FIVE NEWS. DAKOTA. THANK YOU. AFTER YEARS OF LEGAL BATTLES, PROTESTS AND MEETINGS, A CONTROVERSIAL ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT IN NORMAN WILL MOVE FORWARD. OUR KOCO MEGHAN MOSLEY JOINS US LIVE ON THIS. MEGAN, I KNOW YOU SPOKE TO THE CITY ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS HERE. ABBY. THAT’S RIGHT. NOW IT LOOKS EMPTY RIGHT NOW, BUT HERE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, THIS PLACE IS GOING TO BE BUZZING WITH ENTERTAINMENT. AND IT CAME AFTER A YEARS LONG FIGHT. IT’S REALLY EXCITING. WE’VE WAITED A LONG TIME. WE STARTED THIS PROCESS BACK IN 2022. WE’VE BEEN WAITING ON THE RULING FROM THE SUPREME COURT. AFTER A YEARS LONG LEGAL BATTLE, OKLAHOMA’S HIGHEST COURT RULED $1 BILLION ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT IN NORMAN WILL MOVE FORWARD. $1.1 BILLION INVESTMENT WILL HAVE A HUGE IMPACT IN THE REGION AND SPECIFICALLY HERE, THE ROCK CREEK ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT WILL BE HOME TO A NEW UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA ARENA DINING, RETAIL AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUE. YOU’RE GOING TO SEE SHOWS AND PERFORMANCES AND BASKETBALL AND GYMNASTICS AND POTENTIALLY BROADWAY SHOWS AND RODEOS AND ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS THAT CURRENTLY PEOPLE IN CLEVELAND COUNTY TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE COUNTY TO GO SEE. IT’S A PROJECT THAT’S GOTTEN A LOT OF OPPOSITION SINCE IT WAS PROPOSED. A GROUP OF CITIZENS PETITIONED FOR IT TO BE ON A BALLOT FOR THE VOTERS TO DECIDE, WHICH LED TO THAT SUPREME COURT DECISION. IT’S DISAPPOINTING AND FRUSTRATING BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE PUT THEIR NAME ON A ON A REFERENDUM PETITION SAYING THAT THEY WANTED TO VOTE ON THIS PROJECT. THE COURT’S DECISION ENDS YEARS OF UNCERTAINTY AND THE LEGAL OBSTACLE OF BUILDING THE DEVELOPMENT, SOMETHING CITY LEADERS ARE PROUD OF. IT WAS A SUPREME COURT DECISION, AND IT WAS BASED ON THE LEGALITY AND THE CITIZENS. IF THEY HAD VOTED, I’M CONFIDENT THEY WOULD HAVE VOTED IN FAVOR OF IT. AND WHILE CONSTRUCTION TIMELINES ARE STILL BEING WORKED OUT, CITY LEADERS ARE JUST HAPPY TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT LEGAL DELAYS. NOW, CITY LEADERS ARE EXPECTING THIS TO BE COMPLETE IN 2029, BUT OF COURSE, THA
Norman’s billion-dollar entertainment district moves forward after Supreme Court ruling
The Oklahoma Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a billion-dollar entertainment district in Norman
After years of legal battles, protests, and city council meetings, the Oklahoma Supreme Court has ruled that a controversial billion-dollar entertainment district in Norman will move forward. The Rock Creek Entertainment District will feature a new University of Oklahoma arena, dining, retail, and entertainment venues, including shows, performances, basketball, gymnastics, Broadway shows, and rodeos.Lawrence McKinney, CEO of the Cleveland County Economic Development Coalition, expressed excitement about the project, saying, “It’s really exciting, we’ve waited a long time!>> Download the KOCO 5 App | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning Newsletter”We started this process in 2022, and we’ve been waiting for the ruling from the Supreme Court,” McKinney said.The project faced significant opposition, with a group of citizens petitioning for it to be on a ballot for voters to decide, leading to the Supreme Court decision. Cynthia Rogers from Oklahomans for Responsible Economic Development shared her disappointment, stating, “It’s disappointing and frustrating, because a lot of people put their name on a referendum petition saying they wanted to vote on this project.”The court’s decision ends years of uncertainty and legal obstacles, something city leaders are proud of. >> Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.”It was a Supreme Court decision, and based on the legality. If the citizens would’ve voted for it, I’m confident they would’ve voted in favor on it,” said a city leader.While construction timelines are still being worked out, city leaders are eager to move forward without legal delays, aiming for the project to be complete by 2029, although that timeline could change.Top HeadlinesGet the Facts: What makes Greenland so valuable — and why President Trump is interestedOHP: At least 1 dead after crash shuts down part of I-240 in Oklahoma CityInvestigators find signs of forced entry at Savannah Guthrie’s mother’s homeSuspect arrested after leading Oklahoma City police on chase that ended in crash’We crushed it’: Midwest City strip mall swept up in multistate marijuana raid
After years of legal battles, protests, and city council meetings, the Oklahoma Supreme Court has ruled that a controversial billion-dollar entertainment district in Norman will move forward.
The Rock Creek Entertainment District will feature a new University of Oklahoma arena, dining, retail, and entertainment venues, including shows, performances, basketball, gymnastics, Broadway shows, and rodeos.
Lawrence McKinney, CEO of the Cleveland County Economic Development Coalition, expressed excitement about the project, saying, “It’s really exciting, we’ve waited a long time!
>> Download the KOCO 5 App | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning Newsletter
“We started this process in 2022, and we’ve been waiting for the ruling from the Supreme Court,” McKinney said.
The project faced significant opposition, with a group of citizens petitioning for it to be on a ballot for voters to decide, leading to the Supreme Court decision.
Cynthia Rogers from Oklahomans for Responsible Economic Development shared her disappointment, stating, “It’s disappointing and frustrating, because a lot of people put their name on a referendum petition saying they wanted to vote on this project.”
The court’s decision ends years of uncertainty and legal obstacles, something city leaders are proud of.
>> Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
“It was a Supreme Court decision, and based on the legality. If the citizens would’ve voted for it, I’m confident they would’ve voted in favor on it,” said a city leader.
While construction timelines are still being worked out, city leaders are eager to move forward without legal delays, aiming for the project to be complete by 2029, although that timeline could change.
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