Tidbits
- When OKC Grand Prix LLC was first unveiled in March, it was reported that it consisted of partners Brad Lund and Mike McAuliffe. Trent Ward and former Mayor Ron Norick were listed as being on the grand prix’s “advisory board and Pocono Raceway’s Joe Mattioli was to serve as consultant. But when the deal came to the city council, the team was missing three of the original members and that the partnership consisted of Ward and Lund. This is a curious change that is even more curious when one considers that neither Ward or Lund would discuss why it took place. Records obtained from City Hall indicate a disagreement of some sort took place between Mattioli and the partnership that included concerns he was going to file a lawsuit. Records don’t indicate further details, and Ward and Lund aren’t talking. Ward also said McAuliffe had “sold his interest,” while Norick was quoted Saturday as having concerns about the race’s impact on downtown streets.
- Lund is among the most experience sports executives in town when it comes to dealing with the media. But after the council’s vote rejecting the Grand Prix, Lund quickly left the building and let Ward, with far less experience dealing with the media, handle the interviews that followed.
- Jim Cowan, former director of the Bricktown Association, sent out several Tweets during the meeting commenting on the council’s debate and vote. Cowan incorrectly Tweeted that Downtown Oklahoma City Inc. had endorsed the race – they actually only endorsed continuing discussion about the proposal. Cowan works for Box Talent, which would have provided entertainment for the Grand Prix.
- No mention was made by Mayor Mick Cornett or other proponents about the value of the publicity a race might have brought to the city and whether that might have also offset the proposed spending of $6.9 million.
- There was no consideration given as to whether the proposal might have fared better with a one year delay in launching the race.
- After sounding like the fight was over this morning, a press conference originally set for 2:30 p.m. and canceled is back on for 4 p.m. Did this team ever consider a “plan b’?
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Comments
I am all for moving OKC forward but not at the expense of taxpayers. You have a wannabee socialite in Mike McAuliffe, blow hard salesmen in Brad Lund, and a daddy’s trust fund baby in Trent Ward all trying to score a profit under the disguise of big league city. What a joke.
It seems the “elite” of this city are overlooking the needs of the majority. The byways of this city are in horrendous shape and require attention daily. Redirecting resources and dollars to support an auto race on city streets is not acceptable at this time. Also if you polled city workers they would much rather have their laid off or furloughed fellow workers back on the job.
“Did this team ever consider a “plan b’?”
If Cornett had anything to do with it, probably not. He was on record as not having a plan B for the Ford/NBA tax, no plan B for the land the City already purchased if MAPS 3 failed, etc.