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Satisfaction reported by arena customers: 4,000 online patrons rated their overall experience at the BOK Center.
(Tulsa World (OK) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Nov. 16--People who have attended events at Tulsa's new BOK Center have enjoyed themselves, surveys show.
Out of 4,000 responses to customer service questionnaires by patrons who bought their tickets online, 92.2 percent of them rated their overall experience either acceptable, good or very good.
"A venue that's been open five or 10 years would be envious of that number," BOK Center General Manager John Bolton said. "For us to achieve it right after opening, which is traditionally a rocky period, is a really good sign."
When broken down, the arena scored lowest in the parking category, with 83 percent of respondents giving an acceptable or above rating.
"The building has no dedicated parking, so that's not really something we have direct control over," Bolton said.
In a matter of weeks, work on the ramps of the city's Civic Center Parkade across the street will be complete so that access is easier.
"We know a lot of our complaints come from that garage," he said. "I think those improvements will help."
The BOK Center achieved favorable scores of 96.7 percent to 91 percent in the categories
of facility impressions, building staff, concessions, merchandise, traffic flow and box office experience.
But that doesn't mean management hasn't made some tweaks here and there based on customer feedback.
"We've done a lot of little things over the past several weeks," Bolton said.
Additional interior way-finding signs were installed, some of the seating and aisle lights were improved, more merchandise stands were added and on-street box office parking spaces were established, among other things.
Still to be done are to put up signs that better identify the disabled patron drop-off zone, add more paper towel dispensers in the bathrooms, make the outside smoking area bigger, improve the concessions menu boards and buy more cocktail tables for the food court areas.
"We're constantly looking for ways that we can improve and make it a better experience for everyone," Bolton said.
Since the BOK Center opened, it has garnered attention and accolades from the arena and entertainment industry.
It has been featured in such publications as Venues Today, Billboard, Facilities and Pollstar, among others.
Tulsa's new arena has received the 2008 Prime Site Award from Facilities Magazine.
Also, Bolton was recently named by Venues Today as the top "Hall of Headlines" winner for bookings in 2008, and he will be featured in the December issue of the magazine.
Managers, owners, operators and bookers of various venues around the world voted in an online poll, selecting Bolton for the prize.
"This award recognizes the amazing success our team has achieved in creating a very remarkable grand opening of the new BOK Center in Tulsa," he said.
Brian Barber 581-8322
brian.barber@tulsaworld.com
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Copyright (c) 2008, Tulsa World, Okla.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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