USA BMX says their new national headquarters and stadium in Tulsa are schedule for a January move-in date.
The $23 million total project is about 70% complete now, with main structures in place at the former Evans Fintube industrial site. USA BMX President and Chairman Shane Fernandez said they’ve stayed on schedule despite the challenges that come with remediating a polluted site, finding new obstacles like undocumented oil and gas lines, and being mindful of historic preservation needs in what was first part of Black Wall Street before the Tulsa Race Massacre.
"Every foundation that was dug, we had on-site personnel watching every hole. So, there was some artifacts that were pulled up and documented, but Nabolz was very sensitive and worked with City of Tulsa on that," Fernandez said.
Work building the Olympic-quality track is set to begin next month. USA BMX expects to host dozens of racing events there each year in a 2,000 seat, covered outdoor arena.
A two-story building on the site will house the organization’s offices, which are coming to Tulsa from the Phoenix area; hall of fame, which is currently in Chula Vista, California; and space for the USA BMX Foundation’s STEM-focused programs for kids.
"They can build tracks — like, hands dirty, mud, they're building tracks themselves — read to ride programs, and then also, if you can imagine, if you've got an Olympian coming in to do a demo and we're talking to them about things like, what does tire pressure do to a BMX bike? Does it make it slower? Does it make it faster?" Fernandez said.
The foundation will also launch a program next year focused on helping at-risk youth in north Tulsa, including mentorship and teaching them job skills.
The bulk of the project’s funding was approved by Tulsa voters in the Vision sales tax renewal.
"This is an example of when you put Vision money to work for very cool, innovative projects for the community, it's going to impact the community for decades to come, if not forever. And our kids now have the chance to be around an Olympic sport. Who would have thought that 10 years ago?" said Tulsa Regional Tourism President Ray Hoyt.
