Downtown Stadium Plan by May 30th

[FOTD]

Where's the parking?

It's in the code I thought.....

Oh. If it's a socialist developement, the capitalist rules don't apply.

[waterboy]

Is this a done deal as Ch8, and Ch6 are reporting? They say that Jenks has lost the Drillers and that this is merely a negotiation period for terms. I didn't get that feeling from reading the story and watching Lamson. Are they that incompetent or is there something we're missing here?

Sorry to post on both of the threads.

[Wilbur]

Can't they just play in the new arena?

[booWorld]

quote:Originally posted by FOTD

Where's the parking?

It's in the code I thought.....

Oh. If it's a socialist developement, the capitalist rules don't apply.

There's no zoning code requirement for off-street parking in the Central Business District.

[Renaissance]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

Is this a done deal as Ch8, and Ch6 are reporting? They say that Jenks has lost the Drillers and that this is merely a negotiation period for terms. I didn't get that feeling from reading the story and watching Lamson. Are they that incompetent or is there something we're missing here?

Sorry to post on both of the threads.

I think it's more of a done deal than the terms of the agreement would make it seem.  The reasons I think so are twofold.  

First, RecycleMichael went to the press conference and reports that the mood was one of true accomplishment--the principals, Lamson included, appeared to believe they had reached a real agreement in principle, leaving only pesky details (every single detail) to be ironed out over the next four months.

Second, the updated Tulsa World story contains more quotes from Lamson that appear to back this up.  Apparently Tulsa showed him a ton of love when he started dealing with Jenks, and pulled him back from the brink.  (Happy to see that our efforts meant something!)  

quote:Lamson said he is excited about the opportunity to work with the city on a downtown stadium.

"It's nice to be wanted. It's nice to know that the people in the community care about Drillers baseball," he said during the news conference.

***

Lamson said if a deal isn't finalized by May 30, then he will be free to explore any and all options that are available to him.

"This doesn't mean I couldn't still deal with the city or even deal with Jenks if they are still interested," he said."

Emphasis mine.  Apparently Lamson views this move as truly spurning the Jenks group--he's aware that he's burning bridges, and has no guarantee that they'll still be willing to deal after May 31.  

This is all conjecture, but the underlying mood apparently was this was an affirmative commitment to Tulsa, tentative terms aside.  My guess is that there is a lot more going on behind the scenes, and this public show of negotiation was the first step in making the final deal work.

[RecycleMichael]

I am sure there is still a lot of work to be done. The Drillers want a great stadium that includes things for the fans like berm seating and luxury boxes and things for the players like workout facilities and batting cages.

It is obvious to me that the Drillers want this location as their first choice.

The Drillers will succeed wherever they go.

This location will help downtown Tulsa succeed as well.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

Is this a done deal as Ch8, and Ch6 are reporting? They say that Jenks has lost the Drillers and that this is merely a negotiation period for terms. I didn't get that feeling from reading the story and watching Lamson. Are they that incompetent....

The terms "Channel 6", "Channel 8", and "incompetent" are synonymous.

[breitee]

Don't forget Channel 2, the worst station in Tulsa.

[breitee]

Don't forget Channel 2, the worst station in Tulsa.

[TulsaSooner]

What about Fox?  I'm sure you all didn't mean to leave them out of the incompetent news conspiracy.


[]

[restored2x]

I really hope this works out downtown. Part of the urban redevelopment and revival of my hometown, Baltimore, included a downtown ballpark for the Orioles. I grew up and played around that old railyard as a small kid. The area was ugly, scarred, and very dangerous (murder capital of US). Now it is an area with loft apartments, mom and pop businesses, and a smattering of nice bars and restaurants (local and chain). The hotels became very profitable and the tax base grew like crazy.

Hopefully, private developers will snatch up adjacent land to build affordable (yuppie-affordable) housing. Downtowns don't survive or progress just being a destination. That's why they die in the first place. People move out. Affordable housing is replaced by businesses that fail.

Will people come downtown? Just watch a baseball game on TV that takes place in Cleveland's or Baltimore's stadiums. Baltimore City is 70-80% African-American. Scan the stands on any gameday - 90% are white people. Where did they come from? Not the city - most come from "Jenks", "Broken Arrow", "Owasso", etc. Some come from the yuppie rowhouses the city sold to them for $1, contingent on them renovating with a city-carried renovation loan.

Brilliant.

Now if we could just come up with something a little more comprehensive as far as affordable development of the area around the proposed new stadium. (NOT WALMART)

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by TulsaSooner

What about Fox?  I'm sure you all didn't mean to leave them out of the incompetent news conspiracy.


[]

Actually, they all appear to have been more insightful than I was. Though, Ch8 breaking the news to a Jenks resident that they weren't getting the Drillers afterall, was a bit unseemly.

Even though I'm not a big supporter of tax supported sports (except OU football), I hope it turns out alright so Downtown builds on the Arena, city hall, streets improvement type momentum.

[izmophonik]

Jenks sooooo thought they had this one...It's nice to see another positive thing happen downtown.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy


Though, Ch8 breaking the news to a Jenks resident that they weren't getting the Drillers afterall, was a bit unseemly.

[TulsaSooner]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

quote:Originally posted by TulsaSooner

What about Fox?  I'm sure you all didn't mean to leave them out of the incompetent news conspiracy.


[]

Actually, they all appear to have been more insightful than I was. Though, Ch8 breaking the news to a Jenks resident that they weren't getting the Drillers afterall, was a bit unseemly.

Even though I'm not a big supporter of tax supported sports (except OU football), I hope it turns out alright so Downtown builds on the Arena, city hall, streets improvement type momentum.

For what it's worth, I believe OU's Athletic Department is self-supported by the revenues it generates and not tax supported.  []