Devon Energy, Oklahoma City University christen boathouse site as

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), May 7, 2008 by Kelley Chambers

Devon Energy Corp. and Oklahoma City University plan to row, row, row their boats gently down the Oklahoma River from a boathouse set for completion next year.

Devon and OCU christened the future site of the boathouse with champagne Tuesday, marking a $5 million donation by Devon to complete the funding for the $10 million boathouse.

The site is just east of the Chesapeake Boathouse at Regatta Park on the north shore of the Oklahoma River. Plans are also in the works to eventually build additional boathouses for the University of Oklahoma and the University of Central Oklahoma rowing teams.

Early plans show a two-level triangle-shaped OCU boathouse designed by Rand Elliott.

Tom McDaniel, president of OCU, said the school has a relationship with Devon in the form of scholarships the company sponsors.

That made Devon the obvious choice for a partner to build the boathouse.

"When it became apparent that the river was going to be such a big part of the future of Oklahoma City, and our rowing program grew from one student to 75, we knew we needed our own boathouse," McDaniel said. "We went to a partner that had been good to us in the past."

The final commitment from Devon was finalized recently after months of talks, McDaniel said.

OCU began its rowing program in 2000 under Mike Knopp. The team became the first varsity crew program in the state in 2004.

Since then the team has racked up awards from competitions around the country.

"What we're trying to do is create one of the world's premier urban aquatic venues," Knopp said. "This boathouse will send a message around the world that will demonstrate our commitment for the future and solidify our place as one of the world's best rowing venues."

Ray Ackerman, co-founder of the advertising firm Ackerman McQueen Inc. and a longtime advocate of making the river a viable resource, said the layout for rowing was done quite by accident.

Ackerman said when the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers made a flood control ditch in the 1950s, they created a straightened portion of the river, making it ideal for competitive rowing.

For years, however, the river was simply an overgrown grassy ditch. But Ackerman never gave up on its potential.

"I'm a river man," Ackerman said. "I grew up with three rivers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and what I learned was we could have water in this river."

Larry Nichols, chairman and CEO of Devon, applauded city leaders and mayors over the last decades, the MAPS project, and subsequent private investment that among other projects put water back in the river.

Looking at two Devon river cruisers and OCU rowers on the river, Nichols joked that a few years ago if someone proposed a boathouse or river cruisers in Oklahoma City many would likely scratch their heads and ask, "What river are you going to build these on?"

"The momentum in Oklahoma City is just palpable," Nichols said. "It has been a great honor for Devon to join in another public private-type partnership with Oklahoma City University to create this boathouse."

OCU has a lease from the River Trust on the property. McDaniel said the goal is to have the boathouse completed by fall 2009.

"That will be an ambitious schedule," he said.

In the meantime the university will continue to use the neighboring Chesapeake Boathouse.

Knopp said he has repeatedly heard comments from rowers from around the world on the quality of the river. Last month the river hosted the U.S. canoe and kayak Olympic trials.

"I think we've barely scratched the surface of the potential for Oklahoma City and the river," Knopp said.