Flagstaffsooner
10/8/2006, 11:08 AM
Candidate wants game against Texas moved
By Michael McNutt
The Oklahoman
NORMAN - If he has his way, E.Z. Million will have a hard time finding a place to sit in any of the restaurants along Campus Corner during the Red River Rivalry weekend two years from now.
Million had no trouble finding a seat during lunch hour Saturday, a couple hours before the kickoff of the University of Oklahoma-University of Texas football game in Dallas.
Million, who has been pushing since 1993 to have the Red River Rivalry be a home-and-home series, said it's plausible the game could be played in Norman in October 2008.
The economic impact of the OU-Texas game has been estimated to be $30 million to $40 million for the city of Dallas.
"It's not about football," Million said. "It's about tourism and economic development. All tourism is economic development."
Voter decisions
The Red River Rivalry has been played in Dallas since 1929. If OU and Texas would decide to make it a home-and-home series, the games would be played in Norman every other year. OU is the home team in even-numbered years; the games would be played in the recently remodeled Gaylord Family -- Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Million, an independent candidate for lieutenant governor on the Nov. 7 ballot, said he also will be watching Election Day returns 200 miles away. Dallas voters will be voting on a dozen bond issues, including one that would provide $30 million in improvements for the Cotton Bowl, where the Red River Rivalry is played.
"The fate of the OU-Texas game is now in the hands of the Dallas voters on November 7," he said.
If voters approve the measure to provide money to improve the Cotton Bowl in time for the 2009 season, the game probably could not be played there in 2008 because of construction, Million said. If voters reject the Cotton Bowl improvement issue, it's possible Texas would play next year's game at its stadium in Austin, Million said. Seating capacity at the Austin stadium is being increased to 90,000, and suites and sky boxes are being added, similar to improvements made to OU's football stadium in 2003.
"Surely if they take the game to Austin, surely our people would be willing to play it here in Norman," Million said.
Tourism focus
Legislators next year should consider a measure requiring all Oklahoma taxpayer-supported colleges and universities to play their regularly scheduled conference home games within the state, he said.
Or legislators could call an election in November 2008 to have voters decide whether the OU-Texas game should be played every other year in Norman, Million said. To give voters an idea of what they're voting on, legislators should require the OU-Texas game be played in Norman in 2008, he said.
"Then we'll know a month later what we're voting on," he said.
Having the Red River Rivalry in Norman would be an economic boost to the state, Million said. It would bring many people in from outside the state, which would increase tourism for the state, one of the main goals of the office of lieutenant governor, Million said.
While there may only be 4,000 visitor tickets available, many fans would come for the game, he said. "Three weeks ago in Austin, Ohio State played Texas -- 35,000 Buckeyes fans showed up," he said.
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By Michael McNutt
The Oklahoman
NORMAN - If he has his way, E.Z. Million will have a hard time finding a place to sit in any of the restaurants along Campus Corner during the Red River Rivalry weekend two years from now.
Million had no trouble finding a seat during lunch hour Saturday, a couple hours before the kickoff of the University of Oklahoma-University of Texas football game in Dallas.
Million, who has been pushing since 1993 to have the Red River Rivalry be a home-and-home series, said it's plausible the game could be played in Norman in October 2008.
The economic impact of the OU-Texas game has been estimated to be $30 million to $40 million for the city of Dallas.
"It's not about football," Million said. "It's about tourism and economic development. All tourism is economic development."
Voter decisions
The Red River Rivalry has been played in Dallas since 1929. If OU and Texas would decide to make it a home-and-home series, the games would be played in Norman every other year. OU is the home team in even-numbered years; the games would be played in the recently remodeled Gaylord Family -- Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Million, an independent candidate for lieutenant governor on the Nov. 7 ballot, said he also will be watching Election Day returns 200 miles away. Dallas voters will be voting on a dozen bond issues, including one that would provide $30 million in improvements for the Cotton Bowl, where the Red River Rivalry is played.
"The fate of the OU-Texas game is now in the hands of the Dallas voters on November 7," he said.
If voters approve the measure to provide money to improve the Cotton Bowl in time for the 2009 season, the game probably could not be played there in 2008 because of construction, Million said. If voters reject the Cotton Bowl improvement issue, it's possible Texas would play next year's game at its stadium in Austin, Million said. Seating capacity at the Austin stadium is being increased to 90,000, and suites and sky boxes are being added, similar to improvements made to OU's football stadium in 2003.
"Surely if they take the game to Austin, surely our people would be willing to play it here in Norman," Million said.
Tourism focus
Legislators next year should consider a measure requiring all Oklahoma taxpayer-supported colleges and universities to play their regularly scheduled conference home games within the state, he said.
Or legislators could call an election in November 2008 to have voters decide whether the OU-Texas game should be played every other year in Norman, Million said. To give voters an idea of what they're voting on, legislators should require the OU-Texas game be played in Norman in 2008, he said.
"Then we'll know a month later what we're voting on," he said.
Having the Red River Rivalry in Norman would be an economic boost to the state, Million said. It would bring many people in from outside the state, which would increase tourism for the state, one of the main goals of the office of lieutenant governor, Million said.
While there may only be 4,000 visitor tickets available, many fans would come for the game, he said. "Three weeks ago in Austin, Ohio State played Texas -- 35,000 Buckeyes fans showed up," he said.
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