Ford Center is celebrating seven years as Oklahoma's destination for the best in sports and entertainment. Ford Center is home to the Oklahoma City Blazers (Central Hockey League), the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (arenafootball2), and the Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA). The Ford Center also plays host to major concerts, family events, ice shows, sporting events and the latest in world-class entertainment.
The Ford Center is owned by the City of Oklahoma City. The state-of-the-art facility is the premier project of the City's visionary capital improvement program to finance new and upgraded sports, entertainment, cultural and convention facilities with a one-cent sales tax.
Ford Center is managed by SMG, which is headquartered in Philadelphia and provides facility services to over 200 public assembly facilities including arenas, stadiums, performing arts theatres and convention and trade centers. With facilities across America, and in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada, Europe and the Middle East, SMG controls over 1.5 million entertainment seats worldwide and manages more than ten million feet of exhibition space.
Ford Center
100 W. Reno
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
405-602-8700 www.okfordcenter.com
The Oklahoma City Thunder and Oklahoma City Blazers’ 2008-2009 seasons come to an end, and the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz are now playing their 2009 season at the neighboring Cox Convention Center, allowing Ford Center to close its doors for the summer to begin the next phase of improvements. Ford Center will reopen before the start of the 2009-2010 season.
The following renovations will be made over the summer:
-Loge boxes
-State-of-the-art scoreboard
-New portable seating in the lower bowl
-Two new clubs that overlook arena events
-Locker room renovations
-Renovation of the audio-video production facilities
-Interior design upgrades
“This is an exciting time for both the City of Oklahoma City and Ford Center,” said Gary Desjardins, General Manager of Ford Center. “The improvements being made to Ford Center are going to take the facility to the next level. When completed, the added amenities and upgraded finishes are sure to elevate the experience of each and every guest.”
The most impressive renovations to Ford Center will take place in 2010, when the footprint expands to include a new grand entrance with a multi-story atrium, additional restaurants and ticket windows, a warm-up court, family fun zone and more.
A number of improvements have already been made as part of the first phase of the project. The installation of high definition capable broadcast wiring and a new lighting system were completed prior to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s season opener. Recently, restrooms throughout the facility received major upgrades, including granite countertops, eye-catching tile, flat-screen televisions and more.
Oklahoma City voters overwhelmingly approved a one-cent sales tax on March 4, 2008 to fund major upgrades to the Ford Center and build an off-site practice facility for an NBA franchise. The 15-month tax took effect on January 1, 2009 and will expire March 31, 2010.
So whats new going on at the Ford Center? Where are you located anyway? I live in Tulsa so I don't make it there much. What is a good route to where you are starting from Tulsa? Just being nosey. any special plans for Easter?
