Arvest Bank of Fayetteville has acquired the naming rights of the Cox Business Convention Center in downtown Tulsa under a 10-year deal that takes effect March 1.
The city-owned venue with more than 275,000 SF of event space will be known as the Arvest Convention Center. Financial terms were not disclosed in a news release announcing the deal.
“We’re very excited about this partnership and to be associated with a first-class venue that has served the city of Tulsa for more than 60 years,” Kirk Hays, president of Arvest Bank-Tulsa Region, said in the release. “Arvest believes in supporting the people and organizations that make our city a better place. This facility plays a vital role in our community, and we’re proud to support its continued success.”
The venue is managed by Oak View Group LLC of Denver, which specializes in advisory, development and investment in the sports and live entertainment industries.
The venue opened in 1964. It has grown over the years to become the home of the two largest ballrooms in Oklahoma, serving as a hub for conferences, conventions and community events.
In 2020, the convention center underwent a $55 million renovation that transformed its 9,000-seat arena into the Grand Hall, a 41,000 SF multiuse event space with ceilings 36 feet high, according to the release. Additionally, a new entrance was created on the east side of the building, offering better connectivity to the rest of downtown Tulsa.
A new 650-room hotel at the convention center is in the works. The project is seen as a key step toward attracting larger events and ensuring the venue continues to grow as a central hub for Tulsa’s tourism and economic development.
Arvest has over 200 locations throughout its four-state footprint, including more than 75 in Oklahoma.
In November, Arvest announced an agreement to acquire naming rights of the former Bank of America tower in downtown Tulsa.
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