Tasha Does Tulsa.

12 Comments to Is the BOK Center Everything We Thought (or was told) It Would Be?

1. Mel's Mom

   On January 30, 2009 at 6:58 pm

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   In my opinion the BOK Center is FABULOUS! I prefer the BOK Center over the Ford Center, hands down.

   The seating is nice and cozy, the spatial features are right on and the performers have been top rate.

   My only real complaint is the danged “convenience fees” on the tickets. I paid $90 for three tickets to Elmo’s World…the tickets were $25 a piece, but the conveniece fees jacked it up another $15.

   But that comment isn’t really about the Center itself, just the ticket handling.

2. Anonymous

   On January 30, 2009 at 11:26 pm

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   No anonymous commenters bashing the BOK Center? I’m shocked!

3. Jill of All Trades

   On January 31, 2009 at 1:20 am

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   We have been there once to see Cirque Du Soleil and it was okay. I like the ease with getting inside but that was probably because there weren’t huge crowds. The Hubby, being in construction, of course saw a bunch of stuff he thought was horrible but I’m used to that. The one thing we HATED and I don’t know if it was the show we saw was before the show started there was a light blaring in our eyes so bad we had to hold the program over our eyes. Oh and The Hubby calls it The Duct Tape Bowl (he coined this one I think.)

4. simulatedme

   On January 31, 2009 at 4:59 am

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   Spent a lot of money on it and the big names still seem to come on Tuesdays.

5. Natasha

   On January 31, 2009 at 5:11 am

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   So, has most everyone you know been to at least one event at the BOK?

   Most in my circle have been for one reason or another, though I haven’t been able to make it by. It’s tough on one-income families with a baby to get to BOK events, I’d think – at least, it has been for us.

   And not that we wouldn’t love to go. But we find ourselves holding out for that one show that we’d do anything to see. In the meantime, we frequent the parks and indy restaurants/shopping/ what entertainment we can come by with an infant in tow and that’s within our budget.

6. Man of the West

   On January 31, 2009 at 1:11 pm

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   I haven’t been to an event there, nor am I likely to go; cost is prohibitive for me.

   Whether or not it’s been a plus for Tulsa so far, I can’t say. I would certainly like for it to make money over the long haul, since the alternative would be for it to turn into a monetary sinkhole. I’m told that it has made money, but that it’s unclear whether that is money the city wouldn’t have otherwise had, that is, it may be the same money that would have been spent elsewhere in Tulsa, had the center not been there.

   I do think that–from the outside, at least–it’s ugly as sin. I found “duct tape bowl” quite an appropriate description.

7. Jill of All Trades

   On January 31, 2009 at 2:55 pm

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   Come by and pick up your award

8. Yogi♪♪♪

   On January 31, 2009 at 4:34 pm

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   I love the BOK Center. We’ve been there to see the Eagles, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Carrie Underwood, the Harlem Globetrotters, and today we are going to the fake dinosaur show.

   I find the venue very nice except the view from the cheap seats isn’t very good (big surprise there huh?).

   I think that it has definitely improved life in Tulsa. The ticket prices are high but that is what tickets for the events cost. Many of the shows bypassed Tulsa before.

   I’m glad we have it.

9. Trait

   On January 31, 2009 at 9:22 pm

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   I went to see Brad Paisley at the BOK Center last weekend. I found it to be a nice venue with a pretty good selection of food, drink, etc. The acoustics are also very good. Like many people, I don’t think I’ll be going to many shows there because of the ridiculous ticket costs.

   So far, I don’t see that it has spurred economic development downtown. It seems like the arena is just too far away from the other entertaining spots downtown. It’s a lot easier to get in the car and drive to Cherry St. or Brookside for after-event fun rather than walk through the darkness to the bars/restaurants downtown.

10. Natasha

    On January 31, 2009 at 9:51 pm

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    I wonder if the delayed spur in economic development in the “Arena District” has to do more with the state of the national economy and the resulting lack of credit, or with actual unwillingness of business owners to locate near the arena, regardless of current economic conditions in the U.S.

    I expected to see more lights come on along the streets by the BOK before it was completed; now a few months have passed, and while there were some businesses that set up shop downtown in anticipation of arena crowds, it hasn’t been to the extent for which some were hoping, I don’t think.

    To those of you who have attended BOK events: Have the kinks been worked out? I heard from a reader awhile back who said toilets were not functioning, there were crowd flow and security problems, etc. Any of that still going on?

11. Maria

    On February 1, 2009 at 7:46 pm

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    I’ve been once, but probably won’t be going again. I was not impressed. It’s ok, but not spectacular. Tickets are ridiculous for seats that are so so. However, until I see the books for a longer period of time, I doubt anyone can pass judgment as to its economic impact to the community– or the transfer of economics from those who might have otherwise driven to OKC. Local economics vs regional vs national are important.

12. Kari

    On February 2, 2009 at 9:04 pm

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    I LOVE the BOK Center. I’ve been to several shows and have been impressed with the quality of acts and the large turnout. I went to AC/DC during last week’s ice storm and the place was packed. The workers are great and the facility is beautiful. Couldn’t ask for anything better. Not to mention it looks really cool!