Drillers Downtown Press Conference Today

[Renaissance]

quote:Originally posted by spoonbill

quote:Originally posted by spoonbill



Artist's rendering.  

Not to scale.  Overlay on Google Earth and measure features.  

Comments?

I was puzzled and a bit upset that they did not present a scale image of the development.  I was also puzzled that the images distributed to the media were only available in low resolution print format, so I did a little diggin and got a medium resolution image from the Driller's website.

Now my big question is, (and perhaps you can help Michael, because you were there) where is the massive off-site parking?  Are they are not offering any concession for parking?

I was able to dimension the park on the site.  Are they really going to build a 400' deep backfield?  That would put us in the record books, and make it almost impossible to hit one out of the park!

There are also several other dimensional problems with the stadium, but I'll save those for additional posts.  I understand that it was a rush job and it probably won't actually be on this site, but I just wanted people to look at this rendering and understand that this is very very far from real.

We in the development world call this baiting the investor.  It is not ethical, but it is frequently practiced.  I assure you, there is a mad scramble for a real site, otherwise they would have offered some real drawings.  

It only takes 10 minutes for a good planner to do an overlay and put things together based on the rules!  They know this site is just smoke!

OH THE HORROR!  ANOTHER TULSA CONSPIRACY!

Oh wait, no.  Just another forum post that is full of ****.

[Breadburner]

Wish they could combine this with Bells.....

[brunoflipper]

yep, it's that dastardly, gool-ol' boy crowley up his tricks []

[Renaissance]

quote:Originally posted by AVERAGE JOE

quote:Originally posted by Floyd

It looks like a placeholder drawing to me.  I would be impressed if they've actually moved forward with any serious designs.

Would like to be able to discern what those little pictures on the side do/say.

Well, it does say "Concept Illustration." Patience. []

My comments weren't meant to sound impatient--they were anticipating Spoonbill's conspiracy theory criticisms.  It's going to be highly entertaining to watch him spend time tearing down the entire plan based on one medium-resolution placeholder rendering.  

When it's time for a real planning drawing, we'll get one.  But go on, have a blast inventing theories based on this one.

[spoonbill]

quote:Originally posted by Floyd

quote:Originally posted by AVERAGE JOE

quote:Originally posted by Floyd

It looks like a placeholder drawing to me.  I would be impressed if they've actually moved forward with any serious designs.

Would like to be able to discern what those little pictures on the side do/say.

Well, it does say "Concept Illustration." Patience. []

My comments weren't meant to sound impatient--they were anticipating Spoonbill's conspiracy theory criticisms.  It's going to be highly entertaining to watch him spend time tearing down the entire plan based on one medium-resolution placeholder rendering.  

When it's time for a real planning drawing, we'll get one.  But go on, have a blast inventing theories based on this one.

Oh! I don't believe there's any conspiracy.  I'm just tempering excitement with a little reality.  

We so often get excited about these announcements and then a few months down the road, we get mad because they didn't materialize.

I am simply commenting on what anyone can see with a free version of google earth, and a basic knowledge of planning.

That way we won't be surprised when the site moves around a few times.

I know that you want to believe.  I do too!  But. . . I require something with more substance than this.  

This press conference was really no news at all once you boil it down.

[brunoflipper]

quote:Originally posted by brunoflipper

yep, it's that dastardly, gool-ol' boy crowley up his tricks []

check the sig on the drawing...

[PonderInc]

Just wondering how many of the cynics have been actively working to bring the Drillers downtown?  My guess?  None.  Much easier to sit at a keyboard and bash what sounds like a huge step forward for Tulsa.

I know that we all get frustrated when we see concept drawing after concept drawing that never comes to fruition.  However, I've got my fingers crossed...and have faith that the folks who are working on this one are going to get it done.  Perhaps instead of all this gnashing of teeth, it would be helpful if we showed some support for the plan...and for getting the Drillers downtown where they belong!

[Renaissance]

quote:Originally posted by brunoflipper

quote:Originally posted by brunoflipper

yep, it's that dastardly, gool-ol' boy crowley up his tricks []

check the sig on the drawing...

Ha, nice.  Didn't pick up what you were putting down before.  Looks like the new Special Advisor to the Mayor on Urban Planning has taken a real hands-on approach!  I like it.

[TheArtist]

Well I hope this works out. Would have rather had it on the Hartford site to be closer to Blue Dome and the Greenwood areas, but, just glad its inside the IDL lol. As for the rendering to scale or not, it looks like they have the notion of wanting it to have retail around it and nice treed spaces as well. It doesnt look like they are over reaching, but at the same time they are shooting for more than just a baseball stadium. We will know in about 4 months.

[Hawkins]

I know I'm in the minority here on this website, but this made me sick today when I heard the news.

I would never take my family downtown for a ballgame.

To me, there are two forces that exist in the downtown area, and those are Old money, and the low-income, high crime crowd.

South Tulsa/Jenks, on the other hand, has the middle-class demographic that is more likely to regularly attend a ball game.

This is a very poor decision, strictly speaking in revenue potential, by the team's owner.

The Drillers are not at the forefront of most Tulsan's entertainment, but if they put that ball park in a friendly neighborhood full of medium-income families, then they would get regular business every night, and they wouldn't be a 'once a year' event for most families to make an outing--which is what it is now.

This is a very sad day for baseball, and families in the south Tulsa area.

The Old Money/Politics has won the day, and the majority of folks will stay in South Tulsa on gameday, just like they do now.

[]

[Hawkins]

--

[Renaissance]

quote:Originally posted by Hawkins

I know I'm in the minority here on this website, but this made me sick today when I heard the news.

I would never take my family downtown for a ballgame.

To me, there are two forces that exist in the downtown area, and those are Old money, and the low-income, high crime crowd.

South Tulsa/Jenks, on the other hand, has the middle-class demographic that is more likely to regularly attend a ball game.

This is a very poor decision, strictly speaking in revenue potential, by the team's owner.

The Drillers are not at the forefront of most Tulsan's entertainment, but if they put that ball park in a friendly neighborhood full of medium-income families, then they would get regular business every night, and they wouldn't be a 'once a year' event for most families to make an outing--which is what it is now.

This is a very sad day for baseball, and families in the south Tulsa area.

The Old Money/Politics has won the day, and the majority of folks will stay in South Tulsa on gameday, just like they do now.

[]

1)  Don't get too offended, but I have to say--your perception of the downtown demographic is so far from reality that it is laughable.  I just kind of wonder where it comes from.

2)  Your yearning for a ballpark close to your house is understandable.  Your interpretation of business reality is not.  Downtown minor league ballparks are universally successful.  Suburban ballparks work fine too, but there they don't have attendance advantages over those in downtowns.  Further, Tulsa is able to offer the Drillers a better margin on their sales because the stadium will be city-owned, and thus tax exempt.  In order to make their TIF work, Jenks has required private ownership of any stadium, and thus eliminated that possibility.

Look man, you can be sad that the Drillers aren't going to be close to your house.  I won't knock you for that.  But your anger at the situation is irrational, your ignorance of business realities is lame, and I've got to call you out on it.  This means too much to Tulsa not to.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by Hawkins

I know I'm in the minority here on this website, but this made me sick today when I heard the news.

I would never take my family downtown for a ballgame.

To me, there are two forces that exist in the downtown area, and those are Old money, and the low-income, high crime crowd.

South Tulsa/Jenks, on the other hand, has the middle-class demographic that is more likely to regularly attend a ball game.

This is a very poor decision, strictly speaking in revenue potential, by the team's owner.

The Drillers are not at the forefront of most Tulsan's entertainment, but if they put that ball park in a friendly neighborhood full of medium-income families, then they would get regular business every night, and they wouldn't be a 'once a year' event for most families to make an outing--which is what it is now.

This is a very sad day for baseball, and families in the south Tulsa area.

The Old Money/Politics has won the day, and the majority of folks will stay in South Tulsa on gameday, just like they do now.

[]

I live in South Tulsa, Work downtown. I am often downtown in the evenings as well.

I've had my vehicles broken into
Been acosted for money at least once a week
Been approached to buy stolen merchandise
Had vehicles vandalized
Been approached to buy questionable products
Found stacks of liquor bottles
Seen people peeing on buildings

Everything above happened on or around 71st St.

I plan on spending my evenings as much as possible downtown, where it's safe.

[tulsa1603]

Downtown is ABSOLUTELY safe.  THe only reason it SEEMS unsafe is because there is no one there.  Let's get some more people down there and give it some life after 5pm.

[TheArtist]

I agree that the Jenks location would probably see better attendance than the downtown location. For now. However, I also think a downtown location, especially if downtown itself picks up any development wise, would see better attendance than their current location. So it would still be an "improvement for baseball" in Tulsa.  Plus, adding to that, improving the economics of downtown, and the city, and the perception of both as well, by keeping the baseball games in Tulsa versus having the benefit go to the suburbs is a good thing.