Comments on: Isn’t That Interesting?

By: david ball

david ball — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 18:21:19 +0000

i think it’s pretty clear from the above hammons has. moreover, he followed the project that came from inducements with two that did not have inducements.

the silence regarding bass pro, frankly, is deafening. i remember when they came, academy said they would beat them in the marketplace. i think it’s pretty clear that they are meeting their goals with success. i just wish they would open up a store within a mile of midtown.

By: slackmeyer

slackmeyer — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 15:11:36 +0000

Interesting. I simply pointed out the absence of a couple of downtown beneficiaries of taxpayer money from downtown sponsorships and that’s interpreted as wrath.
No wrath. No ill will. Just asking a question, really. It sounds like that question hit a raw nerve. I wasn’t aware the Skirvin is in Bricktown.
But since you mention the Skirvin, yes, let’s throw them into this question as well and let’s not get caught up in mythical ideas like “wrath” and grudges. I also find it interesting that while a handful of folks are speaking out about Hammons, no one is discussing Bass Pro Shops.
So, here we go again: Should prosperous beneficiaries of the city’s economic development assistance be expected to give back to the community?

By: Jeanine

Jeanine — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 15:09:07 +0000

What is your issue with Hammons in OKC? Did I miss something!?! Did you risk millions to bring a hotel or business to downtown OKC when there was nothing?
Great holiday spirit you’ve got. Why don’t you go focus on something that really needs awareness? Your article is pathetic.

By: ben hutchins

ben hutchins — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 14:43:36 +0000

Steve

What about the Skirvin Hotel – How did they manage to be spared from your wrath?
Of all of the businesses in Bricktown and Lower Bricktown how is it that only Tapwerks and Nonna’s saw their way clear to purchase a sponsorship for their own communities Christmas celebration? Their own Community (who has benifited far more from any MAPS 1 money spent that Mr. Hammons) won’t support the association’s efforts and you would like the story to be about Bass Pro and Mr. Hammons.

I pulled up their website this morning and it would appear that all 3 of Mr. Hammons hotels are members of the association and pay for advertising on their website – no Skirvin Hotel anywhere – did this escape your keen eye or is there a seperate set of rules for them?

By: Frank

Frank — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 03:27:34 +0000

I still think you are missing it. Also, what other choice did OKC have but to do things to stimulate its economy but to offer incentives for businesses to come to a city that was not doing well and certainly would not have seen the growth had they not lured them here. They are still doing it. The city pumped a ton of cash into the Skirvin Hotel as well (which is a huge conflict of interest when they have their own revenue “commssionable” contract with another hotel company to operate their convention center). Contacts with convention centers are standard everywhere. This is how this particular business works. The City has a contract with SMG to operate the Cox and OKC arena as well. Not sure if they decorated a tree this year of not? Who else was going to manage it? A huge risk taken by someone with great vision who has donated millions of dollars over his lifetime should be praised not ridiculed.

By: slackmeyer

slackmeyer — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 03:11:17 +0000

There’s no resentment by me concerning JQH at all. And read what I wrote again – my reference was to major downtown sponsorships. That’s it. JQH was given $7 million and an exclusive long-term contract at the convention center, and he in turn built three hotels downtown that by all reports have performed very well for the company.

By: Frank

Frank — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 02:03:19 +0000

Wow…how far off base can you possibly be when it comes to JQH? Is there a long term resentment that you can’t get over? If there even was any money that was provided for funding it does not matter now after millions upon millions of dollars have been pumped into the DT economy just from his hotels. This includes millions of dollars in tax money. JQH employs hundreds of people in DT who have worked tirelessly and on a volunteer basis to support MANY MANY organizations, such as March of Dimes, Allied Arts, Make a Wish Foundation, OKC Beautiful, and countless others. You want to discredit 10 years worth of community goodwill because of a Christmas tree? You must work harder on your facts that are so far off base. You should personally stop by and see the JQH family of employees and not only give each one an apology, but to shake their hands and thank them as well. Get your info straight before you voice such a ridiculous opinion.

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 20:37:40 +0000

I think it would be fair for you to apologize to John Q Hammons himself and the representatives of his OKC Hotels for your uneducated and VERY unqualified remarks as his hotels work diligently to support the community. All 3 DT hotels are quite active within the community and spend large amounts of time volunteering and donating services to the local community. There would be a large loss in our community without their support. A lot of time has gone by since these hotels have been built and I am sure that any funding (if any) has been qualified many times over.

By: slackmeyer

slackmeyer — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:28:09 +0000

Brad, from the UMAC website:
The John Q. Hammons Arena at the UMAC was named in honor of Mr. Hammons in 2003 for his donation to the Union Schools Education Foundation. It serves as a multipurpose center for students in the District as well as for tradeshows, tournaments, conferences and performances.

By: slackmeyer

slackmeyer — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:23:32 +0000

Comments got caught up in the spam filter.
Yes, Hammons did invest in OKC early on – but with inducement that included $7 million in community development block grant money and a long-term contract for control of bookings and catering at the convention center.
I’m not saying Bass Pro and Hammons have been absent in doing any sponsorships. But there is an impression among locals that far more sponsorship activity has taken place in Tulsa than Oklahoma City. As for Bass Pro – the irony of Academy, and not Bass Pro, sponsoring the Bricktown Christmas events is immediately obvious to anyone who witnessed the debate over whether to subsidize Bass Pro’s store a decade ago.