It looks like we have a new topic for our Overly Ambitious Oklahoma Business Projects Trivia Quiz!
Earlier this week, something called the Classen Corridor Revitalization TIF Review Committee – or TCCRTIFRC for short – announced they’re giving a $3-million loan to a concert promoter from Tulsa to flip the flawed and troubled money pit known as the Gold Dome on NW 23rd and Classen into a concert venue and event center.
What could possibly go wrong, right?
Here are some details via KFOR:
Oklahoma City’s iconic Gold Dome is one step closer to renovations.
The Classen Corridor Revitalization TIF Review Committee approved a $3 million loan to turn the treasured piece of the city’s landscape into a concert venue. The money will come from taxpayer dollars through Safer Streets, Safer Cities GOLT bonds.
“We’ve looked at this project for a long time, and it fits geographically for us,” said Mike Brown, developer with Kismet Koncerts. “I’m from Oklahoma, so we want to save it.”
Listen, I’m not trying to be a Debbie Downer here, but over the years, some very wealthy people – not including con men – with way more connections to the Oklahoma City ruling class than some random dude from Tulsa have tried to come up with modern-day solutions for the Gold Dome. None of them have succeeded.
Why? Because the Gold Dome is a gigantic money pit with a dated design that lacks any modern-day functionality. That’s why it’s been sitting vacant for the past decade and earned the coveted #1 spot on our list of Historic OKC Places That Deserve To Be An OnCue.
But who knows, maybe this time it will be different.
Here’s more from KFOR:
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt said the proposed venue was the first idea for the space that was financially backed and would also generate revenue.
Brown estimated that the 3,000-capacity concert space would have 65 events or concerts a year, bringing in around $1 million in revenue.
Question: Has Mayor Holt, the Kismet Koncerts guy, or TCCRTIFRC ever heard of Tower Theatre? You know, the historic venue located just down the street that already got flipped into a concert space?
If not, they probably should.
As the out-of-state guy who runs Tower Theatre and sold out to shady out-of-state promoters admitted, it hasn’t exactly been a financial goldmine:
Yep, Tower Theatre has struggled to stay financially successful despite having a built-in market and significant community support. So naturally, the solution is to take another historic building down the street and convert it into a concert venue. Makes sense! Because competition always breeds success, right?
Obviously, I’m being sarcastic here. But seriously, has anyone in charge actually done their homework? The OKC live music scene is not exactly booming with demand for new venues, especially when existing ones are barely getting by. Yet here we are, throwing taxpayer dollars at a project that’s about as likely to succeed as the Gold Dome turning into an actual gold mine.
That said, maybe the guy from Tulsa who spells “concert” with a K knows something we don’t. Maybe he can succeed where others have failed and turn the Gold Dome into the crown jewel of OKC’s music scene.
To test this theory, I checked out the Kismet Koncerts website to see what big events they’ve been promoting. Well, that was a mistake.
According to their event calendar, they have no concerts planned in Tulsa. In fact, the only thing listed is a ballistic bingo event in Wichita.
Yep. Grab your daubers and make sure that the tumor isn’t B-9! Wild and Wacky Bingo could be coming to a geodesic dome near you very soon.
Anyway, although I’m skeptical, I sincerely wish the dude from Tulsa – who spells concerts with a K – the best of luck. If he can save the Gold Dome, revitalize NW 23rd, and turn OKC into a music hub, I’ll eat my words while dining in my penthouse suite at Legends Tower.
Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
