Tulsa World: Tuesdays at the BOK

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Tuesdays at the BOK
Arena's weekday shows pack 'em in

Britney Spears performs on ABC's "Good Morning America" late last year. Associated Press file

By JENNIFER CHANCELLOR World Scene Writer
Published: 9/15/2009 2:20 AM
Last Modified: 9/15/2009 4:30 PM

Happy Birthday, BOK: 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.

Many music fans lament a perception of, "It's Tuesday it must be Tulsa," implying that many A-list concerts only come through town on weekdays.

To some extent, that perception is true, said Jerry Goldman, BOK Center assistant general manager.

"Tuesday often seems to be the day," he said, "but it's a coincidence."

Actually, it's a combination of factors. The BOK Center — or any music venue, for that matter — generally must accept the date the band is available if it wants the show.

First and foremost, "We're definitely not an 'anchor' city. We're a 'routing' city," said Goldman. Bands will decide tour schedules around when they can get into major cities like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Boston and Dallas, he explained. Anchor cities are larger markets with more people, higher sales rates and often a more compact population.

But that's changing. Numbers prove that 30 percent of all events at the BOK Center in the past year were actually on Saturdays, 18 percent were on Fridays and 11 percent were on Sundays. So, nearly 60 percent of all 184 events were on weekends, confirmed Casey Sparks, BOK Center director of marketing and sales.

Remove sporting events and those numbers

change a little bit — but not much. Exactly half of nonsports events were on weekends, with 20 percent on Saturday.

And, yes, Tuesday is the busiest

weekday

of all events, with 14 percent happening on that day. Remove sports from that number and Tuesday drops to 13 percent of overall event dates.

So, why Tuesday?

"We're still Tulsa," said Goldman. "We're the newbie. We still don't have the population to be a major, major market."

The upside of this, he said, is that Tulsa can get more concerts on more days of the week. "We still get great tours and shows. We're getting better. We have those conversations with artists every day."

It all adds up to more shows and big money for the venue — and for the city. Earlier this year, the BOK Center was ranked No. 2 in the United States and No. 9 in the world by industry tracker Pollstar for the number of tickets sold at arenas during the first quarter of 2009.

BOK Center General Manager John Bolton said the arena's record shows that "the building is healthy, the city is healthy, and the interest in music and entertainment in Tulsa is very high."

The BOK Center also has "more date availability" than most other venues its size because it's not also home to a major sports team, said Goldman.

"People eat and drink more on weekends, so we'll do what we can to arrange for weekend concerts when we can," he added. "We like weekend shows, too. Arenas and concert venues do not dictate when a band will perform."

But the BOK Center planners do make considerations when they are able.

"Honestly, especially in the fall, we do try to make considerations around high school and college football games," said Goldman. "We try not to compete with those events."

What’s next

Britney Spears, Tuesday

Rock ’n Rib Festival, Thursday-Saturday

One Year Anniversary Open House, Saturday

WWE Presents Smackdown and ECW, Sept. 22

Taylor Swift, Sept. 27

Dave Matthews Band with Willie Nelson & Family, Oct. 2

Creed, Oct. 9

Miley Cyrus, Oct. 12

OKC Thunder vs Miami Heat, Oct. 14

Star Wars: In Concert, Oct. 20

Tulsa Oilers home opener, Oct. 24

So You Think You Can Dance Tour, Oct. 30

Alan Jackson, Nov. 7

Curious George Live!, Dec. 3

Daughtry, Dec. 15

Where do the tickets go?

For really big shows, most tickets are sold to local music fans, studies have shown. For example, both Eagles appearances last year, nearly 80 percent went to Tulsans, BoK executives said.

For the sold-out Paul mc- Cartney concert on Aug. 17, nearly 70 percent of tickets sold went to Oklahomans. A little over 12 percent of ticket sales came from adjoining states such as Arkansas, Texas and Kansas.

Fans from 42 states bought tickets for that concert, said Casey Sparks, BOK Center director of marketing and sales.

Jennifer Chancellor 581-8346
jennifer.chancellor@tulsaworld.com

By JENNIFER CHANCELLOR World Scene Writer

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	Report Comment TK1, (9/15/2009 6:15:20 AM) How does A-List and Britney Spears get mentioned in the same article?
	Report Comment davewarwick, (9/15/2009 6:42:36 AM) How about bringing Frankie Valli of the Four Seasons to Tulsa?
	Report Comment junkman, Tulsa (9/15/2009 7:00:26 AM) I am thrilled that I will NOT be attending this event....
	Report Comment rememberme?, (9/15/2009 7:18:23 AM) britney spears is a tuesday act anyways....hell she should be a monday act.
	Report Comment SS_Hippy, Tulsa (9/15/2009 7:21:08 AM) The really big names will probably continue to perform at the BOK on weekdays but that is still better than having to go to the Ford Arena on a Monday or Wednesday night.
	Report Comment parksport, (9/15/2009 7:43:25 AM) No complaints from me. I would rather be a "routing city" then a city not even considered when all we had was the convention center.
	Report Comment skippy1, Tulsa (9/15/2009 7:55:35 AM) Why would anyone pay good money to see this dysfunctional nit-wit lip-sync her "hits"?
	Report Comment bjorn2run, (9/15/2009 8:03:27 AM) I wonder how many music stars through the years would have been famous if they were judged by their personality and off-stage persona?
	Report Comment AdamM, Tulsa (9/15/2009 8:03:24 AM) I am waiting for the call on Black Sabbath tickets at Cain's Ballroom. I can't stand the BOK center.
	Report Comment KYCane, Crestwood (9/15/2009 8:23:30 AM) Nothing like a Manufactured Pop or Dancing Bowling Pins Act like Britney Spears. I might be inclined to taking in Willie Nelson & Family but I'd have to suffer through Dave Matthews and HIS Hippie Family...
	Report Comment No Right Wing Nut Jobs, (9/15/2009 8:26:50 AM) Why Would anyone pay good money to see a dysfunctional drug addict, Movie Star, Overweight,Peanut Butter loving singer sing his hits back in the day? Or any other artist in the music business for that matter?
	Report Comment red02v, (9/15/2009 8:47:30 AM) Amen Adam!
	Report Comment Bixby1, Broken Arrow (9/15/2009 8:54:34 AM) Yes, we get a lot of events during the week. So what. At least they come to Tulsa. I was skeptical of the BOK Center and Vision 2025. Not any more. The BOK Center has far exceeded my expectations. If you'd told me two years ago that we'd have The Eagles, Paul McCartney, Alan Jackson, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney and Sugarland here all within a one year period, I'd have told you that you were nuts. My hat's off to the BOK Center for a job well done.
	Report Comment bingo, Jenks (9/15/2009 9:08:11 AM) Turned down free suite tix for Brit. Not real please with how she presents herself morally (or fails in that regard). Thank goodness I do not have a teen girl that I would have to take to this nightmare.
	Report Comment hardball, (9/15/2009 9:11:34 AM) Britney Spears, Tuesday? looks like fat-so and her circus will be here on a Tuesday!
	Report Comment lucky girl, mine (9/15/2009 9:24:56 AM) Ditto rememberme?
	Report Comment ColtsGirl, Tulsa (9/15/2009 9:26:27 AM) I'm just waiting for Miley!!! I love Miley Cyrus she rocks! ;)
	Report Comment Bud Green, No (9/15/2009 9:32:13 AM) I've found the BOK center impressive.
	Report Comment Bud Green, No (9/15/2009 9:36:37 AM) "Fans from 42 states bought tickets for that concert, said Casey Sparks, BOK Center director of marketing and sales." Prior to general public sales, there is a private pre-sale. Unfortunately, many of those tickets are resold for huge profits on ticket sales sites while the best some local buyers can obtain are 20-30 rows back. So if you want the best seats, be prepared to buy them from an out of state reseller at about 500% markup.
	Report Comment Dr. Strangelove, Tulsa (9/15/2009 9:49:32 AM) Say what you want about Britney Spears, but from the pics I've seen of her Circus tour, I'd say an up close seat and some earplugs might just be worthwhile.
	Report Comment Few Clothes, America (9/15/2009 9:58:22 AM) Rasslin is coming to the BOK? It won't be long until Daryl Starbird's monster trucks will be booked.
	Report Comment Ric, Broken Arrow (9/15/2009 10:01:02 AM) I would like to see her... I can't believe I actually would, but I would.
	Report Comment Few Clothes, America (9/15/2009 10:02:14 AM) Now, if you had people chunking spears at Brittney Spears, that would be worth going to.
	Report Comment KYCane, Crestwood (9/15/2009 10:31:26 AM) Always remember...actors and actresses (and to a lesser extent) "singers" like a Britney Spears are CHIMPS. They perform for YOU. Sure, they get TONS of peanut$ in exchange, but actors and actresses just mimick, they APE. My analogy doesn't quite work w talented singers (like a George Strait or Carrie Underwood) because they obviously have a God-given TALENT.
	Report Comment Eric, Tulsa (9/15/2009 12:47:25 PM) ... Hurry, hurry, hurry...step right this way! Ladies and gentlemen, tickets are STILL available to see this act LIP-SYNC! Watch as this once-promising star giggles and jiggles her way through a dazzling display of costume changes. Listen as pre-recorded music screams from the sound system. It's amazing! It's stupendous! It's Britney Spears! Come one, come all...to the greatest show on Earth (not!). Lay down your money and get your fill! ... .. .

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