Arena Watch - Groundbreaking

At 9:00am this morning, the official groundbreaking for the Tulsa Events Center took place.

KOTV Coverage... "Groundbreaking Held For Tulsa's New Downtown Arena Project"
TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Groundbreaking was Wednesday morning in downtown Tulsa for an arena that's the centerpiece of Tulsa's Vision 2025 project.

The 18,000 seat arena is to be complete in April 2008 and is part of a $183-million project that includes renovations on the nearby Convention Center.

Tulsa County voters in 2003 approved the Vision 2025 project which increased the sales tax to pay for a variety of economic development projects.


KTUL - "Groundbreaking Today For Downtown Arena"

More soon...

Big Goals for Downtown

Great article in Sunday’s Tulsa World about East Village development… Check out the on going conversation at the Tulsa Now Forums. There’s plenty of rumors floating around that didn’t make the article. Plenty of developers have big goals for downtown Tulsa, and from what we’ve heard downtown could be getting a real big announcement in the next few months.

Downtown Weekends...

It’s our second weekly installment of Downtown Weekend. I’ve been a little extra tied up this week, and out of the loop, so I could easily be missing something. Please let me know of more events!!!

From Urban Tulsa
Thru Aug. 26_ _PHOTOGRAPHERS IN BLOOM _Black and White, wet darkroom production at the Pictures Gallery; 6-9pm; North Hall Conference Center, OSU Tulsa, 700 North Greenwood Ave; 808-0008

Thru Aug. 27 _ _MYSTICAL MAGICAL GARDEN: AN INTERACTIVE INSTALLATION _presented by Tulsa Artists’ Coalition. 2D & 3D hands on art exhibit. _6pm - 9pm; Tulsa Artists’ Coalition Gallery, 9 East Brady, Tulsa; FREE, 592-0041; www.tacgallery.org

Sat., Aug. 27 _ _SING FOR THE CURE _Council Oak Men’s Chorale benefiting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. 8pm, Tulsa Preforming Arts Center, 3rd & Cincinnati, 596-7111.

Arena Watch

8/21 Batesline - Arena feasibility study still valid?

8/22 Living on Tulsa Time – Our Arena has a Fatal Flaw.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Let me know if I missed something by posting in the comments.

A Loft Reality

After several years of talk the Philtower Lofts are finally a reality. KOTV did a nice little package on the project tonight. You can find the video here. As you will see in the clip, they point out 11 of the 26 high-end units are already leased with over 100 people still scheduled to tour the model apartment. Occupancy starts next month.

Downtown Weekends - Overground 8

Keeping with the theme of special sections look for the new weekly feature... "Downtown Weekends." We'll keep you posted on the latest & greatest downtown activities.

This week we will kick off with the Tulsa Overground Film Festival! In it's eighth year, it lives on strong with a great weekend of film from local and national directors along with a great schedule of after-parties. Check the schedule on their web site.

Arena Watch

We're going to start a new feature here on the Downtown Tulsa blog, the weekly Arena Watch. I know its a bit of a cliche, ala KOTV's Vision Watch, but we think it best to try and get all the latest info in one place. We'll just spend a little time over each weekend to compile links to news stories and articles focusing on the arena's progress.

So to kick it off lets look at this weeks latest arena developments & chat...

8-14 Batesline - Counting the arena cost

8/16 KOTV - Questions Raised By Several Tulsa City Councilors Over Downtown Arena Plans

8/16 KOTV - Oklahoma City's Downtown Arena Overcomes Concerns

8/16 Batesline - Arena naming rights survey

8/18 KTUL - Some Fear Arena Construction Could Go Over Budget

The official Vision 2025 site now hosts a live Arena Cam of the arena site.

Did I miss a story? Post in the Comments and I'll update the list!

Thanks for the attention!

Just wanted to send a quick thanks for the shout outs from Michael Bates & OKC's The Downtown Guy! If you haven't checked out there site, they are definitely worth a read!

Look for some exciting updates this weekend.

Arena

"Tuesday August 2 architect Cesar Pelli presented to the public the final design of the new events center arena."

http://www.vision2025.info/

Update: oops... the arena didnt get washed away, the vision2025.info site changed the image at that link... so no more arena picture

let the big announcements begin....

Here is the first of a few big announcements coming for downtown Tulsa....

"A California millionaire has bought six high-profile buildings in downtown Tulsa all at once. The deal just went through a few days ago.

Spokesmen for Kanbar Spirits out of San Francisco say the company has big plans for the big buildings.

News on 6 reporter Steve Berg says Maurice Kanbar thinks Tulsa could be the next Portland and that downtown is on the verge of a renaissance and he's putting millions of dollars behind it. "

http://www.kotv.com/main/home/stories.asp?whichpage=1&id=87965

"Tulsa will be elated when it hears the long-term plans."

From KOTV


and the fun begins!