The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

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http://www.bokcenter.com/events.asp?id=11&pid=162&task=display

I might go see them..last time I saw them they were pretty good, which, admittedly, was almost 25 years ago (1986).

The Dead are touring....but apparently it's really these guys.

Another act sucking the lifeblood out of the smaller clubs and other entertainment venues with tickets that go for more money than 10 Cain's Ballroom shows....or 20 Driller games....


Sellout if ZZ Top is the co-bill

I actually might go to this one lol. I hate to admit it, but I have never been to a concert. Never been to Cains or anything at the other clubs. None of the other acts at the BOK have been anything I recognize or wanted to go to, "dont do country" lol.   

That's an interesting way to view the show.  My gut says you're wrong, and that entertainment demand in the market is elastic based on supply.  I know for a fact that OKCers have been coming up the turnpike in droves, as our Tulsa's wealth of shows has coincided with OKC's loss of the Ford Center concert venue to Thunder games and renovations.  But I'd love to see a market study that takes on the question of how the big shows impact the little venues.  Or, I suppose, you could just ask Larry Shaeffer and David Souders how ticket sales have been at the Cain's, or else ask Full Flava or Jenny Labow how their door take has been lately.  I have a feeling the BOK shows aren't doing a thing to hurt local shows, and probably are helping by stimulating the entertainment market.  Would love to know for sure.

On topic:  YEAH AEROSMITH ZZ TOP YEAH! 

Really? From what I've seen the Brady Theater is scheduling more good acts in a month than they used to do in a year.

So says the man who went to see Springsteen and other acts at the BOK Center and who thinks scalpers falsely inflating ticket prices is an acceptible practice.

Exception: BOK>TICKETSNOW>STUB HUB>TICKETBASTARD =a continual stream into the same end pocket....LIVE NATION?

Yep!

Seems about on par, I guess.

Live Nation used to have a deal with Ticketmaster and apparently weren't getting enough of the check and split off when their deal was up.

I think the BOK center, Cains and the Brady bringing in great national acts works to the benefit of all.

I'm trying to have the same optimism about the casinos and the Spirit Center, b/c the concept is the same....

My bet is that having all these venues creates "synergy" (to use a hackneyed buzzword).  It helps Tulsa become an entertainment destination in people's minds. Once someone drives to T-town from Arkansas or Kansas or Oklahoma City for an event at the BOK Center, they will be more likely to attend a concert at Cains or the Brady, etc.  They can get a feel for the town, and perhaps be introduced to other cool things Tulsa has to offer...which will encourage them to come again.

Its that "other cool stuff Tulsa has to offer" which worries me a bit. What exactly are you referring to? As someone mentioned in one of our meetings, there still isnt a lot to do downtown afterwards. Blue Dome and the Brady Arts districts arent exactly hoppin areas all the time. A place to eat during the evening or day in downtown may be an exciting improvement to local Tulsans, but I doubt that visiting guests, conventioners, "tourists", etc. would go ga-ga about it.

I thought the idea of a large Ferris Wheel like the London Eye, in a park on the East End was a neat idea. Have some other entertainment venues around that. A museum, childrens museum, the large "touristy" type places to shop and eat like Virgin Megastore, Planet Hollywood, game arcade, martini lounge/bowling alley with miniature golf on the roof (my idea lol), movie theater, etc.

We have, and are getting with the ballpark, the stuff to get em downtown. But we dont have what it takes to keep them there and entertained for a good part of a day or weekend.

I want to emphasize that I dont think downtown should just be a night entertainment spot, it should also have a good amount of living and family friendly living at that. But I think the next phase for making downtown alive and a destination should be the "keeping them downtown" stuff. Having a neat park with the giant Ferris Wheel, child friendly water features, food vendors, giant playground/fountain type area. Perhaps a few other rides in a nice urban, park like setting. Not a fenced in amusement park, but an enjoyable, and well designed public space that had a few rides in it, surrounded by shops, restaurants, a childrens museum, ice cream parlor.... Would be good family friendly fun. Then right behind that have some good urban living options. How great would it be to hear the refrain go out from Tulsa area kids.... Can we go downtown?! I want to go downtown! Then people go downtown and see this great area, and right nearby, see quiet places to live. Now thats the start of a winning combination imo.  

Btw, if you want to comment on this idea, I have started a thread about it.