Today's focus: The BOK Center (also known as "Turn on Denver, you can't miss it.")
Featuring seating for 19,199 (because 19,200 would be a little too indulgent), the BOK Center opened on August 30th, 2008 with performances from Garth Brooks and Hanson. They're local acts that made it big at one time, folks. It's not like we blew all the money on construction and then decided to hire the same acts as the State Fair. Ahem...
Tulsa commissioned famed architect Cesar Pelli to design the arena. He incorporated elements of design themes indicative of Tulsa, drawing on Art Deco, Native American and contemporary styles... Mostly on the inside. The outside, on the other hand, looks like a cinnamon roll made out of duct tape. Which is fitting, given Tulsans' affinity for both baked goods and MacGuyver-like repair projects.
It's blight on downtown's skyline and often frustrating lack of parking aside, the benefit of the arena has outweighed it's flaws. From a business perspective, it has opened the door for more new businesses downtown, including new restaurants, bars and much more creative stories from bums asking you for spare change. It has also helped out many Tulsans in finally figuring out just where the hell those arena football games take place.
Also, it has raised the level of pride in the city. Finally, we can boast that Springsteen, U2, the Eagles, and other big name acts have been in Tulsa without the story involving their tour busses breaking down.
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