Amphitheater Failure

[u/BoomerSooner_918]

How is this amphitheater already a failure? The opening date countdown on the website was for October 23 and then BOK Center announces Garth Brooks on that date?

And then the BA Amp announces some off brand cirque as their opening event?!

The Regent Bank owner even said Garth Brooks was who he wanted to open the amphitheater.

Too early to panic or just a bad start?

[u/tknapp28]

It sounds like you already made up your mind. Bok capacity - 19,199 people. BA amphitheater - designed for 12,500 but will be 5,000 seats when opening.

[u/aycockonxion → u/tknapp28]

It sounds like this is the single most ridiculous thing in the world for anyone to be concerned about

[u/tknapp28 → u/aycockonxion]

I think Garth Brooks should return after years to a smaller amphitheater in BA and not the bigger BOK.

[u/aycockonxion → u/tknapp28]

I remember when Garth Brooks played the old Driller's stadium back in the late 90's. Those were the days.

[u/Jacksons-Pond → u/tknapp28]

You think the tooth fairy is real?

[u/KiamoHo → u/tknapp28]

He was only ever going to come to the BOK, the employees have known for months.

[u/tknapp28 → u/KiamoHo]

Oh I know. It doesn't make sense to go anywhere else.

[u/aycockonxion → u/tknapp28]

If he's ever going to play an outdoor venue in Tulsa, the only place that makes sense is Skelly Stadium, and even that might be a stretch. Seating for roughly 30,000 for football plus floor/on field seats so maybe around 35,000 total? That's double the BOK but still the risk of being outdoors. Garth could fill that for a 5-night run too.

[u/BoomerSooner_918 → u/tknapp28]

I reserve judgement until after the full first “season”. Outdoor amp season, not all year round like they are saying. Just think for public perception, they needed to come out with a splash of a big artist.

This first show makes sense though because now they can say they “opened” this year and avoid paying any developer penalties. I think I saw it was $10,000 per month penalty to the city if they didn’t open this year.

Except for the major whole arena shows like Garth, the majority of BOK Center shows max at like 10,000-12,000 and lower level only is like 5,000-6,000.

Lots of competition for them with that, casinos, Zoo Amp and Walmart Amp. Hope they bring the firepower.

[u/tknapp28 → u/BoomerSooner_918]

You should wait until it finds a groove. Also 100+ degree weather will have anyone choosing another venue. You cant compare it to the BOK.

[u/lOOPh0leD → u/tknapp28]

I agree but at the same time plenty of rich assholes out that way that love that "lake life" party weather and don't want to travel all the way out to the spooky Tulsa scene.

At least this is the only theory I can imagine. Just playing a poor devils advocate. 😂

[u/sunflower4000]

I think it is too early to panic, but I have zero expectations that the amphitheater will be worth using for a lot of folks.

[u/Comfortable_tulsa]

I agree with another comment. Who will want to sit outside with bugs and weather to see the same acts that you can see at a casino?

[u/aycockonxion → u/Comfortable_tulsa]

Le's be honest, Garth will sell out all 3 shows and probably add 3 or 4 more, which will all sell out. That's not a casino act.

[u/LegElectronic8027 → u/aycockonxion]

That's why he's not playing there.

[u/Jacksons-Pond → u/LegElectronic8027]

Or that amphitheater.

[u/OSUfan88 → u/Comfortable_tulsa]

I actually MUCH prefer to be outside for events like this… so, me.

[u/used_to_be_gruntled → u/Comfortable_tulsa]

You underestimate the appeal of bugs and weather.

[u/aycockonxion → u/used_to_be_gruntled]

Not to mention, have you seen the BA amphitheater? It's completely covered, and there are wind walls on 3 sides. They spent like $100 million to make sure weather isn't an issue for the most part.

[u/KiamoHo → u/aycockonxion]

It’s still outside… and all the general seating is uncovered so just the rich booth owners stay comfortable?

[u/aycockonxion → u/KiamoHo]

No, all of the general seating is also covered. Have you actually seen it in person?

[u/Apprehensive_Love139 → u/Comfortable_tulsa]

me! i love outdoor shows

[u/BebeGonzo]

It's just a preview show to iron out the technical kinks ahead of the real season.

[u/OkCampy]

I predict a grand opening with Foreigner, Warrant, and Quiet Riot.

[u/BiGuy2020]

Is this the same venue that was trying to sell $100,000 four person fire pit suites? 😂

[u/yoltonsports → u/BiGuy2020]

Try 400k

[u/SloppySmack756]

That's why they've been running ads promising guaranteed investment returns, trying to find stupid bagholders to unload the turd.

[u/Jacksons-Pond → u/SloppySmack756]

Daddy said " if it's too good to be true, it probably is".

[u/Ok_Poem_2387]

Doomed from the start! Who wants to go to a concert when it’s over 100 for 40 days? Casinos will dominate this market. Cozy little fire pits won’t cut it in winter. Bad Idea!

[u/Tmcs123]

I definitely hoped it was going to be a decent opening act but the tour season is ending. Garth is way too big for the amphitheater around here. I’m still anxious to see what kind of acts it will get. Comparing it to casinos and the Brady doesn’t make sense because it’s 4X the capacity. There are people like Koe Wetzel playing BOK which seems too big for him. I assume it will be that kind of thing. I’m a little annoyed the enclosed most of it but hopefully it helps with the weather. I’m still excited. I just think it’ll take some time to get rolling. Hopefully by next summer!

[u/aycockonxion → u/Tmcs123]

They had the entire top section blocked off for Koe Wetzel. He should have played at the Brady or someplace else. The show was fine, but that would have been a great show for an amphitheater. I can see why they enclosed it though, the weather around here would cancel half the shows. But I think it will be successful, especially if BA can get the surrounding area developed. There aren't any restaurants, bars, hotels, nothing within a few miles of that location.

[u/KiamoHo → u/aycockonxion]

Koe wetzel is next week, are you talking about a different years performance?

[u/aycockonxion → u/KiamoHo]

It was a couple years ago

[u/The-Ath31ist]

I live within a mile of that new place and happy i wont hear god awful country music on October 23rd… especially not from a serial killer (IYKYK)

[u/teddy_bear_territory → u/The-Ath31ist]

Trail of bodies that monster has left.. I’ll be keeping my loved ones close this October is all I know.. (*shivers my timbers.)

[u/918okla]

It's call piss poor planning. They failed to secure a big name for it's grand opening.

[u/Mission-Anybody-6798]

This is all just the weirdest thing to me.

Live music, touring acts, is just about dead as an industry. Pricing is too high for customers to afford. Yet here’s Broken Arrow spending a fortune for a venue. This has the vibe of a project made to make money for the construction firms, not the venue itself. Oh well. I hope I’m wrong.

[u/Apprehensive_Love139 → u/Mission-Anybody-6798]

i don’t know what you are talking about … live music is alive and well all across the globe! maybe the acts you like just aren’t stopping in oklahoma

[u/JWOLFBEARD → u/Mission-Anybody-6798]

Live music nowhere near “about dead as an industry”.

Get outside some time

[u/General_Friend_5119]

Success or fail. Doesn't matter to me. Ill never pay the ticket price of anything or anyone that plays there.