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| Cox Business Center | |
|---|---|
| Name | Cox Business Center |
| Location | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Opened | 1972 |
| Renovated | 2004 |
| Owner | City of Oklahoma City |
| Operator | ASM Global |
| Capacity | 9,000 (arena) |
| Acreage | 11 |
Cox Business Center is a multi-purpose arena and convention facility located in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The venue serves as a regional hub for sporting events, conventions, concerts, and civic gatherings, drawing patrons from the Oklahoma City Thunder market area, Cleveland County, and the broader Oklahoma City metropolitan area. It has hosted a range of performances and competitive events associated with touring companies, collegiate athletics, and municipal initiatives.
The complex occupies a central site near Oklahoma State Fairgrounds and shares a cultural corridor with institutions such as the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Chesapeake Energy Arena, and the Oklahoma City National Memorial. Its configuration includes an arena, exhibit halls, meeting rooms, and loading facilities capable of supporting national touring productions from organizations like Live Nation Entertainment, AEG Presents, and productions affiliated with the National Association of Broadcasters. Management practices have aligned the venue with industry standards established by operators such as ASM Global and event promoters including SMG-affiliated partners.
Originally opened in 1972 as part of downtown redevelopment initiatives linked to civic leaders and urban planners in Oklahoma City, the facility underwent substantial renovation and rebranding in the early 2000s amid a wave of municipal investment tied to the arrival of major sports franchises like the Oklahoma City Thunder (formerly Seattle SuperSonics). The center has hosted milestone events including conventions for associations such as the American Dental Association, tournaments affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association and exhibitions by touring theatrical companies like Cirque du Soleil. Over time, partnerships with corporate sponsors including Cox Communications led to naming rights arrangements characteristic of venues such as Sprint Center and Ford Center.
Architecturally, the building integrates mid-20th-century civic design with modernized interior systems installed during renovations that paralleled projects at facilities like Alliant Energy Center and Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. The arena component seats approximately 9,000 and features retractable seating, an arena bowl, and rigging points compatible with productions by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, concert tours for artists promoted by AEG Live, and gymnastics apparatus used by USA Gymnastics events. Exhibit halls and meeting spaces provide divisible footprints for trade shows similar in scale to gatherings at the Indiana Convention Center and the George R. Brown Convention Center. Back-of-house amenities include loading docks, freight elevators, and production offices used by touring crews from entities like SFX Entertainment and technology partners such as Live Nation technical teams.
Programming has ranged from professional wrestling cards promoted by WWE and Impact Wrestling to family shows, classical performances associated with ensembles like the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, and conventions for professional associations such as the National Education Association. The center has hosted political gatherings tied to state-party organizations, campaign events featuring figures from Oklahoma politics and national tours, as well as esports competitions mirroring events at facilities like Esports Stadium Arlington. Community-oriented programming includes high school commencements for districts like Oklahoma City Public Schools, trade expos organized by chambers of commerce including the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, and charity galas staged by nonprofits such as United Way of Central Oklahoma.
Operational oversight has drawn on municipal contracting models used by arenas across the United States, with day-to-day management provided by private venue operators exemplified by ASM Global and event bookers working with talent agencies such as William Morris Endeavor. Staffing includes event services, security teams that coordinate with Oklahoma City Police Department, and hospitality partners like regional catering firms. Ticketing and marketing collaborations have involved major platforms including Ticketmaster and production partners such as Eventbrite for community shows. Maintenance programs follow code inspections and accessibility standards consistent with federal guidelines enforced by agencies like the United States Access Board.
The center contributes to downtown Oklahoma City's entertainment economy by attracting visitors who patronize hotels, restaurants, and attractions like Bricktown and the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. Its event calendar supports employment for stagehands represented by labor affiliates such as the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and generates tax revenue for the City of Oklahoma City. The facility has been part of broader urban strategies seen in cities like Indianapolis and Charlotte, North Carolina where convention centers function as anchors for downtown revitalization. Community outreach initiatives have partnered with organizations like Habitat for Humanity and local arts groups to host benefit concerts and public programs.
The venue is accessible via arterial routes including Interstate 40 and Interstate 35 through the regional freeway network serving Oklahoma City. Public transit connections include service provided by Embark (Oklahoma City), and park-and-ride options tie into regional transit planning similar to systems used in Phoenix, Arizona and Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Pedestrian access links the center to nearby districts such as Bricktown and the downtown riverfront, while airport transfers connect through Will Rogers World Airport for out-of-market attendees.
Category:Convention centers in Oklahoma Category:Buildings and structures in Oklahoma City Category:Sports venues in Oklahoma