or a Wal-Mart Park?

[TheArtist]

I like that building though, very nice.