Oklahoma City Ford Center Renovations

[Laramie]

Oklahoma City's Ford Center is in a two year renovation process with in excess of $90 million of improvements.  Here are some of the renovations below.

Ford Center Renovations:

New Scoreboard   

http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-thunder-plans-unveiled-for-state-of-the-art-scoreboard/article/3374386



KFOR.com   http://www.kfor.com/news/local/kfor-news-ford-center-renovations-story,0,5621733.story



HeraldNet   http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080712/SPORTS/282584680/1063/SPORTS11



Ford Center (Ford)  http://www.okfordcenter.com/

[Conan71]

Wow, there's some cat-fighting in the comments section with Seattle fans.

So, I guess this means BOK Center will be obsolete and in need of improvements within 5-6 years, too?  Is Ford Center even that old yet?

[TURobY]

It's great that we have two, first-class arenas in Oklahoma. I'm excited to see the completed results of the renovations at OKC.

[carltonplace]

I thought this side by side in the UT was interesting

[sgrizzle]

Wow, there's some cat-fighting in the comments section with Seattle fans.

So, I guess this means BOK Center will be obsolete and in need of improvements within 5-6 years, too?  Is Ford Center even that old yet?

A large # of the things the Ford center is adding were built in to the BOK Center originally. There is a phase 2 section preplanned for if they need more space.

[Hoss]

I thought this side by side in the UT was interesting

While the Ford Center is a nice, state of the art arena, the floor plan is quite boring, as opposed to what we have.  What I like most about our arena is the open corners on the lower bowls that spill out into the concourse.  Most arenas just use tunnel walkways into the bowls.

Oh, and of course, the Grand Ramp and the Wall.

[Laramie]

When the original Ford Center was built; it was just a shell of a building--just enough to lure an NHL or NBA franchise.

We lost out to Columbus in the 1997 NHL expansion derby and many of us thought that Oklahoma would never have another chance at getting a top Fab Four Major League franchise.

Boy, now that I look back at it--Columbus, OH did Oklahoma City a big favor.

http://www.hockeynut.com/9798/expan.html

[USRufnex]

I remember the gripes about the size of the actual seats... always thought OKC was trying to emulate Columbus when they tried to get MLS in Edmond.

My thoughts at the time (2002):  OKC gets MLS in Edmond.... it leads to a new NHL team in OKC.... then OKC loses interest in pro soccer and MLS moves the team up the turnpike to Tulsa....

[Laramie]

I remember the gripes about the size of the actual seats... always thought OKC was trying to emulate Columbus when they tried to get MLS in Edmond.

It's strange, the seating in the Ford Center is 22 inches wide and the Old Myriad Arena was 19 inches.  I guess folks got fatter while the Ford Center was being built (LOL!).

My thoughts at the time (2002):  OKC gets MLS in Edmond.... it leads to a new NHL team in OKC.... then OKC loses interest in pro soccer and MLS moves the team up the turnpike to Tulsa....

Tulsa is a proven market for major league soccer; with the NBA's arrival to Oklahoma City, it would have killed soccer in our market.


Bob Funk Sr., (Blazers & current Redhawks owner) was all ready to go with MLS; then, the RedHawks came up for sale; Bob didn't want to do both.

Also:

So, the $10 million went to buy the RedHawks instead of gaining an MLS franchise.  The University of Central Oklahoma  was ready with renovation plans for Wantland Stadium.

USRufnex, you posted those plans on one of the more popular soccer boards.   Bob Funk Sr., was also going to help fund the expansion of Wantland Stadium to get it to the 25,000 - 30,000 seating range.

[sgrizzle]

Didn't realize that the new entrance is a 2010 project. Also surprised they put premium (loge box seating) on both ends, meaning half of the boxes are behind the stage for most concert events.

http://www.hoopangle.com/thunder/2009/08/21/thunders-ford-center-renovation-nearly-complete/