BOK Center

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This article or section is about a planned or proposed arena.
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Bank of Oklahoma Center
---- Progress as of June 5, 2008
Location	Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Broke ground	August 31, 2005
Opened	2008
Owner	City of Tulsa
Operator	Spectacor Management Group
Construction cost	$178,000,000.00
Architect	César Pelli
Tenants	Tulsa Oilers (CHL) (2008-present) Tulsa Talons (af2) (2008-present)
Capacity	Center Stage: 18,041 Basketball: 17,534 Hockey: 16,843 End Stage: 13,741

The Bank of Oklahoma Center or BOK Center, is an 18,041 seat, 550,000 square-foot, multi-purpose arena in Tulsa, Oklahoma currently under construction. The arena is the flagship of the Tulsa area's Vision 2025 long-range planning projects. The center was designed by reknowned architect Cesar Pelli. MATRIX Architects, Engineers, Planners of Tulsa is Architect of Record. The general contractor is Tulsa Vision Builders, a joint venture between Flintco, Inc. and Manhattan Construction Company.

The ground for the arena was broken on August 31, 2005. The arena should be completed by September 1, 2008, according to Joel Carr, who is working with Flintco to oversee the final stages of construction. The original cost of the arena was $141,000,000.00, but increases in the cost of structural steel, concrete, and labor due to a robust local economy have increased the final cost.^[1] Naming rights for the arena were purchased by the Bank of Oklahoma. Corporate sponsorship and purchases of box seats, luxury boxes, and other fund raising items have provided more than $20,000,000 in additional funding for extras, including terrazzo flooring and a light display for the iconic glass wall that wraps around the front of the building.

The BOK Center will be home to the Tulsa Oilers ice hockey team and the Tulsa Talons af2 team. As of mid-May 2008, the identity of the BOK Center's opening act had not yet been released. The first announced concert is currently on September 10, 2008, featuring Kenny Chesney and Leann Rimes. Subsequent confirmed concerts and events include the American Idol Tour on September 13, 2008, Rascal Flatts with Taylor Swift on September 25, 2008, Neil Diamond on October 21, 2008, Celine Dion on November 13, 2008, Celtic Thunder on Novermber 19, 2008, and and the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular on December 22, 2008. It was announced on February 28, 2008 that the Houston Rockets would face the Orlando Magic in the first major sporting event at the new BOK Center on October 13, 2008.^[2]