The BOK Center is a multi-purpose arena in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma, that opened on August 30, 2008, after a $196 million construction effort funded through a mix of public and private money. Designed by architect César Pelli, best known for the Petronas Towers, the building is instantly recognizable for its spiraling glass facade wrapped in roughly 1,600 glass panels and 33,000 stainless steel panels.
Since its debut, the arena has become Tulsa’s premier stage for major touring concerts and hosted the Tulsa Oilers hockey team. Its opening celebration featured hometown acts Hanson and Garth Brooks, and the first ticketed concert, a sold-out Eagles show, moved through its allotment in just 35 minutes, setting the tone for the venue’s role as a regional entertainment anchor.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Type: Multi-purpose arena
- Opened: August 30, 2008
- Capacity: About 19,199 (concert, center stage)
- Architect: César Pelli
- Construction Cost: About $196 million
- Famous for: Spiraling glass facade and sold-out Eagles/Paul McCartney concerts
A Landmark Design in Downtown Tulsa
César Pelli’s design gave Tulsa a distinctive architectural centerpiece, with a curving glass exterior meant to evoke motion and energy. Inside, the concourse features around 130,000 square feet of terrazzo flooring, and a 930-foot high-definition ribbon screen wraps around the seating bowl, giving concertgoers sightlines to the stage from nearly every angle.
The arena’s flexible seating configurations allow it to scale from intimate partial-house concerts of roughly 13,600 seats up to its full 19,199-capacity center-stage concert layout, making it adaptable for everything from arena tours to basketball and hockey games.
A Stage for Major Touring Acts
Since opening, the BOK Center has hosted a wide range of high-profile performers, cementing its reputation as one of the region’s top concert draws. Paul McCartney’s October 2025 show became the highest-grossing concert in the venue’s history at that point, pulling in more than $4 million at the box office.
Beyond music, the arena has also hosted other major public events, including a 2020 presidential campaign rally, reflecting its role as one of Tulsa’s largest gathering spaces for events of national interest.
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BOK Center FAQs
When did the BOK Center open?
The BOK Center opened on August 30, 2008, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Tulsa-born band Hanson and country star Garth Brooks.
What is the seating capacity of the BOK Center?
The arena holds about 19,199 people for center-stage concerts, with capacity varying by configuration for hockey, basketball, or partial-house shows.
Who designed the BOK Center?
The BOK Center was designed by architect César Pelli, known for the Petronas Towers, working with MATRIX Architects and Odell Associates.
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Photo: Okiefromokla / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.