[8D]I think the downtown arena is a great choice just because right now every big concert or anything goes to oklahoma city because we have nothing big enough to hold concerts in. I know even when Garth Brookes came to town they had his concert in the drillers stadium. How dumb!! Maybe now we can get an actual NBA basketball team .
One thing I keep thinking about though, is this. I went to OKC to see Toby Kieth, it was a great concert, almost full, but maybe not totally a sellout. Then he can to Tulsa at the Convention Center, trying to be a Tulsa supporter, I went again with some friends. It wasn't even close to a sellout. I just wonder, can we really fill the arena? I hope so, but I keep remembering my experience so far. It'll be interesting. I know I'll do my best to support it, I just hope it's a success.
The current convention center doesn't promote itself or its events very well right now. There isn't a HUGE volume of headliner events flowing through that place. Once the events start booking for the BOK Center, you will see new a new strategy for advertising these events.
The facts are that Tulsa's surrounding area has a much bigger base to draw from than does OKC. We can draw from SE Kansas, SW Missouri and Arkansas where there is little to NO competition for these big events.
We will be fine ;)
We will survive....the arena will be a white elephant.
quote:
Originally posted by bacjz00
The current convention center doesn't promote itself or its events very well right now. There isn't a HUGE volume of headliner events flowing through that place. Once the events start booking for the BOK Center, you will see new a new strategy for advertising these events.
The facts are that Tulsa's surrounding area has a much bigger base to draw from than does OKC. We can draw from SE Kansas, SW Missouri and Arkansas where there is little to NO competition for these big events.
We will be fine ;)
But, but, we are a river town. We should be developing the river. We were duped into voting for the arena. It will never succeed.
The Arena will cost the City, but benefit the County, right? Is that not the rationale for building it? I can accept the idea that the Arena will be a loss-leader, but do not understand why the City has to own it.
quote:
Originally posted by tim huntzinger
The Arena will cost the City, but benefit the County, right? Is that not the rationale for building it? I can accept the idea that the Arena will be a loss-leader, but do not understand why the City has to own it.
County paid to build it, city gets a free arena and free convention center tune-up. They get free buildings and can claim the secondary benefits as primary in all PR.
quote:
Originally posted by guido911
quote:
Originally posted by bacjz00
The current convention center doesn't promote itself or its events very well right now. There isn't a HUGE volume of headliner events flowing through that place. Once the events start booking for the BOK Center, you will see new a new strategy for advertising these events.
The facts are that Tulsa's surrounding area has a much bigger base to draw from than does OKC. We can draw from SE Kansas, SW Missouri and Arkansas where there is little to NO competition for these big events.
We will be fine ;)
But, but, we are a river town. We should be developing the river. We were duped into voting for the arena. It will never succeed.
For Tulsa to be a great city it needs its downtown AND the river to be interesting destinations. Its not an either or situation. If we want Tulsa to succeed WE have to make it succeed. If the areana fails it will be because we let it. With the right amount of creativity and drive we can make Tulsa and the arena a draw. Saying it will fail is you saying you are not going to put any effort to help it succeed. This is a community project, a city project so its up to the community and the city to make it a success.
This facility will be much better than the convention center. Even for someone like me who wants to go to different events the convention center was a depressing facility to be in. It felt like visiting a dark prison not a fun "event". Our new arena will be a great place to visit.
^Well said
The largest pubic facility management firm in the world is going to run the arena and they say it will turn a profit.
But from reading online I would guess they reached that position by not knowing as much as people on message boards and blos or just by lying.
What do you think?
quote:
Originally posted by swake
The largest pubic facility management firm in the world is going to run the arena and they say it will turn a profit.
But from reading online I would guess they reached that position by not knowing as much as people on message boards and blos or just by lying.
What do you think?
OK Swake.... This is a trick question... correct.?
You are intelligent and you realize there is a difference between "generating revenue....... and turning a profit".
No doubt the Arena will generate revenue..
Will it make in excess of one Million Dollars per month (over and above operating cost.. management cost.. etc.) for the first 15 years it is open..?
If you have an analyst that can make that sort of leap... Ask him what the Dow will be doing in five years..? I need his name.....
But again from reading other things you have written on this and other Boards... This has to be a trick question..
On the other hand.. this will be a stepping stone for other things... So should that revenue be counted as Arena Profit..?Here is hoping that there is no such thing as a "Bubble" in the New Urban..Modern Form Base Code Building.. Non Sprawl.. Downtown Core Development Boom...!
Downtown economic profit... certainly.
Some people will just never understand...look folks...we have close to a million people in the Tulsa MSA. Having a place that seats more than 10,000 people indoors at one time isn't exactly EXCESSIVE. It's practically a public necessity.
quote:
Originally posted by sgrizzle
quote:
Originally posted by tim huntzinger
The Arena will cost the City, but benefit the County, right? Is that not the rationale for building it? I can accept the idea that the Arena will be a loss-leader, but do not understand why the City has to own it.
County paid to build it, city gets a free arena and free convention center tune-up. They get free buildings and can claim the secondary benefits as primary in all PR.
Wrong.
Citizens of the county pay taxes to build it. City manages it. Title held by city-county authority. Everyone benefits.
Creating some sort of city/county dichotomy is disingenuous. It creates strife where there is none. We're all in it together and the arena will benefit everyone.
^well you are way too late so quit that attitude and just start showing up for the tractor pulls....afterwards, you can get smashed at the multitudes of boozeries that will make Tulsa a landmark for thousands all over the world to be attracted to. It will make us quite different than everywhere else. The design alone of the new arena will make it the second splendor right behind ORU....
Now, if we could only fix the streets leading to the new arena everything would be peaches and cream.
quote:
Originally posted by Rico
quote:
Originally posted by swake
The largest pubic facility management firm in the world is going to run the arena and they say it will turn a profit.
But from reading online I would guess they reached that position by not knowing as much as people on message boards and blos or just by lying.
What do you think?
OK Swake.... This is a trick question... correct.?
You are intelligent and you realize there is a difference between "generating revenue....... and turning a profit".
No doubt the Arena will generate revenue..
Will it make in excess of one Million Dollars per month (over and above operating cost.. management cost.. etc.) for the first 15 years it is open..?
If you have an analyst that can make that sort of leap... Ask him what the Dow will be doing in five years..? I need his name.....
But again from reading other things you have written on this and other Boards... This has to be a trick question..
On the other hand.. this will be a stepping stone for other things... So should that revenue be counted as Arena Profit..?
Here is hoping that there is no such thing as a "Bubble" in the New Urban..Modern Form Base Code Building.. Non Sprawl.. Downtown Core Development Boom...!
The arena will have, according to SMG, a net operating profit to the city, it will not be a drain on the city budget. That does not mean it will make a profit when you consider the construction cost, so yes, it will make a "profit" and yes it will be a loss leader. The reasons to construct the arena are to spur downtown development, to add to the quality of life of the city (and civic pride) and to protect and grow the convention industry in Tulsa. The operational profit in no way would have ever justified (or financed) the construction cost. But for terms of the city budget, a profit.
http://www.cityoftulsa.org/News/Archives/ConventionCenterOperator.asp
Mayor Bill LaFortune announced today that he has accepted the unanimous recommendation of the Vision 2025 Oversight Committee to hire SMG to operate both the BOK Center and the Tulsa Convention Center. SMG is the largest manager of convention centers and arenas in the United States.
"The Vision 2025 Oversight Committee worked tirelessly, and I fully support their recommendation," Mayor LaFortune said in a news conference. "After extensive review and countless hours in the research and interview process the committee determined that SMG was best suited for the job."
An open invitation for bid went out July 15th and two national firms and the Tulsa Convention Center Staff responded. The committee followed the required city ordinance in its selection process.
LaFortune said employees of the Convention Center will be provided with every protection necessary regarding job status, wages and benefits. The transition in management will be completed in 1 ½ years.
"We are very proud of the talent in our existing Convention Center Staff. SMG shares our opinion and is sensitive to the transition of our talented Convention Center staff.
"A lot of thought went into this decision going all the way back to our Arena and convention center tours that took us to nine cities and 15 venues," LaFortune said. "Among those we toured included numerous SMG facilities and we were impressed with the success of each one."
SMG brings three decades of experience as managers of 70 Arenas, 55 convention centers, and 35 performing arts centers, to the table. They also manage 21 combination Arena and convention centers.
"SMG is arguably the best in the business, and due to its huge size and relationships, it will have great leverage in events bookings, creating a competitive advantage for Tulsa. Also, our current Arena tenants and our naming rights sponsor, BOK, endorsed SMG, along with numerous other clients and vendors," LaFortune said.
During remarks at the Nov. 4th news conference, LaFortune said, "The bottom line for both me and the committee was doing what was best to protect the citizens and taxpayers. SMG projected millions in net revenues over five years, basing the numbers on their wealth of experience and extensive research in the Tulsa market. SMG, after the first full year that both facilities are open, shows at least $1 million a year in combined operating profit.
"While SMG manages the OKC Arena, we believe they are two very distinct markets, only 10% of sales are crossover. SMG has been very successful operating multiple facilities in close proximity. They have done an excellent job in OKC and we believe they will do the same great job for Tulsa. Again, the strength of their revenue projections was impossible to ignore and completely overshadow any question related to Oklahoma City.
"We are confident that having one management team for both the convention center and the Arena will have numerous efficiencies. Those include savings in operation costs, staffing, marketing and building services. These buildings will work together as one team, ensuring consistent high levels of customer service. Both national firms showed us savings of a minimum of $700,000 a year with single management of both facilities, and both firms, in their expert opinions, recommended single management as opposed to split management for the facility," he added
Perhaps it's a white elephant, perhaps it will be a money drain ... but it's a done-deal ... we're getting an arena ... so let's make the most of it.
Anyone know:
1. The load limit per square foot for the floor in the new arena.
2. Size of opening width, height of the loading doors and entrance into the floor from the alley of the arena?
3. Dimensions of the floor space?
4. Will SMG allow dirt events to be produced in the new arena? If so, do they have or plan ownership and storage areas for Clay, Sandy Loam and Top Soil for the production of these types of events?
Arenas we use in other States provide the dirt, two or more front end loaders and all necessary operators for use of dirt for our Indoor motorsports events. Tulsa is one of only a few Cities we produce events in that does not have the equipment and storage of material.
Most larger motorsports events today require a much larger floor space than our existing Maxwell Convention Center or Pavillion provides. The Live Stock Arena at Tulsa Expo is closer to floor dimensions, but lacks in seating capacity. Best case is a floor space of 600 feet by 450 feet. Most in this area are tiny by comparision at 220-250 feet by 110 feet. Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma is one of the largest in the State.
The Expo Building comes closer to floor dimensiona, but is restricted by support beams. Seating is a major pain having to lease and then move in and out the portable wooden plank seat bleachers that are not owned by the County.
Anyone have of have see published the dimensions of the floor space for the new arena?
quote:
Originally posted by PRH
In my opinion, we don't even need this arena to be built.
So we should've just toughed it out with our 45 year old, 8000 seat, cinder block dump instead?
We needed a new arena regardless, because the old one was done, finished, kaput. It's a civic embarassment. Had to be replaced if we had one ounce of pride or self-respect left.
And if you're going to build a new arena, building it smaller than the minimum size required to bid on special events and concerts would have been monumentally stupid. Why pass up the opportunity to host NCAA basketball tournament games and major concerts right from the get-go? Doesn't take even a spec of vision to at least give ourselves a shot at those things while we're going to the trouble of building a new arena.
And we're making it nice, with an interesting design. Part of that is to be competitive with other cities, but a large part of that should come back to civic pride. We build an arena once in a generation, maybe longer even. We'll all be dead or barely hanging on in retirement homes when the next arena is proposed. Gee, what a terrible shame we decided to build a nice one to last us for 40+ years!! Why not just follow the lead of some of these half-donkey casinos and throw up some tin barn and be done with it? Gimme a break aleady...
You negative Nancys who are always griping at everything have gotten the Tulsa you deserve for the past 25 years. Time for you losers to step aside.
quote:
Originally posted by AVERAGE JOE
QuoteSo we should've just toughed it out with our 45 year old, 8000 seat, cinder block dump instead?
Sure, there were reasons for a new arena, but they weren't worth $150 million, IMHO. Or, to describe my sentiment more accurately, I think there were many, many more important things that Tulsa could have done with $150 million. I think we were desperate at the time and this was "hyped" as the solution. Its not. Just like the Channels is not. And its my sincere hope that Tulsans never get backed into a corner like this again.
quote:
Originally posted by Chicken Little
quote:
Originally posted by AVERAGE JOE
QuoteSo we should've just toughed it out with our 45 year old, 8000 seat, cinder block dump instead?
Sure, there were reasons for a new arena, but they weren't worth $150 million, IMHO. Or, to describe my sentiment more accurately, I think there were many, many more important things that Tulsa could have done with $150 million. I think we were desperate at the time and this was "hyped" as the solution. Its not. Just like the Channels is not. And its my sincere hope that Tulsans never get backed into a corner like this again.
The arena and the Channels are completely different issues. The Channels cost was about six times what the arena cost. The Channels is not currently in high demand the way the arena is. The fact is, anyone who thinks the arena was a bad idea is ignorant. It's just that simple. Cities all over the country that have a smaller MSA population than Tulsa already have an arena. We are the largest MSA city in the nation without an indoor arena seating >12,000. Let's face it, Little Rock has had an 18,000 seat arena for about ten years now. There are about a quarter of a million more people in Tulsa's MSA than there are in Little Rock's. How much more convincing do you people need? Know the facts!!!!
Reading throught all the arguments against the arena I was shocked when someone reminded me of the price tag, 150 million. I was like.. Thats it? Only 150 mill? Thats whats causing all the fuss? Is this city, or town, so small and poor that 150 million for an arena is so controversial, so devistating a struggle to afford?
There was one thing that was similar in both the Channels and the Arena...both saw a need for a large public gathering place.
Good size crowds don't happen enough in our town.
We have some things that inspire big crowds . The Tulsa Run, the State Fair, Mayfest almost every year, the Centennial Fireworks this year all are fun partly in the fact that there were thousands of us together.
It doesn't have to be an island or an arena, but we need something that serves as a perfect place to put big crowds.
quote:
Originally posted by TheArtist
Reading throught all the arguments against the arena I was shocked when someone reminded me of the price tag, 150 million. I was like.. Thats it? Only 150 mill? Thats whats causing all the fuss? Is this city, or town, so small and poor that 150 million for an arena is so controversial, so devistating a struggle to afford?
Even with the cost overruns on the arena, you could literally build
FOUR Cesar Pelli BOK Centers for the total estimated price of the Channels ($178 million vs. $788 million).
quote:
Originally posted by perspicuity85
The arena and the Channels are completely different issues. The Channels cost was about six times what the arena cost. The Channels is not currently in high demand the way the arena is. The fact is, anyone who thinks the arena was a bad idea is ignorant. It's just that simple. Cities all over the country that have a smaller MSA population than Tulsa already have an arena. We are the largest MSA city in the nation without an indoor arena seating >12,000. Let's face it, Little Rock has had an 18,000 seat arena for about ten years now. There are about a quarter of a million more people in Tulsa's MSA than there are in Little Rock's. How much more convincing do you people need? Know the facts!!!!
First, I think you just called me ignorant, but I'll let it slide this time.[;)] Second, I am in no way a tightwad; I think Tulsans
should make investments in their future. I
wanted Tulsans to vote for the Vision 2025, I just didn't think that the Arena and Convention Center should have been the centerpiece. I think the way the Vision 2025 projects were selected for votes was
very lame and many smaller (but good) ideas were passed over in order to make room for an idea that was stale 25 years ago.
And so, what I am saying is that it was, and is, ridiculous to think that the arena and convention center ($183 million, together) is the ONE MISSING piece that Tulsa needed for success. While I'm absolutely
thrilled at the prospect of some bigtime basketball tournament action, I really don't think its worth $150 million. That place will sit empty 3/4 of the time. Could we have spent that money more wisely? You bet. Why didn't we spend $183 million making Tulsa a
desirable, fun convention town, first, and worry about the convention center second? No reason we couldn't have switched it around. Point is, nobody really thought it through. Bank on that. We should be more careful in the future.
/Oh, and "high demand"? Good luck proving that.
"So we should've just toughed it out with our 45 year old, 8000 seat, cinder block dump instead?" - AJ
Dude, not all public space are suppose to create a sense of walking through fields of Juniper and Mist.
That "dump" is true to its era and as such deserves respect. Without those designers bringing that "style" to life where would we be now?
It's a stepping-stone in the evolution of indoor spaces, mind your manners, jdb
Based on one of the films from "Tulsa Fantastic Films" the original design of the Civic Center we have now was to of been Round and I believe had more seating than what was built.
Anyone know the reason why the Round Design was replaced with the rectangle?
quote:
Originally posted by Chicken Little
quote:
Originally posted by perspicuity85
The arena and the Channels are completely different issues. The Channels cost was about six times what the arena cost. The Channels is not currently in high demand the way the arena is. The fact is, anyone who thinks the arena was a bad idea is ignorant. It's just that simple. Cities all over the country that have a smaller MSA population than Tulsa already have an arena. We are the largest MSA city in the nation without an indoor arena seating >12,000. Let's face it, Little Rock has had an 18,000 seat arena for about ten years now. There are about a quarter of a million more people in Tulsa's MSA than there are in Little Rock's. How much more convincing do you people need? Know the facts!!!!
First, I think you just called me ignorant, but I'll let it slide this time.[;)] Second, I am in no way a tightwad; I think Tulsans should make investments in their future. I wanted Tulsans to vote for the Vision 2025, I just didn't think that the Arena and Convention Center should have been the centerpiece. I think the way the Vision 2025 projects were selected for votes was very lame and many smaller (but good) ideas were passed over in order to make room for an idea that was stale 25 years ago.
And so, what I am saying is that it was, and is, ridiculous to think that the arena and convention center ($183 million, together) is the ONE MISSING piece that Tulsa needed for success. While I'm absolutely thrilled at the prospect of some bigtime basketball tournament action, I really don't think its worth $150 million. That place will sit empty 3/4 of the time. Could we have spent that money more wisely? You bet. Why didn't we spend $183 million making Tulsa a desirable, fun convention town, first, and worry about the convention center second? No reason we couldn't have switched it around. Point is, nobody really thought it through. Bank on that. We should be more careful in the future.
/Oh, and "high demand"? Good luck proving that.
Sorry for the hastiness, but the fact is Tulsa is the largest MSA population in the country without an arena seating over 12,000. Do you think every other city in America just got it wrong? Downtown arenas stimulate private downtown development. Would Kanbar and Kauffman have bought up so much property without the investment by the citizens of Tulsa in Vison2025? Would Global Development Partners have ever been involved in the East End project without it? Probably not. And while I agree with you that some of the Vision 2025 projects should have been left off the ballot, I think overall its passage was very beneficial to the Tulsa MSA. The BOk Center is in
very high demand in the Tulsa area, and I don't have to prove it, it's already been proven. BOk wouldn't have paid $11 million for naming rights if they didn't think it was worthwile (that wasn't an act of philanthropy). SMG would never have offered to manage the arena if they didn't think it was a profitable contract. NCAA tournaments and high-profile concerts are huge draws, and when the arena is finished there will be about 900,000 people in Tulsa's MSA that will go to these type of events. And what about the possiblity of an OSU or OU vs. TU basketball game at the arena? Sellout. What about a neutral site game between Arkansas and OSU or OU or TU? I guarantee you people from the burgeoning NW Ark population will come to that event. Furthermore, people are often attracted to the
facility, not just the event. Do people in the suburban Tulsa (which includes about 2/3 of the MSA population) want to go to the convention center to watch an arena football game? Most of the time the answer is no. I'm not saying the new arena will draw 18,000 for an arena football game, but I would bet money that it
will definitely increase attendance. Tulsa has been skipped in many major concert tours in the past 15 years. Oklahoma City was skipped on most of those too, until 2002, when the Ford Center opened.
As I've said all along, Tulsa needs a downtown magnet to attract people. The arena alone will not save downtown, but it is a necessary component.
quote:
Originally posted by jdb
"So we should've just toughed it out with our 45 year old, 8000 seat, cinder block dump instead?" - AJ
Dude, not all public space are suppose to create a sense of walking through fields of Juniper and Mist.
That "dump" is true to its era and as such deserves respect. Without those designers bringing that "style" to life where would we be now?
It's a stepping-stone in the evolution of indoor spaces, mind your manners, jdb
It wasn't even good for its era while we were IN its era. It was a spartan cinder-block box the day it opened.
We used to host the annual International Finals Rodeo in that building, which brought in a lot of money every year. They bailed on the place because the facility was woefully inadequate --
twenty years ago.
While I have never bought the hype the Chamber was selling on all the conventions and money-spending out of towners the new arena was going to lure, it was just time to replace the old one. It's been all but untouched for its 45 year life. We've gotten our money out of it. We can use the space for more productive uses. Time to bid that civic embarrassment a not-so-fond farewell and get a new building online.
The idea that we didn't need a new arena after 45 years in that dingy, depressing, cramped, charmless shoebox is laughable. Anyone who can't see that should be given a one-way ticket to Guymon on the back of a hay wagon. Buh-bye.
"...be given a one-way ticket to Guymon..." - AJ
Hey, now your picking on Guymon?
Guymon, Ok. was an important...damn gotta scram, I'll finish with you later!
jdb
I have never been against any new Venue for Green Country. Just curious why the designers failed to contact production companies that produced major events at the Civic Center, Pavillion, Tulsa Expo, Myriad, State Fair facilities in OKC and Tulsa, and in and around Oklahoma for the past several decades.
Re-Inventing the Wheel Tulsa Syndrome
Tulsa appears to be trying to re-invent the wheel or buying the wrong design many times. Take the Tulsa Expo Speedway or Fair Meadows as it is sometimes called. The track is 3/4 of a mile, where the standard is 1/2 mile or mile, and the North Tulsa Speedway is 3/8 mile.
The odd sizes do not fit the standard gearing of most Sanctioning Bodies racing vehicles. Therefore it is difficult for events to be held at either track. Tulsa Syndrome once again.
Seems a simple poll regarding requirements of egress, floor load limits, electrical power needs and other factors prior to designing a building would help the facility managers fill the needs rather than to fall short of providing the show producers needs.
I have seen buildings that obviously had zero forethought, and a simple one foot dimension error avoided producing a show there as we would not be able to fit the width of a Monster Truck through the entry door to the Arena without doing major structural changes.
The Myriad in OKC is a prime example. First it has excalators that only go in one or the other direction on either end of the arena. Neither will travel two directions at the same time. For concerts they work great, but for conventions, car shows and other events where floor traffic is constantly moving around the facility, they suck.
The architect and planners were Einstones when it came to the parking garage. Great idea to get the public close to the door out of the weather, but a bad design regarding floor weighy load limit. Myriad has a maximum of 250 lbs per square foot. That means a person that weighs 251 lbs cannot stand on one foot on the floor of the Myriad. Ever wonder how much an Elephant weighs? Or how about 8 300+lb Pro Wrestlers in a Wrestling Ring supported on six posts.
Other bad deal with the Myriad is off loading of equipment. Required to obtain a permit from the City and hire up to 6 off duty police officers and rent barricades to use the East side of the street on the West side of the Myriad at the small loading dock. Good luck trying to park more than a a half dozen 35 foot Big Rig Tractor Trailers along there.
The "Build it and they will come" may work for specific use facilities that are based on a common basic design, but with Multi Purpose Event Centers it seems wise to have end users to consult with prior to drawing plans.
The open at the bottom design of some modern arenas also causes a safety issue regarding motorsports events with exposed support pillars that vehicles can come into contact with. That requires additional labor to bring in Jersey Barriers which may or may not provide adequate protection for the structure of the building.
In neighboring Texas, most their public use facilities are called MPEC, Multi Purpose Event Centers and are designed with being as convertible as possible to fit the needs of the show producers that rent the facilities to produce their shows. Planners there seem to have a better understanding of what a Muiti Purpose event center should look like.
Heavy Equipment, Media storage areas, Operators, Theatrical Equipment, staging, portable set up furnishings are all kept onsite for a minimal fee. Saves the cost of delivery and a rental deposit from an outside source.
Planning, extra realestate for equipment loading and parking, adequate power and power locations, load limits, egress dimensions are all part of the puzzle of creating a workable free flowing MPEC.
I should explain the parking garage at the Myriad was built UNDERNEATH the floor of the Arena. Thus creating a low maximum load limit on the Arena Floor above of 250lbs per square foot.
LAZY E ARENA Guthrie, Oklahoma
This is one of the most convertible and workable Arenas in Oklahoma. The Lazy E Arena.
Major problem with this and so many locations in Oklahoma is too many doors that must remain unlocked during public events.
Again, the Tulsa Syndrome that seems to want to do away with fencing and traffic control high curbs surrounding event facilities. By not providing traffic control through less than 4 specific entrances, it drives the cost of the production up, which is offset by higher ticket prices.
Ideal design is a fenced facility that brings traffic into four or less separate gates where tickets, gate fees and or pre-paid tickets are collected by a small staff. Avoids spectators standing in line during incliment weather, speeds up the time requried to get into the building and locate seating. Door monitors and security is kept to a minimum, thus allowing for lower ticket prices.
http://www.lazyearena.net/index.php?id=11
[8D]sounds like its split. I think the people opposing it probally dont and wouldnt attend any of the functions any way. Im sure for those people the arena will probalby serve beer.
Before the politics changed I used to give away up to 3 kegs of Ice Cold Beer free or for one hour which ever occured first, prior to our events for a $5 General Admission Ticket. That was back in the late 1980's.
One night we had a fight over at the Beer Keg Area as a person cut in the free beer line. The security was handled by the Sheriff department, and they came back with the story regarding the mud, blood and the beer. One security guard said he had fun breaking up the fight.
We switched from the little dinky 8oz cups that Budweiser provided to the larger 16oz size to keep the line shorter. It stopped the fighting.
Those were some good times. Today we are lucky to sell a few cans of beer at most events.
Biggest seller today is bottled water, with energy drinks coming in a close second, pop a trailing third and beer in dead last place.
quote:
Originally posted by jdb
"...be given a one-way ticket to Guymon..." - AJ
Hey, now your picking on Guymon?
Guymon, Ok. was an important...damn gotta scram, I'll finish with you later!
jdb
C'mon boy... you gonna finish what you started?? [:D]
Happy New Year, jdb. Hope you're having a good one.
Some Holiday's require a longer sobering up period:
In the 1890s, Edward T. "E.T." Guymon purchased a section of land west of the Beaver River for mere peanuts, after strong-arming the area's dirt farmers. The site grew very rapidly after the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway began to pass through it in 1901 and deposited many "lady's of the night" in the "wild" DT district.
lessor known fact, the town, first named "Sanford," was later renamed "Guymon" by railroad officials in order to avoid confusion with the town of Stratford, Texas, which was further down the line, and populated with really rough cowboys "lookin' for a fight". Many "Sanfordson's" were outraged at the name change and set fire to some small bushes along the bank of the Beaver River.
The Pioneer Hour Celebration has offered tributes to the community's pioneer spirit every May, at 2:00pm, since the 1950s.
On dry summer years, the annual "running with burning bushes" is not held due to burn bans but tourist's can view a two minute VHS showing of the previous years event if they choose.
The city has one high school, whose team mascot is "Wanky the Tiger".
Guymon incorporated in 1905 exactly one day after the City Council voted to build an arena on the site of Mcdowl's cow pasture.
Thus, Gumon OK is a wonderful example of the spirit, and intestinal fortitude, of Okahoma's one true resouce - it's people, allbeit against their will - and as such, deserves nothing less than our deepest respect!
jdb
Sources:
www.guymon/ok/hearld/arch.edu
www.guymon_rocks.com
www.smallbushesofguymon.org
quote:
Originally posted by jdb
Guymon incorporated in 1905 exactly one day after the City Council voted to build an arena on the site of Mcdowl's cow pasture.
jdb
Nice. [:D]
As a former Tulsa based touring audio engineer, I might have some insight.
1. When Tulsa decided to build a stadium, some of the local acts went to the mayor's office and said that it was a great idea. A few said that it is a waste of time.
2. The reason that it is a waste of time and money is the fact that Oklahoma city, during it's first two years did not break even on their operation, and that was with additional tours (Paul McCartney, Cher and some others). Even with additional big name generated revenue, they were in the hole.
3. No major stadium/arena in the US, without major sports teams is making money on conventions, concerts, etc. It isn't happening, because for the most part, tours and conventions are downscaling. Tulsa is behind the curve...again.
4. Tulsa's concert revenues are not what they were in the 70s or even the 80s. Neither are comparable cities around the nation, because the music market is changing. There is an over saturation of concerts/entertainment events. There are more shows than people care (or can afford) to attend.
5. Tulsa is not on the major tour circuit path. When tours come through Oklahoma, tours are generally mapped out (unless they are a 1-off) to run from north to south or south to north through OKC. So if a tour is coming up from Dallas to play in Tulsa, and NOT OKC (which would have to be the case, because there will be insufficient draw to book at two cities one hour apart), then they would have to leave about 2 hours earlier than normal, which effects their show times in Dallas. Or it means that the show time in Tulsa gets bumped up a bit. Either way, this is something that booking agenys/tour managers must deal with.
6. OKC has been and will always be a better location, because of the support services, sister facilities and downtown development. It is easier for OKC to draw 20k people for a show than it is Tulsa. Tulsa has a hard time selling out convention center shows.
^Oh, yea? Well I say we use the talent that exists in this town, it's resources, natural and manmade, finally live up to our potential, and kick OKC's butt. [:D]
The problem is not with the talent in this town but whether or not Tulsans will attend enough events to keep the A-ream-a out of the hole (hey, that is pun!)
I contend that the County did not pay for the Arena, but County residents have. The City will be left holding the bag for the costs while the County will reap the benefits.
The City should cede that property to the County, which is in a far better position to absorb the millions in losses the A-ream-a will generate.
quote:
Originally posted by lowdbrent
5. Tulsa is not on the major tour circuit path. When tours come through Oklahoma, tours are generally mapped out (unless they are a 1-off) to run from north to south or south to north through OKC. So if a tour is coming up from Dallas to play in Tulsa, and NOT OKC (which would have to be the case, because there will be insufficient draw to book at two cities one hour apart), then they would have to leave about 2 hours earlier than normal, which effects their show times in Dallas. Or it means that the show time in Tulsa gets bumped up a bit. Either way, this is something that booking agenys/tour managers must deal with.
6. OKC has been and will always be a better location, because of the support services, sister facilities and downtown development. It is easier for OKC to draw 20k people for a show than it is Tulsa. Tulsa has a hard time selling out convention center shows.
First, the major concert maps do not go through Tulsa because Tulsa does not seek out the major concert tours. Why? Because Tulsa knows the convention center is not an adequate facility to attract them.
Second, Tulsa is improving downtown a great deal. The process has been slow, but within the next year and a half many major loft projects and developments will be completed. (The BOk Ctr. will be opening in Sept. '08).
And third, having a major destination allows any city to attract the required attendance figures for a major event. 15 years ago, OKC's downtown was as dead as Tulsa's. But the continued development of Bricktown, major events at the Ford Ctr., and remodeling of the convention ctr. attracted people from throughout the OKC metro into downtown.
Once again, we must realize: Tulsa is the largest city in the US without a large-scale arena.
Reported the 21st Annual O'Reilly Chili Bowl Midget Nationals Races going on this week inside the Expo, and not being hampered by the weater one bit, brings in $12,000,000 to the Tulsa economy over the 6 day run here. Believe they stated it created more revenue than the Tulsa State Fair.
They had packed stands Friday night around 16,000 in the building, while schools, flights and most other events were cancelled?????
The Tulsa ICE Oilers hockey cancelled???? What is with that? No wonder events held downtown don't seem to work. Why cancel a game just because of a little weather event.
Perhaps music and stick and ball sports are not on the top of the Hot Ticket list for this area. Darryl Starbird's Car show is another big income for the Expo and Tulsa's economy.
Both those Motorsports events bring in people and money from other states. Not a traveling entertainment deal that extracts money from our economy and takes it elseware.
Not that I don't like good music or performances, just seems the stadium downtown is designed with what worked 10+ years ago for a convention type deal or small concert series, and to to today's floor space dimension needs.
Maybe the Oilers canceled because the opposing team couldn't get to the venue. That's happened with a lot of sporting events in the last couple days.
The Chili Bowl fans and participants got here days before the storm, which is a big factor.
quote:
Originally posted by rwarn17588
Maybe the Oilers canceled because the opposing team couldn't get to the venue. That's happened with a lot of sporting events in the last couple days.
The Chili Bowl fans and participants got here days before the storm, which is a big factor.
Granted the participants, and some fans were in Tulsa prior to the weather. Most hoever do not sleep at the building, and still had to use ground transport from their hotel/motel rooms or homes out to the Expo.
The weather forecasters called for the Ice Storm a few days in advance. Seems a Sports team would of made arangements to arrive a day or two in advance if they were scheduled to appear with impending foul weather approaching.
Chili Bowl participants arrive two or three days in advance and spend an entire day parking their big rigs in line on Sunday for Monday's move in day.
The bleachers are brought in before Thanksgiving, dirt is brought in during the Christmas holiday with the Tulsa Shootout being run on New Year's Eve Weekend. Then it is Chili Bowl time second weekend in January.
They are still required to move all the Dirt, Bleachers and equipment out of the Expo to make room for the Annual Boat Sport and Travel Show that moves in first part of next week. While Weather may slow the progress, it does not stop the shows from going on.
I just checked the Wichita hockey team's schedule, the team the Oilers were supposed to play Saturday.
Wichita played in Lubbock on Friday night (and won, by the way).
How, pray tell, would a hockey team make other arrangements when roads are ice-covered from Illinois to New Mexico, and the Tulsa and Oklahoma City airports are canceling or diverting flights left and right?
Sorry if the facts are getting in the way of your rant.
Well there ya go. Explains it all.
Wonder how they are going to get all the big rigs out of the Chili Bowl and all the teams, racefans and trade show participants back home?
Bet they "Git-R-Done" in time for the Boat Show to move in.
<AMP wrote:
Wonder how they are going to get all the big rigs out of the Chili Bowl and all the teams, racefans and trade show participants back home?
Bet they "Git-R-Done" in time for the Boat Show to move in.
<end clip>
Well, duh. Expo Square is going to have two weeks to prepare for the boat show.
As bad as the forecast for Sunday is, I wouldn't bet that many of the fans, participants and teams will get out of town until Monday unless they took advantage of that break in the weather Saturday night.
Even with that, folks from other states won't face good driving conditions. There's much worse ice to the south, snow to the north, nasty ice storms to the east and a new batch of storms coming from the west.
And I'm not forgetting this snide and uninformed comment you made:
<start clip>
The Tulsa ICE Oilers hockey cancelled???? What is with that? No wonder events held downtown don't seem to work. Why cancel a game just because of a little weather event.
<end clip>
Next time, do your homework before making such a a rash remark about downtown. You'll have more credibility that way.
Working with over 2,000 employees for 15 plus years I have learned there are many people that try to take advantage of small weather related incidents.
Cancellations remind me of employees that can't make it into work when there is a small snow/ice storm. But they are the first there to pick up their paycheck on payday the instant the ink dries on the signature, no matter what the weather. Best thing for those types is to just fire them on the spot. Good thing Oklahoma is an Employment at Will State.
Had one show up on the news, caught on their weather day off sledding at the local hill. Reminds me of the Worker Comp Private Detective Films of back injury claimants moving furniture, or racing their Personal Water Craft LOL
People at Snow Ski Resorts in Colorado are constantly smiling and having fun, but when they get home they don't want to go to work or school becuase of snow???
SUCK IT UP
News and Weather commentators seem to be making it around all over the state with little or no problems. Small business owners are open and doing business and traveling around with little or no problems. Of course they have the "Git R Done" what ever it takes attitude because they pay the bills, and not the Union Employee take a "Sick Day" mentality.
Commentators from up north that were calling the action at the Chili Bowl were laughing at how people in Oklahoma freaked out when reacting to a couple of inches of ice or snow. Where they live they actually have more than 2 front-end loaders and a few run down old dump trucks to properly maintain the roads.
Up-side of having Ice or Snow on our roads is you don't feel all the pot holes as much.
No one I know had any problem with travel Friday, Saturday or today. Know a few that made trips to and from Texas, Illinois and Kansas. Took them a little longer than usual, but they made the road trip.
More traffic on the roads the better.
Can't understand why they closed Church Services today either. Most are just "Fair Weather Friends" I guess. Additional traffic would of helped clear the roads.
We ran our event last month in December and had a record number in attendance. That was with 10" of Snow. We provided free tow services for anyone that got stuck in the parking area. Had a 30 minute delay on the Turnpike traveling with the equipment, but we made it on time.
Believe University of Tulsa Basketball team had a record attendance during a snowstorm last year as well.
I can say I have had a couple of people whine and piss and moan that we ran our events when it rained, or snowed or iced. They stated people could be killed traveling to and from the event. Guess that could happen at any time. All the rest absolutely loved it.
Chamber of Commerce Weather
Count up the clear weather weekends where the tempeture is between 60 and 80 degrees in Oklahoma, not too many most years.
quote:
Originally posted by AMP
Working with over 2,000 employees for 15 plus years I have learned there are many people that try to take advantage of small weather related incidents.
Much of what you say is true. We overreact to the weather and we don't have the equipment to deal with it. Weather men love to justify their investment in Dopplers and revel in the increased ratings that bring greater ad rates.
But....
Had you been in charge of Public Works you think you could make a case for purchasing more equipment for the two snow events per year?
If you didn't have so much invested as a business owner in the success of your business (in other words a lazy union, work avoiding laborer)would you show up on every snow day?
A few years ago some predicted bad weather turned into tornadoes. The weathermen who failed to adequately warn small communities without tornadoe siren activating systems were practically lynched. Most are now overprotective in their reporting to keep their jobs.
Yes, the roads are passable for people who are responsible, courteous, thoughtful, prepared, slick road experienced drivers. Seen many of those around before the ice storm? They all show up on the roads and it would be like Dallas in a snowstorm. Disaster.
Finally, though you seem like a reasonable businessman to me, don't let your ambition and drive skew your impression of others. Some people are scared of icy roads, don't have health insurance coverage for falls and work their asses off for unappreciative bosses. You might be one of the latter.
quote:
Originally posted by AMP
Working with over 2,000 employees for 15 plus years I have learned there are many people that try to take advantage of small weather related incidents.
Cancellations remind me of employees that can't make it into work when there is a small snow/ice storm. But they are the first there to pick up their paycheck on payday the instant the ink dries on the signature, no matter what the weather. Best thing for those types is to just fire them on the spot. Good thing Oklahoma is an Employment at Will State.
Had one show up on the news, caught on their weather day off sledding at the local hill. Reminds me of the Worker Comp Private Detective Films of back injury claimants moving furniture, or racing their Personal Water Craft LOL
People at Snow Ski Resorts in Colorado are constantly smiling and having fun, but when they get home they don't want to go to work or school becuase of snow???
SUCK IT UP
Shortening most of your moronic rant...
Have you ever sit down and thought about the difference between a snow resort and Oklahoma? Here's a hint: We don't have the manpower to clean our roads like they do in Colorado! Also, ice is a completely different animal than snow.
And heaven forbid someone would go sledding at a LOCAL hill that they could walk to. I guess you expect them to sit inside and be miserable if they can't drive to their job without risking their life... Your attitude towards people is very telling of the type of person you are. I'm sure anyone with any type of self-worth wouldn't last long working around you.
OSU for example was unable to make it's basketball game in Nebraska, The OSU players were never able to get a plane to leave in the ice from both Stillwater and OKC.
<AMP wrote:
We ran our event last month in December and had a record number in attendance. That was with 10" of Snow. We provided free tow services for anyone that got stuck in the parking area. Had a 30 minute delay on the Turnpike traveling with the equipment, but we made it on time.
<end clip>
I presume this traveling the Turnpike was before the state police closed the all the roads, which it did for hours during the last snowstorm.
Face it: You got caught making a false assumption about the Oilers' canceled game. You're p*ssed because you got called out on your bullsh*t. Don't get mad when people hold you to the same level of accountability as you presumably do with your employees.
quote:
Originally posted by AMP
Working with over 2,000 employees for 15 plus years I have learned there are many people that try to take advantage of small weather related incidents.
Cancellations remind me of employees that can't make it into work when there is a small snow/ice storm. But they are the first there to pick up their paycheck on payday the instant the ink dries on the signature, no matter what the weather. Best thing for those types is to just fire them on the spot. Good thing Oklahoma is an Employment at Will State.
Had one show up on the news, caught on their weather day off sledding at the local hill. Reminds me of the Worker Comp Private Detective Films of back injury claimants moving furniture, or racing their Personal Water Craft LOL
People at Snow Ski Resorts in Colorado are constantly smiling and having fun, but when they get home they don't want to go to work or school becuase of snow???
SUCK IT UP
Feel better about this post today with at least 15 people dead in Oklahoma and 125,000 homes without power in subfreezing temps? That's somewhere in the range of 300,000 people with no power (and thus no heat).
I think the idiots just might be the ones that risked their and their family's lives in this storm to go and see stupid little go-carts drive in a circle. Sounds like a great decision.
It's all about FLOOR SPACE. Like I have been saying for a few months on here. Does not matter how many the facility seats, the total floor space is what is important to today's modern events.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/SportsStory.asp?ID=070114_Sp_B1_Icest27362_1
Chili Bowl - From the Tulsa World
"It is the biggest annual sports event in the city, generating about $12 million in economic impact for Tulsa."
The County sanded the parking lot at Expo Square to facilitate vehicles moving in and out of the area.
The cars racing during the Chili Bowl are called Midgets. The drivers include Tony Stewart, Sammy Swindell, and 280 other top name racecar drivers from the US and three other countries.
"The Expo Center has 448,400 square feet of floor space under that huge roof dwarfed by the Golden Driller out front on 21st Street."
"Arenas, even the new ones, can't touch the Expo Center for just pure floor space. The Ford Center in Oklahoma City, when fully expanded on the floor, has 34,074 square feet."
"Hahn already has more than 10 times that amount here in Tulsa."
NASCAR driver Tony Stewart won the race, this is his most prized event to win each year. He loves winning the Tuttle Golden Driller Trophy.
From this year forward the Trophy which is fashioned after the Golden Driller that stands in front of the Expo Building is called the Tuttle Trophy. Named afer Expo Square's past CEO the late Denny Tuttle. Tuttle passed away last January following heart surgery.
History of the Chili Bowl
http://www.chilibowl.com/cb_about.asp?uUrl=1/16/20074730.201
Check the long list of participants.
http://www.chilibowl.com/2007EntriesChiliBowl.asp?uUrl=1/16/20074239.997
It's all about FLOOR SPACE. Like I have been saying for a few months on here. Does not matter how many the facility seats, the total floor space is what is important to today's modern events.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/SportsStory.asp?ID=070114_Sp_B1_Icest27362_1
Chili Bowl - From the Tulsa World
"It is the biggest annual sports event in the city, generating about $12 million in economic impact for Tulsa."
The County sanded the parking lot at Expo Square to facilitate vehicles moving in and out of the area.
The cars racing during the Chili Bowl are called Midgets. The drivers include Tony Stewart, Sammy Swindell, and 280 other top name racecar drivers from the US and three other countries.
"The Expo Center has 448,400 square feet of floor space under that huge roof dwarfed by the Golden Driller out front on 21st Street."
"Arenas, even the new ones, can't touch the Expo Center for just pure floor space. The Ford Center in Oklahoma City, when fully expanded on the floor, has 34,074 square feet."
"Hahn already has more than 10 times that amount here in Tulsa."
NASCAR driver Tony Stewart won the race, this is his most prized event to win each year. He loves winning the Tuttle Golden Driller Trophy.
From this year forward the Trophy which is fashioned after the Golden Driller that stands in front of the Expo Building is called the Tuttle Trophy. Named afer Expo Square's past CEO the late Denny Tuttle. Tuttle passed away last January following heart surgery.
History of the Chili Bowl
http://www.chilibowl.com/cb_about.asp?uUrl=1/16/20074730.201
Check the long list of participants.
http://www.chilibowl.com/2007EntriesChiliBowl.asp?uUrl=1/16/20074239.997
I have been driving all over Tulsa the past few days with no problems. Actually the roads at 71st and Memorial were far worse than those at 21st and Memorial. Didn't appear as if the plow had been at 71st and Memorial.
Mathis Brothers furniture was open and Lexus of Tulsa, along with the majority of stores and businesses along Memorial between 11th Street and 81st street. Road was super bumpy on 71st east of Memorial. Smooth sailing once you reached 51st heading North on Memorial.
Highway 169 around 4pm the road surface was dry in many areas. Still some ice where the plow missed. Traffic was moving along at around 45mph. 412 or I-244 as Tulsa likes to call it from I-169 Weat to Downtown was mostly clear and drying out quickly in the sunshine.
Yes, I had to make a trip south today on a business matter. Other party could not seem to get out of their office, so I went to them.
I agree with you that some folks do not need to be driving when it is slick outside.
Major problems: 1. Wrong Vehicle 2. Lack of driving skills. 3. Could be on the wrong meds.
Gota have the proper equipment to handle the elements. I drive a 4-Wheel drive Turbo Diesel Ford F-350 that handles this little ice deal like a small mud puddle. I run studded tires front and rear, it makes the going and stopping easy as pie.
It was far more dangerous walking than driving this past weekend.
quote:
Originally posted by AMP
"Arenas, even the new ones, can't touch the Expo Center for just pure floor space. The Ford Center in Oklahoma City, when fully expanded on the floor, has 34,074 square feet."
That is true, but Tulsa is greatly benefitted by having the BOk center
and the Expo center. Different events require different kinds of venues. You aren't going to see Elton John play before a live standing audience at the Expo center. Likewise, you aren't going to land the Chili Bowl in the BOk center.
Last time I saw Elton John perform was during Harley Davidson's 100th Anniversary in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, outdoors.
He played before a crowd of 200,000. Most were standing, some were sitting in portable chairs while others were on their Harleys. Could you could fit that many people in the Expo?
(http://www.unitedvisual.com/images/site/harley-davidson-webhd3-10bg.jpg)
(http://www.unitedvisual.com/images/site/harley-davidson-webhd3-35bg.jpg)
quote:
Originally posted by AMP
Last time I saw Elton John perform was during Harley Davidson's 100th Anniversary in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, outdoors.
He played before a crowd of 200,000. Most were standing, some were sitting in portable chairs while others were on their Harleys. Could you could fit that many people in the Expo?
Doubtful. But could they have done that on January 13th? (In Wisconsin)
Hard to compare outdoor space to any interior space. Theoretically Expo could hold almost 100,000 SRO.
How about we expand the expo after bells leaves?
1 MEELION SQ FT.
If the Expo Center is such an attractive venue for concerts, why hasn't anyone notable performed there? I haven't been there in a long time, but it's hard for me to visualize a concert in the Expo Ctr. There is also not much potential entertainment development near the Expo Ctr.
I realize most outdoor concerts are standing-room only, but most touring concerts are held in indoor facilities. Outdoor concerts are usually part of some other event that would have occurred regardless of the concert, such as the Super Bowl. The Harley anniversary would have attracted thousands, even without the Elton John concert. The closest thing to that in Tulsa is Mayfest or maybe the Centennial events. The arena also makes events such as NCAA
tournament regional games possible, as well as other in-season basketball tourneys, such as the one held in OKC the last few years.
There is more to event hosting than just large amounts of square footage. If all that was needed to attract major concerts was a huge building, why wouldn't we just have a concert in the American Airlines maintenence facility?
Grace Slick with Jefferson Starship performed there and Eric Burdon and the Animals. Seems there was another concert series with muiltple groups that played there in the 1970's. People sat on portable chairs they carried in, or on blankets on the floor and the stage was in the South West corner of the upper level.
Hard to book a date there as most major events produced there require a week prior to and a week following for move in and out time. Most weekends are booked years in advance at the majority of quality venues. Owning the first rights to dates at a major venue is a big asset which may be sold for a profit, or used to trade up for a better date/venue.
Added to the fact that all staging, seating and traffic barricades and fencing must be brought in and taken out.
Here are a couple of articles regarding an Arena under construction in none other than Ontario, CA.
There are some major differences between their approach to an Arena and that which Tulsa has chosen...
In the first article please note that the Company that will operate the Arena is paying the City... rather than vice versa......
Bank gets into sports
ONTARIO: Citizens Business Bank pays for the naming rights to new 11,000-seat arena.
10:00 PM PDT on Thursday, October 19, 2006
By DEVONA WELLS and JOSH BROWN
The Press-Enterprise
Ontario-based Citizens Business Bank has agreed to pay for the naming rights to an arena expected to bring minor league sports, concerts and family events to Ontario.
Construction has yet to start on the city-owned Citizens Business Bank Arena, but it is expected to have 11,000 seats and attract at least 150 events a year. Details of the 10-year, multi-million dollar naming-rights deal were not included in the Thursday announcement.
An agreement has been finalized to house a minor league hockey team that would be a feeder team to the Los Angeles Kings, city manager Greg Devereaux said. Arena football and a National Basketball Association development team are possibilities too, he said.
AEG, a subsidiary of the Anschutz Co., will operate the arena as part of the 89-acre, mixed-use Piemonte project. Dana Warg, senior vice president of facilities, declined to give a dollar figure for the naming rights.
Chris Myers, president and CEO of Citizens Business Bank, said the sponsorship buys publicity in a highly competitive industry and gives the company expanded options for entertaining clients.
As part of the deal, the arena will bank at Citizens. He declined say how much the naming rights cost.
"This is our commitment to say we're in Ontario and here to stay," he said.
Citizens Business Bank, the largest financial institution with headquarters in the Inland Empire, gets tickets to all events and first choice of arena suites.
The company had previously considered buying the naming rights on a central California arena, Myers said.
"We ended up not doing it and over time felt some regrets," he said.
Sponsoring an arena is effective for companies that don't have a lot of exposure, said Bob Dorfman, executive creative director of San Francisco-based Pickett Advertising.
"They can get you some national attention that you didn't have before," he said. "It also brings a sense of goodwill to the community."
Naming-rights deals likely benefit the arena owner and sponsor, said Paul Swangard, managing director of the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon.
An arena operator from outside the area likes to find ways to market itself in the community, such as selling naming rights to a local company, he said.
"For a bank partner, they could give away tickets at bank branches and ATMs, and promote the event at the bank," he said.
Several other Inland venues have paid-for names.
In 2003, the Inland Empire 66ers minor league baseball team in San Bernardino renamed their stadium Arrowhead Credit Union Park after the credit union paid $750,000 for a 10-year affiliation.
In 2005, Bank of America paid Rancho Cucamonga $500,000 to name a portion of the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center. Next year, the city hopes to collect more than $1 million for the rights to naming the Epicenter, home of the Quakes minor league baseball team, said Kevin McArdle, community services director.
AEG will pay the city at least $1 million annually to operate the arena, according to a 10-year agreement between the two. Profits will be split, giving 75 percent to the city, Devereaux said.
Certain attractions that would play Staples Center will be too pricey for the arena, such as Barbra Streisand, Warg said. But others that play the bigger stadium, such as the Eagles, could end up in Ontario.
He said several companies that tour family shows, such as the Wiggles and Sesame Street Live, have indicated strong interest in playing Ontario.
This is an article from the local paper regarding a portion of the construction cost being approved..
Contract awarded for Ontario arena
Article Launched: 01/17/2007 12:00:00 AM PST
ONTARIO - The City Council on Tuesday awarded a $9.6 million contract for structural steel work at the Citizens Business Bank Arena to a Phoenix-based firm.
Schuff Steel Co. will fabricate and deliver steel used in the construction of the arena, which will be on the site of the former Ontario Motor Speedway. It is slated for a late 2008 opening.
According to the city, construction of the facility - which will play host to indoor hockey, the NBA's development league, and family events like Disney on Ice - could run upwards of $70 million.
- Mason Stockstill, (909) 483-9354
It is worthy of mention that this same town spent an enormous amount of the Taxpayers money on "The Ontario Motor Speedway" some years ago... the speedway was, at the time, to have been the savior of the local economy...
The speedway went bankrupt within 3 years...
It appears, this time, they are approaching an investment in the City with a more than adequate amount of caution...
just a way of looking at things differently..
I don't think the arena was ever meant to be the
"savior of the economy." It is a necessary component to the overall revitalization of downtown and the culture of Tulsa.
More at Tulsa World (//%22http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectID=11&articleID=071109_1_A1_hWork21583%22)
quote:
Tulsa's BOK Center is gaining its metallic skin.
Installation began Thursday on the 25,000 stainless steel panels with an angel-hair finish that will make up the outer layer of the downtown arena.
"It's going to be quite a striking site and very beautiful," said Bob Eggleston, the project's construction director.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v387/jonathanwong/thumb_thisthreadisworthlesswithoutp.gif)
Where is 2025 with some update pictures from on-site. Those will be VERY important as the arena gets closed in. I need information!
(http://www.tulsaworld.com/articleimages/2007/071109_A1_hWork21583_BOK_CENTER11.9.jpg)
(http://www.tulsaworld.com/articleimages/2007/071109_A1_hWork21583_a1bokctr29.jpg)
The blue is just protective film...
From KTUL (//%22http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/1107/472143.html%22)
quote:
Tulsa's new BOk Center won't be finished until September. But, the premium seats are almost gone. Club seats went on sale Monday morning and 75-percent of them have already sold. The arena will hold 18-thousand seats. None are yet finished, but hundreds are already sold. Michael Green is the new owner of two, despite knowing little about who he'll actually see.
"You have an idea of who's going to be there," he says. "I'm sure the majority of all the people that go to the Ford Center would be at the Tulsa venue."
"It's the promise of what's coming," adds Hamp Howell, who oversees sales of club seating, the last batch of premium seats at the BOk.
"It's a busy day," he says. "We had people here at seven a.m."
Sales began Monday morning with 682 spots and ended with 516 sold by the evening.
"They understand this is a special building," Howell says. "It'll have special acts and a lot of people came in as Talons/Oilers fans wanting to get the best seats for teams."
From a day of club seat sales to a Cub Scout tour, buzz is building over an arena, still months from completion, where Pack 840 and entertainment fans alike are looking ahead to next September.
"It's in my local community. I don't have to drive down the turnpike for every event."
Private box seats and executive suites are already sold out as well to the tune of more than eight million dollars. Club seats go for at least 12-hundred dollars a year. You get Talons and Oilers tickets and first choice for other events. You must buy them in person at 206 South Cheyenne.
Should have put these on here right after I took them. They are about 3 weeks old but still show about what the arena looks like now.
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Club seats sold out in 3 days.
More at Tulsa World (//%22http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectID=11&articleID=071115_1_A17_hClub21002%22)
quote:
Club-seat patrons will enjoy a variety of perks in the downtown venue, which is set to open next September.
All 682 of the BOK Center's club seats were sold as of Wednesday, only three days after being offered to the public.
"We knew there would be a strong demand for this product," said Hamp Howell, whose Cleveland, Ohio-based Sports Facilities Marketing Group has led the sales effort.
"But the speed of this sellout has exceeded our expectations," he said. "It goes to show there's a great deal of excitement out there about this venue."
needed to charge more...
quote:
Originally posted by cannon_fodder
needed to charge more...
Yeah, they shot a little low didn't they?
Sounds like they were expecting those seats to sell out later.
quote:
Originally posted by cannon_fodder
needed to charge more...
Seems like a good price to me, since all you're buying is season tickets to the oilers and talons.
quote:
Originally posted by sgrizzle
Seems like a good price to me, since all you're buying is season tickets to the oilers and talons.
And first pick on other events, and prime seating.
I'm sure most of them were snatched up by companies, how long would it have taken at an extra 500 a pop? Still, bodes well for the Arena. And I bet the Talons and Oilers get a cut too.
Yeah, but you raise it $500 then the complaint is greed by the city and operator. I think it's brilliant, it gets people in the door and gets people excited about coming events and more apt to buy the tix for those events if they already have the seats.
That's probably true.
They say there's no plans to expand "club seating". Perhaps they should consider it.
They've created an automatic attendance of 682 at Talons and Oilers games. The Talons will count it for sure, even if the seats are empty. They like "fuzzy math."
Yeah, expanding it wouldn't be a bad idea considering how quickly it sold out.
The question comes to mind; are these club seats assigned to a person or can they be resold for special events? As of our past history the scalpers would stand in line to buy the seats for resale later on an individual basis.
What I read said "first" pick for events other than the Talons or Oilers. I'm assuming there's some sort of cut-off for you to buy your ticket or someone else will stick gum under your seat.
From Tulsa World (//%22http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectID=11&articleID=071116_1_A17_spanc42652%22)
quote:
Two BOK Center founding sponsorships worth $4.84 million will be announced Friday, bringing the arena's total in private funding to $31.8 million.
"This money will allow the design to be what it is," Project Director Bart Boatright said.
The 18,000-seat BOK Center, with its sleek metal-and-glass design, will be a world-class facility, Boatright said.
The Tulsa County Vision 2025 sales-tax program is providing $178 million to build the venue, which is set to open in September.
But the private money will provide for enhancements that otherwise could not be afforded, officials said.
The two sponsorship agreements were reached several months ago, but details were still being worked out, Boatright said.
The deals include founders suites in the venue.
The sponsors' names will be added to a large sign at the Third Street and Denver Avenue corner of the BOK Center's construction
site.
Known sponsors of the new BOK Center
In 2005, Bank of Oklahoma signed a $11 million, 20- year contract for the naming rights to the arena. The agreement includes a double-size suite and the right to provide its automated teller machines in the facility.
In August 2006, founding sponsorships totaling $15.95 million were identified. Among them:
Oneok has made a 15-year commitment of $5,579,674 that includes purchasing the naming rights to the premium seating level, the club lounge and the club seating program. The deal also includes a founders suite and a loge box.
Williams Cos. has made a 20-year commitment of $3,449,413, including $2 million to help pay for the center- hung scoreboard. The deal includes Williams' sponsorships of the sporting event replays on the scoreboard, along with a founders suite.
Dollar Thrifty has made a 10-year commitment of $1,432,985, including being the exclusive car-rental company for the BOK Center and the title sponsor of the arena's box office, which will be called the Dollar Thrifty Box Office.
The George Kaiser Family Foundation has donated $2.5 million for upgrades, including having terrazzo flooring in the arena's main concourse.
SemGroup is providing $1,128,105, which includes $500,000 for building enhancements and $628,105 for a founders suite for 10 years.
Nadel and Gussman Energy and Samson are providing $1,128,105, which includes $500,000 for building enhancements and $628,105 for a founders suite for 10 years.
Oracle Packaging and F.W. Murphy are providing $728,105, which includes $100,000 for enhancements and the cost of a founders suite for 10 years.
Tulsa World (//%22http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectID=11&articleID=071116_1__Chero70775%22)
quote:
Cherokee Nation Enterprises and Cox Communications were announced Friday as two new founding sponsors of the BOK Center.
Their commitments to the new venue, which will open in September, total $4.84 million and bring the total in arena private sponsorships to $31.8 million.
Cherokee Nation Enterprises' 10-year agreement worth $2,256,821 includes a founders suite and being the exclusive casino and destination resort for the BOK Center.
It will receive title sponsorship of an area on the main concourse that will be known as The Cherokee Casino Gaming Zone.
While there will be no gaming on the premises, the area will advertise and promote casino and resort events and provide historical information.
Cox Communications' 10-year agreement worth $2,579,373 includes a founders suite and being recognized as the official telecommunications provider of the BOK Center.
As a result of this sponsorship, Cox Communications will provide the local and long-distance telephone, cellular telephone, cable television services and Internet services for the venue.
Cox Communications also will receive title sponsorship of an area on the main concourse and the right to be the title sponsor of
a Kid's Zone.
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This is a QT inside the sprint center in Kansas City. QT needs one at the BOK Center.