Tulsa World article without MLS typos...

[USRufnex]

Once again, to access the article at www.tulsaworld.com, it'll cost ya' so here are some unbiased highlights...


City needs stadium to get rolling in soccer
by Randy Krehbiel, World Staff Writer

--Mayor Bill LaFortune is pushing an effort to build an arena and find local investors.

"A suitable stadium - or lack thereof - seems to be the biggest obstacle to a Tulsa entry in Major League Soccer."
"The same shortcoming that cost the city a founding MLS franchise eight years ago emerged as the overriding question Thursday as city and league officials met with potential investors in a proposed expansion team."

Article mentions a visit by LaFortune to Miller Park in Milwaukee "which has a lightweight retractable roof..."

The article mentions the usual MLS requirements: 20-25,000 seat stadiums with grass fields "generally about 120 yards long and 75 yards wide."

"LaFortune said he was confident that local investors can be found, and that the league's requirement that 7,500 season tickets be sold in advance can also be met."

"MLS president Mark Abbott said the league planned to grow eventually to 16 teams from the current 10, addiing the first 2 expansion franchises in 2004 or 2005."

Once again, officials refused to compare Tulsa with other interested cities (incl. OKC). The article ended with some explanination of single-entity.


QUOTES FROM Mayor LaFortune:

"The real challenge is a commitment to build a soccer-specific stadium that can also be used for many other things. I believe Tulsans are ready to do something like this. This is the best opportunity we have to become a major league city."

"Tulsa needs to decide if we want this for our own quality of life."


QUOTES FROM MLS President Mark Abbott:

"What we like about Tulsa is that it is a community that has a vision for growth."

"We are also very impressed with the strength of the soccer commumnity here. Third, we are ooking for a mix of market sizes, and Tulsa fits into that."

oh, and one more quote I almost forgot about from the article: "... a stadium site near downtown Tulsa is favored, but LaFortune said other sites were under consideration."

Boo-yah right back at ya benine... local politics pure and simple... that stadium's just as likely to be built at the fairgrounds as the Brady district...

Next few weeks: Dueling feasability studies in Edmond and Tulsa...

NEWS AT 11... :)

[USRufnex]

Okay, I had a couple of typos... but I'm happy that Krehbiel's article didn't--not a single mentioning of "MSL" or "the MLS"... like the last article(s) which had MSL half the time and "the MLS" the other half... kudos...

[Laramie4OKC]

The worst thing that can happend to Oklahoma City and Tulsa is that this MLS competition turns into a dueling match.

I already see that the volcanoes under these two cities are ready to erupt on this board alone and I wouldn't want to have to choose between the two.

I have faith in Tulsa because it is a beautiful city that has had a lasting impression on me when I lived there. There is no comparing Oklahoma City and Tulsa when it comes to a cosmopolitan atsmophere; however, that attitude Tulsans possessed is what returned me to Oklahoma City.

The MLS representative saw a Tulsa plan with vision; while you're talking vision, I hate to remind you, Oklahoma City is living it:

http://www.rogerbondy.com/ford-center-sports-arena.JPG

The newly completed NHL-NBA quality Ford Center (foreground) which seats 19,675 for basketball and 18,174 for hockey has 60 luxury suites and 3,380 club seats is poised to take Oklahoma City to the next level in indoor sports.

Oklahoma City continues her face lift with overwhelming voters support which has triggered private development like this city has never seen.

http://www.oklahomasown.com/images/bricktown/june/images/DSC00681.jpg
Oklahoma City's Bricktown Canal with r/l Bricktown 54 Club (Clock Tower) and SBC Bricktown Ball Park in the background is spawning with future development prospects.

Bricktown Enterntainment District's sprawl has been a result of Oklahoma City voters massive support of city initiatives over the last 10 years resulting in $1.2 billion in voter approved projects and the domino effect puts additional private investments projected to exceed $2 billion by 2006 as this city begins its boom.

If and when MLS comes to Oklahoma, it will have my support. I just hope this phase of MLS expansion doesn't leave Oklahoma City and Tulsa too beaten up for one to support the other.

[jmeissen0]

i don't know if i have ever heard that 7500 season ticket requirement before

[USRufnex]

Originally posted by jmeissen0
i don't know if i have ever heard that 7500 season ticket requirement before

I was confused about that too. I don't think anyone in OKC/Edmond has mentioned a requirement like that.

I found it interesting that the article implies that the only thing that kept Tulsa from getting a charter franchise for 1996 was the stadium issues... didn't realize T-Town was THAT close the first time around.

I DO know that part of that original proposal included a BIG number of guaranteed season ticket holders-- rumored to be the same kinds of numbers Columbus offered... I think maybe MLS wants to make sure Tulsa commits to the same kinds of offers that made the city a contender for a franchise the first time around.

After all, MLS needed to be in some of the largest markets (NYC, LA, Chicago) whether any effort was made for a season ticket drive. I'd guess in a small/midsize city like Tulsa, up front season ticket commitments would be a MUST to show league officials they could guarantee fan support.

[USRufnex]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Laramie4OKC
The worst thing that can happend to Oklahoma City and Tulsa is that this MLS competition turns into a dueling match.

Actually, it may be the BEST thing to happen. A new Tulsa mayor like LaFortune would not have made the MLS proposals so early if it weren't for OKC/Edmond. Edmond officials know they have to come up with an attractive proposal to compete with what Tulsa may offer. Neither the mayor of Tulsa or the mayor of OKC or Edmond have turned proposals into a "dueling match." It wouldn't hurt my feelings to see a bond issue get a couple of extra percentage points in favor due to competition with OKC.

I already see that the volcanoes under these two cities are ready to erupt on this board alone and I wouldn't want to have to choose between the two.

But guess what, it's starting to happen but things are WAY TOO PREMATURE right now... there are feasability studies, more stadium plans and particulars. I found it VERY INTERESTING that there was no mention of even a "cost estimate" at the Edmond meeting last Tuesday.


I have faith in Tulsa because it is a beautiful city that has had a lasting impression on me when I lived there. There is no comparing Oklahoma City and Tulsa when it comes to a cosmopolitan atsmophere;


I see you've received the "cosmopolitan" indoctrination each Tulsan receives at an early age... you know, there are doctors who can surgically remove that...


however, that attitude Tulsans possessed is what returned me to Oklahoma City.

... similar to the kind of "attitude" all Okies get when they travel/live in the great state of Texas.


The MLS representative saw a Tulsa plan with vision; while you're talking vision, I hate to remind you, Oklahoma City is living it:

Let me remind YOU that pictures of downtown OKC and it's bricktown area are, simply put, A MOOT POINT!... the stadium will be MILES AWAY in Edmond...

The newly completed NHL-NBA quality Ford Center (foreground) which seats 19,675 for basketball and 18,174 for hockey has 60 luxury suites and 3,380 club seats is poised to take Oklahoma City to the next level in indoor sports.

Yes, and it was built, says the Oklahoman, "on the cheap." Most of the seats are too small in an effort to meet NBA/NHL seating requirements... if you'd like to discuss this further, please START YOUR OWN THREAD... this thread is about last Thursday's meeting in Tulsa with potential investors, Hunt and MLS prez Mark Abbott...

Oklahoma City continues her face lift with overwhelming voters support which has triggered private development like this city has never seen.

Once again, this thread quotes a Friday article from the Tulsa World about a potential franchise in Tulsa and you have used it to give us pictures of OKC...

Oklahoma City's Bricktown Canal with r/l Bricktown 54 Club (Clock Tower) and SBC Bricktown Ball Park in the background is spawning with future development prospects.

... but not MLS... unless I hear otherwise, the stadium will be in EDMOND... these pics have been seen over and over again on other threads... do you see OKC or Edmond as the title to THIS THREAD???

Bricktown Enterntainment District's sprawl has been a result of Oklahoma City voters massive support of city initiatives over the last 10 years... BLAH, BLAH, BLAH...


If and when MLS comes to Oklahoma, it will have my support. I just hope this phase of MLS expansion doesn't leave Oklahoma City and Tulsa too beaten up for one to support the other.

I know those who want a team in OKC and not in Tulsa would have you (the bigsoccer poster) to think otherwise, but Oklahoma City/Edmond is the "Johnny-come-lately" to this. It is great to see meetings, proposals, and upcoming feasability studies in Edmond, but it's been common knowledge that Tulsa's tried to get a team for some time. It's just not common knowledge that league officials have come to Tulsa in the past few months and Tulsa's efforts have been decidedly closed-doors.

Once again, it's WAY TOO EARLY to worry about any contentious debates between the 2 cities... it's just as likely that either [i]A) Tulsa finds it doesn't have the interested investors or want to put a bond-issue to a vote and pulls out. or [i]B) Edmond/MLS officials decide that MLS/the schools want too much control of the project, dates, etc. and pulls out.

It will be months before things will even have a chance at getting contentious.

The only place that's happened is HERE... the message boards on BigSoccer!

[jmeissen0]

i wonder how each city would potentially deal with supporter sections

[USRufnex]

Originally posted by jmeissen0
i wonder how each city would potentially deal with supporter sections

Well, Segroves could be a one-man supporter section in Edmond... seemed like there were quite a few younger curious parties at the meeting Tuesday... I could definitely see a "college crowd" turn into a supporter section at a new Wantland Stadium on campus in Edmond.

Tulsa had the South EndZone "Pepper Patch" for NASL games but it wasn't the same type of "supporter section" you think of in Chicago and DC... those were the days of Crazy George beating his drums and aerosol horns... even "the wave" was too much to ask...

Both cities will rely on alot of parents bringing their kids and the contingent of youth teams with their coaches... each city has a decent hispanic population, but I don't know how many or even if they'd identify with the new team...

Don't think there'll be Ultras in Tulsa or Edmond but between all the bigsoccer posters here I think somebody's very likely to start one (hint, hint)...

[Laramie4OKC]

Originally posted by USRufnex
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Laramie4OKC
The worst thing that can happend to Oklahoma City and Tulsa is that this MLS competition turns into a dueling match.

Actually, it may be the BEST thing to happen. A new Tulsa mayor like LaFortune would not have made the MLS proposals so early if it weren't for OKC/Edmond. Edmond officials know they have to come up with an attractive proposal to compete with what Tulsa may offer. Neither the mayor of Tulsa or the mayor of OKC or Edmond have turned proposals into a "dueling match." It wouldn't hurt my feelings to see a bond issue get a couple of extra percentage points in favor due to competition with OKC.

No, he didn't have a proposal because the truth is that Tulsa had given up on MLS. Tulsa eagerness to get an MLS franchise has more to do with them possibly being outdone by Oklahoma City

I already see that the volcanoes under these two cities are ready to erupt on this board alone and I wouldn't want to have to choose between the two.

But guess what, it's starting to happen but things are WAY TOO PREMATURE right now... there are feasability studies, more stadium plans and particulars. I found it VERY INTERESTING that there was no mention of even a "cost estimate" at the Edmond meeting last Tuesday.

I find it VERY INTERESTING that Tulsa is supposingly 6 months ahead of Oklahoma City in this race and they don't even have a drawing of a stadium let alone a "cost estimate."


I have faith in Tulsa because it is a beautiful city that has had a lasting impression on me when I lived there. There is no comparing Oklahoma City and Tulsa when it comes to a cosmopolitan atsmophere;


I see you've received the "cosmopolitan" indoctrination each Tulsan receives at an early age... you know, there are doctors who can surgically remove that...

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting on that to happen. Wouldn't it be cheaper to swallow my tongue!


however, that attitude Tulsans possessed is what returned me to Oklahoma City.

... similar to the kind of "attitude" all Okies get when they travel/live in the great state of Texas.

I've lived there (Dallas-Fort Worth) and they have an attitude with something to back it up; Tulsans have always had this high society glamour about them. Comparing Tulsa to Texas is like comparing a cheap rhinestone to a diamond.


The MLS representative saw a Tulsa plan with vision; while you're talking vision, I hate to remind you, Oklahoma City is living it:

Let me remind YOU that pictures of downtown OKC and it's bricktown area are, simply put, A MOOT POINT!... the stadium will be MILES AWAY in Edmond...

Edmond is still apart of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, where is Tulsa putting up a stadium?

The newly completed NHL-NBA quality Ford Center (foreground) which seats 19,675 for basketball and 18,174 for hockey has 60 luxury suites and 3,380 club seats is poised to take Oklahoma City to the next level in indoor sports.

Yes, and it was built, says the Oklahoman, "on the cheap." Most of the seats are too small in an effort to meet NBA/NHL seating requirements... if you'd like to discuss this further, please START YOUR OWN THREAD... this thread is about last Thursday's meeting in Tulsa with potential investors, Hunt and MLS prez Mark Abbott...

Since you brought this up, lets expand on your reference. "Some," and not mosts of the seats were considered too small, our seats range (Source: Oklahoman):

"Ford Center general manager Gary Desjardins claims his arena's seating is in line with other new coliseums. Desjardins gives a quick comparison matching the Ford Center with Dallas' sparkling American Airlines Center:

19-inch wide seats: AAC 30%, Ford Center 36%;

20-inch wide seats: AAC 43%, Ford Center 33%;

21-inch wide seats: AAC 12% Ford Center 20%;

22-inch seats: AAC 14%, Ford Center 12%.

Also, Desjardins said, 52 percent of the seats in San Antonio's new arena will be 19 inches wide.

"We beat SBC in every category," Desjardins said. "My point in saying that, it's a standard arena seat."

The Ford Center cost $90 million because we paid cash for it. It is debt free! Had we built this arena in another major city with the idea of paying in off in 20 years, it would have cost $180 million. Ford Center has money $10 million left in its coffers for improvements when Flintco underbidded it competitors. This arena was designed by Rick Horrow of Horrow Sports Florida and he is the most recognized individual on sports venues in America today.

I wouldn't want to get on the arena issue. Tulsa's hockey team is still playing in the same arena (7,000-seat Tulsa Convention Center Arena) it built in 1962. Oklahoma City has retired two arenas since then, the 10,500 State Fair Arena built in 1963 and the 13,500-seat Myriad Arena built in 1973.

Oklahoma City continues her face lift with overwhelming voters support which has triggered private development like this city has never seen.

Once again, this thread quotes a Friday article from the Tulsa World about a potential franchise in Tulsa and you have used it to give us pictures of OKC...

At lease we can reference the Daily Oklahoman online. The Tulsa World wants you to pay a toll to reference them online. I do apologize for the pictures, I don't know what came over me!

Oklahoma City's Bricktown Canal with r/l Bricktown 54 Club (Clock Tower) and SBC Bricktown Ball Park in the background is spawning with future development prospects.

... but not MLS... unless I hear otherwise, the stadium will be in EDMOND... these pics have been seen over and over again on other threads... do you see OKC or Edmond as the title to THIS THREAD???

Again, please accept my apology. You mean to tell me that all threads stick to subject matter content and don't get sidetracked?

Bricktown Enterntainment District's sprawl has been a result of Oklahoma City voters massive support of city initiatives over the last 10 years... BLAH, BLAH, BLAH...

BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, I can certainly understand the true picture now! I should have given Tulsa her Kodak moment!


If and when MLS comes to Oklahoma, it will have my support. I just hope this phase of MLS expansion doesn't leave Oklahoma City and Tulsa too beaten up for one to support the other.

I know those who want a team in OKC and not in Tulsa would have you (the bigsoccer poster) to think otherwise, but Oklahoma City/Edmond is the "Johnny-come-lately" to this.

Excuse me, I may be what you call bigsoccer poster; however, I'm not opposed to Tulsa having a team, many of my previous threads have been supportive of Tulsa and will continue to be. I just think the article has blown a lot of smoke and hasn't really said anything. As far as "Jonny-com-lately" reference to Oklahoma City, you can thank MLS for that, I guess that got tired of Tulsa dragging her feet, elephantiasis can be deadly. I will be a season ticket holder if Tulsa gets an MLS franchise. I was a long supporter the Tulsa Roughnecks!


It is great to see meetings, proposals, and upcoming feasability studies in Edmond, but it's been common knowledge that Tulsa's tried to get a team for some time. It's just not common knowledge that league officials have come to Tulsa in the past few months and Tulsa's efforts have been decidedly closed-doors.

I agree with you that closed doors is the best way to get something done. You don't have so much criticism from the media Criticism can be good if it is constructive and it can be deadly if it is malicious! I would say that Tulsa is going about this the right way!

Once again, it's WAY TOO EARLY to worry about any contentious debates between the 2 cities... it's just as likely that either [i]A) Tulsa finds it doesn't have the interested investors or want to put a bond-issue to a vote and pulls out. or [i]B) Edmond/MLS officials decide that MLS/the schools want too much control of the project, dates, etc. and pulls out.

It will be months before things will even have a chance at getting contentious.

The only place that's happened is HERE... the message boards on BigSoccer!

I agree 100% with your statement and I wish Tulsa Good luck, you've got my support whether this team is in Tulsa or Oklahoma City-Edmond.

I just wish that if both cities can produce an ownership group and a soccer venue that they both will receive franchises.

Keep up the good posting USRufnex, you're one of my favorites; however, I just wanted to see if I could rattle your cage a bit and I see that you're too well-versed for that!

[USRufnex]

I agree that at some point, Tulsa and Mayor Savage gave up on MLS. That downtown track/aquatic thingy posing as a bond issue speaks volumes.

But I'd betcha a shiny new Indiana quarter that MLS officials contacted Tulsa during that first expansion to see if Tulsa could come to MLS's terms (truth is... nobody knows anything one way or the other)...

Once again, somewhere between speculous rumor and the unknown lies THE TRUTH...

Hypothesis: Lamar Hunt comes to Tulsa to see the TU/SMU football game (Hunt's an SMU alum). Upon catching the local news at his hotel, he notices that Mayor Susan Savage is retiring... "hmmmm, he thinks," twisting his Snidley Whiplash/Frito Bandito mustache "...a new Tulsa mayor? Spendid! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" So, in April/May, MLS officials come to court Tulsa, hoping the new administration will be more open to the possibility of financing a stadium, esp. in the wake of possible renewed interest after the World Cup. OKC Express Sports Prez Brad Lund (who used to work in the Roughnecks office back in the day) finds out about this, discusses the possibilities with Bob Funk and convinces the MLS official to come to OKC and gives him the prerequisite tour of bricktown. He notifies the media, leaves a message on Mayor Humphries voicemail and PRESTO! OKC's a prime candidate for expansion... yes, folks, that's what I mean when I say "Johnny-come-lately"... anyways, after running into a predictable roadblock at City Hall, Brad comes across the Edmond possiblities. UCO and Edmond Public Schools want to expand Wantland Stadium to 15,000 ANYWAY!

So, while Tulsa officials wine and dine with Hunt in Columbus, Lund is negotiating with the UCO Prez, Edmond Chamber of Commerce, the mayor and other city officials. Suddenly Tulsa officials realize they need to "get on the stick" sooner rather than later...

LARAMIE: For the last time, LaFortune sounds much more like he was actually sold on the idea of getting an MLS team than trying to "outdo" OKC... GET OVER IT!... I haven't heard anyone from Tulsa suggesting that Brad Lund was jealous and trying to "outdo" Tulsa by co-opting/derailing its possible bid... I will take what both parties say at face value for now...

sometimes a duck is just a duck, ya know...

It's also INTERESTING to note that Tulsa may have been 6 months ahead at some point earlier due to previous interest... the above news article states that the stadium issue was the only reason Tulsa was not awarded one of the original franchises in MLS (can OKC say the same?). Tulsa officials have quoted the $30 mil for Columbus Crew Stadium... someone asked at the end of the meeting in Edmond about a guess as to the possible cost of the new stadium... that question was completely sidestepped...

...DAMMIT, I've only been in OKC a couple of months since moving from Tulsa and I misplaced my "HIGH SOCIETY GLAMOUR!" Can someone tell me where I left it?... "...where, o where r-u too-naaht?... why did you leave me here all uh-lone?" (bigsoccer note: this is an obscure reference to "Hee-haw")

By the way, I really don't give a rat's ass about the Ford Center... a proposed MLS team wouldn't play there... in fact, once again, we are stuck talking about OKC on a Tulsa message thread about a team that will play 20 miles north of OKC in Edmond.... guess what? if a stadium was proposed for Broken Arrow, I don't think benine would still be posting pix of the Brady district (well, we can't REALLY be sure of that, can we?)...

Gee, maybe the Houston, Seattle, Detroit threads could use some good pix of downtown OKC... oh, but you've saved your best for Tulsa... isn't that special...

And that "attitude" isn't just Tulsa's... unlike the streets in downtown Tulsa and OKC... IT RUNS BOTH WAYS!... if I'd a-heard one more friggin' fair-weather Sooner redneck on Fri. afternoon's "Sports Animal" call for Tulsa Univ to go to Div I-AA and predict a 34-0 halftime score, I woulda checked myself into the local VOMITARIUM here... (I got better when it was only 3-0 at half)...

Hmmm... as for the rhinestone/diamond comparison, I've never heard Tulsa compared to the entire state of Texas before... I thought Texas was a "whole 'nuther country"... and who needs Rhinestones anyway when you know we sh** gold!

[Laramie4OKC]

USRufnex:

You are hilarious!

I must admit that if Tulsa is doing a lot of behind the scenes and closed door activity that's great!

I'm probably not aware of how this whole situation came about and it may very well be that Oklahoma City did come on the scene lately. It didn't appear to me that way at first; however, you've been following this situation probably a lot longer than I have.

If that's that case, I hope Tulsa gets an MLS franchise. I know they were one of the original cities to apply and MLS basically opted for the larger markets.


http://www.riverparks.org/images/myporch.jpg

Tulsa will definitely get my support!

[NACIONAL]

Originally posted by Laramie4OKC
Tulsa will definitely get my support! [/B]

the onlly thing that i say in this moment is: OKclahoma State definitely get my support...

[hipityhop]

I'm leaning my Support towards Boise City, Oklahoma..

They need to take the Sport to the farthest reaches of the Oklahoma Panhandle.

[NACIONAL]

Originally posted by hipityhop
I'm leaning my Support towards Boise City, Oklahoma..

where??????

[USRufnex]

Originally posted by hipityhop
I'm leaning my Support towards Boise City, Oklahoma..

They need to take the Sport to the farthest reaches of the Oklahoma Panhandle.

Boise City, OK... population 1509
Guymon, OK... population 10459

...Guymon's pop. based on figures from the 2000 census... Boise City's based on 1990 census since everybody here in Guymon knows Boise City's about 10 years behind the times... traditionally, Boise City has always regarded itself as the more "cosmopolitan" of the 2 cities :)

MLS NEEDS TO BE IN GUYMON... MOVE SAN JOSE NOW...

[NACIONAL]

Originally posted by USRufnex
MLS NEEDS TO BE IN GUYMON... MOVE SAN JOSE NOW...

hehehehehe

[USRufnex]

3 articles come up when you do a search using "MLS" or "soccer" as a keyword on:

www.kotv.com

8/30- Tulsa officials to scout stadium sites

8/28- Oklahoma has a good chance of landing professional soccer team
the same Edmond story from ap and the Daily Oklahoman

8/27- Tulsa working on a soccer win for the city


This is a FREE site with no need to register!

[Stan Collins]

Originally posted by Mike Segroves
Immigrants? Tulsa counts Texans as "immigrants." Where as Texas categorizes those who move to Tulsa as "traitors."

[USRufnex]

More stuff today:

from:
Tulsa World
9/4/02

A study eyed for soccer
by Curtis Killman

"The City Council is considering allocation of up to $100,000 for a study on the feasibility of locating a Major Leaue Soccer franchise in Tulsa."


This would be done by a Dallas-based group and may be financed by the 1985 Sales Tax Economic Development Fund, a fund that would have to be repaid if a stadium is not built in an "economically depressed" area...
$900,000 in this fund but it must be spent "on projects that would target downtown" "... or land north of Admiral Boulevard and portions of west Tulsa."

$100,000 goes to Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce... Dallas group (CSL) already did "recent soccer-related feasability studies" in "Kansas City, MO.; McKinney, TX; and Winston-Salem, N.C."

"...the study will take about 60 days to complete."

"City officials have already identified two downtown sites as potential locations for a stadium."

"Councilor Bill Christiansen said he was 'not completely sold' on the notion of building a stadium downtown. The stadium could be better used if located in other areas, possibly south Tulsa, Christiansen said."

Yesterday, I heard the very end of a radio interview with Mayor LaFortune who likes the idea of a retractable roof for the stadium and the idea of making sure it is multi-purpose.

Already the usual suspects are "chiming in" on pg. A2's [b] CALL THE EDITOR


"Good roads first; then soccer"
"I do not want a soccer stadiu for Tulsa before Tulsa gives me decent roads to drive on. This is ridiculous. Their priorities are screwed up. How can you get industry and people to come here when the roads are like washboards? This city has really gone downhill since I came here 28 years ago."


"Opposes tax for soccer"
"No new taxes for this soccer stadium."

GONNA BE AN INTERESTING NEXT 60 DAYS!

[USRufnex]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mike Segroves


About Time KOTV started doing something, I've been searching the Tulsa TV stations for 2 weeks and this is the first thing I've seen.

I think many Tulsa media types are holding their collective breath and woudn't want this issue to get the kind of pre-proposal publicity that motivates Tulsa's anti-tax goons...
This quote troubles me though
Immigrants?

That's LaFortune-ese for "anyone living north of 15th and Utica."


Again, still no mention of any interested I/O party.

Actually, I think that's the least of LaFortune's worries. I'm guessing it's going to be an "ownership group." And I know they're not going to let their Republican mayor from a well-to-do family look like a jackass by backing out while he's trying to get a stadium built. I just don't think they want to be identified until said stadium deal comes to fruition.
The BIG THING is getting a bond issue that voters will support. And LaFortune will be walking a political tightrope on that one. Many Tulsans have a knee-jerk response when ANYTHING is proposed for downtown. (See Christiansen's comment above)

Yep, sometimes reality bites...