BOK Center Enhanced with Founders’ Funding
BENEVOLENT CITIZENS: Local dignitaries and businessmen recently gathered to announce the initial BOK Center Founders whose investments will assist in funding construction costs and provide for enhancements to the facility. Pictured from left are Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor, Bank of Oklahoma CEO Stan Lybarger, Dollar Thrifty CEO Gary Paxton, Williams CEO Steve Malcolm and Oneok CEO David Kyle.
GTR Newspapers photo
Mayor Kathy Taylor and Bank of Oklahoma Chief Executive Officer Stan Lybarger announced at an Aug. 30 news conference the initial BOK Center Founders whose investment will assist in funding construction costs and provide for enhancements to the BOK Center.
“This $15.95 million dollar investment represents a significant step towards completing the planned funding of the BOK Center construction and will provide upgrades to the facility to make it a first-class events center. With the public investment from Vision 2025 and sponsorship from the private sector, we are on track to build the greatest events center in the region,” Taylor said. “The center’s architecture will live up to the original Cesar Pelli design and the additional investment will increase its stature and grandeur as a premier center in the U.S. for concerts, sports and other events. We are extremely privileged to have businesses and foundations that support Tulsa and working in partnership with the City to improve our economic development and quality of life opportunities.”
Lybarger announced the initial Founders, which include sponsors, donors, and companies committing to long-term suite agreements. A representative for each sponsor attached their organization’s name to a 16×31-foot sign on the BOK Center site during the news conference.
“These gifts will significantly upgrade the quality and attractiveness of the BOK center,” Lybarger said. “The facility will be enhanced with more attractive landscaping and hardscaping, a terrazzo floor for the main concourse, exterior architectural lighting and an exterior video marquee.”
The founders and representatives present were David Kyle, CEO of ONEOK; Steve Malcolm, CEO of Williams and Gary Paxton, CEO of Dollar Thrifty.
ONEOK purchased the Naming Rights to the Premium Seat Level to be called the ONEOK Premium Level. The company also purchased Naming Rights to the Club Lounge and the Club Seats program to be called the ONEOK Club. ONEOK also committed to a Founders Suite and a Loge Box for 15 years.
Williams has committed to $2 million to fund a capital enhancement to the center-hung scoreboard at the BOK Center. The City of Tulsa will allocate $1.5 million from the Vision 2025 funding to the design, fabrication and installation of digital signage including the center-hung scoreboard, digital fascia signage and other electronic signs and message centers. Williams also committed to a Founders Suite for 20 years.
Dollar Thrifty committed to a Founders Partnership for 10 years. Dollar Thrifty will be the exclusive rental car company for the BOK Center and will be the title sponsor of the BOK Center Box Office, which will be called the Dollar Thrifty Box Office.
In addition, the following Founders are making donations to provide enhancements to the BOK Center: Ken Levit, Executive Director of The George Kaiser Family Foundation; Tom Kivisto, CEO of SemGroup; Jim Adelson, President of Nadel and Gussman Energy, LLC; Stacy Schusterman of Samson; Scott Dickman of Oracle Packaging, Inc.; and Frank Murphy of F.W. Murphy.
The George Kaiser Family Foundation is donating $2.5 million to upgrade the exterior hardscaping and landscaping and upgrade the flooring in the main concourse to terrazzo.
SemGroup has committed to a Founders Suite for 10 years as well as a one-time donation of $500,000 to be used to enhance the BOK Center.
Nadel and Gussman Energy, LLC and Samson are jointly committed to a one-time donation of $500,000 to be used to enhance the BOK Center. Nadel and Gussman Energy, LLC is also purchasing a Founders Suite for 10 years.
Oracle Packaging, Inc. and F.W. Murphy committed to a Founders Suite for 10 years as well as a donation of $100,000 to be used to enhance the BOK Center.
Updated 09-18-2006
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