The post-Bell's fairgrounds era

[perspicuity85]

How will the Tulsa State Fair be affected by the loss of Bell's?  Will it become just like every other sketchy county fair in Podunk Town, USA?  I thought the benefit of the Tulsa fair was that Bell's and the fair activities combined to provide more products and services.  Why didn't the county just buy Bell's and sell it to a company that runs amusement parks?  A state fair can actually be pretty cool if it's done correctly.  The Texas State Fair in Dallas (OU-Texas game) is a great time.  How will the Tulsa State Fair ever sell the same amount of tickets it has in the past without Bell's?

Furthermore, the Drillers have already had discussions about moving to a new stadium.  Even if the East End situation never works out they will likely continue to seek a new stadium.  Without the Drillers and Bell's, how does the fairgrounds plan on making revenue?

I've probably missed something here, so will someone please explain to me what the fair boards' plans are?

[sgrizzle]

Well as I understood the commercials, the mega ride pass was supposed to be "extremely cheap" right now and it's $50. Seems like it didn't effect that cost much.

[AMP]

Attend the Oklahoma City "Oklahoma State Fair" and you will see a Fair with no fixed amusement park rides on site.  They once had a nice monorail system that carried passengers around the facility, but that is gone now.

Believe Dallas also has no major amusement park on site of the Fairgrounds, however they recently have been in the process of installing a Sky Ride similar to the one at Expo Square. They also have the big Texas Star Farris Wheel and I believe a few kid rides that stay there year round.  Center of attraction at the Dallas Fair Grounds is the Cotton Bowl.

"Tragic midway accidents at the State Fair in Dallas in 1979 and 1983 led to the adoption of a ride safety program that is considered a model for the amusement industry."  

The Illinois State Fairgrounds is another one that has no Amusement Park on the grounds.  It is larger than a square mile in area, and the center of attraction is the big Mile dirt oval racetrack.  The new outdoor Arena is a very nice addition to this fairgrounds. Mega Pass at the Illinois Fair is $50 advance and $60 after the special.  

In OKC they tore down the old Ball Park on the North West corner, to allow for additional  parking.  

http://www.okstatefair.com/documents/2006OSFMap8%205X11.pdf

http://www.bigtex.com/generalinfo/fairgroundmap/fairgroundmap.pdf

http://www.agr.state.il.us/isf/maps/2006Map.pdf

http://www.agr.state.il.us/isf/index.php

[Conan71]

I'd be willing to bet that new "parking" area will be used to park some of Murphy's rides during the fair from now on.

[cannon_fodder]

I never went on the Bell's rides when at the fair.   So it wont effect me that much fair-wise.  My main attraction to Bell's was the enjoyment I got from driving by a lit-up Zingo, seeing it in the distance from TU games, or hearing the screams of people on the rides when I was at a buddy's nearby.

I hope they use the land wisely (surface parking is not WISELY).

[AMP]

The old Bell's parking lot is currently being used to store the grandstands that are used for the Indoor events held in the Expo such as the Starbird show and the ABA Bicycle BMX Nationals and the Shootout / Chili Bowl.  

Not sure what the futue holds for that area. OKC made their new PAVED lots Pay to Park, you can still park free in the grass/mud lots.

[DM]

I have never gone over to the Bells side during the fair. I usually stay in the actual fair area.

Honestly I have only been to Bells once in the 6 years that I have lived here. So it's not like it was real impressive. Old run down rides. Not something I will miss at all.

[AMP]

http://www.urbantulsa.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A16859

"Despite improvements to nearly every other square inch of the Fairgrounds, Expo Square never even bothered to pave the parking lot that served Bell's."

"... Year after year, Bell's was consistently Expo Square's biggest rent-payer, paying more than Driller Stadium and Big Splash combined. The approximately $12.5 million in rent over the years was nearly pure profit to Expo Square; Expo Square's expenses to host Bell's were negligible."

[RecycleMichael]

How about the expense of having a hundred sheriff deputies break up gang fights twice a year?

[Breadburner]

quote:Originally posted by recyclemichael

How about the expense of having a hundred sheriff deputies break up gang fights twice a year?

Yeah...That's Robby's  fault too.....

[AMP]

Isn't law enforcement psyroll included in the annual budget prior to any incidents that may occur?  Are they not paid by the hour or on a salary that has a work schedule regardless of where in the county they may be called to perform their duties?  Are their payroll and legals not already in the budget, other than overtime?

Don't recall commissioned law enforcement officers being able to submit an invoice for working a particular incident.  

Aren't all the government service employees that respond to an accident scene are paid by the hour?  However the wrecker service that is called to the accident gets stuck with holding and storing a damaged vehicle they pick up from the same acciden4t.  That damated vehicle may or may not be picked up from the wrecker service by the owner.  The wrecker service owner, which most are the owner/driver in rual areas, are not paid by the hour.  

[AMP]

quote:Originally posted by AMP

Attend the Oklahoma City "Oklahoma State Fair" and you will see a Fair with no fixed amusement park rides on site.  They once had a nice monorail system that carried passengers around the facility, but that is gone now.

Believe Dallas also has no major amusement park on site of the Fairgrounds, however they recently have been in the process of installing a Sky Ride similar to the one at Expo Square. They also have the big Texas Star Farris Wheel and I believe a few kid rides that stay there year round.  Center of attraction at the Dallas Fair Grounds is the Cotton Bowl.

"Tragic midway accidents at the State Fair in Dallas in 1979 and 1983 led to the adoption of a ride safety program that is considered a model for the amusement industry."  

The Illinois State Fairgrounds is another one that has no Amusement Park on the grounds.  It is larger than a square mile in area, and the center of attraction is the big Mile dirt oval racetrack.  The new outdoor Arena is a very nice addition to this fairgrounds. Mega Pass at the Illinois Fair is $50 advance and $60 after the special.  

In OKC they tore down the old Ball Park on the North West corner, to allow for additional  PAID Parking.  

http://www.okstatefair.com/documents/2006OSFMap8%205X11.pdf

http://www.bigtex.com/generalinfo/fairgroundmap/fairgroundmap.pdf

http://www.agr.state.il.us/isf/maps/2006Map.pdf

http://www.agr.state.il.us/isf/index.php

[brunoflipper]

WTH?
international beer garden, tiger show and wild west show?
seriously?

[brunoflipper]

quote:Originally posted by teddy jack eddy

.

because nothing brings out beer snobs like the fair...

[DM]

Looks like just more enhancements for the fairgrounds.

Link

quote: It will be the new main entrance to the Fairgrounds. And, once inside, visitors will find a brand new International Beer Garden, a tiger show and a wild west show, all where Bell's once stood.

Part of the old Bell's land will become a parking lot during fair time and a staging area for upcoming construction projects. The rest of the land will be revamped to give the Fairgrounds a new image.

Two other entrances will be upgraded and redesigned all before the start of the 2007 Tulsa State Fair in late September..  

Sounds good to me.