Comments on: One half or 50 Percent? http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/04/04/one-half-or-50-percent/ The Oklahoman\'s Steve Lackmeyer breaks down Oklahoma City brick by brick Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:15:29 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jess M. http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/04/04/one-half-or-50-percent/comment-page-1/#comment-139 Jess M. Thu, 29 May 2008 02:21:45 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/04/04/one-half-or-50-percent/#comment-139 I agree that the Cox center is more of a complement to the Ford Center. It goes great with hosting tournaments and if/when we get an NBA team it will free up arena space for something else... Blazers game, concert or whatever that might conflict with an NBA game. The state fair arena would do the Big 12 tournament justice as a big draw for most people was the fact that it was right across the street. Plus the State Fair arena isn't the greatest place currently. We would want to keep the momentum and the fans downtown to get the full return on investment. If more convention space is needed to lure more attractive conventions then we must include plans in the next MAPS. This can be strictly a convention center with plenty of space and a hotel anchored to it. We already need more hotel space and this would be a great way to obtain both. We need two arenas to maintain our status with sports and entertainment and convention space should be separate. I agree that the Cox center is more of a complement to the Ford Center. It goes great with hosting tournaments and if/when we get an NBA team it will free up arena space for something else… Blazers game, concert or whatever that might conflict with an NBA game. The state fair arena would do the Big 12 tournament justice as a big draw for most people was the fact that it was right across the street. Plus the State Fair arena isn’t the greatest place currently. We would want to keep the momentum and the fans downtown to get the full return on investment. If more convention space is needed to lure more attractive conventions then we must include plans in the next MAPS. This can be strictly a convention center with plenty of space and a hotel anchored to it. We already need more hotel space and this would be a great way to obtain both. We need two arenas to maintain our status with sports and entertainment and convention space should be separate.

]]> By: Shane http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/04/04/one-half-or-50-percent/comment-page-1/#comment-138 Shane Mon, 07 Apr 2008 03:19:27 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/04/04/one-half-or-50-percent/#comment-138 " if one were to build a convention center right now, the current spot would likely still be the very best choice." The key here, of course, is the phrase "right now." Of course the Cox Center would be a better location over the proposed convention center site in C2S when that site is still surrounded by nothing... But it will be a better site in 5-10 years when MAPS III is able to fund construction. I think it's a bad idea to fill in the arena at Cox when we have used it as leverage to secure tournaments. And as Jim mentioned, it also is amazing when we can have two major events going on across the street from each other- say, a concert and an NBA game, or NBA/Blazers. The Cox arena is still a great, viable asset. ” if one were to build a convention center right now, the current spot would likely still be the very best choice.”

The key here, of course, is the phrase “right now.” Of course the Cox Center would be a better location over the proposed convention center site in C2S when that site is still surrounded by nothing… But it will be a better site in 5-10 years when MAPS III is able to fund construction.

I think it’s a bad idea to fill in the arena at Cox when we have used it as leverage to secure tournaments. And as Jim mentioned, it also is amazing when we can have two major events going on across the street from each other- say, a concert and an NBA game, or NBA/Blazers. The Cox arena is still a great, viable asset.

]]> By: Jim C. http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/04/04/one-half-or-50-percent/comment-page-1/#comment-137 Jim C. Sat, 05 Apr 2008 11:59:29 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/04/04/one-half-or-50-percent/#comment-137 I think a new Convention Center is a must for MAPS 3. We will also need a convention hotel to go along with it. The Cox Center is an important part of Okc hosting the Big 12, but I also a remember a New Years Eve a couple of years ago when the Hornets played the Ford Center and the Blazers played in the Cox Center. Both teams had great crowds. I think a new Convention Center is a must for MAPS 3. We will also need a convention hotel to go along with it. The Cox Center is an important part of Okc hosting the Big 12, but I also a remember a New Years Eve a couple of years ago when the Hornets played the Ford Center and the Blazers played in the Cox Center. Both teams had great crowds.

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