Tulsa, OK – Tulsa, OK (September 1, 2009) Recent news reports last night stated the possibility of the Tulsa Talons leaving Tulsa and the BOK Center to relocate to San Antonio, Texas.
On August 19, Talons officials approached the BOK Center, City of Tulsa, and the Tulsa Metro Chamber regarding the Tulsa Talons advancing to a possible new Arena Football League.
Talons officials requested a new rental rate deal at the BOK Center. This request was to go from a per game rental fee of $15,000 per game down to $7,500 per game.
The BOK Center considers all of our tenants and possible tenants as partners and work to find a mutually beneficial agreement while also trying to maintain the integrity of our rate structures in order to be fair to all teams. We believe that the Tulsa Talons are a great asset to the BOK Center and the City of Tulsa and proposed a fair lease agreement for the new season while keeping in mind our fiscal responsibility.
Mayor Kathy Taylor also commented, "We enjoy our relationship with the Talons and cherish their success this past season. We also wish them continued success. There is absolutely no truth whatsoever that the City is trying to push Henry out of the BOK Center. We welcome as many events as possible in the BOK Center. The WNBA team, if it becomes a reality in Tulsa, will also add to the success of this new Arena. We are hopeful that a WNBA franchise for Tulsa will indeed happen."
The BOK Center proposed a new rate structure that reduced the team's rental payments as ticket sales increased. We felt this structure made sense given the ability of the new team and new league to sell more tickets. This proposal was given to the Talons Monday evening and within hours learned through media reports the team was reportedly relocating to San Antonio because of the proposal presented.
Below is a list of facts from the BOK Center regarding the Talons at the BOK Center:
BOK Center pays Talons on average $25,136.25 per regular season game in premium seat income (income that team did not have prior to moving to BOK Center)
Talons pay BOK Center Rent of $15,000 per game for games on Saturday nights and $10,000 Rent per game on Monday nights
Talons receive 20% of concession sales money received by BOK Center. Talons receive 100% of merchandise sales for team merchandise sold inside the venue.
Talons net revenue paid by the BOK Center to the team increased from $139,428.69 in 2008 (playing at the Tulsa Convention Center) to $229,403.96 in 2009 (playing at the BOK Center - using 9 game comparison per year) - a 65% increase.
Average per person amount spent on concessions in 2008: $6.20; 2009: $6.48 - a 4.62% increase.
Tulsa Talons played 8 home games on Saturday nights at the BOK Center in 2009 season.
On August 7 (one month prior to date deadline for submission to league), BOK Center offered 14 Saturdays to Talons to choose 8 preferred dates.
The BOK Center Project, through Tulsa Vision Builders, spent $225,000 last year on equipment for the Tulsa Talons to play in Tulsa at the BOK Center. (New Turf, New Goals, New Dasher Pads, New Goal Netting)
The BOK Center and the Tulsa Convention Center reserved for the Talons 93 days of free practice time during the 2009 season (March - August).