BOK Center — Attraction in Tulsa

Once again, the ushers saved our experience. After receiving a coupon for 4 free tickets, I planned to take my elderly parents and my five grandchildren to see the Tulsa Oilers play the Idaho Steelheads. I had spent hours trying to get ADA tickets on the coupon or even get enough tickets for all of us that would be close together. After our second call to the box office, we were told to get there early, and they would accommodate us at the box office. So, we were there just as the box office opened, but there was not handicap parking nearby. I pulled into a waiting area and ran in to get the tickets.

First, they said we would have to figure it out with the ushers. Then, when I gave the name of the person I spoke with, the box office said they found us tickets together, some ADA, and some not, which would have been fine. I unloaded my dad with his walker and my teenage granddaughter to wait in the lobby by the box office because they said that entrance was closest to our seats. I felt fortunate to find parking just two blocks away.

We didn't really mind the two hour wait to get in, but unfortunately, the box office is on the opposite side of the building from the elevator. We had a choice between trying to get through the sea of people or trying the escalator. My dad thought he could hand it, but it didn't work out. Thankfully, he wasn't injured.

Finally, we made it up and got to our section, where the usher informed us the seats were not ADA and we would be down 3 rows. His first suggestion was to have my dad sit in the ADA and the rest of us in our assigned seats three rows away. I explained that we wanted to enjoy the game together, and that wasn't acceptable. Thankfully, he fully understood our dilemma. He allowed us to sit and wait in the seats near us while he went and found enough ADA seats together that were even a little better than our original tickets. The game was wonderful, and we all had fun until it was time to leave around 10 pm.

I took my four younger grandkids to get the car while my dad and the teenager waited inside the building. I asked the police officers, standing in the intersection, how I could get through the blocked street to get my handicap father. They said the officer at the top of the block would allow me through if I showed him my ADA permit, and he would let me through. He wasn't thrilled about letting me through and told me next time park closer. When I explained we had arrived at 4 pm and there were no closer parking spaces when we arrived, he responded, "Well, there are now."

So, after two tries, I am not sure I will choose to bring my parents with mobility limitations to another event at the BOK. It just wears me out and...

I went to a hockey game with family and friends a couple of weeks ago, and our experience was very frustrating. Bag/security policies are ridiculous, lines are a huge mess, staff were cold and rude, and concession prices are highway robbery. That all led to a big "no" from me on wanting to return to anything at the BOK Center again. Details below.

I saw staff attempt to separate parents at a stroller friendly entrance and only allow one parent through with 3 young children while the other was told to go to the back of the line. I let the dad cut in the regular security line ahead of me because the mom was about to panic, and the staff were unrelenting. It was needlessly harsh and ridiculous.

While letting that dad ahead of us at the metal detectors, security told us that our entire party would need to walk around to another entrance because my mom's cross body bag was too big to be checked there so NO ONE in our party could enter. So we waited in a long line for nothing.

After we walked around to the other entrance and waited in another long line, I had to empty EVERYTHING out of my small fanny pack like cross body bag so security could see the bottom. As I was putting my stuff back in my bag, I watched another lady (who had already went through the bag check line and had been sent by the security at the metal detectors to do another bag check) endure a needless lecture by a security officer who was on a power trip. He made her stop talking, talked AT her with a monolgue about how she was cutting in line and how that was unfair to everyone else, would not let her talk when she tried, then eventually pulled one of those "we'll do it just this one time for you" lines like he was doing her a favor.... It was abdolutely demeaning to that lady and gross to watch. Security took more time to lecture her than he did to check her bag, which was disrespectful to her and everyone else who was waiting in that line.

Staff inside acted in a similarly cold, authoritative manner, and concession prices were RIDICULOUS. Prices were not advertised at the drink stand I went to, and prices were not going to be disclosed until I asked before I agreed to pay. Over $14 for a bottle of water and a bottle of soda. I removed the soda and purchased the water for my mom and still paid almost $7 for one 16-20oz bottle of water.

I love the hockey games, but my experience made me very glad I decided not to buy season tickets because I do not want to go back to the BOK...

This is consistently the worst concert venue I make the mistake of giving another shot. Once you're inside and past the immediate entry staff, the entire attitude changes. Suddenly nobody you ask questions to has an answer, or they have the wrong information. The police presence is insane, having the sheriff literally on a mission to kick people out, and getting progressively more rude by the minute. We watched them harass families and even eject them because one person on the end of the Aisle kept stepping over the line, even just a tiny bit.

The way they adapted the stage and seating to accommodate a smaller show actually makes the place not completely miserable, purely because it is more comfortable. Concession prices were reasonable, i've paid more for less at venues I liked a lot more, so it didn't really make up for it.

Every show I've seen there has been incredible. Top notch production and performances of the highest caliber. Their booking is amazing. However the completely random and aggressive manner in which Ol Sheriff doing his worst Walker Texas Ranger impression, the lack of consistent information and coordination amongst the massive staff meant to help patrons doesn't totally even out the score here. Being constantly treated by security and staff as if we're a burden for attending a concert there is just insane. I've never been in a venue that is that consistently geared against the people going to see shows there. No re-entry, and they got rid of the small smoking section they've had forever-- even if you are hitting a vaporizer. They'll let you bring all of it in, but the sheriff will literally run up on someone if he sees them even pull their smoking device out of their pocket (again that they're allowed to enter with). Witnessed it multiple times last night, including in the line for beer. A man pulled his vaporizer out of his pocket while he pulled his money out and before he could even put it back in his pocket the sheriff was already on him.

Between the sheriff, the borderline bad acoustics, the poorly coordinated staff, and the complete lack of care for the patron's experience after they paid for their ticket-- I likely...