Oklahma City Energy MLS and stadium thread

Discussion in 'Oklahoma City Energy FC' started by Laramie, Oct 7, 2014.

  1. Laramie

    Laramie Member

    May 5, 2010
    Oklahoma City, OK
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    What's cooking in OKC?

    [​IMG]

    Tomorrow's (Sunday, 8-28-2016) Oklahoman talks about a local investors group led by Bob Funk Jr. (OKC Energy FC ownership) buying the 37-acre Producers Cooperative plant south of Bricktown. Preliminary plans include housing, retail, parks, fountains, parking and a stadium.
     
  2. Laramie

    Laramie Member

    May 5, 2010
    Oklahoma City, OK
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City


    http://newsok.com/article/5515660

    Excerpts:

    Glad to know that city leaders and investors are starting to think 'big.' Let's see what happens with the various phases of this development.

     
    chungachanga repped this.
  3. Laramie

    Laramie Member

    May 5, 2010
    Oklahoma City, OK
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    A 99.9 % chance that Rayo OKC will not be back with the handwriting on the wall for the future of the NASL.

    Can we ALL unite behind one soccer team that will represent metro Oklahoma City (OKC, Yukon, Mustang, El Reno, Moore, Norman, Del City, Midwest City, Edmond, Guthrie) in the United Soccer League for now?

    With the pending purchase of the Producers COOP Mill site in OKC as a possible site for the Energy FC's new stadium with the possibility of expansion to attract an MLS franchise; that site will allow for an awesome view:


    [​IMG]
    A north south stadium would allow for an interesting view of the OKC skyline

    [​IMG]
    (doesn't include the 844 ft., Devon tower & the 434 ft., BOK Park Plaza Tower under construction.
    Just imagine an MLS style stadium on this site with the Oklahoma City & Energy FC name brand:

    [​IMG]
     
    Brother Badgerjohn repped this.
  4. Brother Badgerjohn

    Oct 16, 2000
    Okie City
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    Yep, see you at Taft next year!
     
  5. ManuSooner

    ManuSooner Member+

    Nov 15, 2007
    Oklahoma City
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    No. You wont

    Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk
     
  6. Brother Badgerjohn

    Oct 16, 2000
    Okie City
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think we'll be OK. We're already the longest-existing pro team in city history.
     
    Soccerglue repped this.
  7. Laramie

    Laramie Member

    May 5, 2010
    Oklahoma City, OK
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    As a supporter of the NASL Rayo OKC; OKC's attendance (both teams with local TV contracts for home & away games) had a final combined attendance average slightly exceeding 8,000.

    Oklahoma City combined USL & NASL attendance (8,192):

    USL - #35 Oklahoma City Energy FC (4,950)
    NASL - #52 Rayo OKC (3,242)​

    Source: kenn.com blog - http://www.kenn.com/the_blog/

    [​IMG]

    Majority owners (Funk & McLaughlin) are committed to maintaining the USL Oklahoma City Energy FC. Let's support our community's efforts behind one franchise.
     
  8. Laramie

    Laramie Member

    May 5, 2010
    Oklahoma City, OK
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Sprawling Producers Coop in Oklahoma City to be purchased by soccer team owner Bob Funk Jr.

    [​IMG]

    Funk is teaming up with investors to develop 27 acres of the site into housing and retail while going through a perhaps decadelong discussion with the city on whether to build a stadium of up to 20,000 seats to add Oklahoma City to the list of expansion teams with Major League Soccer.

    Funk also is coordinating plans with Fred Mazaheri and hotelier Champ Patel, who last year bought the adjoining former lumberyard with plans to build up to three hotels on the site. He said both sides have agreed to put together a master plan for both properties.

    “We are several years away before we will be in a position to actively pursue a Major League Soccer team,” Funk said. “But it is clear, Oklahoma City's best opportunity to secure a Major League Soccer team leads through the OKC Energy. The sustained success of the OKC Energy has caught the attention of the league, underscoring the receptivity of the market to professional soccer. When we are in a position to earnestly pursue a Major League Soccer team, we are confident we will have a compelling case for Oklahoma City to present.”

    http://newsok.com/article/5515660

     
  9. hipityhop

    hipityhop Member

    New Mexico United
    United States
    Jan 10, 1999
    Mission TX
    Club:
    SønderjyskE
    Nat'l Team:
    United States


    This is prime Railroad switching property. We can't build a stadium here, because we need to spot Grain cars for loading...
     
  10. Laramie

    Laramie Member

    May 5, 2010
    Oklahoma City, OK
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    New attractions to fill Lower Bricktown space

    Steve Lackmeyer
    slackmeyer@oklahoman.com
    Daily Oklahoman (Business) - Saturday, December 24, 2016


    Looks more and more like Funk-McLaughlin may miss the expansion deadline. Sounds like relocation may be more of an option when & if expansion is limited to 28 teams.
     
    ManuSooner repped this.
  11. Laramie

    Laramie Member

    May 5, 2010
    Oklahoma City, OK
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    USL Oklahoma City Energy FC now has the OKC MSA market to really grow its brand.

    As 2020 approaches, we should know more about our strong support for USL or aspiring efforts to make OKC a big league soccer community. The Energy FC organization will be closer to a 'go or no go' decision on a stadium plan on the Producers' COOP Mill site. An initial stadium could be built in phases.

    Oklahoma City being mentioned in MLS expansion article:

    MLS Expansion: What Happens in Next Round?

    Sacramento
    San Diego
    San Antonio
    St. Louis
    Cincinnati
    Charlotte
    Oklahoma City

    http://soccerstadiumdigest.com/2016/04/mls-expansion-what-happens-in-next-round/
     
  12. Laramie

    Laramie Member

    May 5, 2010
    Oklahoma City, OK
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    #62 Laramie, Oct 29, 2017
    Last edited: Oct 29, 2017
    [​IMG]
    Oklahoma City skyline by drone (courtesy OKCTalk forum)

    Not sure how long the USL will give our two state USL teams (Energy FC & Tulsa Roughnecks FC) to get soccer specific stadiums:

    Taft Stadium in OKC doesn't meet the specifications for a soccer specific stadium:

    [​IMG]
    Oklahoma City Energy MLS soccer stadium plans.

    [​IMG]

    Wheeler Park district master plans.
    OKC Energy moving forward with Major League Soccer stadium plans after Co-Op acquisition falls through: http://newsok.com/article/5555634

    Wheeler Park area emerges as top candidate for soccer stadium: http://newsok.com/article/5555631
     
  13. Laramie

    Laramie Member

    May 5, 2010
    Oklahoma City, OK
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    City of Oklahoma City is gathering Ideas for the 020 MAPS initiative from its citizens.

    One of the most popular items it the soccer specific stadium that will cost anywhere from $71 to $97 million for a 10,000-seat starter with expansion to MLS stadium standards.

    Here are some early renderings:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    OKCTalk forum reports:

    OKLAHOMA CITY (February 28, 2019) - A growing alliance of Oklahoma City residents and organizations today announced support for a MAPS 4 proposal to connect south Oklahoma City to downtown through a cultural, entertainment and sports district anchored by a City-owned multi-purpose outdoor entertainment venue.

    The proposal calls for the City to include the venue in the MAPS 4 program, on which residents are expected to vote later this year. Such a venue would allow Oklahoma City to compete for numerous outdoor events including professional soccer matches, rugby and lacrosse games, high school multi-sport rivalries including Oklahoma State Championship Football games, national performances and a host of outdoor concerts, events and exhibitions.

    “We fully support Mayor Holt’s vision to usher in a more diverse and inclusive Oklahoma City,” said Bob Funk, Jr., owner & CEO of Prodigal, LLC which operates the Oklahoma City Energy FC and is major driver of the proposal. “Connecting south Oklahoma City to downtown through a cultural and sports district would be a powerful component of building unity and showcasing our diversity.”

    The outdoor venue would be sized in accordance with USL, MLS, U.S. Rugby, Major League Lacrosse as well as Oklahoma Secondary School Field regulations and seat between 8,500 – 10,000 people for sporting events and 16,500 to 18,000 for outdoor concerts. It would be designed to allow for renovation to expand capacity, much like the Ford Center which later became Chesapeake Arena.

    The City-owned venue would also serve to anchor a walkable district of diverse, modern restaurants, housing and retail, functioning as the public element of a public -private partnership.

    “By funding a City-owned, multi-purpose outdoor venue as part of MAPS 4, Oklahoma City will open the door to private investment to complement the public project,” said Chuck Wiggin, an Oklahoma City-based developer with a 38-year track record of successful investment and development projects.

    Wiggin further highlighted how Opportunity Zones, as a part of the site selection process, would heighten the appeal for a new category of private investors. These areas, created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017, are designed to spur private investment in designated low-income areas. Much of the City’s Central Business District and surrounding land to the south falls within Opportunity Zone areas.

    “Designing connections and walkability around destination areas will also serve to strengthen continuity between Oklahoma City neighborhoods, Scissortail Park, The Convention Center, Wheeler Park, Lower Bricktown and the Boathouse District,” Wiggin said.

    The proposal also underscores that a centrally located venue with close proximity to existing downtown attractions would promote citywide accessibility for all residents. However, the submittal stopped short of specifying a location, opting instead to leave the site open-ended, recognizing the City would ultimately determine a location that best suits the proposal.

    “We have a keen interest and support for the proposal as a way to connect south Oklahoma City to downtown,” said Dr. Raul Font, president of the Latino Community Development Agency. “We envision this district as one that our community can utilize to showcase Oklahoma City’s vibrant and growing Latino culture.”

    The group also proposes the City work with Fields and Futures – a nonprofit founded by OKC Energy FC Partner Tim McLaughlin, which is dedicated to keeping youth in school by refurbishing athletic programs and facilities in Oklahoma City public schools – to add up to 10 soccer fields to Wheeler Park to be uses for tournaments that attract visitors to our region, youth development, league play, and engagement events between professional athletes and the community.

    “I’ve witnessed soccer fields transform communities by inspiring young athletes and bringing neighbors together over a common interest,” McLaughlin said. “MAPS 4 is Oklahoma City’s chance to do this on a major scale.”

    “We have seen firsthand how soccer can unite so many people,” said Peter Evans, Executive Director of the Oklahoma City Police Athletic League and incoming chairman of the South Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, “Soccer is a sport a lot of kids play and has significant heritage in so many neighborhoods. As a favorite sport for many of our student-athletes and their families, sharing the game together becomes a relationship building tool for the police officers who serve as coaches and mentors through our program.”

    The group identified soccer, rugby and lacrosse as the fastest-growing sports in America, and pointed to a 2018 Nielsen study commissioned by the OKC Energy FC, in which 51 percent of Oklahoma City’s direct market area are interested in or follow professional soccer.

    The research further showed Energy FC’s fan base is multicultural and millennial – largely part of the “MAPS generation.”

    The group also pointed to the many missed tourism and sporting event opportunities that Oklahoma City is currently unable to compete for due to its lack of an outdoor venue capable of hosting them. They cited Big 12, NCAA, NAIA and junior college soccer, U.S. Soccer Federation, U.S. Youth Soccer, college and club lacrosse, international and club rugby, NCAA Dll football games, e-sports and drone racing events Oklahoma City could pursue if such a facility is built as part of the MAPS 4 initiative.

    Supporters include:
    Bob Funk, Jr., Partner, Energy FC, Owner and CEO, Prodigal LLC
    Tim McLaughlin, Partner, Energy FC, Founder, Fields and Futures
    Jake Edwards, President, United Soccer League (USL)
    Peter Evans, Executive Director, Police Athletic League and Chairman-elect, South OKC Chamber of Commerce
    Steve Hahn, President, AT&T Oklahoma
    Bob Ross, President and CEO, Inasmuch Foundation
    Dr. Raul Font, Latino Community Development Agency
    Chuck Wiggin, President, Wiggin Properties
    Adrian DeWendt, President and CEO, Special Olympics Oklahoma
    Scott Dedmon, Principal, ADG
    Alexander P. Brown, Commissioner, Major League Lacrosse
    John White, President, OKC Crusaders Rugby
     
  14. Laramie

    Laramie Member

    May 5, 2010
    Oklahoma City, OK
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    The extension of Oklahoma City's Bricktown Canal and the Streetcar system which rolled out in November 2018 could complement the new Convention Center under construction and the 605 room Omni Hotel.

    Oklahoma City Omni (under construction)
    [​IMG]


    OKC 6.9 mile streetcar system:
    [​IMG]

    Bricktown Canal Riverwalk:

    [​IMG]

    Bricktown Entertainment District:

    [​IMG]

    Looking forward to all the new development; $1.2 billion general obligation bond for streets, bridges & infrastructure renovation; additional new private investments totally over $5 billion in buildings, towers & development over the next five to 10 years.
     
  15. Laramie

    Laramie Member

    May 5, 2010
    Oklahoma City, OK
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    #65 Laramie, Mar 7, 2019
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2019
    Oklahoma City is currently going through a transformation with cranes throughout the city:

    [​IMG]

    Very difficult to navigate inside our city with tons of development and projects in various stages of construction.

    How the new convention center will look when construction is complete:

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Oklahoma City Convention Center

    200,000-square-foot exhibit hall on the ground floor, divisible into four spaces
    45,000 square feet of meeting space, which can be configured in up to 27 rooms
    30,000-square-foot ballroom, with a 10,000-square-foot pre-function space & a 4,000-sq-ft., balcony

    [​IMG]

    Oklahoma City Convention Center Garage 865 covered parking spaces inside the garage
    435-foot-long enclosed skyway is to connect the garage to the convention center.
    500 surface parking on the convention center complex
     
  16. Teak

    Teak Member+

    Feyenoord, VfB Stuttgart, Valencia
    Nov 22, 2008
    Grain Belt
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    Interesting. I have a nephew who lives in OKC and I went there four years ago for his wedding. Nice city.

    Nice opening day win against Lokomotive El Paso 3-1. I just don't see OKC being listed very high in the MLS expansion plans.
     
  17. mikehurst21

    mikehurst21 Member

    Oklahoma City Energy FC
    United States
    Nov 6, 2013
    Moore Oklahoma
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    We weren’t listed very high on the NBA’s list either. In fact we were told it would never happen. They should never have made that mistake never tell us we can’t do something. Doing so only ensures that we will find a way to get it done.
     
  18. mikehurst21

    mikehurst21 Member

    Oklahoma City Energy FC
    United States
    Nov 6, 2013
    Moore Oklahoma
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It’s the Oklahoma way
     
  19. Laramie

    Laramie Member

    May 5, 2010
    Oklahoma City, OK
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Plans revised for proposed MAPS 4 Stadium

    Published on 08-06-2019 02:05 PM OKCTalk.com https://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=637-Plans-revised-for-proposed-MAPS-4-stadium

    Full press release:

    [​IMG]

    OKLAHOMA CITY (Aug. 6, 2019) – A group led by the Oklahoma City Energy FC today revealed new renderings for a multipurpose outdoor stadium at the Aug. 6 City Council meeting for MAPS 4. The proposal would create a permanent home for professional soccer and a centralized venue suitable for hosting high school football and soccer championships. It would also enable Oklahoma City, currently the only city of the top 50 largest cities lacking an outdoor stadium, to finally compete for major outdoor concerts, festivals and sporting events.

    “This is an opportunity to once again set our city on a global stage,” said Bob Funk, Jr., co-owner of OKC Energy FC. “It will connect and unify Oklahoma City’s diverse cross-section of cultures and provide a powerful economic boost to our urban core.”

    Donna Clark, co-owner of OKC Energy FC and a pioneer in bringing professional soccer to Oklahoma City said, “Soccer is a unifying sport across genders, ethnicities, cultures and religions. I attended the Women’s World Cup final shown at Together Square and it was a deeply impactful experience to sit with more than 700 fellow Oklahomans aside OKC’s newest public futsal court, while watching the U.S. women defend their title. Oklahoma City needs professional soccer deeply rooted within our community.”

    The presentation revealed two options to build the venue, each with new amenities and features. The first option represented a $37 million to $42 million investment for an 8,000-seat stadium that would accommodate soccer, high school football, rugby, lacrosse, concerts and festivals. It is estimated it would host more than 60 events each year resulting in an annual $60 million economic impact.

    The second option presented was a $67 million to $72 million investment with 10,000 seats, shade structures, and other amenities to improve the fan experience. Additional restrooms would allow for crowds of up to 18,000. This option would include a larger stage sought by national music touring groups, and a secondary stage designed to seat 8,000. It is estimated it would host more than 80 events each year resulting in an annual impact of over $79 million.

    “A centrally located multipurpose stadium will be a powerful catalyst for private development,” said developer Chuck Wiggin, who backs the concept. “MAPS projects are city-owned, which will put the City in a position to manage and incentivize nearby development that is consistent with the needs of its residents as well as City planning objectives — dense, mixed-use, affordable, bike-friendly, walkable, and accessible by public transportation. It’s an opportunity to connect and boost nearby districts and attractions and promote connections citywide.”

    The plan enjoys strong support from Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association Executive Director David Jackson, Oklahoma City Public Schools Superintendent Sean McDaniel, Santa Fe South Schools Superintendent Chris Brewster and Millwood Schools Superintendent Cecilia Robinson-Woods. At the Council meeting, each emphasized the importance of youth participation in soccer and expressed gratitude for the extensive charitable contributions and programs to expand and improve the quality of youth athletics.

    “I’ve witnessed the impact a new athletic facility can have on a community, and how it inspires young athletes and brings neighbors together through a common interest. MAPS 4 is Oklahoma City’s chance to do this on a major scale,” OKC Energy FC co-owner Tim McLaughlin said. McLaughlin founded nonprofit organization Fields and Futures.

    Additional backers of the concept include the South Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, the Oklahoma City Police Athletic League, deadCENTER Film Festival and Okla Cine Latino Film Festival, as well many other Oklahoma City community leaders.

    Funk’s portion of the presentation highlighted MAPS 4 as Oklahoma City’s best opportunity to create an environment that empowers connection, inclusivity and community in a way that complements nearby districts accessible citywide. He highlighted the growing appeal of soccer and its accessibility as a sport to watch and play for families from all backgrounds and incomes.

    The presentation identified soccer, rugby and lacrosse as the fastest-growing sports in America and pointed to a 2018 Nielsen study in which 51 percent of Oklahoma City’s direct market area are interested in or follow professional soccer.

    The presentation also covered missed tourism and sporting event opportunities due to Oklahoma City’s lack of an outdoor venue capable of hosting large scale events, citing Big 12, NCAA, NAIA and junior college soccer, high school football and soccer, college and club lacrosse, international and club rugby, and e-sports events as examples of what would be possible if Oklahoma City included such a facility in the MAPS 4 initiative.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  20. Laramie

    Laramie Member

    May 5, 2010
    Oklahoma City, OK
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Page 2 of 2


    Plans revised for proposed MAPS 4 Stadium

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    MAPS 4 Stadium expansion potential:

    [​IMG]

    Expanding stadium to meet MLS requirements
     
  21. Laramie

    Laramie Member

    May 5, 2010
    Oklahoma City, OK
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Oklahoma City Streetcar

     
  22. Laramie

    Laramie Member

    May 5, 2010
    Oklahoma City, OK
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Oklahoma City $600 million Convention Center Complex & Scissortail Park under construction:

    [​IMG]
    New convention center (middle); 605 room Omni Hotel 17 story hotel (top middle) & Scissortail Park (left) under construction.
    [​IMG]
    Pics credit: OKCTalk.com
     
  23. Laramie

    Laramie Member

    May 5, 2010
    Oklahoma City, OK
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City

    A City becoming more diversified & inclusive...

    Oklahoma City LGBT District
    NW 39th Street Enclave

    "The Strip", is a prominent lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) district in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The area is located along NW 39th Street in the city's northwest quadrant, one block west of Pennsylvania Avenue.

    [​IMG]
    Oklahoma Gazette
    [​IMG]
    2019 OKC Pride Parade celebration before 82,000 onlookers.--above pic, Oklahoma City Free Press: https://freepressokc.com/gallery-okc-pride-parade-2019/

    Habana Inn will become Hotel Habana

    [​IMG] [​IMG]
    The largest gay resort in the U.S. Southwest has new owners. Los Angeles-based Alternatives Resorts has bought the 170-room Habana Inn in Oklahoma County. The property sold for $2.4 million.


    [​IMG]

    Harold E. Fulton Design & Consulting / provided Early Hotel Habana renderings show a completely redone facade and lobby.


    [​IMG]



    Alternatives Resorts spokesman Arnold Greenspan says the hotel will be renamed as Hotel Habana and the first phase of renovations will start in the fall.

    The self-proclaimed “largest gay resort in the Southwest” is under new ownership and ready for a complete makeover. Hotel Habana, 2200 NW 40th St., was known as Habana Inn until Los Angeles-based Alternative Resorts acquired the 170-room hotel in January.

    Thomas Lagatta, director of the renovation project, said if all goes according to plan, the hotel will be fully renovated in 18 months. Room bookings will stay open, but not all rooms will be available while renovations are taking place in certain areas.

    “Some things we’re starting on now like the west pool, we’re starting around there, and then quite a bit of our renovations we’re putting off until fall,” he said. “The exterior will be renovated, but that won’t start until [October or November].”

    The hotel is home to two courtyard pools, The Copa nightclub, Finish Line country bar and Jungle Reds gift shop. It sits in the city’s “gayborhood” and has served as a major regional LGBTQ+ destination. Alternative Resorts saw inherent value on a general business basis, but Lagatta said it also saw its potential as a “huge, unique venue.”

    “Unique almost to the entire United States as far as what it can be, kind of an oasis for people … who are not the mainstream and actually the entire 39th [Street] District here in Oklahoma City,” he said. “We want to help it be what it can be. Even beyond that, we think that most people who come here don’t realize what a wonderful, unique place this is. We intend to make it fulfill its potential.”

    Arnold Greenspan, marketing coordinator, said the hotel is Alternative Resorts’ first major acquisition. Alternative is a holding company that Greenspan said intends to have several facilities like Hotel Habana throughout the country. Greenspan said the hotel’s new owner actually owned several other properties in the state.

    “He knows this area very, very well,” he said. “He’s frequented this hotel, and when the opportunity came up to buy it, thought, ‘Why not?’ And he bought it with the intention of upgrading everything. This place hasn’t had much upgrades in a long time.”

    Fulfilling potential

    The renovations will be all-inclusive. The hotel lobby will be completely redone, rooms will be redesigned and both pools will get several upgrades. Some of the smaller renovations, like the installation of four hot tubs around the west pool, are already taking place.

    The hotel receives more guests during the warmer months, officials said, but renovation plans, some of which are being kept a secret, would make it more of a year-round destination.

    “Depending on how much money we have to operate with in terms of construction, the first thing that we will do is something I can’t tell you about,” Greenspan said. “We will be gutting and renovating all the rooms around the east pool. We have extensive plans for the east pool. … We’re hoping, if we get the money that we’re hoping we get, then we will renovate the entire east courtyard pool area. If not, there are some renovations that we will make that I am not at liberty to tell you at this point, and then we will renovate rooms as we can.”

    Early renderings have been released of the building’s facade and different room layouts, but Greenspan said they’re still weighing whether or not they will commit to them. Room renderings have an Alice in Wonderland theme, with designs based on different characters.

    “Some of those are pretty involved in terms of what you would have to uniquely construct for a room, and so we’re looking at them like, ‘They look really cool, but is that how we want to spend our money or do we want to spend it in some other manner?’” he said. “Are we going to fulfill that? We don’t really know, but yeah, that’s what we’d like to see.”

    Officials are also focusing on improving the hotel’s banquet room and potentially adding another event space.

    “We’re going to have at least one banquet room, 2,500 square feet, so it’s a pretty good-sized banquet room,” Greenspan said. “We will have an event space that will be fairly unique to Oklahoma City, and that’s the project that we are trying to keep as quiet as we can. … But that will give us another event space.”

    The Copa and Finish Line have a different owner; Greenspan is unsure if those will be renovated. However, they are working on a way to make Habana nonsmoking, which could potentially create another club/lounge area.

    “We’re adding a sky lounge onto one of the roofs here, so that we will have an outdoor smoking area and club up on the roof as well,” Greenspan. “We don’t know how feasible that is — like would everybody kick up their heels and say, ‘Forget it; we’re not coming’ — but we’d really like to make it nonsmoking if we could.”

    In planning the renovations, Lagatta said they also wanted to make sure Habana is not just “a party hotel.”

    “We want to accommodate business people that are passing through that need a place to work,” he said. “We’re putting in fiber optic Wi-Fi, so everybody will have free fiber optic Wi-Fi. … We’re fixing up some rooms in the quieter areas away from the clubs, so it’s like any given night it’s a good place to stay.”

    Giving back
    click to enlarge Arnold Greenspan, Alternative Resorts spokesman, said Hotel Habana is the group’s first major acquisition. - MIGUEL RIOS

    Miguel Rios
    Arnold Greenspan, Alternative Resorts spokesman, said Hotel Habana is the group’s first major acquisition.

    The two event spaces will help Habana give back to the community, something Greenspan said patrons don’t currently expect from the hotel.

    “The community that we serve … is used to this facility not giving back, only making money from it,” he said. “That’s going to change in a big way; we’re going to be philanthropic.”

    Officials have already met with various organizations in the city to discuss potential fundraising event ideas. Greenspan said one person in particular is interested in having a quarterly event to benefit local charities.

    “It’s my goal — I don’t know how long it’s going to take, but it’s going to happen — that we have an event every weekend here. Obviously, they’re not all going to be charitable, but a lot of them are going to be,” he said. “We hope to do a lot of that, and we hope to make up for the long time that this facility has not been supportive.”

    Despite continuing the hotel’s legacy as a major destination for the state’s LGBTQ+ community, Greenspan said they don’t like labels.

    “When we use things like ‘LGBTQ,’ why are we dividing ourselves with that? It doesn’t unite us. It might unite the people under those individual labels, but it doesn’t unite us as a community,” he said. “So from this facility from now on, you will not hear those labels. To us, it’s just the community; it’s our family. That’s how we’re going to treat it, and we hope everybody will join us.”

    Though it is not yet confirmed, the team is planning a big Fourth of July block party to celebrate the hotel’s future. Additionally, once they complete a major renovation project, they plan to throw a grand opening celebration, which is likely to be a charitable event.

    Oklahoma Gazette: https://www.okgazette.com/oklahoma/hotel-potential/Content?oid=5790371
     
  24. Laramie

    Laramie Member

    May 5, 2010
    Oklahoma City, OK
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    How One City Is Paying Cash for a Brand New Convention Center

    [​IMG]

    Author: David McMillin

    When Oklahoma City opens the doors to a new convention center in 2020, the city’s tourism officials will be free from a typical worry: debt. Thanks to a program called Metropolitan Area Projects — commonly known as MAPS — the tab for the venue will already be paid in full. In fact, it will be covered long before any attendees are inside the building. “We don’t start construction on any of the projects until there is enough money to pay cash for the project,” Mike Carrier, president of the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau (OKC CVB), told PCMA in an interview. “It’s a much easier way to do things. We don’t have to worry about selling bonds or the normal issues that usually come up with building a new convention center.”

    Carrier doesn’t have to worry about how local residents will feel about the new venue, either. He already knows. Taxpayers voted to support the convention center in 2009, and they’ve been paying for it ever since in some very tiny increments. MAPS uses a one-cent, limited-term sales tax to cover the costs of public projects. “As a community, we decide on a few transformational projects that matter to us, and we work together to make them happen,” Carrier said. “We know when the tax will start and when it will end, and most importantly, we know that there won’t be any mortgage to worry about.”

    As plenty of convention destinations worry about budget cuts and public perceptions of funding plans, the MAPS program seems to be a strong example of demonstrating the value of a convention center to people who may never actually attend a conference or trade show inside it. Oklahoma City residents didn’t just have a say in green lighting the project; city officials are also inviting them to contribute their own ideas to naming a new public park that will be adjacent to the new center.

    It’s an impressive approach to building local support for the value of the convention industry. Plenty of outside visitors will come to Oklahoma City for conferences and business events, but the venue will also play a crucial role in the community as a host for events like the Mayor’s State of the City Address and the Inaugural Ball for the Governor. Carrier summed up the center’s role with a comparison that more cities should embrace: “We like to think of the main ballroom as the living room of our community.”

    PCMA link: https://www.pcma.org/how-one-city-is-paying-cash-for-a-brand-new-convention-center/

    [​IMG]
    Progress on the $288 million OKC Convention Center (glass installation) & 10th floor of the 17 story $232 million Omni Hote and $132 million downtown park--taken July 19, 2019
    Join the discussion: https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=26179&page=186


    The Oklahoma City Convention Center Complex will encompass more than $578 million in new construction that includes the convention center, Omni hotel, convention center garage & the Marriott Fairfield Inn & Suites.
     
  25. Laramie

    Laramie Member

    May 5, 2010
    Oklahoma City, OK
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    [​IMG]

    Winter Breeze

    From atop of the Oklahoma State Capitol Building, the guardian watches over our city.
     

Share This Page