Oklahoma City: A Whole New Landscape to Experience

Oklahoma City is a comfortably smaller market that’s big on sports. With quality venues, affordable rates and a friendly atmosphere, you’ll find OKC to be one of the most accommodating destinations in the Southwest. And, there’s so much new happening in Oklahoma City, it’s a whole new landscape to set your eyes on.

Oklahoma City boasts a variety of top-notch venues such as Chesapeake Energy Arena; home to the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder. And right across the street is the 15,000 seat arena at the Cox Convention Center, which can be configured for everything from ice hockey to cheerleading competitions.

The all-new Bennett Event Center at Oklahoma State Fair Park offers 279,000 square feet of space giving Oklahoma City advantage to host everything from volleyball to wrestling and more, with high ceilings and plenty of room.

Home to the USTA Missouri Valley and National USTA tournaments, The Tennis Center in Oklahoma City is the premier tennis facility in Oklahoma and the largest public park facility in the central U.S., offering 36 tennis courts with 24 outdoor, six indoor and six youth courts.

Home to the NCAA’s Women’s College World Series at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium, Oklahoma City hosts numerous events throughout the year in the Adventure District. In 2018, USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium is scheduled to receive a $27.5M renovation including a new press room and press box, new ticket windows, concession areas, bathrooms, a new sales plaza and field lighting. Also included, seating will be increased from 4,945 to 9,315 in the upper level and infield area and approximately 4,000 more seats in the bleacher area. The renovation process will still allow for the Women’s College World Series but take approximately two years to complete.

The Boathouse District on the Oklahoma River, which is the US Olympic & Paralympic Training Site for rowing and canoe/kayak, has also received new attractions not just for teams but for groups coming to OKC. Just a few steps from OKC’s Bricktown Entertainment District, the all-new $45.2M RIVERSPORT Rapids is an 11-acre whitewater rafting and kayaking center. This state-of-the-art aquatic adventure facility is geared for both family fun and elite athlete training, adding even more outdoor recreation opportunities to the list. There’s no other urban whitewater experience anywhere in the world!

The Boathouse District along the Oklahoma River also offers some of Oklahoma City’s more popular ways to spend time outdoors, enjoy views of the downtown skyline and get active. Visitors can rent kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, water bicycles and check out dragon boating. They can zip across the Oklahoma River and back on the SandRidge SkyZip or climb the six-story SandRidge Sky Trail and Slide, an 80-foot adventure course to be climbed while safely fastened in with a harness. Getting down requires sliding down the Sky Slide or dropping via the Rumble Drop.

All of the newness that is coming to OKC won’t stopped either. In spring of 2018, Oklahoma City will break ground on a new $287 million downtown Convention Center scheduled to open in 2020. The Convention Center will be serviced by approximately six miles of modern street car to most of downtown OKC and a 70-acre downtown park will be directly adjacent to the Convention Center. The Convention Center will offer 200,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 35,000 square feet ballroom and 50,000 square feet of additional space.

It’s a great time to experience all of the new paired with the best that OKC has to offer!