Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — The American Bicycle Association and Arizona-based USA BMX have announced their move to Tulsa.
The announcement was made Wednesday, a day after Tulsa voters approved an extension of a tax program known as Vision Tulsa, which includes $15 million for a stadium and USA BMX headquarters with a training center for bicycle motocross athletes and office space at the former Drillers Stadium.
The move is expected to bring more than 50 jobs and have a $10 million economic impact each year in the Tulsa area.
"We have always had a very good relationship with the city of Tulsa and Tulsa County and look forward to making this project a reality. With the passage of Vision Tulsa, planning for the new headquarters will now begin in earnest," said Bernard Anderson, CEO of USA BMX.
The project, which will require the baseball stadium to be demolished, is expected to take about two years to complete.
Without the passage of Vision Tulsa, Tulsa Sports Commission President Ray Hoyt said, another city would have been chosen for the headquarters and training center.
"Some people seize those moments, and some communities don't," he said. "Tulsa is now one of those communities that seized the moment," Hoyt told the Tulsa World.
For several years, Tulsa has hosted the USA BMX Grand Nationals, an event that brought in riders from every U.S. state and other countries.
The tax is intended for economic development and has varying rates — 0.305 percent from Jan. 1, 2017, until July 1, 2021, then 0.805 percent until July 1, 2025, when it will return to 0.305 percent.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
