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Coordinates: 35°27′55″N 97°30′52″W / 35.46528°N 97.51444°W / 35.46528; -97.51444

Cox Convention Center
File:CoxConventionCenter.PNG
Former namesMyriad Convention Center (1972–2002)
Address1 Myriad Gardens
Oklahoma City, OK 73102-9219
LocationDowntown Oklahoma City
Public transitOKC Streetcar Century Center
OKC Streetcar Arena
OwnerCity of Oklahoma City
OperatorSMG
CapacityBasketball: 13,846
Ice hockey: 13,399
Arena football: 13,231
Concerts: 15,634
Construction
Broke ground1969
OpenedNovember 5, 1972
Construction cost$23 million[1]
($138 million in 2018 dollars[2])
ArchitectBozalis, Dickinson & Roloff[3]
General contractorH.A. Lott Inc.[1]
Tenants
Oklahoma City Blazers (CHL) (1973–77)
Oklahoma City Stars (CHL) (1978–82)
Oklahoma City Cavalry (CBA) (1990–97)
Oklahoma City Blazers (CHL) (1992–2002)
Oklahoma Coyotes (RHI) (1995–96)
Oklahoma Wranglers (AFL) (2000–01)
Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (AFL) (2009–10)
Oklahoma City Barons (AHL) (2010–15)
Bricktown Brawlers (IFL) (2011)
Oklahoma City Blue (NBA G League) (2014–present)

The Cox Convention Center (originally Myriad Convention Center) is a multi-purpose complex located in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It is currently the home of the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League.

History[]

Its name comes from a naming rights deal with telecommunications giant Cox Communications. The complex was formerly known as the Myriad Convention Center.

It was the centerpiece of Oklahoma City's first major urban renewal project, the Pei Plan. In addition to the Convention Center, the project included the removal of blighted sections of the southern downtown area. The project also began the process for the design and construction of the Myriad Botanical Gardens, located directly west of the Myriad.

It is located adjacent to the Renaissance and Sheraton Hotels and borders Robinson Avenue, Sheridan Avenue, Reno Avenue, and EK Gaylord Blvd in Downtown. Immediately across the street to the south is the Chesapeake Energy Arena, the city's largest multipurpose arena, as well as the Courtyard Hotel.

Arena information[]

Its primary use is that of large-scale convention and meeting facility. It also hosts major concerts, conferences, and other large-scale events. The complex houses multiple meeting rooms, conference and convention space, dining halls, and a 15,000 seat multi-purpose arena. When it opened in 1972, it replaced the Oklahoma State Fair Arena as Oklahoma City's main indoor sports and concert venue. It would retain this status for 30 years until the opening of the Ford Center (now the Chesapeake Energy Arena) in 2002.

The arena was home to Oklahoma City Blazers hockey in the 1970s and then again from 1992 to 2002, Bricktown Brawlers Indoor Football League team; previously the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League used to play their games their before their relocation to Bakersfield. The Cox Convention Center has also hosted numerous state and college basketball events, including early rounds of the Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament and also the 2007 and 2009 Big 12 Women's Basketball Tournament and UFC Fight Night: Diaz vs. Guillard on September 16, 2009. The NCAA Men's Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships were held at the arena from 1986 to 1988.

File:US Navy 090613-N-3750S-492 Members of the Navy Color Guard join the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz players on the field at Cox Convention Center during the opening ceremony.jpg

Members of the Navy Color Guard join the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz players on the field at Cox Convention Center during the opening ceremony

Improvements[]

The Myriad received a major renovation and expansion. The US$55.8 million project was designed by Glover Bode. Flintco, who served as the renovation's general contractor, began construction in June 1997. The work was completed in August 1999.[4]

The MAPS Project also funded construction of the Chesapeake Energy Arena (located just south of the Cox Convention Center) and Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

The Cox Convention Center received another upgrade, budgeted at $4.5 million, to accommodate the move of the Edmonton Oilers' top farm team, the Oklahoma City Barons and which began play in fall 2010.

Events[]

Prior to the opening of the Ford Center, the Myriad was Oklahoma City's premier sports and entertainment venue.

WCW Thunder aired live from the Myriad Convention Center on February 12, 1998. The event can be viewed on the WWE Network.

Concerts[]

Other events[]

  • National Finals Rodeo (1979–1984)
  • 1983 Billy Graham Oklahoma Crusade at the arena
  • NBA and NHL exhibition games
  • 1989 U.S. Olympic Festival events
  • Boxing
  • Tennis
  • UFC Fight Night: Diaz vs. Guillard – September 16, 2009
  • Indoor Track meets
  • American Bycycle Association: Grand Nationals[5]
  • First and second-round games for the 1994 and 1998 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship (Bryce Drew's famous buzzer beater took place here during the 1998 tournament)
  • Talk show host Phil Donahue taped his show in the Great Hall of the Myriad for a week in 1981
  • Pro Wrestling (Mid-South Wrestling, WWF and WCW)
  • OKC Oilfield Expo[6]
  • It hosted the beatification of Stanley Rother on September 23, 2017, the first native-born American to be proclaimed a martyr of the Catholic Church.[7]

References[]

External links[]

Events and tenants
Preceded by
SpiritBank Event Center
(as the Tulsa 66ers)
Home of the
Oklahoma City Blue

2014–present
Succeeded by
current
Preceded by
Rose Garden Arena
Home of the
Oklahoma Wranglers

2000–2001
Succeeded by
Franchise folded
Preceded by
Ford Center
Home of the
Oklahoma City Yard Dawgs

2009–2010
Succeeded by
Franchise folded
Preceded by
Rexall Place
(as the Edmonton Road Runners)
Home of the
Oklahoma City Barons

2010–2015
Succeeded by
Rabobank Arena
(as the Bakersfield Condors)

Template:Oklahoma City Barons Template:Oklahoma Wranglers Template:Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz

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