I Wasn’t Going To Say Anything, But …
Skaters having fun at downtown Oklahoma City's Devon Ice Rink
But then Tulsa’s beloved Mayor Kathy Taylor had this to say:
Highlights include a 60-foot by 150-foot ice rink, flanked this year by a “warming” tent for spectators. At 9,000 square feet, Bolton said that rink provides more skating surface than New York’s famed Rockefeller Center ice.“I think our skating rink might be bigger than the one in Oklahoma City,” said Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor.
Dear, dear Kathy… our rink is 62 feet by 150 feet. Just sayin’….
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Comments
Where Tulsa had their ice last year was surrounded by concrete facings and wasn’t inviting at all. I think they’ve said they’ve moved it but it still won’t match the ambiance of OKC’s ice in Bicentennial park. It’s a great thing for Tulsa but again another example of Tulsa just not having quite the right facilities to be comparable to OKC.
And OKC will soon have an even better skating rink at the new Myriad Gardens and/or Central Park that will last all winter long…(I feel like Penelope from SNL).
You people have got to be kidding me! Uuuhh, do you actually think or are “vain” enough to believe that we (OKC) are the only city to have this going on during the holidays? We visit the beautiful 1714 town of Natchitoches, La. for the Christmas Festival every third year. Shreveport has a huge downtown outdoor ice skating rink for the holidays(in 70 degree weather)…guess you would like to say that they are “copying” us also? GEEEEZ, how hilarious!
Great pic of some great people! You’ve got one of the members of the “OKC Dream Team” there in the red coat…
Rick, I wasn’t going to say anything because, really, it’s not a big deal as to who is copying who. Ice rinks have been around for a long time. What’s odd is Tulsa’s obsession with trying to diminish whatever OKC is doing. Yes, this is all very funny. That’s the idea here – this is goofy.
And doesn’t that sum up the whole Tulsa/OKC rivalry (or any rivalry, for that matter): Mine’s bigger than yours!
Steve,
I am from OKC and moved to Tulsa after college. Lived up in T-Town for 8 years. Just recently moved back. All I can say is that quote from Taylor is nothing compared to the items and comments you will find regularly in the Urban Tulsa and Tulsa World blogs.
T-Town is a great town. However, after living in Tulsa I have a few observations.
1) Tulsa is extemely socialy and economically divided
2) If you visit with 10 random Tulsans from different parts of town about their perception of Tulsa, you will find 10 VERY different responses
3) Tulsans are completely convinced that OKC offers nothing and is a dusty cow town
4) Tulsans think Bricktown is all chains and completely void of anything original and hardly compares to the Blue Dome District (you will get the joke if you have ever been to the blue dome)
5) Tulsans honestly believe that when anyone not from Oklahoma thinks of Oklahoma, they think of Tulsa.
6) Tulsans believe they culturaly superior in every way to OKC.
Steve – this would make an interesting story. I know the Urban Tulsan ran a story talking about the rivalry between OKC and Tulsa back in September. It was well written but had a pretty heavy Tulsa slant. I think it would be interesting to shed some light on how Tulsa is viewed so positively in the media down here and how OKC is viwed so negatively in the media up in Tulsa. I think you could also compare the community support for cultural activities like the museums, ballet, and etc. If you visit with a Tulsan for more than 5 minutes they will bring up how they have a world class Opera. Then ask if they have ever attended a performance, you will get a nope…..
Steve,
One more observation. The media in Tulsa could do a lot to change the perception of OKC. The majority that share a negative few of OKC in Tulsa have never even been in OKC unless they are driving through.
The media in Tulsa could certainly do a lot to change that perception by highlighting all the wonderful things that have taken place in OKC the last 20 years. You know they care or pay attention because much of the change in Tulsa looks vary familiar to our initiatives.
Their is no better example of this opportunity than when you look at the coverage of MAPS 3, Core to Shore, Dowtown Streetscape improvements, the Devon Tower or the NBA coming to town. I have yet to see a feature or commentary in any publication from Tulsa highlighting our vision and talking about these wonderfully progressive ideas.
On the flip side, you have consistently offered a view into what is happening in Tulsa and you cover it from a very positive angle.
JDG78 it’s funny that you would mention observation #5. In my recent out of state travels to the east coast and south east I have actually had several people say to me that they are familiar with Tulsa and where it is but knew nothing about OKC or where it was in relation to Tulsa. I thought to myself, how crazy!
JDG78 – I really do like a lot of what I see in Tulsa. Sure, Elvis Costello could perform here, but there’s no venue to match him like Cain’s. And BOK Center is an example of ambitious architecture – a design that truly is stunning. Ford Center is … adequate?
Mostly, though, I’m extremely jealous of the Tulsa Press Club and its proximity to Arnie’s.
“5) Tulsans honestly believe that when anyone not from Oklahoma thinks of Oklahoma, they think of Tulsa.”
Case in point: the “Tulsa State Fair”. When did the state get renamed? LOL
or:
\Oklahoma Magazine\, a Tulsa based magazine with a \Best of\ issue highlighting only Tulsa restaurants and businesses. It’s extremely arrogant.
oh, blehhh. i wasn’t going to say anything either, but you know, i have to. i must quote the lawyer Ehrman:
“…If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans…”
and, speaking of lawyers, that’s a mighty brilliant one in your photo of skaters in okc.