Tulsa World: If the Boss can do it, so can the Big Dance

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If the Boss can do it, so can the Big Dance

By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist
Published: 4/13/2009 2:23 AM
Last Modified: 4/30/2009 2:50 PM

Go to John Klein's Blog

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, Billy Joel and Elton John have played the BOK Center in recent weeks, validating Tulsa's new arena as a major player.

It is time Tulsa starts putting the BOK Center into the big leagues of sports events as well.

The BOK Center compares favorably with any arena in the country. Not just the arenas in this region. Not just arenas in cities of Tulsa's size.

The BOK Center is big time, and it is time the facility host significant basketball tournaments.

Yes, the Conference USA Tournament is coming to Tulsa. But the BOK Center is capable of hosting far more important sports events.

The BOK Center is one of the most dazzling arenas in the country. It compares favorably or better than many of the arenas that house NBA teams. Don't believe it? Go to an Oklahoma City Thunder game.

Yes, there needs to be additional development downtown in hotels and restaurants. However, Tulsa should be getting on the NCAA list of regular homes for NCAA Tournament (men's and women's) games.

The Scottrade Center in St. Louis is not close when it comes to the deluxe accommodations of the BOK Center. Yet, the Scottrade Center has become a hub for NCAA events in recent years.

Just this spring, the Scottrade Center played host to the NCAA

Wrestling Tournament and NCAA Women's Final Four.

The wrestling tournament was sold out, but the women's national semifinals, including Oklahoma's game with Louisville last Sunday, had lots of empty seats.

There's little question either event would be a huge deal in Tulsa and a guaranteed sellout.

The wrestling tournament, which should be at the top of any Tulsa wish list because of the natural attraction for the sport in our state, had a $14-million economic impact on St. Louis, according to the St. Louis Sports Commission.

The Women's Final Four had an estimated $20-million economic impact.

The 2001 NCAA Women's Final Four had an estimated $21-million economic in St. Louis. The 2005 Men's Final Four, held at the domed football stadium in downtown St. Louis, had a $72-million economic impact.

The men's Final Four is out of reach. But first and second round games, and regionals, are part of the men's NCAA Tournament that not only could be held here but should be pursued.

Tulsa's arena, location in the middle of the country, and the availability of excellent airline and hotel options should make our city an attractive possible host.

Dayton continues to get NCAA Tournament games despite an aging arena and a lack of hotel and restaurant options close to the arena. In addition, flight connections into Dayton are brutally expensive and hard to get.

The University of Dayton Arena was built in 1969. It doesn't appear to have undergone many, if any, updates in the last 40 years.

Yes, it is large. No, it is not modern, luxurious or attractive by any stretch of the imagination.

Yet, Dayton pushed to get an NCAA Tournament back in the 1970s when the NCAA went looking for homes. Back then, ORU's Mabee Center was a major player in attracting games, before minimum seating requirements pushed Mabee out of the mix.

During the 1970s, Dayton was able to host 17 NCAA Tournament games. It set the standard for organization and gained a strong foothold with the NCAA.

Tulsa can also push its organization for major sports events — three U.S. Opens, a Women's U.S. Open, a record four PGA Championships and this summer's U.S. Amateur. If Tulsa can host such huge golf events, it is certainly capable of handling NCAA basketball events.

Dayton's ability to organize and handle the events has made it a regular on the NCAA Tournament list. Two years ago, the OU women played in Dayton when the temperature soared to about 100 degrees (a miserable setting).

The OSU men played in Dayton in this year's NCAA Tournament.

In fact, Dayton has hosted more NCAA Tournament games than any other arena in the country.

Dayton has hosted the NCAA Tournament's opening game, between Nos. 64 and 65, since its inception. A women's regional will be played in Dayton next spring.

If Springsteen can play Tulsa, the NCAA Tournament should be on the playlist, too.

By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist

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	Report Comment FIRE GUNDY, TULSA (4/13/2009 8:37:43 AM) AGREED
	Report Comment The Man, Broken Arrow (4/13/2009 9:06:16 AM) "Yes, there needs to be additional development downtown in hotels and restaurants." This. We're not ready yet.
	Report Comment LaffALot, (4/13/2009 10:08:19 AM) Nope, Tulsa is ready right now to host a NCAA regional. The City officials need to be alert @ bidding and promoting Tulsa as a valuable resource to hosting NCAA events. They need to be regular attendees @ any & all NCAA events to help raise awareness & “pump up” Tulsa in the bidding process. As it is right now, bids are @ least 2 to 3 yrs out, it’ll take that long just for Tulsa to put together a ‘decent proposal.
	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (4/13/2009 10:55:57 AM) DITTO.
	Report Comment Okierat, Bartlesville (4/13/2009 11:47:30 AM) And just where will people park? The Thurdsay and Friday games start during regular business hours. They tried a business day event not that long ago and it was a cluster %$&^ when it came to parking.
	Report Comment The ORIGINAL Adman, (4/13/2009 12:32:58 PM) The naysayers are being proven wrong out of the gate. The BOK Center is barely 6 months old and the concerts they are bringing in are first class and the acts, and audiences, are responding like it is just that. I'm also tired of all the small minded folk who continue to want to bring up excuses as to why this can’t be done or that can't be done. The parking issue is the exact opposite, a non-issue. Major market cities have to deal with the inconveniences of being popular sites and if that means there will be traffic and parking issues, that's what it means. There are costs of doing business and that is one of them. Do you think places like Boise, Birmingham and Dayton have more parking amenities at their venues? They don't. But the communities, which are significantly smaller than Tulsa, deal with it because they are put on a national stage and millions of dollars are brought into their economy. If you want to be small minded and shortsighted and continue to find new reasons as to why Tulsa is not "ready" to host higher profile events (have you forgotten the PGA events that are held in the MIDDLE of town?) please move away. Seriously, Move, Get the heck outta my city, because as long as you are here, we will just be a town.
	Report Comment Tulsa Life, (4/13/2009 12:42:46 PM) I totally agree Adman. Why is everyone still concerned about parking? Apparently you all have traveled to other Arenas in downtown areas and have realized that parking is always an issue. If there is a good show people will find a place to park!
	Report Comment bruinsooner, (4/13/2009 1:18:34 PM) Dayton Arena has a huge parking lot surrounding it. And the parking is free. At the same time, parking is not a problem of any sort at BOK Center but it does cost about $5-10 depending on where you park.
	Report Comment Rhymeister, Tulsa (4/14/2009 8:06:33 AM) Tulsa should also be targetting things like the juco national basketball tournament, perhaps NCAA nat'l track meet and the like to get some of these hotel rooms filled up and tourists spending money in Tulsa.
	Report Comment shaw411, Scottsdale, AZ (4/14/2009 9:15:10 AM) Tulsa is more ready thank you think for larger sporting events.
	Report Comment The Man, Broken Arrow (4/14/2009 12:08:08 PM) "And just where will people park? The Thurdsay and Friday games start during regular business hours. They tried a business day event not that long ago and it was a cluster %$&^ when it came to parking." Yes, when the "motivational speakers" were here during a business day, dowtown was a mess! Perhaps some sort of trolley system from further lots? I'm not saying we're not well on our way, we're just not ready yet. I love having the arena, but let's support it with some more surrounding "stuff".

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