GROUND BREAKING CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON NEW COLISEUM AT OKLAHOMA STATE FAIR

The 58-year old Jim Norick Arena has hosted thousands of sporting events, concerts and shows since it opened in 1964. It earned its nickname, the “Big House,” by becoming the home for hundreds of high school basketball and wrestling championships in the Sooner State, in addition to State Fair events, horse shows and more.

“It’s not the name we gave it, but it’s what kids around the state started calling it, because they were playing in these small country gyms during the year, but when it came time for the state championships, they got to come here,” noted former Mayor Ron Norick, the son of the man the historic building is named for. “Thousands of people have come through here to compete, and now they have watched their kids and even grandkids here, too.”

That holds true for a multitude of events, from high school sports, to rodeo, to live stock shows, and of course, reining. The Norick is a place exhibitors and their four-legged teammates train their whole lives to compete.

Soon, though, the Jim Norick Arena will be no more. The building is waning, but the passing of the MAPS 4 proposal in 2019 means that, while the old building will be torn down, a new, state-of-the-art Coliseum will be erected in its place, giving not only Oklahomans, but people from all over, the opportunity to make a multitude of new memories in the new arena.

The new coliseum, projected to cost $126 million, will be approximately 216,000-squarefeet, with 7,000 seats and include a restaurant, lounge, and upscale concession area.

On February 22, a large crowd gathered outside of the Jim Norick Coliseum for the ground breaking ceremony, and included Ron Norick, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, Oklahoma City Convention and Vistors Bureau President Zac Craig, and Kirk Slaughter, President and CEO of the Oklahoma State Fair.

The Jim Norick Coliseum has a rich history. It was completed in 1965 at the cost of $2.4 million, and was the largest indoor facility in Oklahoma City until the construction of the Myriad Convention Center. It was home to the Oklahoma City Blazers of the CHL from 1965 to 1972, and for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s National Finals Rodeo from 1965-1978.

The building was named after Mayor Jim Norick in 1971, paying homage to the late leader’s headship during its construction.

“My dad has been gone six years, and people have asked me if the new building was going to be in his name. It’s not going to be in his name, because the Norick family is not going to pay that much money to get their name on it,” Norick quipped. “But he is going to be remembered. We have saved the memorabilia from this building, and it will have a place in this new building.”

Norick added that there were a few things his father took the most pride in, including his military service, marrying his wife, and the Coliseum.

“He was very proud of this building, and humbled that it was named after him, but I can tell you that if he was here today, he would be more than excited about this new coliseum.” Norick paused to capture his thoughts, then added, “As I turn the dirt here in a minute, I’m going to turn one shovel for myself, and one for my dad.”

Current Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt added to Norick’s comments, and said, “I have always loved the idea of what this venue means to the entire state, and if you are a young person in Oklahoma and involved in agriculture, or basketball, or other sports, this is your mecca and where you dream of coming.

“I think it is cool that we love the history of this building; Elvis even played here, and it is really cool history. However, I think people will come to love the amenities and attractiveness provided by this future facility. History only takes you so far on a practical side, and what you are going to have with this new iteration is a practical, useful building to continue having economic impact on this community and bring people from around Oklahoma and the country. Congratulations to everyone involved in this!”

While those who compete in the Jim Norick know about the impact a victory in the arena can bring, they may not fully comprehend the bearing the events have on the metro area surrounding it.

Mayor Holt touched on the tremendous affect the Norick has had on the city’s economy. “This venue is the single-biggest economic driver of all of our venues. We rightfully talk about the importance of the downtown arena, but this place has the biggest bottom-line return you can directly track,” he said.

When the subject of MAPS 4 and the new coliseum is brought up, Holt said one of the biggest remarks he hears is how the new building will provide the State Fair the chance to welcome even more events. “I have to break it to them that this venue is busy all the time. I do think we can expand our capabilities, but this new building is about maintaining what