This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
The Rock Creek Entertainment District will not appear on the Feb. 11 ballot, as petitioners and the petition’s protesters wait for the results of a court hearing scheduled for Feb. 19.
On Nov. 19, a legal notice was filed with the Cleveland County court contesting the legitimacy of the Oklahomans for Responsible Economic Development’s petition certification. According to court records, the case is assigned to Cleveland County Judge Jeff Virgin.
Two court hearings are scheduled, according to the Oklahoma State Courts Network. The first will take place at 9 a.m. on Feb. 19, with the second scheduled for 9 a.m. Feb. 25.
In the early hours of Sept. 18, the Norman City Council approved the entertainment district in a 5-4 vote.
On Sept. 20, three Norman residents filed a referendum petition to turn the entertainment district over to a public vote. After 30 days of collecting signatures, the city certified over 10,000 signatures on Nov. 6, exceeding the 6,098 required.
The $1.1 billion Rock Creek Entertainment District was introduced in September 2023. The development would include an arena to replace Lloyd Noble Center, new offices, housing and retail establishments.
The protest was filed by David Nimmo, president and CEO of Chickasaw Nation Industries; Kyle Allison, director of Allison’s FUN Inc.; Vernon McKown, CEO and co-founder of Ideal Homes & Neighborhoods; and Dan Quinn, former Ward 8 city council member and a real estate agent for Dillard Cies. Nimmo and Allison, prior to the filing of the protest, spoke in favor of the entertainment district at an Oct. 2 press conference held by OU and Norman leaders.
According to the protest notice, the petition does not fully comply with Oklahoma law, which requires a referendum petition to summarize the nature of the proposed referendum vote in a manner that can be understood by those who do not practice law.
Paul Arcaroli, ORED member and one of the residents who filed the petition, said the people contesting the election know Norman residents want the election.
“They’re saying our signatures are not valid, that (the special election) is not valid, and even with a little marketing in there they say, ‘The old TIF is so successful,’” Arcaroli said. “They just try to bleed us to death. They want to rack up legal fees and think that we won’t be able to stand it.”
Arcaroli said while the university is not named in the lawsuit, he believes they are involved. He said residents are taking advantage of the legal process to allow Norman residents to vote on the entertainment district.
“The only option that (residents) have is petition. That’s part of the legal process,” Arcaroli said.
OU Daily reached out to Nimmo, Allison, McKown, Quinn and the city of Norman for comment. This article will be updated with any further information received.
OU Marketing and Communications wrote in an email to OU Daily the university will await the results of the court hearing and then determine next steps accordingly.
Cynthia Rogers, OU economics professor and ORED founding member, said contesting the election delays the vote and the project moving forward.
“I knew it was going to be scheduled, … but they were working to agree to a date. February just drags things out more,” Rogers said. “Lots of people signed the petition. People understood that it was a chance to vote on this project, whether they liked it or didn’t like it. … I don’t know how that could be more clear to people.”
This story was edited by Peggy Dodd and Anusha Fathepure. Mary Ann Livingood and Sophie Hemker copy edited this story.
