New ARENA as part of entertainment District

[Soonercuda]

shouldn't be of course the clowns are going to try to clown around .. but the city would put it self at big liability .. if it tried to stop it ..

I wrote my City Council person elect an email on this...anyone else that lives in Norman I would encourage you to do the same.

 

[Soonercuda]

There is now debt outstanding related to the arena project

 

[BoulderSooner]

There is now debt outstanding related to the arena project

good deal .

 

[MJSooner]

With all the delays on the appeals and getting through the Oklahoma Supreme Court, has anyone heard an updated timeline for the project?

 

[NickZepp]

Norman City Council to consider ordinance repeal related to Rock Creek Entertainment District

Norman City Council will consider repealing an ordinance related to the Rock Creek Entertainment District during its Tuesday meeting, according to a council member’s social media post.

www.oudaily.com

 

[jdizzle34]

Well, poop. The council is basically made up of people who got in after the whole TIF debacle happened. If this happens, kiss the new arena goodbye. The people of Norman will not vote for the TIF.

 

[Hecubus]

Move it south. I am sure Purcell would be happy to host a stadium and associated shopping

 

[jdizzle34]

Move it south. I am sure Purcell would be happy to host a stadium and associated shopping

But the people of OKC already hate how far south the arena is now. Doing this will make it worse. Lol

 

[WTSooner]

What a mess.

 

[jdizzle34]

What a mess.

I mean, I get it. something like this should have gone to the people from the start. It would have avoided all of this mess. OU should have been working with OVG to fund the arena, like in Austin. Maybe not that extravagantly, but still. They likely would have contributed more than the current private contribution for this project.

In the end, I think we will not be getting this arena. The new council members were all elected after the TIF mess, so will likely be all for repealing this.

 

[WTSooner]

I mean, I get it. something like this should have gone to the people from the start. It would have avoided all of this mess. OU should have been working with OVG to fund the arena, like in Austin. Maybe not that extravagantly, but still. They likely would have contributed more than the current private contribution for this project.

In the end, I think we will not be getting this arena. The new council members were all elected after the TIF mess, so will likely be all for repealing this.

It's a mess for a lot of reasons.

But maybe most importantly, this just continues to put a wedge between OU and the city of Norman, which is not good for OU.

 

[WichitaSooner]

My approach to this will never change. Until shovels are in the ground, I pay no attention to it. Every time people post that it’s a done deal, something else happens and it’s in doubt.

 

[jdizzle34]

It's a mess for a lot of reasons.

But maybe most importantly, this just continues to put a wedge between OU and the city of Norman, which is not good for OU.

Very true. But OU did this to themselves, unfortunately. They didn't try to work with the city at all on this, just tried to steamroll the TIF through. IMO.

 

[WTSooner]

I still hate the idea of an off-campus arena.

Maybe if this falls apart Denny will have some ideas to get something done on campus. He's tried talking the talk, let's see if he can walk the walk.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

My approach to this will never change. Until shovels are in the ground, I pay no attention to it. Every time people post that it’s a done deal, something else happens and it’s in doubt.

I thought they already broke ground

 

[jdizzle34]

I thought they already broke ground

Not yet. Thought I heard this summer, but this may complicate things.

 

[MJSooner]

Very true. But OU did this to themselves, unfortunately. They didn't try to work with the city at all on this, just tried to steamroll the TIF through. IMO.

This. Just another to add to the list on how bad Joe C has failed OU basketball, especially with a new arena. Even if this turns out to be a nothing burger, it shows how Joe C has abdicated his responsibilities as an AD to do what's best for the University athletics and basketball.

He should have been involved with this deeply and been the one leading the way. If it wasn't for Joe Harroz, I doubt we would have been involved at all.

Just look at the facility projects that have been an issue. One stadium upgrade in 25 years in football, the threat of Patty being open to opportunities, like Texas, is the only way we got Love's Field going, after multiple natties. And it took Skip interviewing with A&M to get baseball the stadium upgrades needed just to be halfway competitive. And he's failed on two previous arena upgrades- the feasibility study to upgrade LNC, and the UNP project in 2017.

Embarrasing we are in this position that we still have potential to stop this project, let alone that we still haven't begun construction almost 3 years after it was initiated and announced. It simply demonstrates a lack of leadership and commitment to basketball. I hope that changed on 2/15.

Can't help but think this lack of progress in building a new arena doesn't/didn't play a role in who Denny could get to coach in Norman.

 

[AnotherSoonerInTX]

This. Just another to add to the list on how bad Joe C has failed OU basketball, especially with a new arena. Even if this turns out to be a nothing burger, it shows how Joe C has abdicated his responsibilities as an AD to do what's best for the University athletics and basketball.

He should have been involved with this deeply and been the one leading the way. If it wasn't for Joe Harroz, I doubt we would have been involved at all.

Just look at the facility projects that have been an issue. One stadium upgrade in 25 years in football, the threat of Patty being open to opportunities, like Texas, is the only way we got Love's Field going, after multiple natties. And it took Skip interviewing with A&M to get baseball the stadium upgrades needed just to be halfway competitive. And he's failed on two previous arena upgrades- the feasibility study to upgrade LNC, and the UNP project in 2017.

Embarrasing we are in this position that we still have potential to stop this project, let alone that we still haven't begun construction almost 3 years after it was initiated and announced. It simply demonstrates a lack of leadership and commitment to basketball. I hope that changed on 2/15.

Can't help but think this lack of progress in building a new arena doesn't/didn't play a role in who Denny could get to coach in Norman.

I'm all for a new arena. Should have been done 20 years ago. At this point, I don't care if it's on or off campus, though on campus would be preferable.

Here's where Roger has a chance to be great. Perhaps if the city of Norman shoots this down, it's a blessing in disguise. If Roger can get a new on-campus arena done, he deserves a statue. If he tries and fails, he's still outdone his predecessor when it comes to basketball.

At the rate we're going, we're going to be building a new arena in the parking lot of LNC. Not optimal at all.