Turning up the heat on MAPS 4
After Ward 2 Councilman Ed Shadid asked pointed questions last week about MAPS 4, Mayor David Holt posted on Twitter his State of the City speech remarks, in which the mayor summarized around two dozen ideas that seemed to “have some traction and fit the transformational tradition of MAPS.”
Shadid's remarks at Tuesday's city council meeting and the mayor's posts− and ensuing discussion− followed publication Monday of architects' renderings of a proposed $96.6 million Fairgrounds Coliseum. The State Fair board has endorsed the idea of including the coliseum in MAPS 4.
“I've run on a MAPS for neighborhoods campaign twice, I've had town hall meetings, I've talked to thousands of people, I haven't really heard any clamoring for an arena at the Fairgrounds,” Shadid said.
Shadid asked whether there had been polling to gauge voters' support for the idea. He also contended the State Fair board, with its share of the hotel-motel tax, could issue bonds for State Fair Park construction projects.
Roy Williams, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, the city's leading business organization, said he was not aware of any polls.
“I do know because I'm involved with the fair board the facility that is currently out there is 55 years old and is in a horrible stage of disrepair,” Williams said.
“That doesn't necessarily mean it should be a MAPS project,” he said, “but something needs to be done if we're going to continue to expand on equine activities as well as high school activities.”
Opened in 1965, the current arena hosts nationally and internationally renowned horse shows responsible for the infusion of millions of dollars into the local economy.
The building also is the “Big House,” home to the annual prep basketball championships, going on this month.
City Manager Craig Freeman said existing commitments for the hotel-motel tax preclude the State Fair board from borrowing enough to build the new coliseum.
“There's only about a $5 million capacity right now,” he said. “Because of the outstanding bonds we already have, there's not a capacity right now − for many years − that would be able to handle a project of this size.”
By the end of last week, advocates of a soccer stadium were pitching their idea for inclusion in MAPS 4. Backers include owners of the Energy FC soccer team.
“I've witnessed soccer fields transform communities by inspiring young athletes and bringing neighbors together over a common interest,” said Tim McLaughlin, an Energy FC partner.