Oklahoma State Fair Arena (originally James Norick State Fair Arena, formally State Fair Coliseum, commonly State Fair Arena and nicknamed The Big House) is a large multi-purpose arena, located on the Oklahoma State Fair grounds, in west Oklahoma City, Oklahoma USA. It seats 10,944, in its usual configuration.
The formal name of the arena, at its opening, was the James Norick State Fair Arena, named for the city's mayor at the time. The building was also unique, in it had the largest roof, of its type, in the world. It is the third largest city-owned multipurpose arena, after Ford Center and the arena at Cox Convention Center.
It has hosted the state high school basketball playoffs, in the past and was home to the Oklahoma City Blazers, of the CHL, from 1965-1977.
The Grateful Dead's performance on October 19, 1973, was recorded and later released as Dick's Picks Volume 19.
Today, it is used primarily to host events, such as rodeos, horse-shows and other equine events, as well as a backup facility, for concerts and sporting events. Coordinates: 35°28′14″N 97°34′24″W / 35.470604°N 97.573438°W / 35.470604; -97.573438
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Famous quotes containing the words oklahoma, state, fair and/or arena:
“I know only one person who ever crossed the ocean without feeling it, either spiritually or physically.... he went from Oklahoma to France and back again ... without ever getting off dry land. He remembers several places I remember too, and several French words, but he says firmly, “We must of went different ways. I don’t rightly recollect no water, ever.””
—M.F.K. Fisher (1908–1992)
“The principal saloon was the Howlin’ Wilderness, an immense log cabin with a log fire always burning in the huge fireplace, where so many fights broke out that the common saying was, “We will have a man for breakfast tomorrow.””
—For the State of California, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“Those that she makes fair she scarce makes honest, and those that she makes honest she makes very ill-favoredly.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“... often the empowering strategies we use in the arena of love and friendship are immediately dropped when we come into the arena of politicized difference—when in fact some of those strategies are useful and necessary.”
—bell hooks (b. c. 1955)