Tours

The Sky’s the Limit: Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS) and Bricktown Walking Tour
Date: Sunday, June 6
Time: 9:30 – 11:30 am
Price: $45

• Download tour map (PDF)

Join Russell Claus, City of OKC Planning Director, for a downtown walking tour highlighting several of the Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPs) and the resulting private investments from these developments. Oklahoma City was the first city in the country to undertake a public facility enhancement project funded by a temporary one-cent sales tax. We’ve created an economy where over $5 billion in private investment has resulted in projects such as the Devon Tower, the only skyscraper under construction West of the Mississippi. The tour will last approximately two hours and include visits to the Civic Center, Ford Center, and many more. For additional information on these highlights, please visit the following websites:

• www.okcciviccenter.org
• www.okfordcenter.com
• okc.about.com/od/attractionsandevents/a/okcdevontower.htm

Tour Itinerary:

Cox Convention Center
A $63.1 million facelift and renovation expanded the Myriad Convention Center by 100,000 square feet, including a new 25,000 square foot ballroom and grand staircase, and upgrades to the existing 100,000 square foot exhibition hall. Originally opened in 1973, renovation and construction began in June 1997, with the grand reopening in August 1999. Shortly thereafter the complex was renamed the Cox Business Services Convention Center.

Ron Norick Library
The $21.5 million downtown Library & Learning Center houses a business information center, updated information services, and classrooms and meeting space for area universities. Construction began in August 2000 and was completed in the Summer of 2004. The 4-story library includes 110,000 square feet, compared with the city’s previous downtown library at 65,000 square feet. The library’s ample meeting and classroom space attracted the Downtown Consortium of Colleges, which holds classes throughout the year on the library’s 4th floor.

Civic Center Music Hall - Inside Tour
The Civic Center Music Hall is one of the premier performing arts venues in the Southwest. The $52.4 million renovation of the historic art deco building was greatly anticipated by residents and local arts organizations. Originally constructed in 1937 as the 6,000 seat Municipal Auditorium, the building was remodeled in 1968 to become the Civic Center Music Hall with seating for 3,200. MAPs-funded construction began in November of 1998 and was completed in September of 2001.

Most of the interior of the original building was demolished and reconstructed as the Thelma Gaylord Performing Arts Theater with a 2,500 seating capacity. In addition the center also boasts the 390-seat Freede Little Theater, the City Space Theater rehearsal hall, and the Hall of Mirrors banquet room.

Bricktown Ballpark
Construction of the 15,000-seat Bricktown Ballpark began in August 1996 and was completed in the Spring of 1998 for a cost of $34.2 million. The ballpark is home to the Oklahoma RedHawks, which is the Triple A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. Since the move, annual revenue at the ballpark has consistently averaged three times more than the team’s last few years at the fairgrounds.

Despite early efforts to build the ballpark further to the east, it was eventually built in the heart of Bricktown, rapidly increasing investment in the blocks immediately surrounding it. Adjacent to this prime piece of property are hotel sites, dining, retail and other Bricktown amenities. In addition to its primary use, this versatile facility is used for community events, concerts and various recreational activities, including a snow-tube slide that is open throughout the holiday season.

Bricktown Canal
The Bricktown Canal extends through the Bricktown entertainment district -- originating just east of downtown, flowing past the Ballpark, and stopping just north of the Chesapeake Boathouse. The canal opened in 1999 at a cost of $32.1 million. Shops, restaurants and entertainment, hiking and biking trails, and park areas are part of this developing area. The canal has done more than anything to catalyze the redevelopment of this previously moribund downtown district.

This truly “urban linear park” serves as the perfect venue for public art, such as the $5 million Memorial Land Run sculpture, wall murals and other original sculptures.

The canal created a connection from the thriving Bricktown district to underutilized land north of Interstate-40, thus facilitating this area’s development into the thriving “Lower Bricktown” district, featuring Bass Pro Shops, Sonic Headquarters, Harkins Theatre, residential and restaurants.

Ford Center - Inside Tour
Construction on the Ford Center began in the Spring of 1999,. The 581,000-square-foot facility was completed at a cost of $89.2 million and opened in 2002.

Since opening its doors, the Ford Center has hosted approximately 650 events and 7 million customers. Home to the Oklahoma City Thunder (beginning with the 2008-09 NBA season), Ford Center has also served as home to the Oklahoma City Blazers (Central Hockey League), Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (arenafootball2), and the New Orleans Hornets during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 NBA Seasons.

Oklahoma City voters 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. Plans include a new grand entrance, multistory atrium, scoreboard, rooftop event space, new restaurants, clubs, concession areas, bunker suites, loge boxes, locker rooms, team offices and a family fun zone.

© 2009 IEDC | 734 15th Street NW / Suite 900 | Washington, DC 20005 | Phone: (202) 223-7800 | Fax: (202) 223-4745