How does the Oklahoma Aquarium Prosper.....

[buzz words]

How does the Oklahoma Aquarium Prosper.....  I hardly see it full but they are involved in so much.......  What is going on?

[Wilbur]

They're a non-profit and raise money through fundraisers like most other non-profits, not just from people who pay to go through the aquarium.

[sgrizzle]

Not to mention memberships.

Membership money + donations  go to capital improvements.

Ticket Sales, souvenirs, etc. go to operating costs.

Keep in mind the last ticket sales any day other than Thursday is 5pm so you may just be going by at the wrong time.

[swake]

They make a ton of money off of after hours facility rental. Business parties, weddings, it seem they have events every weekend.

[RecycleMichael]

We have a family membership there. It is a great deal for us. I take the kids there at least once a month after school, especially in the cold months.

I have also had a banquet there. It is a little pricy, but was cool enough to make up the difference.

[safetyguy]

quote:Originally posted by swake

They make a ton of money off of after hours facility rental. Business parties, weddings, it seem they have events every weekend.

Sometimes they have more than one event going on at the same time. I know someone that had their work Christmas party there. Their party was in the main entrance/ball room and there was another party taking place at the shark tank. I guess people were still walking through the shark tank exhibit. How annoying would that be?

My wife and I had our wedding reception there. They used to not do that. The catered food there isn't the greatest. We know several other people who have been to events there and they haven't been impressed with the food.

[cannon_fodder]

I was a member and donate some money too (though the Zoo does a better job IMHO, recently my Aquarium membership expired and I did not even receive a "did you forget" letter or I surely would have sign back up).  Parties, donations, grants, memberships, merchandise, and of course gate money all help support it.

I'm happy it is doing well in Jenks, but it is a painful reminder of how inept the leadership of Tulsa is.  Picture this:

Downtown in the East End:  Tulsa Aquarium, Bass Pro, and perhaps Drillers Stadium with the new retail that was attracted.

The fools talk about revitalizing downtown a few years after turning away a perfect crowd drawing, educational, and cultural center.

[spoonbill]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

I was a member and donate some money too (though the Zoo does a better job IMHO, recently my Aquarium membership expired and I did not even receive a "did you forget" letter or I surely would have sign back up).  Parties, donations, grants, memberships, merchandise, and of course gate money all help support it.

I'm happy it is doing well in Jenks, but it is a painful reminder of how inept the leadership of Tulsa is.  Picture this:

Downtown in the East End:  Tulsa Aquarium, Bass Pro, and perhaps Drillers Stadium with the new retail that was attracted.

The fools talk about revitalizing downtown a few years after turning away a perfect crowd drawing, educational, and cultural center.

My thoughts exactly!!!

[NellieBly]

Didn't they get some V2025 money, too?

[Wrinkle]

Lest we also forget the $12,000,000 in Tulsa County Sales Tax from Vision2025 we contributed.

Imagine all the other 'fishy' studies which receive public grant money, too.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by NellieBly

Didn't they get some V2025 money, too?

They got V2025 money to go towards early loan repayment.

[Wrinkle]

I don't know for sure, but typically institutions such as these have contracts with the likes of TPS, OPS, JPS, BPS & Union Schools for childhood tours, including bus fare. Your education funds at work.

There could be similar arrangements with TU, OU/OU-Tulsa and OSU/OSU-Tulsa, et al.

Same as the Planetarium, Zoo, Gilcrease, Philbrook, PAC, Philharmonic and perhaps even the IMAX.

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

I was a member and donate some money too (though the Zoo does a better job IMHO, recently my Aquarium membership expired and I did not even receive a "did you forget" letter or I surely would have sign back up).  Parties, donations, grants, memberships, merchandise, and of course gate money all help support it.

I'm happy it is doing well in Jenks, but it is a painful reminder of how inept the leadership of Tulsa is.  Picture this:

Downtown in the East End:  Tulsa Aquarium, Bass Pro, and perhaps Drillers Stadium with the new retail that was attracted.

The fools talk about revitalizing downtown a few years after turning away a perfect crowd drawing, educational, and cultural center.

Ironic that you mention how well the zoo does. There is a story about how we lost that Aquarium. Its old news and not really worth the details but suffice it to say, they felt threatened by its location in Tulsa.

[dggriffi]

they proper by charging you an arm and a leg for admission.   Next week they are going to require that you bring an additional bucket of chum to get in.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by dggriffi

they proper by charging you an arm and a leg for admission.   Next week they are going to require that you bring an additional bucket of chum to get in.

I'm getting tired of hearing that. A (primarily) saltwater aquarium this far inland is extremely costly to stock and run, yet look at these figures for admission prices:

Oklahoma Aquarium         $13.95

Other free-standing indoor regional aquariums:
Dallas World Aquarium (Smaller)    $16.95
New England Aquarium (Comparable)   $18.95
Tennessee Aquarium (Freshwater)      $19.95
Long Beach Aquarium (Smaller)      $20.95
Monterey Bay (Larger)         $24.95
Chicago's Shedd Aquarium (Larger)   $27.50
Georgia Aquarium (Largest)      $29.50

Numbers were taken from a cross-section of aquariums like ours that are primarily indoors, not part of another larger park and ticket prices are not directly subsidized.