Jim Norick Arena

Last updated
Jim Norick Arena
The Big House
Jim Norick Arena
Former namesFairgrounds Arena
Address333 Gordon Cooper Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73107
Location Oklahoma City, Oklahoma USA
OwnerCity of Oklahoma City
Operator Oklahoma State Fair Park
Capacity 10,944
Construction
Opened1965
Closed2025
DemolishedAugust 12, 2025 @7:35 am CST
Tenants
Oklahoma City Blazers (CHL) (19651972)

Jim Norick Arena (formerly Fairgrounds Arena) was a large multi-purpose arena located at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Completed in 1965 at a cost of $2.4 million, it was the largest indoor facility in Oklahoma City until the construction of the Myriad Convention Center. It is named for Jim Norick, the mayor of Oklahoma City during the building's construction. [1] [2] [3] [4]

The building was unique in that it had the largest roof of its type in the world. It was the second largest city-owned multi-purpose arena, after Paycom Center, and it has the largest impact for a publicly owned facility in Oklahoma City. [5]

It was home to the Oklahoma City Blazers of the CHL from 1965 through 1972. It was also home to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association's National Finals Rodeo from 1965 through 1978, when the event was moved to the Myriad. In the early years of the Professional Bull Riders, the Bud Light Cup Tour held an annual event at the arena from 1999 through 2001, before it was moved to the Ford Center, now Paycom Center.

Elvis Presley played here on November 16, 1970, to a sell out crowd of around 11,000. The Grateful Dead's performance on October 19, 1973, was recorded and later released as Dick's Picks Volume 19 .

The arena was used during the Oklahoma State Fair to host Disney on Ice and the state fair rodeo. It was also the venue for the Oklahoma small school state basketball tournaments, school graduations, and various other equine events through the year. [1] [6]

Construction on a new $85 million coliseum to replace the Norick Arena is scheduled to begin in September 2022. [5] The old arena was demolished August 12, 2025.

References

  1. 1 2 Rohde, John (28 February 2008). "Arena of memories While the Big House may be smaller in size than its counterparts, it has a rich history and special meaning to numerous Oklahomans". The Oklahoman . Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  2. "BOB DYLAN 1976 ROLLING THUNDER REVUE Unused Concert Ticket | #1796684961". Worthpoint.com. 1976-05-20. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  3. "Jo Sports Inc". Jo Sports Inc. 1971-12-16. Archived from the original on 2018-10-08. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  4. "LINDA RONSTADT 1975 Concert Ticket Stub OKLAHOMA CITY FAIRGROUNDS ARENA Rare". eBay. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  5. 1 2 McNutt, Kathryn (27 December 2021). "New arena construction to begin in September". The Journal Record. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  6. Jourdan, Cameron. "MAPS 4 would provide a new State Fair coliseum". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 15 May 2022.

35°28′14″N97°34′24″W / 35.470604°N 97.573438°W / 35.470604; -97.573438