For the rehabilitation facility in California, sometimes referred to in the media as the "Ford Center," see Betty Ford Center.
The Ford Center is a multipurpose indoor sports/concert arena located in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The arena opened on June 8, 2002; three years after construction began.
The facility seats 19,675 on four seating levels and features 3,380 club seats, seven party suites and 49 private suites. Ford Center is owned by the city. The facility is the premier project of Oklahoma City's capital improvement program (MAPS) to finance new and upgraded sports, entertainment, cultural and convention facilities with a one percent (1%) sales tax.
Architecturally, Ford Center shares likeness with its brother stadium Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The venue's name comes from a naming rights deal with the Oklahoma Ford Dealers. It is located adjacent to Interstate 40 Crosstown's interchange with Robinson Avenue in downtown Oklahoma City, just across the street from the Cox Convention Center.
Its primary tenant was the temporarily relocated New Orleans Hornets of the National Basketball Association. Attendance for Hornets games at the Ford Center averaged 18,716 in 2005-06 (36 games) and 17,951 (35 games) in 2006-2007.
It is a permanent home to the Oklahoma City Blazers of the Central Hockey League and the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz of af2, but they occasionally play in the Cox Convention Center when Ford Center is not available. Ford Center is also used for other events, notably professional wrestling shows such as Unforgiven 2005, and touring concerts. Also, the 2007 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament was played there for the first time. The Ford Center will host the 2009 Big 12 Conference men's basketball tournament.
The Hornets leased the facility for the 2005-06 season and exercised the option to extend for the 2006-07 season. Ford Center received a $200,000 renovation as part of the Hornets' lease.
The Hornets played their last game at Ford Center, a preseason game for the 2007-08 season, on October 9, 2007.
