Drillers Downtown Press Conference Today

[Bravos47]

Just got this email.

http://ism.infinityprosports.com/Components/Emailer2/MailSendViewer.php?OnlineEmailID=7212&ID2=106


Press conference today at 1:30.

[RecycleMichael]

I am excited!

[Renaissance]

About damn time.  I've been waiting all month for this.  Thanks for the early warning!

[cannon_fodder]

Press Conference Today
Announcement Regarding Tulsa Drillers and Downtown Development
Mayor Kathy Taylor will host a 1:30 p.m.. press conference today to announce new developments between the City of Tulsa and the Tulsa Drillers.

The announcement will take place on the eleventh floor of City Hall. Chuck Lamson, Drillers owner will also participate in the briefing.
- - -

Woohoo!  Thanks for the heads up.  I may bash the plan later, but the announcement has me excited. [}:)]

[TulsaSooner]

Sweet!  I was afraid when I read the thread title it would involve Jenks since we (or I) haven't heard much on the subject lately.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by TulsaSooner

Sweet!  I was afraid when I read the thread title it would involve Jenks since we (or I) haven't heard much on the subject lately.

She'll announce a blue ribbon panel headed by Sharon King Davis to look into ways to fund the stadium, with a final predetermined conclusion of a tax increase coming about 1 month later.  But don't worry, it will be wrapped up into a MegaTax(TM) that will encompass everything from roads to bridges.  So the public will be faced with a poison pill scenario similiar to V2025 where we have to vote in the things we dont want to get the things we want.

You can't compete with free Tulsa.

[dsjeffries]

Saw it online at the World and almost jumped for joy... I stopped myself right before, remembering that the conference could go more than one way.


***Fingers crossed***

[Renaissance]

No, my guess is that we're going to get a skeletal plan for a stadium downtown.  Four main questions will be answered:

1)  Where--Nordam site?  Hartford Building?  Evans Fintube?  (best money=Hartford Building)

2)  Who--a local private developer?  A national developer?  The city as developer?  The county?  (Best money=public-private partnership, with a local private developer building the stadium and surrounding mixed-use development and transferring ownership of the stadium to the city.  Why the transfer?  See below.)

3)  How and how much--It's inevitable that any stadium, downtown or suburbs, will be publicly subsidized.  Is it a TIF?  A sales tax?  A municipal bond?  And for how much?  And what of taxation?  (Best money=generous TIF and city ownership/management of stadium, in order to offer Drillers cheap rent and tax-exempt concession sales.  This will be a big handout and a major sticking point.  Expect resistance from Tulsa blogosphere.)

4)  Is Lamson on board?  Is he going to fully commit, hedge his bets, or just nod and smile and say, "Pretty Drawing.  It could work."?  (best money=hedges his bets until TIF is approved.)

This is all total conjecture--my guesses on what we'll get today.  I have absolutely no inside information.  If nothing else, I look forward to the pretty drawings and a spirited discussion.  See you after lunch.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by DScott28604

Saw it online at the World and almost jumped for joy... I stopped myself right before, remembering that the conference could go more than one way.


***Fingers crossed***

If they were moving to Jenks, Vic Vreeland would be hosting the press conference.

[FOTD]

The BOK drive thru caddy corner from the Areema?

Bill White's white knight?

Tifftown?

Hope they have something that works for soccer too.....

[dsjeffries]

Other than checking the TulsaNow forum constantly beginning at 1:15/1:30, how can I receive word?  I always here "Press conference! Press conference!" but never see anything live on tv, and have to wait until TW or KTUL updates their websites...

Is the press conference open?

[cannon_fodder]

I'd check the news site for the Drillers.  Also wouldn't be surprised if KRMG covers it.  But, of course, the best way is to check here!

Something is happening downtown with a stadium.  That's a given. If it was a negative they would have a press release but not a conference.  What's more, the Driller's would not send a rep to say 'screw you Tulsa.'  And the fact that the conference is downtown is probably suggestive of something.

Kaiser is funding a ball park, entertainment district, and endowing OSU-Tulsa to be a stand alone state college called Oklahoma Tech specializing in engineering, oil & gas, and medicine. []  (totally not true, just sayin')

[dsjeffries]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

quote:Originally posted by DScott28604

Saw it online at the World and almost jumped for joy... I stopped myself right before, remembering that the conference could go more than one way.


***Fingers crossed***

If they were moving to Jenks, Vic Vreeland would be hosting the press conference.

Well, I just meant that they could either announce a definite plan with renderings and Lamson saying, "Yes, Tulsa, Yes!", or it could just be, "Ok, we're still interested... We'll let you know".

People complain about how secretive things (developments, etc.) are in Tulsa, but I sure am excited about this, and if it's that privacy that keeps parties at the table, then I'm fine with it. I hope Mayor Taylor and her team have come up with something extraordinary.

[cannon_fodder]

The WORLD broke the news...
http://www.tulsanow.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8582

There is a plan!  To make a plan...

[Bravos47]

I just spoke to someone from the Drillers and the press conference is open.