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The Oklahoma City Council voted Tuesday to select the East Park site for the future MAPS 3 Convention Center.

The newly selected site is bounded on the north by SW 4, the south by SW 7, the west by Robinson Avenue and the east by Shields Boulevard. 

“We are fortunate to have so many viable options,” Mayor Mick Cornett said. “I think the site we have chosen gives us the best chance to control the cost of construction while still allowing us to build a first class convention center of which we can all be proud.”

The MAPS 3 Convention Center site selection process was re-opened in March after an attempt to acquire a different site reached an impasse. The City, the MAPS 3 Citizen Advisory Board, the board’s convention center subcommittee, a consultant and the Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City collaborated to re-evaluate potential sites, and the Council concluded Tuesday the site on the east side of the future MAPS 3 Downtown Park is the best location.

As part of the re-opened site selection process, the Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City has already been evaluating potential property acquisition costs by negotiating potential deals on behalf of the City.

Tuesday’s vote authorizes eminent domain proceedings to acquire properties within the new site, but the Alliance’s negotiations with property owners will continue before proceedings begin.

The City hopes it can reach equitable agreements with property owners outside of the eminent domain process, which would only be used if a deal can’t be reached or if property owners won’t negotiate.

The MAPS 3 Convention Center will replace Oklahoma City’s current, aging convention center, and will help the community stay competitive in the lucrative convention industry for years to come. Attracting major conventions helps create local jobs and brings millions of dollars of business and tax revenue to OKC.

The MAPS 3 Convention Center project has a $287 million budget. 

About MAPS 3
MAPS 3 is a $777 million capital improvement program to improve the quality of life in Oklahoma City. It is funded by a 1-cent tax initiative that began in April 2010 and ends in December 2017. MAPS 3 funds eight projects: Downtown Convention Center, Downtown Public Park, Modern Streetcar/Transit, Oklahoma River Improvements, Oklahoma State Fairgrounds Improvements, Senior Health and Wellness Centers, Trails and Sidewalks.

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Media Contact: Kristy Yager
297-2550 / 863-2831
kristy.yager@okc.gov