Struggles with Tulsa's BOK Center Daytime Debut

TULSA, Oklahoma -- The first daytime event at the new BOK center took place Monday, featuring Rudy Giuliani, Colin Powell and Joe Montana among others. The biggest story however was not the motivational speakers. The overshadowing chatter was the lack of parking and lunch. Citizens have been concerned about the lack of dedicating parking for evening concerts, which did prove to be valid at the first few shows.

Take that, combined with normal downtown daily parking drama, and you have this morning's fiasco. Officers attempted to help, but seemed to create more of a mess by overruling the lights at some points and getting upset when they weren't followed at the next block. Visitors to Tulsa for the event would have experienced at least a 45-minute tour of our not so nice section of downtown trying to find anywhere to park & walk.

This includes an area frequented by our homeless population, who seemed to be laughing at all the people stuck in traffic. To patrol the homeless, police were spotted on Segways leading to questions about the city's budgeting priorities. There are old warehouse buildings for sale in the vicinity and the city needs to step up and use them to create parking.

Problem two of the day came at lunch. Put 15,000 hungry people in one place and you have another disaster. Although multiple concession stands were open, the staff was not fully trained and there wasn't enough food. During the 65 minute break, we made it through two lines only to find out they were out of food. One line was normal BOK center concession and another was one of the concession stands operated by an outside chain.

After the first disappointments, we stood in a third line until the speakers resumed, then abandoned the line and went back to our seats hungry & frustrated to avoid missing Zig Zigler. Reports were also heard from other attendees that the restaurants outside the venue were overrun. A partial solution to the long lines would be to have some beverage only stands. Outside of lunch, on a different break we had a 10 minute wait for water as people in front of us were getting food. Bottled beverages are fast and would eliminate some congestion.

As Tulsa County citizens, we appreciate the big names coming to town, but it's not enough to have a building. A plan is required to make the events enjoyable & pleasant. As many of the motivational speakers today covered, part of success is planning & preparation. I hope that Mayor Taylor recognizes the struggles and takes action to make the BOK Center all that it can be.