7 minute read
TGS | The House That Built Us
Sixty years. So much can happen in six decades. Love, loss, joy, heartbreak, growth, challenges, life. For Oklahoma City’s famed Jim Norick Arena, the last 60 years have been brimming with all of those emotions and more. Perhaps the most notable designation Jim Norick Arena has gained in its tenure is ‘The Big House’ – site of state champion athletic tournaments, countless concerts, the world’s most prestigious equestrian events, and longtime home of the Oklahoma Youth Expo.
Originally constructed in 1965, Jim Norick Arena is home in a variety of ways. For equestrian competitors, it is the historic site of world championships, where only the most elite are crowned champions. For wrestlers and basketball players, it’s the ground on
which the sacred State Championship is held; where blood, sweat and tears culminate and champions are deemed Oklahoma’s best. For many of Oklahoma’s agriculturalists, Jim Norick Arena has become synonymous with the Oklahoma Youth Expo and the OYE Grand Drive – the premier junior livestock event in not only the state but across the country.
Jim Norick Arena is not just grounds for countless community events and competitions, Melissa Eisenhauer, OYE director of special events, said, “it is a magical place, and it’s our home.”
As Jim Norick Arena is soon to close its doors in June 2025, we honor it by fondly remembering all of the history and personal ties so many have with the Big House.
“When I think about Jim Norick Arena, when I think about showing there and playing basketball there at the state tournament,” said Chelsea Castonguay, former OYE exhibitor and Kingfisher high school basketball player, “it just brings up so many memories and also a sense of accomplishment because when you did finally get to walk through the Gateway of Champions into the arena, it was a moment of awe, a moment of feeling like you made it,” she said.
From the old wooden chairs, to the friends and family gathered together, to the students who trade a basketball jersey or singlet for their show shirt in a matter of minutes, it’s a culmination of people, experiences, and feelings that make Jim Norick feel like home, Castonguay added.
While Jim Norick Arena has been a staple for OYE exhibitors for the past several decades, its story of rise and legacy has truly been intertwined with that of the OYE, said Oklahoma Youth Expo Onward Foundation President, Tyler Norvell.
The Oklahoma Youth Expo, then called the Oklahoma Spring Livestock Show, originally began in the stockyards with just three breeds of cattle, seven breeds of hogs, and a few breeds of sheep. In the 1950s, the stockyards burnt down in a fire, and it was decided the show would be transferred to the state fairgrounds in the heart of Oklahoma City. In 1958, the Spring Livestock Show was held there for the first time.
“All of the years we’ve spent in Jim Norick Arena, all of the memories made there, have created hundreds of stories that will live on forever,” said Celeste Nelson, Sirloin Club of Oklahoma member. “They are truly the essence of the building and the legacy built there.”
Castonguay said she can still picture it all, clear as day: “I reflect and feel like it’s been just yesterday. I see my basketball coaches on the sidelines. I see my friends in the stands. I see my family ringside. And that is what matters. That is what builds the character and the work ethic, and that is what we need the youth to get out of these venues,” she said sincerely.
The history of significant memorable moments stems far beyond the Oklahoma Youth Expo and the March days spent there annually, Norvell said.
In fact, Jim Norick Arena was previously the host of the National Finals Rodeo. In 1974, a young Reba McEntire, hailing from southeastern Oklahoma, got her start in the country music industry by singing the National Anthem in this arena, which skyrocketed her to the outstanding star she is today.
The success and impact of this venue spans further than the junior livestock memories made by spending early mornings and late nights in Jim Norick Arena, Castonguay said. Everything, everyone, who has played a part has made it a truly special place, she said.
“When I think of years of events hosted in Jim Norick – when I think of the audiences that have watched the horse shows, the state games, the Oklahoma Youth Expo – I just think of this incredible community and how fortunate Oklahoma FFA and 4-H members are to have grown up in this program that has such dedicated individuals,” Castonguay said.
Jim Norick Arena has helped cultivate an everlasting legacy for Oklahomans across the state, especially in the ag sphere, Castonguay added.
In March 2025, the Oklahoma Youth Expo is set to be the final historic event held in Jim Norick Arena. The new OG&E Coliseum is expected to be completed by June 2025, when Oklahoma City will once more open its doors to upwards of one million visitors and countless national and international events.
“As we sit here today, the new coliseum is on track to be industry-leading with up to 7,500 seats, several suites, and modern-day technology that will blow guests away,” said Kirk Slaughter, President and CEO of the Oklahoma State Fair. “It’s incredibly helpful that the design architects grew up showing animals, showing livestock, showing horses, so they understood the little things like having entrances onto the side floor for judges to get down and accessibility best suited for livestock,” Slaughter added.
While saying goodbye to the place OYE and its myriad exhibitors throughout the years have known as home, we are excited to see what the future holds in the new, world-class OG&E Coliseum.
The Oklahoma Youth Expo is proud to stand tall, facing the horizon of a new and brighter tomorrow, for the sake of continuing the legacy of celebrating Oklahoma’s youth.
“This new arena is going to give us a good opportunity to continue to grow the youth of Oklahoma, to continue showcasing our livestock and our sports teams, and to put an emphasis on work ethic and success in young people,” Castonguay said. “It’s important to remember that with this change, people aren’t leaving.
“These basketball coaches, these hometown crowds, these ag teachers – they’re not going anywhere,” Castonguay added. “They’re just going to continue to do what they’ve been doing, and that’s helping Oklahoma youth be successful.”
We say a heartfelt farewell to the wonderful arena that built us and eagerly welcome the forward movement and progress represented in the new and improved home of the Oklahoma Youth Expo.
