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BOK Center

Coordinates: 36°9′9.8″N 95°59′46.8″W / 36.152722°N 95.996333°W / 36.152722; -95.996333
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BOK Center
Map
Location200 South Denver
Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
OwnerCity of Tulsa
OperatorSMG
CapacityCentral Stage: 19,199[2]
Basketball: 17,839[3]
Hockey: 17,096[2]
Arena Football: 16,582[2]
End Stage: 13,644[2]
Construction
Broke groundAugust 31, 2005
OpenedAugust 30, 2008
Construction cost$196 Million[1]
ArchitectCésar Pelli
Tenants
Tulsa Shock (WNBA) (2010–present)
Tulsa Talons (AFL) (2009–present)
Tulsa Oilers (CHL) (2008–present)

The BOK Center, or Bank of Oklahoma Center, is a 19,199-seat multi-purpose arena and a primary indoor sports and event venue in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Designed to accommodate arena football, hockey, basketball, concerts, and similar events, the facility was built at a cost of $178 million in public funds and an additional $18 million in privately-funded upgrades. Ground was broken on August 31, 2005 and a ribbon cutting involving Tulsa musicians Garth Brooks and Hanson took place on August 30, 2008.[4] The arena's schedule of concerts and other events began on August 31 with a community choir hosted by Sam Harris.[5]

Designed by Cesar Pelli, the architect of the Petronas Towers in Malaysia, the BOK Center is the flagship project of Tulsa County's Vision 2025 long-range development initiative. Local firm, MATRIX Architects Engineers Planners, Inc, is the architect and engineer of record.[6] The arena is managed and operated by SMG and named for the Bank of Oklahoma, which purchased naming rights for $11 million.[7] Current permanent tenants are the Tulsa Oilers of the Central Hockey League and the Tulsa Talons of the Arena Football League, although the facility will host NBA preseason games and college basketball matchups on a regular basis and seek to attract national and regional sporting tournaments. In 2010, the BOK Center will host the Tulsa Shock in the Women's National Basketball Association, previously known as the Detroit Shock. [8]

Design

Terrazzo flooring with embedded Native American artwork dons the arena's main lobby.

Cesar Pelli was asked by Tulsa city officials to create an arena that would be an architectural icon.[9][10] To achieve this, Pelli employed cultural and architectural themes of the city, including Native American, art deco, and contemporary styles,[11] making heavy use of swirling circular elements in the exterior and interior designs of the building.[12] A 103-foot (31 m), 600-foot (180 m) long iconic glass facade featuring 1,600 350-pound panels wraps around the building in an escalating motion leaning at a five-degree angle, with 33,000 steel panels continuing the upward spiraling path around the circumference of the structure.[13] The interior follows the motion, with grand staircases that wrap around a portion of the building from the main lobby. In total, the building's design required 350,000 square feet (33,000 m2) of exterior metal panels, 75,000 square feet (7,000 m2) of glass, 30,000 cubic yards (23,000 m3) of concrete, and 4,000 tons of structural steel.[2]

The arena encompasses 565,000 square feet (52,500 m2) and reaches a maximum height of 134 feet (41 m). Inside, the bowl area's ceiling rests 120 feet (37 m) over the base floor and a 930-foot (280 m)-long HD ribbon screen wraps around the three-level seating area. There are 17,343 fixed seats, each ranging from 20 inches (510 mm) to 22 inches (560 mm) wide — an average width greater than the industry standard, including that of the Ford Center in Oklahoma City.[2] Actual capacity fluctuates with configuration patterns, and total seating can vary from 13,644 to 19,199 — 13,644 for partial-use concerts, 16,582 for arena football, 17,096 for hockey, 17,839 for basketball, and 19,199 for center stage concerts.[3] The bowl area's second floor, an exclusive carpeted level with a complete bar, houses press areas and 37 luxury suites, each with 15 22-inch (560 mm) seats and furnished gathering and kitchen areas. In the main concourse, more than 130,000 square feet (12,000 m2) of terrazzo flooring has aggregate that contains 70 percent mother of pearl.[2] Private funding exceeded original forecasts, and unexpected increases in revenue from corporate sponsorships, donations, and purchases of box seats and luxury boxes paid for an advanced light display for the glass wall that wraps around the front of the building and the scoreboard.[14]

The BOK Center's 30-by-33-foot scoreboard was funded with $3.6 million in private donations.

Amenities

The BOK Center holds 37 public restrooms — 12 men’s restrooms, 16 women’s restrooms and 9 family restrooms — with 300 toilets and urinals.[2] Dressing rooms with wooden lockers, hydrotherapy and workout rooms, a players lounge, locker rooms for game officials, and office space for coaches, trainers, and equipment managers are also located within the building.[15] The arena's hanging scoreboard, considered one of the most advanced in the country, is suspended above the arena floor and measures 50,000-pounds and 30-by-33-feet, making use of four 8-by-14-foot HD screens, four 8-by-8 foot HD screens, a wrap-around 9-foot (2.7 m) HD screen, and another 3-foot (0.91 m) wrap-around HD screen. Designed by Forty Forty Agency and manufactured by Daktronics, it was built with $3.6 million in private donations, with some funds going toward an advanced video recording system.[14]

There are 14 concession outlets, seven of which belong to Tulsa-area restaurants that supplement typical arena food. As of June 2008, partial restaurant branches within the building are In the Raw (sushi), Billy's On the Square (American fast-casual), Oklahoma Style BBQ, Ike's Chili BBQ, Rubicon Restaurant (baked potato specialty), Mazzio's Italian Eatery, and Borden Dairy (milkshakes, ice cream). General concessions serve Mexican food, chicken tender baskets, philly cheesesteaks, hot dogs, corn dogs, chili cheese fries, bratwurst, Panini sandwiches, and dessert items.[16]

Nearly $1.5 million was allocated to artwork within the building in light of a city ordinance mandating that at least one percent of construction costs for any municipal project be used for public art. Tulsa's Arts Commission selected five artists out of nearly 300 applicants to decorate the interior of the building with the intention of capturing the spirit of the city and state. Of their pieces, the largest is a cloud-like cloth sculpture designed by Kendell Buster that weighs 5,000 pounds and hangs above the main concourse. Four 22-foot (6.7 m) Native American medallions designed by Bill and Demos Glass decorate the main concourse floor, along with a series of 25 paintings of tallgrass prairie landscapes created by Mark Lewis that adorn a wall on the main lobby's third level. A 9-by-24-foot black-and-white painting of rearing horses created by Joe Andoe hangs on a wall near a concession stand on the north side of the building,[17] and a light display created by Jenny Holzer is also within the arena.[10]

Ownership and management

The city of Tulsa owns the arena but has a five-year management contract worth $950,000 with SMG property management, the largest arena manager in the world. SMG, which also manages the nearby Tulsa Convention Center and the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, employs more than 70 full-time workers and 400 part-time workers in Tulsa and assumes the building's annual operations cost of $6,267,752. As of the arena's grand opening, John Bolton is its manager.[18]

History

A public open house on August 30, 2008 served as the arena's opening event.

A campaign promise by former Tulsa mayor Bill LaFortune to hold a municipal planning conference was fulfilled within months of taking office in 2002. Although tax packages for arenas were rejected by voters in 1997 and 2000, a third plan for a downtown arena was the brainchild of the conference, along with dozens of other projects throughout Tulsa County, including a renovation of the nearby Tulsa Convention Center costing $42 million. Vision 2025, a tax initiative increasing sales taxes by six-tenths of a cent over 13 years, was approved by voters in September 2003. Pelli's design was released in September 2004 and construction began in August 2005.[19]

Tulsa Vision Builders, a joint project of Tulsa-based Flintco and Manhattan Construction, was chosen to build the arena.[20] Its original budget was deemed $141 million, but increases in the cost of structural steel, concrete, and labor due to Hurricane Katrina and a robust local economy pushed the cost to $178 million in 2006.[21][22] An additional $18 million in private funding was used in miscellaneous upgrades, bringing the total cost of the arena to $196 million.[1]

Event History

The first announced concert was on September 6, 2008 and featured The Eagles. Since its grand opening, the BOK Center has hosted many big-name acts such as Billy Joel and Elton John, Kenny Chesney, Bruce Springsteen, ACDC, Nine Inch Nails, Celine Dion, Brad Paisley, Dane Cook, and the Jonas Brothers. The Eagles also scheduled a rare second performance at the BOK Center after their first concert sold out in 35 minutes.[23] In late 2008, BOK Center manager John Bolton was given Venues Today's "Hall of Headlines" award after a poll of venue managers, owners, operators and bookers determined that Bolton had the highest level of success in booking high-quality performances among international venues in 2008.[24]

On October 13, 2008, the Oklahoma City Thunder played the Houston Rockets in its first preseason game in Oklahoma since leaving Seattle and the first major sporting event at the BOK Center.[25] As of August 2008, the team was seeking to regularly play preseason games in Tulsa, although the number of annual games has not been determined.[26] The BOK Center also hosts the Tulsa Oilers ice hockey team and the Tulsa Talons af2 team. In early 2010, the BOK Center hosted the Conference USA Men's Basketball Tournament. In the summer of 2010, the BOK Center will host the Tulsa Shock in the Women's National Basketball Association, previously known as the Detroit Shock. [27]

The Professional Bull Riders began hosting Built Ford Tough Series events at the BOK Center in 2009, after having previously occupied the Tulsa Convention Center.

Notable Event Facts

Paul McCartney performed on August 17. The event launched the "One Year Birthday" celebration of the venue. The stop in Tulsa was McCartney's first in Oklahoma since 2002 and was the only arena show of his 2009 Summer Tour.

WWE Smackdown/ECW tapings were held on September 22, 2009 which was the first WWE event at the BOK Center. There was over 10,000 people which broke a record for most people at a WWE event at the BOK Center.

Creed performed on October 9, 2009, for their Reunion Tour.

Concerts

BOK Center has hosted many concerts since opening. Some of the most well known of which are:

Impact and reception

The BOK Center's iconic main entrance

Tulsa's downtown was the site of projects anchored by the BOK Center, including a $42 million renovation of the Tulsa Convention Center, a $20 million renovation of downtown streets, a $4 million renovation and expansion of a nearby parking garage, streetscape improvements, and art deco-style signs directing visitors to parking garages, public buildings, specialty districts, and entertainment venues.[28] The arena is expected to host 148 major and minor events in its first year, which are anticipated to generate $1.5 million in tax revenue[18] and $92 million in economic impact.[29] SMG is expected to earn $6,553,250 in revenue, giving it a $285,498 annual profit.[18] In its first four months of operation, the BOK Center's ticket sales were nearly enough to reach Venues Today's top 20 worldwide rankings for total ticket sales in 2008 among venues seating 15,001-30,000. The arena reached $20 million in sales in 2008 and is projected to surpass at least $30 million in 2009, which would put it within the top 15 worldwide in sales according to the 2008 rankings.[30]

The arena won Facilities Magazine's Prime Site Award in 2008, which is based on opinions from representatives in the site selection industry, booking agents, promoters, talent buyers, and special event planners, who judge based on location, functionality, technical capabilities, quality of staff, food and beverage, lighting, sound, and staging.[31] The arena was also one of four venues nominated for Pollstar's 2008 "Best New Major Concert Venue" award, which is set to be decided in January 2009.[32] In its first three months of operation, the facility was featured or set to be featured in at least four major venue publications,[33] including Venues Today, which gave its 2008 "Hall of Headlines" award to BOK Center manager John Bolton after a poll of venue managers, owners, operators and bookers determined that Bolton had the highest level of success worldwide in booking high-quality performances in 2008.[24] In late 2008, a survey of BOK Center visitors found that 96.7 percent felt the building's overall impression, staff, concessions, merchandise, and traffic flow were favorable.[33]

The flowing design and acoustic properties of the BOK Center have been praised by Tulsa Vision Builders, Tulsa city officials, and Garth Brooks. Officials from Flintco and Manhattan Construction have called the BOK Center one of the best architectural designs in their 100-year histories of building projects. The companies have worked on Cowboys Stadium, Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas, Gallagher-Iba Arena at Oklahoma State University, the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee, and stadium renovations at the University of Oklahoma and OSU, among other projects.[20] City officials have praised Pelli for the design,[19] and Brooks, who held a 2007 concert at Kansas City's new Sprint Center, said at the BOK Center's grand opening, "You guys have got (the Sprint Center) beat hands down. It houses as many people, yet it's warm and small. It's as beautiful and grand as any place I've played."[34] Pelli reacted to the arena's completion by saying that it had taken a "life of its own" since he designed the building, but that the results were exciting and impressed him. He said the building has taken a form that pays tribute to Tulsa's art deco, the nearby Arkansas River, and the city's American Indian history, and anticipated that it would be a major catalyst for private development in Tulsa's downtown.[12]

Transportation

Streets bordering the BOK Center's back entrance are closed to traffic during events.

Downtown Tulsa is served by an inner dispersal loop formed by Interstate 244, U.S. Route 64, U.S. Route 412, and U.S. Route 75, which connect to Interstate 44. Tulsa International Airport is located 8 miles (13 km) northeast of the area.

City officials estimate there are 12,000 parking spaces within a 10-minute walk of the BOK Center, and shuttle and tour bus services operate within downtown Tulsa during major events. Through a program instituted by the Tulsa Convention and Visitors Bureau, 50 guides are stationed within dozens of blocks of the arena during major events to help with parking and provide general information about shuttle services, events, and downtown Tulsa. Although streets bordering the back entrance of the arena are closed to automobile traffic during events to create a staging area for crews, other bordering streets are open to shuttles, tour buses, limousines, and handicap drop-off vehicles.[35]

References

  1. ^ a b Barber, Brian (2008-08-24). "Private money provided upgrades". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2008-08-30. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Inside the BOK center" (pdf). Tulsa World. Retrieved 2008-08-30. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ a b "Inside BOK Center Capacity" (pdf). Tulsa World. Retrieved 2008-08-30. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ Barber, Brian (2008-07-07). "Garth Brooks to cut ribbon at BOK Center opening". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2008-07-12. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ "Multifaith Celebration". SMG. 2008-08-01. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  6. ^ Lassek, P.J. (2004-02-11). "Vision 2025: Tulsa combination lands arena contract". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2008-10-10. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ "Tulsa's BOK Center". Tulsa Today. 2005-10-28. Retrieved 2008-09-02. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ [1]
  9. ^ "Arena Schematic Design Presented". Vision 2025. 2006. Retrieved 2007-05-07.
  10. ^ a b "BOK Center Highlights". SMG. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  11. ^ Barber, Brian (2004-09-28). "Leaders praise arena design". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2007-05-07. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ a b Barber, Brian (2008-07-24). "Pelli's arena grows up". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2008-08-30. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ Barber, Brian (2007-12-06). "Pane-staking work: Glass goes onto arena wall". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2008-08-30. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ a b Barber, Brian (2008-06-19). "Arena sign scores big for the city". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2008-07-12. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ "Tulsa Talons will Play at the BOK Center". SMG. 2007-10-23. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  16. ^ Barber, Brian (2008-06-29). "Local food on menu at BOK Center". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2008-07-12. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  17. ^ Barber, Brian (2008-08-24). "Artists enliven BOK's interior". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2008-08-30. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  18. ^ a b c Barber, Brian (2008-08-24). "Management boasts experience". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2008-08-30. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  19. ^ a b Barber, Brian (2008-08-24). "BOK Center an icon of Tulsa". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2008-08-30. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  20. ^ a b Barber, Brian (2008-08-24). "Arena product of joint effort". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2008-08-30. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  21. ^ "BOK Construction progressing on new Tulsa arena". KFOR-TV. 2007-08-27. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  22. ^ Barber, Brian (2007-06-13). "BOK Center Construction: Officials see new arena's grand scale". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2007-06-13. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  23. ^ Chancellor, Jennifer (2008-08-26). "Eagles to perform at BOK Center again in November". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2008-08-30. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  24. ^ a b "BOK Center General Manager Wins Top International Accolade". BOK Center. 2008-11-17. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
  25. ^ "Oklahoma City NBA team will play first in-state game in Tulsa". Tulsa World. 2008-08-11. Retrieved 2008-08-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  26. ^ "BOK Center could host more exhibition games". Tulsa World. 2008-07-03. Retrieved 2008-07-03. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  27. ^ [2]
  28. ^ Barber, Brian (2008-08-24). "Finishing touches still to go". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2008-08-30. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  29. ^ "Project: BOK Center". Tulsa County. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  30. ^ Barber, Biran (2008-12-26). "Top-20 sales goal for arena". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2008-12-29. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  31. ^ Carter, Marla (2008-12-07). "BOK Center wins national award". KJRH. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
  32. ^ Clark, Richard (2008-12-03). "BOK Center Nominated For Award". KOTV. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
  33. ^ a b Barber, Biran (2008-11-16). "Satisfaction reported by arena customers". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2008-12-08. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  34. ^ Barber, Brian (2008-07-08). "Not now, says Garth". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2008-08-30. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  35. ^ Lassek, P. J. (2008-08-24). "Ins and outs of parking". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2008-09-02. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to BOK Center.
Preceded by
The Palace of Auburn Hills (as Detroit Shock)
 Home of the
Tulsa Shock
2010 – present 		Succeeded by
current
Preceded by Home of the
Tulsa Talons
2009 – present 		Succeeded by
current
Preceded by Home of the
Tulsa Oilers
2008 – present 		Succeeded by
current

36°9′9.8″N 95°59′46.8″W / 36.152722°N 95.996333°W / 36.152722; -95.996333

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