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Ford Center Oklahoma City
by Mónica P. Vazquez |
Ford Center, Oklahoma City's State-of-The-Art Sports and Entertainment Showcase.
Oklahoma City once an afterthought for major concert tours was listed among the top ten international venues by PollStar Magazine in 2003. Ford Center, Oklahoma city's state of the art facility made it possible. It's opening on June 8, 2002 not only implied the start-up of the first project of the city's capital improvement program to finance new and upgraded sports, entertainment and cultural facilities, but also a direct economic impact for
area hotels, retailers and restaurants.
Ford Center Oklahoma City, an $87.7 million project
Owned by the City of Oklahoma City, the Ford Center is a 586,000 square foot
facility featuring four seating levels and a press level that can seat up to
20,817 at maximum capacity. The $87.7 million arena is located in downtown
Oklahoma City, off Interstate 40 and is next to the Cox Business Services
Convention Center, formerly The Myriad.
Designed to play host to major concerts, family events, ice shows and
sporting events, the Ford Center is home to Central Hockey League's Oklahoma
City Blazers and the Arena Football League's (AF2) Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz.
Ford Center Oklahoma City: 2003, a year to remember
Only a year after its opening, Ford Center was listed as one of the top
arenas in the world in ticket sales. With 145,414 tickes sales during the
first six months of 2003, Ford Center Oklahoma City was ranked by PollStart
Magazine at number 10. Some of the arenas in the first nine positions
include names such as The Bell Centre (Montreal), Madison Square Garden (New
York) and The Savvis Centre (St. Louis). Featuring high quality shows such
as Paul McCartney, The Eagles or The Rolling Stones in a heavy touring year
certainly contritubed to Ford Center's success. In fact, Ford Center
Oklahoma City hosted the top eight touring acts in 2003: Billy Joel and
Elton John, the Rolling Stones, the Dixie Chicks, Cher, Tim McGraw,
Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles. Quite a performance taking in account that
just two years before Oklahoma city, with a bigger population, was eclipsed
by Tulsa as concert destination.
Ford Center Oklahoma City: Rock, Blues and Country for 2004
2004's Ford Center Oklahoma City Calendar also featured great artits such as
MercyMe, that returned to its hometown of Oklahoma City for "The Imagine
Tour" with Amy Grant and special guest Bebo Norman, Metallica, Eric Clapton,
Van Halen, Norah Jones and Rascal Flatts, among others.
2005 at Ford Center Oklahoma City: Elton John and other great artists.
Gary Desjardins, the General Manager of the Ford Center said, “We are
honored that Elton John will be performing at the Ford Center. Oklahoma City
is very fortunate to be among the cities selected for this tour.” Elton John
who already performed at Ford Center in 2003, will play the Ford Center in
Oklahoma City, on Wednesday, March 23rd as part of the 2005 Peachtree Road
Tour.
Other great shows scheduled for 2005 include Steven Curtis Chapman's All
Things New Tour, Josh Groban with special guest Chris Botti, Keith Urban,
John Mellencamp, Mötley Crüe's
Red, White & Crüe Tour 2005 Better Live Than Dead, MercyMe's Undone Tour,
and 3 time Grammy winner Sarah McLachlan.
Oklahoma City wanted the best.
And they got it.
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