New Arena (formerly Prairie Surf)

[Laramie]

I was just thinking about how different the new OKC arena might be from the BOK Center in Tulsa. Built for $178 million ($264 million today), the BOK Center set a high standard, but OKC’s new $900 million arena will have so much more to work with in terms of design, space, and technology. It’ll be interesting to see what almost four times the money can do.

You're correct. The architectural firms involved seem IMO to downplay what they are going to deliver. Just not sure what specs the city will require other than a 750,000 sq., footage total minimum or more. Nothing definitive about seating capacity, luxury suites, lodge boxes or premium seating.

[Laramie]

BTW: Utah NHL Hockey Club is averaging a sellout of 11,131 at the Delta Center in SLC. I'd argue that if this team were playing in Tulsa's BOK Center they would be drawing a minimum of 15,000 - 16,000 a night or more.

They are selling out their NBA Jazz at the Detlta Center as well - 18,175. With the hockey configuration added; the Delta Center's basketball capacity shrunk from 18,302 to 18,175.

The Delta Center opened with an original NBA seating capacity 19,911.

[April in the Plaza]

I’m not certain about its suitability for hockey, but it will definitely be able to host concerts. Although the initial cost is estimated at $900 million to $1 billion, I believe we’ll end up spending around $1.2 to $1.5 billion. I would imagine it will incorporate technology from both the new Intuit Dome in LA and have the architecture of the Chase Center in SF.

What technology are you thinking about? The Halo Board is super obnoxious and having a microphone in every seat feels gimmicky.

[Decious]

Let's get that 10,000 attendee FFA state convention we lost to Tulsa back in our city. That's probably 5,000 hotel room nights x three days (15,000 room nights) added to our local economy.

Great sentiment! I see you mention this a lot. It’d be cool, but I don’t think the new arena will get that particular convention back. The reason it moved was because of conflicting dates with the NBA. They seem to like to use two buildings.

https://www.newson6.com/story/60dce7...m-okc-to-tulsa

https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/ed...s-source=login

[Pete]

^

Yes, the reason OKC lost that event was due to the Cox Center going under an exclusive contract with Prairie Surf.

[Teo9969]

I'd love to hear people's thoughts on which side of the block loading docks should be placed. It seems pretty unlikely that it will be East or West...so should North or South Bear that burden?

[bison34]

I'd love to hear people's thoughts on which side of the block loading docks should be placed. It seems pretty unlikely that it will be East or West...so should North or South Bear that burden?

Whichever allows for the quickest and easiest in and out. Need to be able to host back to back large-scale concerts. Even BOK can.

[bison34]

BTW: Utah NHL Hockey Club is averaging a sellout of 11,131 at the Delta Center in SLC. I'd argue that if this team were playing in Tulsa's BOK Center they would be drawing a minimum of 15,000 - 16,000 a night or more.

They are selling out their NBA Jazz at the Detlta Center as well - 18,175. With the hockey configuration added; the Delta Center's basketball capacity shrunk from 18,302 to 18,175.

The Delta Center opened with an original NBA seating capacity 19,911.

The Delta Center is an NBA arena with NBA sight lines. And hockey rinks are quite a bit bigger than NBA courts.

I don't know what the hockey configuration is for BOK, but the NHL has very particular rules on sight lines, I believe.

[Laramie]

The Delta Center is an NBA arena with NBA sight lines. And hockey rinks are quite a bit bigger than NBA courts.

I don't know what the hockey configuration is for BOK, but the NHL has very particular rules on sight lines, I believe.

Tulsa's BOK Center is very unique in versatility of hosting both NBA and NHL games. There's not that much difference in seating capacity.

NBA, NCAA basketball games: 17,839 vs NHL hockey games 17,096. A 743 difference in transitioning from basketball to ice hockey.

I don't know of an arena in the U. S. that has that flexibility where they don't lose a ton of seats.

Example of some selected NBA arenas:

Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis - BB 17,274 - IH 11,651 (5,623 difference)
FedEx Forum, Memphis - BB 17,794 - IH 16,411 (1,383 difference)
Spectrum Center, Charlotte - BB 19,077 - IH 14,100 (4,0977 difference)
TD Garden, Boston - BB 19,156 - IH 17,850 (1,306 difference)

The SLC Delta Center doesn't possess the flexibility of Tulsa's BOK Center when hosting both NBA and NHL games.

César Pelli did an outstanding job with the architectural design (Exterior and Interior) of Tulsa's BOK Center.

[BoulderSooner]

BTW: Utah NHL Hockey Club is averaging a sellout of 11,131 at the Delta Center in SLC. I'd argue that if this team were playing in Tulsa's BOK Center they would be drawing a minimum of 15,000 - 16,000 a night or more.

They are selling out their NBA Jazz at the Detlta Center as well - 18,175. With the hockey configuration added; the Delta Center's basketball capacity shrunk from 18,302 to 18,175.

The Delta Center opened with an original NBA seating capacity 19,911.

the hockey 11k is temp for this year only .. it will go way up next season ..

[kukblue1]

What is going to be the new name of the new arena? Do we still think it will be Paycom?

[BDP]

I was just thinking about how different the new OKC arena might be from the BOK Center in Tulsa.

It will be a lot different / better than the BOK Center. The comps are recently built NBA arenas, not something like BOK. That would really make you wonder where all the money went.

[Pete]

BOK is Paycom in a prettier wrapper.

And we're throwing away Paycom to get something much better.

[bison34]

What is going to be the new name of the new arena? Do we still think it will be Paycom?

Yes. The PAYCOM contract is with the THUNDER, not OKC. So as long as the Thunder exist, that contract does, as well...

[BoulderSooner]

BOK is Paycom in a prettier wrapper.

And we're throwing away Paycom to get something much better.

and in lots of ways it is a significantly worse arena

[PhiAlpha]

BOK is Paycom in a prettier wrapper.

And we're throwing away Paycom to get something much better.

BOK’s footprint seems quite a bit bigger with a huge open lobby area and wider concourses, especially in the upper deck and is generally prettier. Inside the arena itself though, paycom is way nicer.

[kukblue1]

Yes. The PAYCOM contract is with the THUNDER, not OKC. So as long as the Thunder exist, that contract does, as well...

I thought those contracts were only like a 7-year deal

[Pete]

The Paycom contract started in the 2021-22 season and will run for 15 years.

[Laramie]

We're fortunate to have Paycom, a solutions based company in Oklahoma City. Paycom's strength is reflected in its growth; especially during the height of Covid and CEO Chad Richison who have given back to our community.

Proud to have the Paycom name carry over to the new arena; it will cement Oklahoma City into the NBA, concerts, sports community and a conclave for many future events; it will be our welcoming space for many.