Downtown Stadium Plan by May 30th

[AVERAGE JOE]

quote:Originally posted by TURobY

http://www.typros.org/events.asp?id=11&eventsid=727

quote:
Development Series to feature Drillers' owner, Chuck Lamson
3/18/2008

January 22, Mayor Kathy Taylor and Tulsa Drillers owner Chuck Lamson announced that they entered into an exclusive agreement to negotiate terms to bring the Tulsa Drillers to Downtown Tulsa. The agreement provides an exclusive period for sole negotiation between the city and the Drillers with a target date of May 30, 2008 for signing a definitive agreement.

TYPros' Development Series will feature Mr. Lamson as he discusses his hopes and plans for downtown baseball and what it would mean for Tulsa and downtown revitalization.

Please join us for this unique event.
March 18th
6p-8p
Wallace Engineering
Rooftop if weather allows, lobby if it does not.
200 E. Brady St

Please RSVP to Stefanie Phariss at stefaniephariss@tulsachamber.com

Negotiations must be going fairly well if Lamson agreed to do this for the Chamber.

[Renaissance]

Here's where I think things are: Lamson has made his needs clear.  He has explained to the city exactly what configuration and amenities the Drillers organization wants in a new ballpark, and "negotiations" are basically over.  Now the city is working on funding options.  I assume they've already got a hotel tax ready to propose, with a contingent agreement from Lamson, binding upon approval by voters.  But, I hope they're also shopping out the development to private builders, as well as courting community businesses to get on board.  The very best case, for all involved, would be a fully private development that is basically a clone of what Global Development proposed way back when.  I doubt this happens.  But I also doubt that we'll be presented a bare bones plan, void of any private proposals, at the end of May.

All speculation aside, it will be interesting to see what comes out from behind the curtain on May 31.  I cannot imagine a scenario where the negotiations "fail"; it's just a matter of what, if anything, goes before the voters.

[swake]

quote:Originally posted by AVERAGE JOE

quote:Originally posted by TURobY

http://www.typros.org/events.asp?id=11&eventsid=727

quote:
Development Series to feature Drillers' owner, Chuck Lamson
3/18/2008

January 22, Mayor Kathy Taylor and Tulsa Drillers owner Chuck Lamson announced that they entered into an exclusive agreement to negotiate terms to bring the Tulsa Drillers to Downtown Tulsa. The agreement provides an exclusive period for sole negotiation between the city and the Drillers with a target date of May 30, 2008 for signing a definitive agreement.

TYPros' Development Series will feature Mr. Lamson as he discusses his hopes and plans for downtown baseball and what it would mean for Tulsa and downtown revitalization.

Please join us for this unique event.
March 18th
6p-8p
Wallace Engineering
Rooftop if weather allows, lobby if it does not.
200 E. Brady St

Please RSVP to Stefanie Phariss at stefaniephariss@tulsachamber.com

Negotiations must be going fairly well if Lamson agreed to do this for the Chamber.

What is there to negotiate? The Drillers correctly want to be downtown, but the Drillers also don't pay any significant amount of rent and will not be a real part of the financial package to build a stadium.

The whole question is how is the city going to pay for the stadium. The Drillers aren't going to pay more than they would in Jenks or at the Fairgrounds. That amount currently is a whopping $18,000 a year.

A 3% increase in the hotel tax would earn about $4 million per year. It would take a long time for that to fund a $70 million stadium, and that's only if a vote to raise the hotel tax passed. Naming rights might contribute a few million more. The state is currently pleading poverty so don't look for any money there.

The negotiations aren't the issues, there's a funding gap for the stadium measured in the tens of million of dollars and no one has said anything about how that gap can be closed. the "negotiating period" is now almost half gone and there's been zero public movement on funding.


I really want there to be some good news from this meeting. I personally doubt you will have anything more than hot air though.

[TheArtist]

Makes ya wish we had some more wealthy headquarter corps here willing to generously give to the community. We cant expect to have eeeverything named the BOK this or the QT that.

[carltonplace]

^I remember the tax payers sending a wad of money over to American Airlines a few years back. Maybe we could have the "AA AAA" park.

[RecycleMichael]

I like the concept. American Airlines could sponsor fly balls, The American Automoble Association could have the naming rights to the parking lot, Alcoholics Anonymous would sponsor the non-drinking family area, The American Association of Advertising Agencies would buy an ad on the outfield wall and Duracell could pass out promotional AA and AAA batteries with the driller logo imprinted on them.

[AVERAGE JOE]

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

Makes ya wish we had some more wealthy headquarter corps here willing to generously give to the community. We cant expect to have eeeverything named the BOK this or the QT that.

You just identified the single biggest reason why Tulsa today isn't the Tulsa of the 1970s.

[swake]

quote:Originally posted by AVERAGE JOE

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

Makes ya wish we had some more wealthy headquarter corps here willing to generously give to the community. We cant expect to have eeeverything named the BOK this or the QT that.

You just identified the single biggest reason why Tulsa today isn't the Tulsa of the 1970s.

I disagree, Tulsa is as it has always been. We lost the Oilers (AAA Baseball) due to our unwillingness to build a new baseball stadium in the 70s when the old one was literally falling apart. We voted down river development in the 70s and downtown redevelopment plans that included new arenas twice in the 90s. We went 20 years without any downtown arena at all after the Coliseum burned in the 40s. I really think that decisions like these over the years are part of why Tulsa failed to grow like Dallas.  

In fact, I think it's progress that Tulsa is somewhat willing to spend on improvements today.

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by swake

quote:Originally posted by AVERAGE JOE

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

Makes ya wish we had some more wealthy headquarter corps here willing to generously give to the community. We cant expect to have eeeverything named the BOK this or the QT that.

You just identified the single biggest reason why Tulsa today isn't the Tulsa of the 1970s.

I disagree, Tulsa is as it has always been. We lost the Oilers (AAA Baseball) due to our unwillingness to build a new baseball stadium in the 70s when the old one was literally falling apart. We voted down river development in the 70s and downtown redevelopment plans that included new arenas twice in the 90s. We went 20 years without any downtown arena at all after the Coliseum burned in the 40s. I really think that decisions like these over the years are part of why Tulsa grow like Dallas.  

In fact, I think it's progress that Tulsa is somewhat willing to spend on improvements today.

It is interesting, on the one hand we had lots of big business in the 70s and before. But I dont recall them spending a lot on things as businesses contributing to the city.

But regardless one thing that does seem to be true is that we had all the money and high paying jobs in the world and that helped make the city a better place for many reasons. We could attract people to our city because of all the money that was sloshing around in the 20s and 70s.

But now that the money/oil is largely gone we realize that we didnt invest in basic infrastructure. The good times will always last... right? Think colleges for instance. One of the reasons we didnt create a public university system or even really grow any private ones at those times was because we didnt need to. It was almost beneath us, keep the pesky kids away somewhere else. Now we know we need to have a good college system to compete with other similar sized cities. Beautiful streets, beautiful neighborhoods, wonderful buildings, great jobs with a "compared to many cities" smaller population paying good taxes, more compact city... Now with the big oil largely gone we are pretty much left to our own devices just like every other city has been. And we are having to scramble to catch up and adjust to this startling reality. Things truly arent the way they used to be in the good ol days. A lot of the old timer/voters still dont realize what we need to do to be a competitive city. Oil paid for everything, not them.  Plus its going to take extra effort to turn this ship around and make her run as she ought to, considering the new realities.

I wish the state would realize that the oil isnt going to always be here as well. As dire as the national economic situation is.... These are still the good times for Oklahoma. Dont waste it or we will reeeally be in a world of hurtin when these good times are over.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

I like the concept. American Airlines could sponsor fly balls, The American Automoble Association could have the naming rights to the parking lot, Alcoholics Anonymous would sponsor the non-drinking family area, The American Association of Advertising Agencies would buy an ad on the outfield wall and Duracell could pass out promotional AA and AAA batteries with the driller logo imprinted on them.

The urinals and toilets could be sponsored by DoubleA since he generally (urinates) and (poo-poos) on everything.

[jackbristow]

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

Makes ya wish we had some more wealthy headquarter corps here willing to generously give to the community. We cant expect to have eeeverything named the BOK this or the QT that.

Ummm let's see, Williams, OneOK, SemGroup...there are others in town that may like the exposure.  And you are ignorant and have no clue if you think they don't give to the community.

[Renaissance]

quote:Originally posted by jackbristow

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

Makes ya wish we had some more wealthy headquarter corps here willing to generously give to the community. We cant expect to have eeeverything named the BOK this or the QT that.

Ummm let's see, Williams, OneOK, SemGroup...there are others in town that may like the exposure.  And you are ignorant and have no clue if you think they don't give to the community.

I don't think he was insinuating that these companies don't give back; rather, this was a reference to companies like Phillips and Citgo that used to be headquarted in Tulsa but have moved to Houston (damn poaching Texans . . .).

Without doubt, though, those you named are on the short list of corporations being courted by the city for a partnership to build the stadium.  The success of a ballpark is in the best interests of any company located downtown.

[PonderInc]

Did anyone make it to the TYPros meeting last night with Chuck Lamson?  If so, what did he say???

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by jackbristow

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

Makes ya wish we had some more wealthy headquarter corps here willing to generously give to the community. We cant expect to have eeeverything named the BOK this or the QT that.

Ummm let's see, Williams, OneOK, SemGroup...there are others in town that may like the exposure.  And you are ignorant and have no clue if you think they don't give to the community.

Your absolutely right " however I might take a bit of exception to the ignorant and have no clue part" Those are some other great companies we have in town. And lets not forget Henry Zarrow, Helmerich, Schusterman... They do so many great things for our city and you see their names on many buildings. However, a lot of those folks are getting up there in years, who is going to replace them when they are gone? Whats the next company headquarter, the next big donor? I was mostly saying that because of other discussions on here where people dont often seem to understand the imprortance of having Headquarter Corporations here and what that can do for a city. Supporting good local small companies which can hopefully expand and become the next large corporation that will give back to the city. And yes the importance of creating a city where companies may want to move their headquarters to and indeed doing some little extra things to make sure they stay if at all possible. Its the company that has its headquarters here from which you get those huge donations. The profits from elsewhere come to Tulsa. Otherwise the profits leave the city and go to pay for nice stuff in other cities. I remember reading that TI gave half a billion dollars to a college there in Texas. Thats a lot! I wish we had more companies like that. No matter how much gas you buy at Total or some other station, they are not going to donate here like QT will, nor Mc Donalds or some other company located somewhere else.

If you want nice things for your city, you have to have headquarters located there, or at least a major presence, otherwise your just working and existing while others get the extra stuff.  

Seems lately that BOK and QT have been in the headlines with big donations to a lot of things. Kaiser/BOK buying up properties, doing the river trail, leasing out some of the building that will be the new City Hall to make that viable, the Arena, the Mathews building and other projects downtown, etc, etc. QT doing the new park, new development on Brookside where the Camelot was, the QT center at the fairgrounds, etc. etc.  Though I am sure the names you listed donate to local charities, and support events and other things, just like Kaiser and QT, I would hope that we also see some "named things" type donations from those other companies as well.

What are some of the public, city, things they have donated to or helped build?

[hoodlum]

I made it to the TYpros event last night.

I was pleasntly suprised by what I felt was the true possibility that this ball field is going to happen.

He mentioned somehting along the lines that as things were progressing they would like to break ground in the last quarter of this year.

I was happily shocked by this.

he answered several questions about the financing of the project which will involve 100% private funds.

overall he really professed his commitment to being a part of downtown revitalization and thought that the drillers could be a catalyst for that revitalization.