Tulsa Ballroom Ribbon Cutting January 22 2010

Tulsa Convention Center Assistant General Manager Janet Rockefeller, Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett, Tulsa Convention Center General Manager John Bolton and Former Tulsa Mayor Bill LaFortune (pictured left to right)

The Tulsa Convention Center celebrated the Grand Opening of the new Tulsa Ballroom, now the largest in the state of Oklahoma, and the completion of the Center’s renovation with a VIP Reception Tuesday, January 12, 2010 and a Public Open House on Saturday, January 16, 2010.

The invite-only VIP Reception was hosted for guests including the Tulsa Convention Center’s current and prospective clients. Following comments by Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett and Tulsa Convention Center and BOK Center General Manager John Bolton, a ribbon-cutting ceremony took place in the glass-walled Ballroom Gallery. Bartlett and Bolton joined 16 other local dignitaries in cutting the ribbon.

The Public Open House included live musical performances by local musicians Admiral Twin and Earl Clark, building tours, giveaways and $1 concessions items. More than 4,000 area residents attended the open house.

Construction on the new Tulsa Ballroom and renovation on the facility were completed in November 2009. Both projects were completed on time and on budget.

“The addition of the Tulsa Ballroom and the renovation to the Tulsa Convention Center makes us an even more exciting destination. The additional space makes the Convention Center a better option for regional and national planners looking for large, flexible meeting and event space in a centralized location,” General Manager, John Bolton, CFE said.

Several events were booked in the new Tulsa Ballroom and meeting rooms prior to the Grand Opening. The first full ballroom event was Hilti’s Award Banquet during their Annual Meeting January 6-8, 2010. They utilized many of the renovated rooms as well. Other January events at the Convention Center include Oklahoma Music Educators, the Wide Open Motorcycle Magazine show, Barbizon modeling classes, Green Clean Expo, the Midwest Sportsmen’s Society show and the Tulsa 66ers NBADL basketball games.

Several local galas have already confirmed ballroom space in 2010 including Youth Services’ “Blank Canvas”, Alzheimer’s Association’s “Memory Gala,” Tulsa Advertising Federation’s “ADDY Awards” and Oklahomans for Equality’s “Anniversary Gala.” The ballroom will also be used for conventions, general sessions and banquets.
 
The Tulsa Ballroom adds attractive rentable space to increase the quantity and size of events Tulsa’s Convention Center can accommodate.  Other features in the building include a 102,600sf Exhibit Hall, 8,900-seat arena, 20,000sf Conference Hall, 7,700sf Assembly Hall with built-in stage and a total of 35 additional meeting rooms.  Both the Tulsa Convention Center and BOK Center are managed by SMG.