New and renovated sports facilities make Oklahoma a tournament planner’s dream
With two major universities featuring prolific athletic programs, an up-and-coming basketball franchise and rabid fans across the state, Oklahoma is a sporting utopia.
Not only are the Oklahoma football and Oklahoma State wrestling programs historically excellent, the Oklahoma City Thunder are also poised to take the NBA by storm. Couple that with Oklahoma’s thriving sports tourism numbers and it’s no surprise the Sooner State is considered one of the top athletic states in the country.
As an example, a recent study by Tourism Economics shows Oklahoma City experienced an incredible $4.3 billion economic impact from tourism in 2022, with sporting events having generated an economic impact of $92 million. Not to be outdone, Tulsa celebrated the biggest year for tourism in the city’s history in 2022, with much of that coming from the city hosting the 2022 men’s PGA Championship.
Norman is also embracing sports tourism as Visit Norman, the city’s Convention and Visitor Bureau, will create a standalone sports commission that will enable Norman to bring tournaments, meets, events, races and competitions to the city.
A major reason Oklahoma’s sports tourism is surging is its variety of top-flight facilities. And judging by recent news, the Sooner State is poised to improve on its already impressive array of facilities. Here are some of the newer facilities dotting the Oklahoma landscape.
Tulsa, OK Sports
Opening in Fall of 2023, the WeStreet Ice Center is the latest dynamic facility to enter the Tulsa market.
As training headquarters for the Tulsa Oilers, an ice hockey team that competes in the ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League), the 180,000-square-foot arena will include two rinks on the ground floor, one with spectator seating for 1,000 and a smaller practice rink. The $25-million sports facility, in a mall located about 15 miles from downtown, is a partnership with WeStreet Credit Union.
The ice center also features a bar and grill, concessions, a pro shop, a gaming area and offices for team staff. Other amenities include party spaces, medical treatment areas and locker rooms—including one for an Oklahoma State University club team. The second floor adds an enclosed restaurant and administrative offices, both with ice views.
Edmond is a Sports Lover’s Paradise
Edmond is home to championship golf courses, indoor/outdoor food halls, downtown street festivals and local shopping and dining galore. It also features a variety of excellent facilities including the A.C. Caplinger Sports Complex, Edmond’s premier baseball complex, which is located within beautiful Hafer Park. This complex boasts 12 baseball fields ranging in size. Each field has all the amenities to offer an enjoyable playing experience for the players. Field amenities include sports lights, dugouts, irrigation, bleachers, shade canopies, scoreboards, sidewalks, and meticulously maintained playing surfaces. Additionally in the complex, you will find a 3,500 sq. ft. building hosting bathrooms and concessions.
The complex is also slated for a $17.5 million renovation, which will entail equipping 10 fields with synthetic turf infields, grass outfields, new lighting, more parking and another restroom.
Kickingbird Golf, in Edmond, is a 50-year-old municipal golf course re-opened after a transformational renovation in 2023. All 18 greens were rebuilt with 007 Bent Grass and three holes were redesigned. New Tahoma 31 Bermudagrass was planted on tee boxes, fairways and around the greens. Guests enjoy the new 13,384 square-foot Clubhouse and 6,670 Special Events Center and indoor teaching facility.
Oklahoma City Sports Facilities
SCORE OKC is an 80,000-square-foot indoor sports facility located in the Edmond area. It opened in 2019 and consists of four multi-purpose courts, two boarded indoor fields, six party rooms, a pro shop, mezzanine with views of the facility and one full-size outdoor soccer field.
With new construction and top of the line equipment, this facility offers an ideal environment for favorite sport activities. Futsal, volleyball and indoor soccer are its primary sports but the facility is also primed to host events for basketball, flag football, lacrosse and more.
Oklahoma City also recently introduced $20 million worth of upgrades to the Paycom Center, where the NBA’s Thunder plays. Among the enhancements include the arena’s new $7.5 million scoreboard, a 28,000-pound, 125-foot wrap-around video display that stands nearly 25 feet high. Also, all 17,000 seats were replaced at a cost of $9 million.
Sports Complexes in Norman, Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma Board of Regents recently approved a startup cost of $250 million for the forthcoming Football Operations Facilities and the Student Athlete Success Center.
The football-specific operations facility will be located next to Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (where the football team plays) and will cost $175 million. The success center, which will be utilized daily by all OU athletes, is priced at $75 million.
Renovations of other sport facilities are also being discussed including baseball’s L. Dale Mitchell Park ($45 million), softball’s Love’s Field ($47.9 million), the Sam Viersen Gymnastics Center ($13.75 million), the Mosier Indoor track facility ($5 million), the Wadley Indoor Tennis Pavilion and Heading Family Tennis Center ($8.3 million), the Charlie Coe Golf Learning Center ($8.6 million), and basketball’s Lloyd Nobel Center team suites ($9.5 million).
Norman is also home to the under construction Young Family Athletic Center, named after former Oklahoma basketball star Trae Young. This 122,000-square-foot facility will feature two pools: an eight-lane 25-yard competition pool with spectator seating and a four-lane 25-meter pool used as a warm-up pool during swimming competitions. The multi-sport gymnasium portion of the building will house eight basketball courts and 12 volleyball courts which overlay the basketball courts.
Oklahoma still has plenty more destinations that offer amazing sports facilities and complexes for a wide range of different tournaments and competitions. Be sure to Download the Sports Planning Guide magazine for FREE and Subscribe for more sports tourism information
Main photo is the baseball fields at A.C. Caplinger Sports Complex in Edmond
