OKC enjoys $53 million impact from Ford Center, Civic Center

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Aug 7, 2003 by Darren Currin

Oklahoma City experienced a direct economic impact of $53 million last year as a result of the events held at the Ford Center and the Civic Center, city officials said Wednesday.

According to Tom Anderson, special projects manager for the Oklahoma City manager's office, area hotels, retailers and restaurants experienced a $29 million impact from the Ford Center in the seven months that it was open in 2002.

"We had an incredible year for the city-owned facilities," he said. "We never thought the Oklahoma City market could support these events, but we have had sellout after sellout."

The $87.7 million arena opened on June 8, 2002, and was part of the Metropolitan Area Projects

The Civic Center Music Hall, which underwent a $44 million renovation as part of the MAPS program, also contributed an economic impact of $24 million to the city in 2002. Anderson said much of that impact was a result of the monthlong run of the Broadway hit Phantom of the Opera in the fall of last year.

Anderson also noted that city sales tax revenues greatly benefited in 2002 from the economic impact of both facilities.

"The budget cuts that we had this year could have been a lot worse if it had not been for this," added Anderson.

City officials are anticipating an even larger economic benefit for 2003 from the Ford Center with the recent announcement that the Ford Center was listed as one of the top arenas in the world in terms of ticket sales.

In July, Pollstar Magazine, which tracks ticket sales, ranked the Ford Center at number 10 for the first six months of 2003. With 145,414 ticket sales from January to June, the Ford Center was ranked just three spots behind New York City's Madison Square Garden and two spots ahead of Dallas' American Airlines Center that was ranked 12th in the nation.

Anderson attributes much of the Ford Center's success to the high quality of acts that have performed to sold-out shows at the arena such as Paul McCartney, The Eagles, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac and the Dave Matthews Band.

"I don't want to create a false impression as to something you should expect every year," said Anderson. "This has been a heavy touring year, but it is something that has made the concert industry stand up and take note of Oklahoma City."

The Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec was listed by the publication as the top arena in the world for the first half of 2003 with 426,348 tickets sold. St. Louis was the first American city on the list at number three with 234,301 tickets sold at the city's Savvis Center.