SpiritBank Event Center
Encyclopedia
The SpiritBank Event Center is a 4,500 seat multi-purpose arena
and convention center
in Bixby, Oklahoma
built at a cost of $50 million. The center contains 35000 sq ft (3,251.6 m²). of arena floor space and 10000 sq ft (929 m²). of banquet rooms/ballrooms.
Since opening in 2008 it has been the site of numerous concerts and events, including ZZ Top
, Stone Temple Pilots
, Jason Mraz
, and Chris Tomlin
. In December 2008, it became the new home of the Tulsa 66ers
of the NBA Development League
. (Previously, the team played at the Expo Square Pavilion
.) After the 2008-2009 season, however, the team announced it would seek another venue for the next season, and it filed a lawsuit against the owner of the arena.
In late 2009, ownership and management of the arena (and its surrounding Regal Plaza retail and office center) was transferred to Tulsa-based SpiritBank, which had lent about $28 million to the original developers. The bank stated its intention to keep the facility operational while seeking a buyer. In September 2010 the facility was sold to an investment group, but the bank bought it back in June 2011.
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
and convention center
Convention center
A convention center is a large building that is designed to hold a convention, where individuals and groups gather to promote and share common interests. Convention centers typically offer sufficient floor area to accommodate several thousand attendees...
in Bixby, Oklahoma
Bixby, Oklahoma
Bixby is a city in Tulsa and Wagoner counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, and is a suburb of Tulsa. The population was 13,336 at the 2000 census and 20,884 in the 2010 census. It is nicknamed "The Garden Spot of Oklahoma" for its rich agrarian heritage...
built at a cost of $50 million. The center contains 35000 sq ft (3,251.6 m²). of arena floor space and 10000 sq ft (929 m²). of banquet rooms/ballrooms.
Since opening in 2008 it has been the site of numerous concerts and events, including ZZ Top
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
, Stone Temple Pilots
Stone Temple Pilots
Stone Temple Pilots is an American rock band from San Diego, California that consists of Scott Weiland , brothers Robert DeLeo and Dean DeLeo , and Eric Kretz ....
, Jason Mraz
Jason Mraz
Jason Thomas Mraz , also known as Mr. AZ and Mr. Raz, is an American singer-songwriter. Mraz released his debut album, Waiting for My Rocket to Come, which contained the hit single "The Remedy ", in 2002, but it was not until the release of his second album, "Mr. A-Z", in 2005, that Mraz achieved...
, and Chris Tomlin
Chris Tomlin
Christopher Dwayne "Chris" Tomlin is an American Christian Contemporary Music artist, worship leader, and songwriter from Grand Saline, Texas, United States. He is a former staff member at Austin Stone Community Church and is signed to EMI's sixstepsrecords. Tomlin also leads worship at many...
. In December 2008, it became the new home of the Tulsa 66ers
Tulsa 66ers
The Tulsa 66ers are an NBA Development League team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma and the minor league affiliate of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Their logo design is a basketball behind mountains with a road leading up to them, all on a U.S...
of the NBA Development League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
. (Previously, the team played at the Expo Square Pavilion
Expo Square Pavilion
The Expo Square Pavilion, sometimes called simply The Pavilion, and formerly known as the Tulsa Fairgrounds Pavilion, is a 6,311-seat multi-purpose arena, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.It was built in 1932; the architect was Leland I Shumway...
.) After the 2008-2009 season, however, the team announced it would seek another venue for the next season, and it filed a lawsuit against the owner of the arena.
In late 2009, ownership and management of the arena (and its surrounding Regal Plaza retail and office center) was transferred to Tulsa-based SpiritBank, which had lent about $28 million to the original developers. The bank stated its intention to keep the facility operational while seeking a buyer. In September 2010 the facility was sold to an investment group, but the bank bought it back in June 2011.