Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1541144
AREA GUIDES 58 B M & T ••• November/December 2025 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com O K L A H O M A C I T Y OKLAHOMA CITY: PARKSIDE CAMPUS, EASY MOVES BY TARYN J. COLE Oklahoma City gives planners a mod- ern convention campus beside a signature park, a compact downtown that is simple to navigate, and a streetcar that closes last mile gaps. The Oklahoma City Convention Center faces Scissortail Park and sits next to the Omni headquarter hotel, so sessions, sponsor labs, and evening receptions can run on foot. Will Rogers World Airport is about nine miles from downtown with typical drives close to fifteen minutes, which keeps arrivals predictable for opening day schedules. The convention center carries the load for citywides. Exhibit space totals about 200,730 square feet across four halls. A 29,874 square foot ballroom with a ter- race overlooks the park, and twenty seven meeting rooms add nearly 45,000 square feet, including a 9,726 square foot junior ballroom. The hall and meeting stacks were designed for efficient load in and clear freight routes, which helps reduce overtime on tight builds. Across the street, Scissortail Park adds lawns, pavilions, and water features for wellness, tastings, or open air sponsor activations. Hotel strategy is straightforward. The Omni is attached to the center and lists roughly 76,000 square feet of meeting space with a 20,500 square foot ball- room, so programming can live on a sin- gle campus under one contract set. Additional downtown hotels extend block size and provide junior ballrooms for breakouts. The Oklahoma City Streetcar links the Arts District, City Center, Midtown, and Bricktown, with long daily operating hours that cover most program needs. Using the streetcar for short hops reduces rideshare spend and keeps the footprint walkable for attendees. Big stage requirements are easy to meet. Paycom Center, home of the NBA, sits a short walk from the convention dis- trict and provides an arena bowl, suites, and concourses that adapt to keynotes or rallies. For expo overflow or consumer shows, the Bennett Event Center at the OKC Fairgrounds offers a single hall well over 200,000 square feet with broad parking fields for drive up traffic. Bricktown delivers water level options, including narrated canal cruises and pri- vate charters that can double as sponsor hospitality or press hits. Program flow benefits from the downtown grid. Morning general ses- sions can run in the exhibit hall or ball- room, followed by workshops split between meeting rooms and Omni spaces. Park terraces and nearby pavil- ions set the stage for wellness, tastings, or evening receptions with skyline views. Security planning is helped by the tight footprint, established coach stag- ing, and experienced local production crews familiar with quick turns. With air- port proximity, a convention campus that removes guesswork, and a streetcar that bridges districts, Oklahoma City turns attendance into outcomes without adding friction to the agenda. • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Omni 605 Fairfield Inn & Suites Oklahoma City Downtown 133 Renaissance OKC Downtown Bricktown Hotel 146 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Oklahoma City Convention Center Total Meeting Space 200,730 sq. ft. Largest Hall 45,000 sq. ft. Largest Ballroom 29,874 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 27 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit OKC – (800) 225-5652 www.visitokc.com Oklahoma City, downtown skyline at twilight photo credit: Oklahoma C.C. Oklahoma City Convention Center photo credit: Oklahoma C.C.