Downtown Stadium Plan by May 30th

[Renaissance]

I've got extensive thoughts but I'm slammed at work today and will have to relay them later.

This is heady stuff, though--that corner of DT is going to get crowded in a hurry.  I think it looks pretty solid.  Back with more late tonight.

[chlfan]

Looks to me, from that orientation, that the right field foul pole would be back-dropped by the skyline... ?

Also, they mention the outfield berm seating, is that the little green spec just beyond the left center field wall? If so, pretty small area.

[AVERAGE JOE]

quote:Originally posted by chlfan

Looks to me, from that orientation, that the right field foul pole would be back-dropped by the skyline... ?

Exactly! []

All the fans along the third base line will have skyline views. All the fans on the first base line will have Greenwood views. The building with the rotating U-Haul truck on the roof will be beyond the centerfield wall. The warehouse at Brady & Elgin with the "East End Experience" sign will be right across the street from the first base entrance of the stadium. Cool stuff.

[rwarn17588]

A few observations:

-- Another reason not to face home plate to the west or southwest: If a fastball gets away from a pitcher as a batter looks into the setting sun, somebody's going to get killed.

-- Because the prevailing winds come from the south during the summertime, I suspect the stadium's architects will shrink the ballpark's dimensions. Nobody's going to hit a home run with the typical winds if it's 340 feet down the line.

-- I think the Mickey Mantle Museum probably will be in the NE part of the state. I've been in contact with the fellow who owns it in Grove before, and he wants it in Tulsa or somewhere on Route 66, maybe Baxter Springs, Kan. OKC isn't on this guy's radar. But Commerce is probably out because Mantle didn't like his hometown much.

[booWorld]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

Also for wrinkle, it is far from overnight. That location was posted her on this forum almost a month ago. It has been months since anything official even mentioned the east village end.

The Greenwood location and the East End locations have been discussed on this forum for at least 30 months or so.  I remember discussing the pros and cons of both locations (among others), the need for the batter to be facing away from the setting sun, etc.  I think sportyart began the discussion around September 2005, but I can't find it in the archived topics to confirm.

[PonderInc]

quote:The building with the rotating U-Haul truck on the roof will be beyond the centerfield wall.

So if a hitter can peg the rotating truck, will everyone in the stands get a free hot dog?

[chlfan]

quote:Originally posted by PonderInc

quote:The building with the rotating U-Haul truck on the roof will be beyond the centerfield wall.

So if a hitter can peg the rotating truck, will everyone in the stands get a free hot dog?

No... but everyone will be required to "move" to another seat. []  <sorry>

[joiei]

I don't think you all would be happy with anything,  from hanging around here for a while, you would complain everything no matter if it made sense or not.  

So big deal that there is not a magnificent view of downtown from the cheep seats.  And you might have to walk two blocks to get to Arnies for a beer.  Bringing baseball downtown to add to the entertainment factor and to give me a reason to find out where to dine downtown after dark, that is a plus in my book.  I look at the new stadium as a plus, there is no place even close to the current stadium that is not fast food drive through for after game fun.  

From the proposed new location I can walk to Caz's for chicken fried steak or Lola's or before the game and go check out the new chocolate guy.  And afterwards if it is an early game, catch a show at the Brady, plus plus and still get something for dinner and go for a latte at the Gypsy.  

That chocolate guy btw is doing some pretty great stuff.  I would rate Patrick right up there with Christopher Elbow of Kansas City.  For you guys wanting to impress your sweetie, he does a much better job than Russell Stover at Utica Square.  His biggest client is the Venetian Casinos in Las Vegas.  

But when you live as far south as Intellar it is not important.  Almost Mounds is much better than anything north of the Creek.  After all, they built a new Walmart just for Intellar.  

[SXSW]

Stadium site plan:



Can't wait to see more details about the design and especially the "mixed development" and "proposed hotel" that are slated for the area around it.  I like how Elgin and Greenwood become central avenues of activity with this plan.  Both will work to better connect OSU-Tulsa with this development and the East End.  Also in the TW article they mention the light rail stop at Elgin, which is a positive sign...

[sgrizzle]

I was expecting something more like this:

[stymied]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

I was expecting something more like this:

That option is still being discussed and is preferred by many because it is a more preferable orientation for the players and a more efficient use of the smaller site.  There are 2 plans being studied right now.  Also, FWIW, the proposed hotel on that drawing is not going to happen in that location.

[sgrizzle]

I like the idea of having one side parallel with elgin. You could easily enclose it and put retail/offices under the bleachers. Great place to put a bar and call it 'The Dugout.'

[SXSW]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

I like the idea of having one side parallel with elgin. You could easily enclose it and put retail/offices under the bleachers. Great place to put a bar and call it 'The Dugout.'

I also prefer the orientation that puts 1st base/right field along Elgin.  Not sure what they are thinking design-wise but having a brick concourse right there along Elgin with the field depressed and then two levels of seating, one below street level and another above, would be cool because you could see in from the street.  

Have the "main" entrance be where Brady Ave. runs into home plate at Elgin, if the stadium were shifted a little to the south so that it was tight (along the sidewalk) with Elgin and Archer.  Have another "secondary" entrance at the corner of Elgin and Archer.  Eliminate that "mixed development" on the southside of the stadium and allow views into it from the street/sidewalk along Archer which connects Greenwood to the Brady District.  

Then encourage streetfront retail/lofts (like 120 Brady) to encircle the stadium along Brady, Elgin, Archer, and Frankfort.  Parking would be at OSU-Tulsa just to the north or in the East End (lots of parking available) with some smaller lots by the main entrance (north of the stadium) for disabled and box/suite ticket-holders.  Move the hotel to a different location nearby, maybe at Elgin & Archer just south of 120 Brady?

Anyone know much about the proposed Greenwood Chamber Community Center??  Renderings, site plan, etc.?

[tillyato]

A new Tulsa World Slideshow has drawings of the proposed Driller Staduim and surrounding development. Note the proposed light rail connection in the second drawing, and the parking garage to the north.



I couldn't get all of the images to post since they are part of a Adobe Flash slideshow, but it looks promising. It does, however, sort of look like they have yet to finalize plans for most of the mixed use development around the ballpark, and just have filler structures in the drawings.

[AVERAGE JOE]

Beat me to it!!

The advantage to having the stadium running more north/south is that the third base stands point directly at the skyline. Although, there would still be skyline views if the stadium ran parallel to Elgin, just not as dominant.

Either way, it works. Great site.