Energy FC pitches new stadium options to city

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Energy FC ownership presented a detailed stadium plan to the City Council of Oklahoma City on Tuesday, revealing two options for a new stadium while sharing its credentials to why its initiative should be included on the upcoming MAPS 4 ballot in the city.

MAPS (Metropolitan Area Projects) is Oklahoma City’s multi-year capital improvement project, which uses a sales tax increase to fund a group of capital projects. The original MAPS, passed in 1993, invested in projects including Bricktown and the now-Chesapeake Energy Arena, which has fueled the city’s ongoing renaissance.

The presentation lasted two-and-a-half hours, which included an hour-long presentation from co-owner Bob Funk Jr. and a 70-minute public comment period, one that Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt said was the most registered he had ever seen for such community feedback.

For this proposed rendition of MAPS, the fourth of its kind, the city heard 19 presentations during four City Council sessions (Tuesday was the final session). Holt said the City Council has a Sept. 24 deadline to select which projects will be on the ballot before calling an election.

The two stadium options presented were valued significantly less than the initial $97 million proposal the club revealed in February. Holt opened Tuesday’s presentation saying he asked the ownership group to present a revised rendering of stadiums focused on reducing the budget.

The first option, with a projected cost between $37 million and $42 million, would seat 8,000 and is estimated to host 66 events per year, according to the Energy.

The second option, which would include a canopy and more fan-oriented amenities, is projected to cost between $67 million and $72 million and would seat 10,000. The club estimates 81 events hosted annually with the second stadium option.

Funk stated his preference for the second option and reiterated this view multiple times during the open Q&A session with the city council.

“When we increase the project budget, that is when the most exciting things happen,” Funk said. “Undoubtedly, (the second option) better prepares Oklahoma City for our future.

“We believe it is time Oklahoma City be part of this partnership.”

After appearing settled on a South Bricktown location, announced during the initial February proposal, the uncertainty that remains around the final stadium location was the most surprising development from Tuesday’s presentation.

Funk remained adamant about the stadium being in an opportunity zone, which are identified by the state and, for the most part, surround downtown Oklahoma City. Funk invited Chuck Wiggin, president of Wiggin Properties in Oklahoma City, to speak during the presentation to reiterate this stance.

“I would be a fan of this facility being built as close to downtown as possible,” Wiggin said.

However, two councilmembers, James Cooper (Ward 2) and JoBeth Hamon (Ward 6) appeared resolute about having the stadium built on the southside of the city. Councilman David Greenwell (Ward 5) also asked questions that would seem to indicate he would prefer the stadium to be located south of the Oklahoma River.

The City Council has the final say on the stadium location if the measure is selected to be part of the MAPS 4 ballot.

“Our preference is for a neighborhood that is dense, mix-used and affordable,” Funk said. “It must have bike and pedestrian infrastructure and connection to public transportation.”

Throughout the extensive presentation, two prominent themes emerged from the club’s proposal — unity and necessity.

The first highlighted the club’s Energy Assists Foundation community work, the city’s changing diverse demographics and the unifying aspect of soccer throughout the world and within Oklahoma City.

The later divulged the scrutiny the club faces from both the U.S. Soccer Federation and the United Soccer League regarding Taft Stadium, its current, inadequate home pitch that does not meet minimum dimension requirements. It is the only USL stadium that requires a waiver from the federation.

“They are losing patience with us,” Funk said. “I’ve received two letters from the national federation as well as a letter from the league asking us repeatedly, ‘How will you resolve this?’”

The proposed stadium, whichever option is chosen, is billed as a multipurpose venue able to host soccer, high school football championships, rugby and lacrosse, as well as outdoor concerts.

Funk had OSSAA director David Jackson speak during the presentation, the latter indicating OSSAA would move its nine high school football state championship games to the venue. Representatives from Oklahoma Special Olympics as well as local rugby and lacrosse groups also spoke during the public comment period.

However, there was no doubt throughout the presentation that the Energy would be the driving influence and dominant operator at the stadium.

Both stadium options would be expandable to accommodate expansion to 20,000 for a future in MLS, if demand met the expansion bid to the United States first-division league.

“I get asked about Major League Soccer all the time,” Funk said. “Cities that develop a substantial fan following and demonstrate a willingness to invest in infrastructure, especially within the downtown area, become very appealing to the United States’ only tier-one league.

“Oklahoma City has the opportunity to build a facility that would lay the foundation for MLS in the future. But I can say with a lot of certainty that opportunity will evaporate if we do nothing.”

Although not mentioned during the presentation, Funk did offer a grim reality for the club when Hamon pressed him on what would happen if the club did not receive the stadium.

“With the time frame and development it will take to where we want it to be, we would have to move the team,” Funk said.

Follow James on Twitter: @James_Poling.

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