The city of Oklahoma City marked a significant milestone with the official opening of the MAPS 4 OG&E Coliseum at the OKC Fairgrounds. The unveiling of this 216,164-square-foot arena, as reported by Oklahoma City, was commemorated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by city officials. This new venue, situated just south of the Jim Norick Arena, is set to become the new hub for events, replacing the aging structure that will see its demolition come August.
According to Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, the Jim Norick Arena had been an essential economic engine for the city, driving an estimated $400 million a year through its constant weekly use for various events. "It stands at the center of our status as the horse show capital of the world. But that status was threatened by the decline of the aging facility. This new OG&E Coliseum allows us to maintain this economic impact, which is estimated to be $400 million a year,” Holt said. The new coliseum, with its seating capacity exceeding 7,000, lounges, suites, and upscale concessions, aims to support and grow this economic influence.
Kirk Slaughter, President & CEO of Oklahoma State Fair, Inc., highlighted the significance of the horse, agriculture, and sporting events to OKC's economy and the hospitality industry. "This building, with its state-of-the-art amenities, will be a game changer for the numerous national and international horse shows that call the OKC Fair Park home," Slaughter told Oklahoma City. The arena also features advanced audiovisual technologies and a sophisticated catwalk system, which is expected to enhance the visitor's experience significantly.
The facility comes with a hefty price tag of $126 million, funded primarily by MAPS 3 and MAPS 4 initiatives, alongside hotel tax revenue and other sources. The MAPS 4 program, passed by Oklahoma City voters, is a debt-free public initiative set out to transform the city with a focus on neighborhood and human needs, quality of life, and job-creating initiatives. The majority of MAPS 4 funding, over 70 percent, goes towards initiatives like these, with the temporary penny sales tax that finances it set to end in 2028.
In remembrance, the Jim Norick Arena has played a historical role since its debut in 1965. Named after former Oklahoma City Mayor Jim Norick, the arena hosted a melange of events, from rodeo to concerts by legends such as Elvis Presley and Led Zeppelin. One notable moment in its storied past was when a then-unknown Reba McEntire sang the Star-Spangled Banner at the National Finals Rodeo, an event that propelled her to stardom, as per the venue's history recounted on okc.gov. As the NORICK Arena makes way for the new coliseum, it leaves behind a legacy of entertainment and economic prosperity.
