View Full Version : Fair Arena- Covered?



Karried
09-22-2009, 05:20 PM
I want to see the Black Crowes on Thursday at the Fair but it looks like Rain ( ugh) Is the Arena open or indoors ? I don't think I've ever been inside....

OKCDrummer77
09-22-2009, 05:27 PM
It's an indoor arena.

USG '60
09-22-2009, 05:31 PM
It's an indoor arena.

Wow, do they still use that building? I haven't been in it since hockey moved to the Myriad. I saw Ray Charles there in '58 (I think it was). My first concert ever.

OKCDrummer77
09-22-2009, 05:36 PM
Small high school basketball teams play their state tournaments there. It seems to be pretty big deal to get to the "Big House" each year.

Also, I saw a Beatles tribute band there in the summer of '96.

Karried
09-22-2009, 05:38 PM
oh Yay! Thanks!

MadMonk
09-22-2009, 06:36 PM
Wow, do they still use that building? I haven't been in it since hockey moved to the Myriad. I saw Ray Charles there in '58 (I think it was). My first concert ever.
Sure they use it. Also, it was remodeled a few years back.

Thunder
09-22-2009, 06:41 PM
Last time I was there, I met the original Power Rangers and everyone else in the series. :-D

The Red Ranger personally acknowledged me from the stage when he saw my perfect timing flashing that silver card to bust that big bad guy. :-D

metro
09-23-2009, 08:06 AM
Sure they use it. Also, it was remodeled a few years back.

Actually I think it was remodeled again this year. They had a video on NewsOK or maybe on the news the other day showing a bunch of new remodels to it, including a video board, new indoor and outdoor lighting, new sound system, painted the outdoor roofing green and red (don't care for the christmas theme on buildings) etc..

Check out the thread below and there is also pics:

http://www.okstatefairpark.com/photo-gallery.asp?album=arena

decepticobra
09-23-2009, 12:47 PM
they need to tear down every building at the fair and build fresh new ones, they are all ancient. i always hated the building with the airlock tight revolving doors that popped my ears.

kmf563
09-23-2009, 01:46 PM
they need to tear down every building at the fair and build fresh new ones, they are all ancient. i always hated the building with the airlock tight revolving doors that popped my ears.

Me too. That is gone. It was replaced with a nice ceiling and normal doors with a normal air system. Thanks to Cox.

Patrick
09-23-2009, 03:05 PM
they need to tear down every building at the fair and build fresh new ones, they are all ancient. i always hated the building with the airlock tight revolving doors that popped my ears.

Then vote yes on MAPS 3. A large new expo building will replace most of the smaller buildings. The only exhibit buildings to remain will be the Centennial Building (just renovated a few years back) and the Cox Pavilion (used to be that airtight building but was rebuilt with a roof).

The arena and horse facilities are in good shape.

Here's the pic of what it's all going to look like. You'll see the horse barns at top right. State Fair arena in top middle. The new expo building (MAPS 3) top left. By the space needle and archway are Cox Pavillion and the Centennial Building, the only two exhibit buildings that will remain. Bottom center are the buildings that house the administrative offices for the fair, what used to be the Garden's Building.

http://www.mainstreetok.com/guymon/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/statefairparkexporendering.jpg

Patrick
09-23-2009, 03:12 PM
Here are some pics of State Fair Arena:

http://blog.newsok.com/photo/files/2009/03/bighouse2.jpg

http://blog.newsok.com/photo/files/2009/03/bighouse1.jpg

http://www.oklahomafarmreport.com/wire/bluegreen-youthexpo/media/00006_MktLambShowOYE2009.jpg

http://www.okstatefairpark.com/Images/ConstructionPics/100_3991.jpg

http://www.okstatefairpark.com/Images/ConstructionPics/100_3994.jpg

Karried
09-23-2009, 03:26 PM
Cool thanks.. I have tickets for Bob FM 96 Box Comp Seats... wonder what that entails? Anyone ever been in a Bob FM box at the fair?

And, can you park at the Gate nearest the Areana Gate 6 at the back of the fair?

Karried
09-23-2009, 03:29 PM
News

Oklahoma State Fair chooses Daktronics for integrated arena displays

http://cms.ukintpress.com/UserFiles/Stadia%20News/01.09.09/image003_rz.jpgDaktronics will design, manufacture, and install an integrated display system in the Jim Norick State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. Patrons of the arena will soon experience concerts, rodeos and other sporting events under the glow of five different Daktronics LED video displays, four of which will hang high above the arena floor as part of a centre-hung display system. The fifth video screen will be hung in the Performance Arena. In addition to its new display equipment, the Oklahoma State Fair Arena will also receive a custom sound system and LED shot clocks from Daktronics.

The video displays projecting from each face of the arena’s centre-hung system will measure almost 9ft high and 15ft wide and will rest atop an LED ring display measuring approximately 3ft high and nearly 12ft in diameter. State Fair Arena controllers will be able to provide spectators with up-to-the-second scoring, timing, and event information with the new video displays, each of which will use Daktronics’s PS-X digital video technology.

An annual celebration of music, animals and engines, the Oklahoma State Fair will celebrate its 103rd year in 2009. For nearly 20 years, productions of Disney On Ice have entertained crowds at the fair, and this year is no exception. The Black Crowes are also due to appear in Oklahoma City, with this year’s festivities taking place from 17-27 September.

The Jim Norick Arena is just one facility that the Oklahoma State Fair has worked to update in the last few years. Extensive upgrades to entrance gates, multiple barns, car parks and exercise areas are designed to make the Oklahoma State Fair a southern staple for decades to come

Patrick
09-23-2009, 03:32 PM
Cool thanks.. I have tickets for Bob FM 96 Box Comp Seats... wonder what that entails? Anyone ever been in a Bob FM box at the fair?

And, can you park at the Gate nearest the Areana Gate 6 at the back of the fair?

The arena doesn't have any boxes per say. It's probably referring to box seats, which are the seats on the lower level, similar to box seats at a Redhawks game. At the state fair arena, they're the padded gray seats on the lower level, versus the regular hard wood seats in the upper level.

In the seating diagram, the box seats are in the 200 level:

http://www.mtctickets.com/venues/images/oklahoma_state_fair_arena_4.gif

Patrick
09-23-2009, 03:35 PM
And, can you park at the Gate nearest the Areana Gate 6 at the back of the fair?


Yup, I'd park in the back, and the entrance gate takes you right there to the arena.

Patrick
09-23-2009, 03:55 PM
Here are pics of the 2 buildings they're wanting to keep at State Fair Park:

1. Cox Pavilion (used to be the bubble building- International Building):
Before reconstruction:
http://www.okstatefairpark.com/Images/ConstructionPics/ITC%20no%20top2.jpg

After reconstruction:
http://www.okstatefairpark.com/Images/ConstructionPics/Sep5_ITC-1.jpg

http://www.okstatefairpark.com/Images/ConstructionPics/04ITC.jpg

2. Centennial Building:
http://www.greenlightwrite.com/fair11.jpg

CuatrodeMayo
09-23-2009, 04:19 PM
The centennial building is a fantastic mid-century structure. I'm glad it stays.

USG '60
09-23-2009, 05:20 PM
The centennial building is a fantastic mid-century structure. I'm glad it stays.

Amen

MadMonk
09-23-2009, 05:43 PM
I miss the bubble building (though it looks very nice now). It was unique.

westsidesooner
09-23-2009, 05:49 PM
As someone who likes to tinker in gardening and landscaping I miss the garden building (fair admisitrative office) being used as a garden building. It's much to nice to be used for office space. I'd think they could find room for the offices somewhere else. The grandstand or arena maybe? Last time I was at the fair (haven't been this year yet) I noticed the waterfall portion of that building wasn't working. Sad.

Easy180
09-23-2009, 07:53 PM
Cool thanks.. I have tickets for Bob FM 96 Box Comp Seats... wonder what that entails? Anyone ever been in a Bob FM box at the fair?

And, can you park at the Gate nearest the Areana Gate 6 at the back of the fair?

Headed there too Karried...Not a huge Black Crowes fan but they do put on a pretty good show

I like their new song I ain't hiding so I am interested to hear some more of their new album

Patrick
09-24-2009, 12:35 PM
As someone who likes to tinker in gardening and landscaping I miss the garden building (fair admisitrative office) being used as a garden building. It's much to nice to be used for office space. I'd think they could find room for the offices somewhere else. The grandstand or arena maybe? Last time I was at the fair (haven't been this year yet) I noticed the waterfall portion of that building wasn't working. Sad.

I agree. They used to even have a big interactive display on the west side of the building every fair. And I loved the big waterfall that came down from the roof over the front of the building.

Patrick
09-24-2009, 12:35 PM
I miss the bubble building (though it looks very nice now). It was unique.


Was extremely inefficient to heat and cool.

CuatrodeMayo
09-24-2009, 04:10 PM
i miss the bubble building (though it looks very nice now). It was unique.

x2

Karried
09-25-2009, 07:42 AM
Easy180, What did you think about the concert? We changed our seats to GA.... But, I still wasn't impressed. I love all the old music... the new stuff I didn't even get into. They didn't play nearly long enough or very many older songs. It was okay though!

We enjoyed the fair! Went on all the rides and that ate some fair food. Once a year is enough. I could sit and people watch all day. If people only knew OK from attending the state fair, I could see how some of the stereotypes might be reinforced! I didn't know people actually still sported mullets.

HVAC Instructor
09-25-2009, 08:12 AM
Saw the Crows open for ZZ Top on the Recycler tour in the late 80's at the Omni in Atlanta. They were terrible and half drunk and wound up getting kicked off the tour for badmouthing the tour sponsor, Miller Light. They sucked so bad, I traded one of their tee shirts I had bought back for another ZZ Top shirt. After that, I wouldn't even consider paying to see them as the main act. They sound ok recorded but left a lot to be desired in concert.

Easy180
09-27-2009, 09:51 AM
Easy180, What did you think about the concert? We changed our seats to GA.... But, I still wasn't impressed. I love all the old music... the new stuff I didn't even get into. They didn't play nearly long enough or very many older songs. It was okay though!

We enjoyed the fair! Went on all the rides and that ate some fair food. Once a year is enough. I could sit and people watch all day. If people only knew OK from attending the state fair, I could see how some of the stereotypes might be reinforced! I didn't know people actually still sported mullets.

We had seats but just went down to GA for a better view...It was depressingly empty in there

It was definitely short but since the fair was shutting down I bet they told them to cut it at 10....I thought it was pretty good but I'm sure they weren't too thrilled when they saw the empty arena

This weekend is much better...DMB on Friday night and Kings of Leon on Sat...Will be some serious beverages consumed over a 24 hour period :woowoo: