This popular TV show is coming to OKC and will be shot in front of the State Capitol.

Oklahoma State Senate - News (http://www.oksenate.gov/news/press_releases/press_releases_2016/pr20160219apv.htm)

'American Ninja Warrior' to film episode at Oklahoma Capitol | News OK (http://newsok.com/american-ninja-warrior-to-film-episode-at-oklahoma-capitol/article/5479917)

This popular TV show is coming to OKC and will be shot in front of the State Capitol.

Oklahoma State Senate - News (http://www.oksenate.gov/news/press_releases/press_releases_2016/pr20160219apv.htm)


'American Ninja Warrior' to film episode at Oklahoma Capitol | News OK (http://newsok.com/american-ninja-warrior-to-film-episode-at-oklahoma-capitol/article/5479917)

Interesting news story and interesting press release

Does OKC have anything that resembles an obstacle course? I've been looking for something like that for awhile.

Parking problems: American Ninja Warrior taping could affect Capitol

By: Dale Denwalt The Journal Record May 2, 2016

OKLAHOMA CITY – When American Ninja Warrior rolls into Oklahoma City this weekend, the large-scale obstacle course will take up a sizable portion of area on the south side of the state Capitol.

Parking and traffic lanes will be disrupted to accommodate the nationally televised show, which is taping two episodes in Oklahoma City.

Some personnel are expected in Oklahoma City later this week, with the larger set pieces and equipment moving into place starting Saturday, May 7. It will take crews nearly a week to put everything together.

Sue Hollenbeck, director of sports business for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, said everything should be set up by Thursday, May 12.

“They do some run-throughs for shots on Thursday afternoon,” Hollenbeck said.

The show will commandeer the first few rows of parking on the south side, which are normally reserved for people who work at the Capitol. The TV taping will be Friday and Saturday nights after dark.

Hollenbeck said the idea is that the Legislature will have adjourned for the week on Thursday, allowing the show to proceed after most of the people working at the Capitol have gone home.

The course will be torn down that Sunday and will most likely be gone by Tuesday, May 17. The decision to have American Ninja Warrior at the Capitol presents a challenge, particularly because the Legislature is in the final weeks of a busy session. State Sen. David Holt, who helped bring the show to the city, said the show probably won’t have a significant effect on people trying to visit the Capitol.

The southeast entrance, used most by visitors, will remain open.

“That was very important for us,” said Holt, R-Oklahoma City. “It’s also the handicapped entrance for some people, so it was really important for that to stay open.”

There will be some plant life affected; planters directly south of the Capitol plaza could be taken out to make room for production, but Hollenbeck said the show will replace anything that’s removed.

“If people work on the south side of the building, they can look out of their window and see it progressing and going up,” Hollenbeck said. “I’m not sure everyone understands the size of it.”

Parking problems: American Ninja Warrior taping could affect Capitol

By: Dale Denwalt The Journal Record May 2, 2016

OKLAHOMA CITY – When American Ninja Warrior rolls into Oklahoma City this weekend, the large-scale obstacle course will take up a sizable portion of area on the south side of the state Capitol.

Parking and traffic lanes will be disrupted to accommodate the nationally televised show, which is taping two episodes in Oklahoma City.

Some personnel are expected in Oklahoma City later this week, with the larger set pieces and equipment moving into place starting Saturday, May 7. It will take crews nearly a week to put everything together.

Sue Hollenbeck, director of sports business for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, said everything should be set up by Thursday, May 12.

“They do some run-throughs for shots on Thursday afternoon,” Hollenbeck said.

The show will commandeer the first few rows of parking on the south side, which are normally reserved for people who work at the Capitol. The TV taping will be Friday and Saturday nights after dark.

Hollenbeck said the idea is that the Legislature will have adjourned for the week on Thursday, allowing the show to proceed after most of the people working at the Capitol have gone home.

The course will be torn down that Sunday and will most likely be gone by Tuesday, May 17. The decision to have American Ninja Warrior at the Capitol presents a challenge, particularly because the Legislature is in the final weeks of a busy session. State Sen. David Holt, who helped bring the show to the city, said the show probably won’t have a significant effect on people trying to visit the Capitol.

The southeast entrance, used most by visitors, will remain open.

“That was very important for us,” said Holt, R-Oklahoma City. “It’s also the handicapped entrance for some people, so it was really important for that to stay open.”

There will be some plant life affected; planters directly south of the Capitol plaza could be taken out to make room for production, but Hollenbeck said the show will replace anything that’s removed.

“If people work on the south side of the building, they can look out of their window and see it progressing and going up,” Hollenbeck said. “I’m not sure everyone understands the size of it.”

I wonder why they picked the capital of all places. I can think of at least two or three better places with the boathouse district being my top pick.

I wonder why they picked the capital of all places. I can think of at least two or three better places with the boathouse district being my top pick.

Me too. My guess would be they have to have a very large swath of land and seeing as the Thunder have two playoff games this weekend, they didn't want to take up parking downtown or Bricktown.

I think the capitol building all lit up at night will be a nice backdrop.

The show's producers looked closely at the boathouse district and several other potential locations and specifically chose the Capitol because they absolutely loved it as a backdrop.

It seems they have used a lot of capitol buildings in other cities as well.

Part of the reason for this is the scale of the set and the camera angles they use; since they can locate at the foot of the Capitol it will tower over the set. Elsewhere, backdrop buildings would have been at such a distance and/or lacked enough height that they would not have been nearly so impactful visually.

Me too. My guess would be they have to have a very large swath of land and seeing as the Thunder have two playoff games this weekend, they didn't want to take up parking downtown or Bricktown.

Mind you, the filming is next weekend...not this weekend.

Mind you, the filming is next weekend...not this weekend.

From DOK -

The filming, set for May 6 to May 17, caps a monthslong recruiting effort by the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau in cooperation with Sen. David Holt, Gov. Mary Fallin, Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman and House Speaker Jeff Hickman.

Is this something you can go to and watch?

Mind you, the filming is next weekend...not this weekend.

Right, but they start set up this weekend.

Is this something you can go to and watch?

Here you go:
http://on-camera-audiences.com/shows/American_Ninja_Warrior

I just walked over to the south side of the Capitol building and they have started the site prep. They removed 3 beds of shrubs and small plants out by the street to make room for the course.

Here you go:
http://on-camera-audiences.com/shows/American_Ninja_Warrior

Well crap I guess I'll put my name on the waitlist. Not sure I want to go to it at midnight.

From https://twitter.com/CapitolRestore:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CibNiSWUYAAus1d.jpg:large

^^^^^^^
Never could have gotten that type of visual impact at boathouse district or with just the downtown skyline in the distance. Being able to locate right at the base of the Capitol and have it tower above was a great decision. Site selection folks knew what they were doing.

I'm sure skyline and boathouse views will make it into lots of B-roll.

http://newsok.com/article/5498555

I was kinda shocked when I found out they actually were paying people to be in the audience. I had a relative and several of her friends that were all paid to go and be in the audience. I assumed it would be so popular they wouldn't have to do that. But I guess if you pay for your audience you can hand pick the 'look' you want.

Also guarantees a full house despite the weird, long overnight shooting schedule. And if I recall, some of the payments went to nonprofits instead of individuals, with those groups being responsible for packing the house. It that's the case it's pretty cool.

I was kinda shocked when I found out they actually were paying people to be in the audience. I had a relative and several of her friends that were all paid to go and be in the audience. I assumed it would be so popular they wouldn't have to do that. But I guess if you pay for your audience you can hand pick the 'look' you want.

I had a few friends try to get tickets and they were told they were all out. These people didn't want to get paid, but I can see them paying for an audience for the 2:00 am competition.