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Okay, I think the point that's being missed is WHY does an arena that's basically "new" need upgrades already? Should this not have been a concern BEFORE the first brick was laid?
Supposedly, back when it was slated to be constructed it was to be "one of the finest and most-advanced arenas" to bring an NHL team to OKC. Okay, so we didn't get an NHL team but why now, 5 years later is it not good enough for an NBA team? My opinion is because they wanted to do it on the cheap like most projects in Oklahoma. Also, so any pro team could decorate or renovate the arena how they wanted. To me, that is up to the team who accepts a contract to play in that building, NOT the citizens.
I have no interest in the NBA whatsoever. Sure, it brings tax dollars but where is the overall payoff for OKC? I would love an NHL team in OKC, but I don't expect the citizens to pay for one to play here.
As for being competitive with other states, it really involves more than just a pretty arena. Take into consideration the television and radio market, parking, weather and everything else including what the people actually want.
Me? I want better roads, better education for our children and better civil opportunities for the citizens. An NBA team won't bring that.
But I digress......
You gripe about OKC. Thats all I have to say and you most certainly have a right to your opinions.
But just to enlighten your knowledge and view of OKC...Since IMO it seems rather dismal.
Do you even know that OKC passed Maps for kids which generated almost a billion for building new schools and tons of upgrades. Shows how much you know about OKC.
Do you know that a 850M bond was passed to improve roads, sidewalks and infrastucture ect.?
Do you realize that Maps saved OKC and brought in over 2 billion for Downtown.
Do you understand that the Ford is over 6yrs old and that typical arenas get upgrades every 5 yrs if they have a Major league team. By the time all these imrovements are made the Ford will be close to 10 yrs old! So what if the arena was a shell to begin with, the city did a fantastic job on all the other projects. It was designed to bring in the NHL and was expected to be destroyed or improved. Instead, OKC hurdled over the NHL and got a way better deal with the NBA.
The NBA brings so much to the table that people like you just dont get it, because you cant see the BIG PICTURE. Especially one that thinks the Downtown library was the only good thing to come out of Maps (what a freakin' joke). Next time your at the library take a stroll over to OKCMOA and breath in the art from the Lourve thats currently on exhibit, then go watch a musical at the award winning Civic Center Music Hall. While your at it, walk back to the museum and see an independent film in an Art Deco theatre and look up at the Chihuly Waterford Crystal Chandelier which is one of only two in the world. Then think about it for a while.
You just dont have an up to date view on OKC.
Last edited by happytown; 01-30-2008 at 10:57 AM..
You gripe about OKC. Thats all I have to say and you most certainly have a right to your opinions.
But just to enlighten your knowledge and view of OKC...Since IMO it seems rather dismal.
Do you even know that OKC passed Maps for kids which generated almost a billion for building new schools and tons of upgrades. Shows how much you know about OKC.
Do you know that a 850M bond was passed to improve roads, sidewalks and infrastucture ect.?
Do you realize that Maps saved OKC and brought in over 2 billion for Downtown.
Do you understand that the Ford is over 6yrs old and that typical arenas get upgrades every 5 yrs if they have a Major league team. By the time all these imrovements are made the Ford will be close to 10 yrs old! So what if the arena was a shell to begin with, the city did a fantastic job on all the other projects. It was designed to bring in the NHL and was expected to be destroyed or improved. Instead, OKC hurdled over the NHL and got a way better deal with the NBA.
The NBA brings so much to the table that people like you just dont get it, because you cant see the BIG PICTURE. Especially one that thinks the Downtown library was the only good thing to come out of Maps (what a freakin' joke). Next time your at the library take a stroll over to OKCMOA and breath in the art from the Lourve thats currently on exhibit, then go watch a musical at the award winning Civic Center Music Hall. While your at it, walk back to the museum and see an independent film in an Art Deco theatre and look up at the Chihuly Waterford Crystal Chandelier which is one of only two in the world. Then think about it for a while.
You just dont have an up to date view on OKC.
you're probably correct on some of that. and I will agree my views are a bit skewed. I'm tainted goods though because I've done a lot of traveling in my days and have a lot to compare OKC to.
I have not, however, seen the newly renovated Civic Center, you're correct on that, I have not seen the new MOA since it's opening day. So I do agree with some of your comments.
I think MAPS was a good thing, I really do, I just think that some of the money was mis-spent. I agreed with the MAPS tax back in the day and I voted "yes" for it. I probably noticed the change due to MAPS more than most because I lived in California during most of the construction.
I'm not trying to sound like a sour-puss about things. I like to see OKC advance and become a better place to live. I just choose to whine and moan about the arena because I can
but seriously, I will check out the places you suggested. Sounds like something I should experience with the family.
you're probably correct on some of that. and I will agree my views are a bit skewed. I'm tainted goods though because I've done a lot of traveling in my days and have a lot to compare OKC to.
I have not, however, seen the newly renovated Civic Center, you're correct on that, I have not seen the new MOA since it's opening day. So I do agree with some of your comments.
I think MAPS was a good thing, I really do, I just think that some of the money was mis-spent. I agreed with the MAPS tax back in the day and I voted "yes" for it. I probably noticed the change due to MAPS more than most because I lived in California during most of the construction.
I'm not trying to sound like a sour-puss about things. I like to see OKC advance and become a better place to live. I just choose to whine and moan about the arena because I can
but seriously, I will check out the places you suggested. Sounds like something I should experience with the family.
You sound like an open minded person that is willing to discuss issues.
you're probably correct on some of that. and I will agree my views are a bit skewed. I'm tainted goods though because I've done a lot of traveling in my days and have a lot to compare OKC to.
I have not, however, seen the newly renovated Civic Center, you're correct on that, I have not seen the new MOA since it's opening day. So I do agree with some of your comments.
I think MAPS was a good thing, I really do, I just think that some of the money was mis-spent. I agreed with the MAPS tax back in the day and I voted "yes" for it. I probably noticed the change due to MAPS more than most because I lived in California during most of the construction.
I'm not trying to sound like a sour-puss about things. I like to see OKC advance and become a better place to live. I just choose to whine and moan about the arena because I can
but seriously, I will check out the places you suggested. Sounds like something I should experience with the family.
You definitely sound more civil instead of just vote No,No.
Like I said it takes a contemporary vision that involves the BIG PICTURE. I hope you enjoy the Civic Center Music Hall and the MOA along with the rest of the Maps projects. It completely changed OKC for the better. It is completely obvious and I believe if the momentum keeps on going that you will see the city become better and better. But if this vote is knocked down, like I believe it will, there will be no NBA. This will result in less jobs and will become a trickle down effect that will cause future problems for the city and its people. The result will be bad for the long run and its sad that people cant gather the significance of a Major league team in OKC/Oklahoma. The person in charge of the 'maps for millionaires' has his own political mission and I truly wish that people in OKC can fully understand their vote.
I think it will pass too. What's good for OkC is what is good for the state of Oklahoma. It is, after all, our capital city (and a fine one at that).
The people of OkC have already come so far and they realize this will be good for the city as well as the state. And, I will say it AGAIN... OkC's sales tax is STILL less than Tulsa's!
I second the NO vote. The Ford Center only benfits a very limited segment of the communtiy. They would be much better off supporting the new casino the Indians want to put in out by Edmond. It would provide over 1000 year-round jobs.
If a pro-basketball team wants to locate here they should pay there own way.
I'm A Ex-Tulsan 1976 To Present And I've Been There And Done That And Seen 40 Of These United States..Seen Almost All Of The Big Cities In America Lived In California For The Last 30 Years Give Or Take A Year Here And There And Have Come To Understand This..YOU CAN'T BE A WORLD CLASS CITY ON
THE EL CHEAPO..AND ALL Cities With Big Three Sports Franchises Are World Class Cities NBA..NFL..MLB..And Please Don't Be Short Sighted And Believe This My Friend When The Big Boys Come To Your Town They Are Going To Want Something To Do And To See..Ballet..Opera..Professional Sports At The Highest Level....I'm Talking About CEO Of Major Fortune 500 Companies And I'm Not Talking About 1,000 Low Paying Jobs.
Since Seattle is willing to let the Sonics go how long will it be before we see that whole place dry up and blow away? Will it just be doom and gloom in Seattle once the Sonics are gone?
Do you think those 200 Dell employees that got laid off will save there severance pay to buy tickets to pro basketball games?
There are much more needful things that OKC could spend that sales tax money on.
Stiff- Those Dell empolyees have more than plenty of the same service jobs in other parts of the Metro, in case you havent seen or heard the news about it yet. The news also said it will not effect OKC AT ALL. Dell had to shift one department around and it happened to be OKCs. 200 jobs isnt the end of the world.
Stop making excuses for the Ford Center tax.
Go vote No and feel good about yourself, because you feel like you are doing the right thing. Bottom line...<Moderator cut>
I dont quite understand your first sentence, but I think I have an idea. You are proposing since Seattle can lose the Sonics, without their economy being effected, then OKCs economy would not recieve any benefits if the Sonics were to enter or leave our market.
Here is your answer...Seattle is a whole different world. They are one of the largest markets in the U.S. and have two other major league teams. In other words Seattle would not feel an economic impact with the Sonics leaving. But OKC would feel the impact along with the entire State of Oklahoma if a Major League team were to come or go. Not to mention the International coverage Oklahoma would get or lose. You really need to do some thinking about this. Your opinions are respected, but they can be off key at the same time. By the way, this is the same silly arguement that Slade the Blade Gordon (Seattles attorney) is formulating for why the Sonics should stay in Seattle. He is proposing that Seattles market would be devastated if the Sonics were to leave as leverage for Seattles case, since Major Cornett has told reporters that OKC would benefit greatly by having a NBA team. Unfortunately for their case against the Sonics/OKC/Bennett....what happens in Seattle is not what happens in Oklahoma or OKC. This is designed to buy more time for Seattle.
We are a small market. We live in Oklahoma, not Washington or New York. Like I have said before, this shows the World and the U.S. what Oklahoma can do (NBA is International). This could lead to Tulsa getting the NHL in the future, but it could also be a complete reversal if OKC doesnt get the NBA. This is for our STATE not just OKC.
Last edited by peggydavis; 02-03-2008 at 09:12 AM..
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