Who’s ready for a solid three months of annoying, intractable, and totally insufferable online “debates” centered on the public funding of sports arenas?!
Yesterday afternoon, the Oklahoma City Ruling Class, by proxy of the city it controls, announced plans to build a taxpayer-funded $900-million arena for the OKC Thunder that – if approved by a small minority of Oklahoma City residents – will keep Berry’s Boomers in OKC through at least 2050, and further cement our status as a “Big League City.”
Well, at least that’s what David Holt and his Chamber of Commerce string pullers are telling us...
Today is one of those exciting days in the life of our city. After 14 months of very public discussions, we have a finalized plan to build a new state-of-the art arena without raising taxes, and a commitment from the Thunder to play in that new arena beyond 2050. (1/3)
— Mayor David Holt (@davidfholt) September 12, 2023
Uhm, I cover this town for a living, and this is the first time I've heard about these "very public discussions" for the arena. Considering how much he likes the Thunder and their ownership group, maybe he meant to type "pubic" instead.
That would explain the great deal the team is getting.