A presentation Tuesday pitched a proposed outdoor stadium as not only a new home for OKC Energy, but as a venue that could draw events to Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City officials are considering potential projects that could be included in a MAPS (Metropolitan Area Projects) 4 initiative. Several ideas were presented to city officials Tuesday, including a proposed outdoor multipurpose stadium.
Backers of the proposed stadium are calling for it to be centrally located, with a design that makes it equipped to handle multiple types of events. It would become the new home of USL Championship‘s OKC Energy–which currently plays at Taft Stadium–while also hosting other soccer matches, high school football, rugby, festivals, concerts, and more.
The presentation outlined two different possibilities for the outdoor stadium, each showing a different scope. In one scenario, a larger capacity venue would be constructed at a price tag of $67 million-$72 million and be designed to host over 80 events annually (that concept is shown in the rendering above). A scaled-down version was also outlined in the presentation, coming with a lower capacity and price tag–estimated at $37 million-$42 million–with the expectation of hosting more than 60 events per year. More from KFOR.com:
“This is an opportunity to once again set our city on a global stage,” said Bob Funk, Jr., co-owner of OKC Energy FC. “It will connect and unify Oklahoma City’s diverse cross-section of cultures and provide a powerful economic boost to our urban core.”
Officials say there are two options to build the venue, each with new amenities and features. The first option represented a $37 million to $42 million investment for an 8,000-seat stadium that would accommodate soccer, high school football, rugby, lacrosse, concerts and festivals.
Organizers believe it could host more than 60 events each year, which would bring $60 million annually to the city.
The second option was a $67 million to $72 million investment with 10,000 seats, shade structures and other amenities to improve the fan experience. Additional restrooms would be included, along with a larger stage and secondary stage. Organizers say this venue could host more than 80 events each year, which would bring over $79 million to the city.
Whether the proposed outdoor stadium is included in MAPS 4 remains to be seen. The city council still has to come up with a budget outline and slate of projects for the initiative before calling an election, with the election expected to come in December. It would then be up to voters to decide whether to extend the 1-cent MAPS sales tax for the initiative.
Renderings courtesy OKC Energy.
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