Lloyd Noble could be getting a facelift

University of Oklahoma's board of regents have on its agenda whether to award major contracts to United Airlines and a state architectural firm. The meetings are scheduled to take place Thursday and Friday.

In agenda item No. 22, OU president David Boren will propose the regents "award a contract in the amount of $482,044 to United Airlines, of Houston,

Texas, the best value bidder, to provide air charter services to the University of Oklahoma football team for the 2013 football season," the agenda states.

Five vendors placed bids for the contract including United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Air Fax Inc. and Premier Charter Network.

"Award of this contract is in support of travel for The University of Oklahoma football team, which is scheduled for four games requiring air charter as the method of transportation," the agenda states.

Air Fax bid lowest at $365,700 for all four flights, while Premier Charter Network bid highest at $220,700 for one trip.

"The evaluation team determined that award to United Airlines, of Fort Worth, Texas, represents best value to the University," the agenda states.

Agenda item No. 18 for the regents meeting calls for proposed renovations of Lloyd Noble Center.

"The need has been identified for a comprehensive master plan for facility-wide improvements," the agenda states. "The master planning effort will require the services of an architectural consultant to provide programming and to assist in the development of a comprehensive program."

A source with knowledge of the potential renovations told SoonerScoop.com's Carey Murdock the initial stage of the Lloyd Noble Center redevelopment will start with a feasability study.

The source tells Murdock the Athletics Department will rely on the study in moving forward with renovation plans to the nearly 38-year old facility.

The source says part of the renovations could include a stadium club and suite level. The study will also look into the possibility of improving fan amenities including concession stand accessibility while also looking at the possibilities of reconfiguring seating inside a building which was initially built as a multi-purpose event center.

This is not a vote to hire contractors, but merely a vote to hire an architectural firm to help study the LNC and the potential to make such changes in the future.

Four vendors were evaluated, and Studio Architecture, P.C., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in association with Sink Combs Dethlefs Sports Architecture received the highest marks.

"Funds to cover the costs associated with development of the master plan have been identified, are available and budgeted from Athletics Department capital accounts," the agenda states.