Tulsa's BOK Center generates $491,000 in sales taxes for first quarter
BY BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
11/21/12 at 8:40 AM
BOK Center See a calendar of upcoming events at the arena, view photos from performances and more.
Tulsa's BOK Center generated $491,492 in sales-tax revenue in the first quarter of this fiscal year, new financial reports show.
The money was collected based on a net $5,686,854 in sales of tickets, concessions and merchandise and other items at the downtown venue from July through September.
It is divided among the city, county and state based on their shares of the local sales-tax rate.
The venue also shows $66,434 in operating costs for the quarter. That's based on $1,572,461 in income offsetting $1,506,027 in expenses, reports indicate.
"Eventually, what will happen in the spring is that our revenue numbers will go way up," BOK Center Finance Director Tom Simpson said.
"We are expecting that time period for us to be very strong. The fact that we are above zero right now is a very good position to be in."
In the past four years, the venue has ended the fiscal year with operating profits between $1.2 million and $1.6 million.
For arenas, the first quarter of the fiscal year is typically a slower period, with much of the concert touring product opting for outdoor arenas, Simpson said.
Plus, there are vacations, back to school and summer holidays complicating the booking calendar.
BOK Center General Manager John Bolton said there will be four major 2013 concert announcements before Christmas - with more to come.
"These are really, really strong shows," he said. "Three of the four are repeats that sold well the last time they came, and one we've never had."
Already on sale for next year: Rascal Flatts, Justin Bieber, The Who, Maroon 5, Muse and Sarah Brightman.
The venue also is hosting Bassmaster Classic in February and the Conference USA Basketball Tournament in March.
Before 2012 winds down, Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, Cirque du Soleil and the Trans Siberian Orchestra will make stops.
The BOK Center also will launch its fifth-annual Winterfest on Friday. Featuring ice skating, live music and other holiday activities, it will run until Jan. 6.
For the first time, the event will have a free skating day, including skate rental, from noon until 10 p.m. Dec. 9.
The special day is offered by Winterfest's co-sponsors, Arvest Bank and the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation.
Club seats available
Fourteen of the BOK Center's 678 club seats are up for grabs.
Club-seat patrons receive a variety of perks, including tickets to all Tulsa Oilers hockey games. They also get the first option to buy their seats for all other events, including big-name concerts.
For more information, contact Business Development Director Evan Falat at 918-894-4269 or efalat@smgtulsa.com
BOK CENTER
Top 5 Ticketed Events
July through September
Rock 'n Rib Festival – 41,233
Kiss and Motley Crue – 10,437
Brad Paisley - 9,337
Rod Stewart and Stevie Nicks - 8,784
James Taylor - 6,226
Original Print Headline: BOK tax take tops $491,000
Brian Barber 918-581-8322
brian.barber@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
The BOK Center. JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World
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