OG&E Coliseum construction advances at Oklahoma State Fairgrounds

This song originally ran on VeloCityOKC.com. 

The City of Oklahoma City recently released a project update on the OG&E Coliseum, currently under construction at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds. The project is rapidly moving forward, with the exterior nearly complete and crews working on interior finishes – such as tiling and lighting. 

The OG&E Coliseum is a MAPS 4 project, and was designed to ensure the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds remain home to major national, state and local equine expos and other events.  

The OG&E Coliseum will replace the current Jim Norick Arena. Originally constructed in 1964, the Jim Norick Arena has exceeded the average public event facility lifecycle of 30 to 40 years, serving Oklahoma City for 55 years. As maintenance costs and the event demands of the city rise, the decision to construct a new event center was imperative. 

The fairgrounds are a major economic driver in Oklahoma City, generating more economic impact than all other City of Oklahoma City-owned entertainment venues combined. The Jim Norick Arena welcomes 1.1 million annual visitors, who spend $211.5 million. The new coliseum is expected to increase direct spending by 10%, create 370 new jobs and generate an annual economic impact of $408 million.