Madness, Tulsa arena style
BY BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer
Sunday, March 13, 2011
3/13/11 at 9:18 AM
We’ll have previews, game
stories, analysis, photos, a parking
map and more. Find it at tulsaworld.com/ncaa
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The attention of frenzied men's college basketball fans across the country will zero in on the BOK Center this week as it hosts the second and third rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
The Tulsa arena, which opened in August 2008, has hosted 467 events; sold $80.6 million in tickets, concessions and merchandise; and attracted nearly 1.9 million attendees.
But for those who championed the venue's funding in the Vision 2025 Tulsa County sales-tax package, shepherded its construction and worked hard to make the arena successful - this is the real payoff.
"This is an extraordinary, top-tier event," said Mike Neal, Tulsa Metro Chamber president and CEO.
"It's March Madness, after all. Short of having a Super Bowl here, which we'll never have, this is about as good as it gets."
The NCAA Tournament is anticipated to have a "conservative" economic impact of $8 million in Tulsa and draw thousands of tourists for the games on Friday and Sunday, he said.
While the BOK Center has hosted several nationally televised events, from bull riding to professional wrestling, it has entertained nothing of this magnitude, especially over multiple days.
"By far, this will be the most people who will be watching, and we'll be in the spotlight," venue general manager John Bolton said.
"It's a critical event for us. But we're going to do a great job and make sure everyone has a great experience."
The national exposure realized by the city will be priceless, Neal said.
"This absolutely wouldn't be happening without the investment that the citizens made in the BOK Center," he said.
"The NCAA wouldn't have even considered Tulsa, if not for this world-class venue. I hope people take pride in that."
As city and county leaders crafted the Vision 2025 package, which was approved by voters in 2003, serving as an NCAA Tournament host was touted as a goal for the $196 million flagship arena project.
Former Mayor Bill LaFortune said they did not want Tulsans to have to leave the city for big concerts and sporting events.
"And at the very top of the list was getting this tournament," he said, adding that he now can finally check that off.
"I can't tell you how many times over the years since the BOK Center opened that someone has come up to me to thanked me for my efforts and to say how much they enjoy this facility."
Mayor Dewey Bartlett said the city needs to seize this opportunity to promote itself to out-of-towners who may have never experienced Tulsa before.
"This is a time to schmooze a little bit," he said. "This is a time to show off how Tulsa is growing and how much further ahead we are in coming out of this recession than a lot of other cities."
Some visitors are likely to be business people who could consider locating in Tulsa, Bartlett said.
"We have a great quality of life and a great cost of living," he said. "These folks are going to be here three or four days and will be able to see and experience that."
Bartlett said he plans to be at the BOK Center throughout the tournament to meet and greet attendees.
"I've bought a lot of tickets, and I have many friends coming in from all over who are involved in business," he said. "This is a time when all of us need to put our best foot forward."
Councilor Jack Henderson was the president of the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 2003 and was part of an effort to defeat Vision 2025.
Now, eight years later, after the BOK Center has proved to be a success and with the NCAA Tournament on its way, Henderson has changed his mind.
"At the time, I really didn't think it was going to benefit north Tulsa and the people I was representing," he said. "I didn't want to see it happen, and I fought hard against it."
But the venue's achievements have proved him wrong, Henderson said.
"It's been a money maker. So I had to reevaluate my position. I think it's been a great thing for all of Tulsa.
"It's put us on the map in many different ways, and I'm very proud of it."
Henderson noted with a chuckle that it's hard to find anyone now with something bad to say about the BOK Center.
"I've eaten crow over this so many times. But I'm happy to do it."
BOK Center by the numbers
From the opening in August 2008 through February 2011
Including:
- 76 concerts
- 53 family shows
- 27 general entertainment events
- 23 performing arts events
- 10 general sports events
- 17 WNBA games
- 92 Oilers hockey games
- 17 Talons arena football games
- 152 miscellaneous events
Top 10 attended single-show events:
1) George Strait/Reba McEntire (Feb. 20, 2010) 18,098
2) Elton John/Billy Joel (March 17, 2009) 17,335
3) Bon Jovi (April 13, 2009) 17,053
4) Jonas Brothers (June 22, 2009) 16,585
5) Celine Dion (Feb. 2, 2009) 15,933
6) Paul McCartney (Aug. 17, 2009) 15,479
7) Nickelback (April 24, 2010) 14,804
8) Nickelback (April 10, 2009) 14,040
9) Metallica (Nov. 11, 2008) 14,020
10) Eagles (Sept. 6, 2008) 13,571
Note: Events have different capacities based on stage setup.
The BOK Center has consistently ranked in the Top 10 United States venues for ticket sales, achieving as high as No. 2 in the first quarter of 2009.
The year-end 2010 venue rankings by Pollstar:
1) Madison Square Garden Arena - New York City - 1,152,792
2) Staples Center - Los Angeles - 650,553
3) American Airlines Center - Dallas - 518,646
4) Philips Arena - Atlanta - 508,267
5) Sprint Center - Kansas City - 482,842
6) Bridgestone Arena - Nashville - 447,099
7) Wells Fargo Center - Philadelphia - 412,594
8) The Palace of Auburn Hills - Auburn Hills, Mich. - 398,694
9) Oracle Arena - Oakland, Calif. - 374,640
10) BOK Center - Tulsa - 360,871
BOK Center by the numbers
From the opening in August 2008 through February 2011
Construction:
$196 million in public and private dollars
Basketball capacity:
17,839
Total attendance:
1,878,673
Total sales-tax revenue generated:
$6,945,357
Of that, $2,444,766 went to the city, $833,443 to Tulsa County and $3,667,148 to the state
Sales-tax figure is based on:
$80,668,068 in purchases of tickets, concessions, T-shirts and other items
Operating profit:
$21,184,262 in income has offset $16,619,324 in expenses resulting in a $4,564,938 profit
Who's coming to Tulsa?
The games start Friday, and the city finds out today which teams will play here. The NCAA Tournament field will be unveiled during a selection show aired at 5 p.m. on KOTV, channel 6.
Play the game
Think you can pick the winners on your bracket? Make your picks and win prizes.
tulsaworld.com/marchmania
Coming soon
Check out our 16-page NCAA Tournament section in Monday's paper. We'll have more: An NCAA Tournament Weekend section on Thursday and another special section Friday.
Get your tickets
All-session tickets are available beginning at 10 a.m. today at tulsaworld.com/ncaatickets or by calling 1-866-726-5287.
Original Print Headline: Madness, Tulsa style
Brian Barber 918-581-8322
brian.barber@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Mike Hedin (right) and Shane Butts hang an NCAA Tournament banner in downtown Tulsa on Thursday. MATT BARNARD / Tulsa World
ADAM WISNESKI / Tulsa World
George Strait headlines a performance at BOK Center. Courtesy
Concert attendees walk inside the BOK Center before the Eagles concert, which was the first event at the BOK Center on Sept. 6, 2008. TOM GILBERT / Tulsa World file
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