Tulsa World: BOK Center celebrating

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BOK Center celebrating
The popular arena will mark its first anniversary Saturday with an open house.

STEPHEN HOLMAN / Tulsa World file

By BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer
Published: 9/13/2009 2:28 AM
Last Modified: 9/13/2009 3:34 AM

View an interactive timeline of the BOK Center’s first year, find out who Tulsa World readers would most like to see perform at the arena and view a calendar of upcoming events.

Tulsa's BOK Center will be abuzz with activity this week as it hosts the Rock 'n' Rib Festival outside from Thursday to Sept. 20 and a community open house inside Saturday to celebrate the arena's first birthday.

The downtown arena has generated a $1.1 million fiscal year profit and $2.8 million in sales-tax revenue, anecdotes from thousands of people who enjoyed the entertainment, and numerous industry accolades. But the two men who led the BOK Center to that success have their minds more on the future than the past.

The honeymoon's over, and General Manager John Bolton and Assistant Manager Jerry Goldman know they have to stay aggressive to meet public expectations.

"To some point, you rely on the reputation you've built, and we've built a tremendous one so far," Goldman said. "But we have to keep going to Los Angeles, New York and Nashville, meeting with the agents, fighting to make sure we're a presence. It's a competitive business."

Despite the BOK Center being a state-of-the-art facility that the industry has gushed over, due to Tulsa's market size, a tour stop by a major artist is never a given, Goldman said.

But tour decision makers have a lot of respect

for the BOK Center's financial performance and ability to draw in ticket buyers, Bolton said, citing the sellouts of the Eagles, Celine Dion, Billy Joel and Elton John, Paul McCartney, Brad Paisley, Nickelback and Def Leppard, among others. Upcoming sold-out shows include Taylor Swift and Dave Matthews Band.

"The people of Tulsa and the region are who should be credited for our success because they have reacted so enthusiastically," he said. "Our challenge is to keep their interest and continue bringing in a wide variety of entertainment, and I know we're going to do that."

The marketing goal is to continue to cultivate the Tulsa market, Bolton said, while making the arena even more known regionally.

"That's what is vital to us, long-term," he said, noting that McCartney ticket purchases came from 44 states, with many from Missouri and Arkansas.

The BOK Center's booking calendar is closely guarded, with management at the mercy of promoters as to when they can release event details. But Bolton says scores of dates are being held well into 2010, and some big announcements will come soon.

During its first fiscal year, from July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009, with the first two months having the building closed and still under construction, the arena hosted 166 events.

Bolton said the second fiscal year should see about 90 percent of that or possibly a match of the total. That will mean about 28 concerts, plus all of the other events held at the facility.

"There's buildings in any market that would kill for 28 concerts in one year," Goldman said.

The BOK Center's second financial year already has gotten off to an auspicious beginning, posting a $513,439 profit in July — its highest one-month total to date — as well as generating $315,884 in sales-tax revenue. August's numbers, which will include McCartney's visit, are still being calculated but will likely surpass that, they said.

Tulsa and the BOK Center should know by the end of September whether they will gain a WNBA team, Bolton said. That will help keep the facility busy, with 17 home games during the summer months that are traditionally slow for indoor concerts.

"The problem (the team's backers) are having right now is that people haven't experienced that product, so it's hard to gain 100 percent commitments ... in terms of investments, sponsorships and premium seat holders," he said. "But I'm optimistic. The venue is moving in the direction that this is going to happen."

To counter the ongoing weak economy, the entertainment industry is concentrating on how it packages and prices shows, Bolton said.

For example, the Def Leppard, Poison and Cheap Trick triple-bill was a smash, giving consumers more music for their money, he said, while other shows are offering cheap seats, like Keith Urban's $20 tickets.

"If you're not an A-level act that will sell out within an hour no matter what you charge, you have to be creative," Bolton said.

Brian Barber 581-8322
brian.barber@tulsaworld.com By BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment Mar, Tulsa (9/13/2009 12:11:14 PM) TW, please delete the comments of pwr2people and the follow ups.
	Report Comment Mar, Tulsa (9/13/2009 12:11:55 PM) I would like to see Prince perform at the BOK Arena.
	Report Comment Few Clothes, America (9/13/2009 9:39:04 AM) Wonnerful! Wonnerful! Will Bobby and Sissy show up?
	Report Comment diyinok, Broken Arrow (9/13/2009 10:33:02 AM) pwr2people and Corvetteguy: Excuse me? What does this Gomez/Barnes conflict have to do with the BOK?
	Report Comment Mich098, Tulsa (9/13/2009 3:02:18 PM) When are they going to start with the religious conventions as Tulsa is the religious capital of the fundamentalist world.
	Report Comment Mich098, Tulsa (9/14/2009 3:49:24 PM) I would like to see the Dixie Chicks!
	Report Comment dustyoutlaw, Tulsa (9/13/2009 1:25:52 PM) Around here all they would need to do to sell out a month straight is wheel in a fancy casket, drape it in a flag and put up a sign saying "Ronald Reagen". Charge the right wing nuts 50.00 each and it'd sell out every single day.
	Report Comment dustyoutlaw, Tulsa (9/13/2009 1:27:07 PM) Let's have Pink Floyd.
	Report Comment dustyoutlaw, Tulsa (9/13/2009 4:02:29 PM) Nothing wrong with the way the BOK looks. You know who I'd like to see at the BOK? Grateful Dead. No, they're not the same with Jerry Garcia dead but the deadheads are the same. Saw them in Long Beach and to be honest the parking lot was more interesting than the show. This would just drive the ultra right out of their minds. I'd pay HUGE money for a Dead Ticket. Hippies from ten states around. A "cloud" over the BOK. Priceless
	Report Comment dustyoutlaw, Tulsa (9/13/2009 8:09:12 PM) Centrist you may see Mayer, Hornsy, Browne, Steely Dan but unless they are on the same bill you won't see them at the BOK. Clapton and Santana maybe could sell out a night but the rest can't. Still maybe they could package three of them. I went to see Santana in Sacramento and he couldn't sell out 10 thousand. Saw Jackson Browne in a 4,000 seater and place was half empty.
	Report Comment Centrist, the burbs (9/13/2009 6:52:55 PM) I haven't heard of any big name bands coming since McCartney. I hope BOK keeps up with bringing big artists this year. I would like to see Eric Clapton, John Mayer, Bruce Hornsby, Jackson Browne,Steely Dan, Santana. It would be nice to have a Blues Guitar Fest like the one Eric Clapton put on with Crossroads.
	Report Comment Centrist, the burbs (9/13/2009 11:17:52 PM) Yeh, I know they would need to package some of the artists. That's fine with me, more the better. I saw Jackson Browne at The Brady this past year. I never got to see Pink Floyd but that will never happen now since the two main guys are gone.
	Report Comment parksport, (9/13/2009 6:12:59 AM) KH, as a compromise, I personally would like to kiss Pink! (okay, may be if a was much much younger).....Guess I will stick with the ribs.
	Report Comment parksport, (9/13/2009 1:33:33 PM) getreal, I am afraid you were right afterall. Some people in here do feel they must make a political statement about everything.
	Report Comment Corvetteguy, Tulsa (9/13/2009 10:03:05 AM) pwr2people, let me see if I understand this correctly.................................... You are criticizing District 4 City Councilor Eric Gomez, and supporting opposing candidate and former District 4 City Councilor Maria Barnes. Why don't you discuss in your comments that while serving as a City Councilor, Maria Barnes voted to keep Tulsa as a "SANCTUARY CITY", where the Tulsa Police Officers could not even inquire as to the immigration status of felony suspects????? Please explain your support of someone like Maria Barnes who is supportive and helpful to those who have no respect for the borders and laws of the United States of America. And tell us what you would say to the family of the bycylist who was run down and killed by a hit-ad-run illegal alien from Mexico? What words of comfort would you offer to her family and friends as you support ex-councilor Maria Barnes?
	Report Comment Corvetteguy, Tulsa (9/13/2009 10:43:10 AM) diyinok, I don't really know. If you check the posting stamped times, pwr2people interjected her political commentary first, at 9.40am. Maybe pwr2people will explain why she brought up the District 4 City Council race on an article about the BOK center.
	Report Comment Corvetteguy, Tulsa (9/13/2009 12:20:58 PM) "TW, please delete the comments of pwr2people and the follow ups" I'll go for that.
	Report Comment Mannix, Claremore (9/13/2009 1:52:39 PM) > Let's have Pink Floyd. I'd pay real money to see that, although since Nick Mason's death it'd be hollow.
	Report Comment Four Sixteen Rigby, Tulsa (9/13/2009 7:32:08 AM) I heard they were bringing Lawrence Welk's casket to the BOK in December for a big Christmas show. Apparently, the Lennon Sisters will be there singing all their famous hits.
	Report Comment Dusty, (9/13/2009 7:00:11 PM) Where can one get financial statements for the BOK center? It is great the arena is showing a profit. What I wonder is when will the taxpayer debt be paid.
	Report Comment Sunshineinttown, (9/13/2009 2:36:16 PM) I actually think it is a beautiful building and in my opinion a wonderful addition to the Tulsa skyline. I am also happy with the variety of concerts/shows that have been coming to Tulsa (that did not previously) and the income generated can't hurt at all!
	Report Comment getreal, (9/13/2009 11:53:41 AM) diyinok; Some people just do not read the article or must make a political statement about everything.
	Report Comment KH, (9/13/2009 5:57:03 AM) I personally would like to see Pink and KISS
	Report Comment Observer3, (9/13/2009 1:57:25 PM) Is that not the ugliest building you've ever seen?

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