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History
After breaking ground in the Spring of 1999, construction began on the new downtown arena funded by MAPS, Oklahoma City’s visionary capital improvement program to finance new and upgraded sports, entertainment, cultural and convention facilities with a one-cent sales tax. The 581,000-square-foot facility, which can seat more than 20,000, was designed to meet National Hockey League requirements. The state-of-the art venue, which was completed at a cost of $89.2 million, opened its doors on June 8, 2002. The Grand Opening Celebration included a dedication ceremony led by former Oklahoma City Mayor Kirk Humphreys, as well as a special “Open House” event for the entire community.
Improvements
On March 4, 2008, Oklahoma City voters once again overwhelmingly approved a temporary one-cent sales tax, which is expected to generate $121.6 million over 15 months to fund several major upgrades to the Ford Center. Plans include a grand entrance, multistory atrium, new restaurants, clubs, concession areas, bunker suites, loge boxes, roof top gardens, locker rooms, a warm-up basketball court, team offices and a family fun zone.
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The Facility
Ford Center is owned by the City of Oklahoma City and managed by SMG, which since 1977 has provided management services to over 200 public assembly facilities including arenas, stadiums, theatres and performing arts centers, and convention, congress and exhibition centers. With facilities across the United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada, Europe and the Middle East, SMG manages more than 11 million square feet (1.1 million square meters) of exhibition space. As the recognized global industry leader, SMG provides construction and design consulting, pre-opening services, venue management, sales, marketing, event booking, and programming. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through an in house catering company, Savor…Catering by SMG, currently servicing 65 accounts worldwide.
Ford Center is a 586,000 square foot facility featuring four seating levels and a press level with a maximum seating capacity of 19,711 for a concert set in-the-round. Located between the 6,300 lower level seats and the 7,700 upper level seats, is the Cox Communications Club and Suite Level which features 56 luxuray suites and 3,380 club seats.
The Events
Since opening its doors, Ford Center has hosted more than 600 events and almost 6 million fans. Home to the Home to the Oklahoma City Blazers (Central Hockey League), Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (arenafootball2), and since serving as a temporary home for the New Orleans Hornets (2005-06 and 2006-07 NBA Seasons), Ford Center has become the official home to the Oklahoma City Thunder (beginning with the 2008-09 NBA season). The SMG-managed facility also plays host to major concerts, sporting events, family shows and world-class entertainment.
Ford Center has hosted numerous sold-out events, including concert performances by Britney Spears, Cher, George Strait, Toby Keith, the Dixie Chicks, Kenny Chesney, Eric Clapton, Bon Jovi, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Tool and more. The top 5 grossing shows to be held at the Ford Center featured performances by Paul McCartney, Elton John and Billy Joel, the Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles. Not surprisingly, Ford Center made Pollstar’s list of Top Ten Concert Venues for ticket sales in North America during its first year of operation. Recently ranking 25th nationally in total concert ticket sales for the first quarter of 2009, Ford Center continues to make the Pollstar charts.
Major sporting events have included both NHL and NBA preseason games, as well as the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Midwest Regional First and Second Rounds in 2003 and 2005, and the NCAA Division 1 Men’s Wrestling Championships in 2006. The Ford Center and neighboring Cox Business Services Convention Center also hosted Oklahoma City’s first Big 12 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships in 2007 and 2009. Ford Center has also enjoyed the privilege of hosting the 2008 and soon the 2009 NCAA Women’s Basketball Regional. In 2009, both the Big 12 Men's and Women's Basketball Championships and the NCAA Women's Basketball Regional have chosen to return to Oklahoma City.
The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball First and Second Round will return to the Ford Center in 2010.
A number of the other major events hosted by the Ford Center have also been televised nationally and/or internationally, including the All-College Basketball Classic, WWE SmackDown! and WWE RAW, the Mission Oklahoma City with Billy Graham Crusade, the And 1 Mix Tape Tour, the McDonald's All-American High School Basketball Game and several PBR and IPRA events including Bullnanza, the International Finals Rodeo and the PBR $1,000,000 Challenger Tour Championships.
Family shows and other special events have had a significant presence in the Ford Center’s schedule. In fact, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey was the first event to play the Ford Center in June of 2002. The Greatest Show on Earth then returned for a series of June performances in 2004, 2006 and 2008. But, it was not the only “circus” to make repeat appearances. Cirque du Soleil presented DELIRIUM in both 2006 and 2007, and introduced Saltimbanco in 2008. The Harlem Globetrotters, Monster Jam, Sesame Street Live, Lipizzaner Stallions and The Wiggles have also made multiple appearances on the Ford Center calendar, as have holiday performances by Mannheim Steamroller, Bill Gaither and Friends, and the increasingly popular Trans-Siberian Orchestra. In 2008, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular made it's Oklahoma City debut during the shows first ever arena tour.
For the latest on upcoming events, please visit our Events Calendar,
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