Mark Price Arena

The Mark Price Arena is a 2,500-seat multi-purpose arena in Enid, Oklahoma located in Convention Hall, named after basketball player Mark Price who played for Georgia Tech and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Outdoor view of Convention Hall, home of the Mark Price Arena.
Mark Price Arena
Convention Hall
LocationEnid, Oklahoma, United States
OwnerCity of Enid, Oklahoma
Capacity2,500
Closed2009
Tenants
Oklahoma Storm (USBL)

In addition to hosting concerts and high school sports, the arena was home to the Oklahoma Storm, a basketball team in the USBL. Convention Hall underwent renovations and reopened on November 18, 2012 as part of Veteran's Day festivities.[1] Upon reopening, Convention Hall housed two new ballrooms totalling 14,000 sq ft and 5,500 sq ft of additional meeting rooms.[2]

History
Cornerstone reads "Dedicated to the memory of those who offered their services in the defense of this country."
Cornerstone of Convention Hall includes then mayor M.C. Garber's name, and the architectural firm Layton, Smith and Forsyth who designed the building.

In 1919, Milton C. Garber, then mayor of Enid, and his commissioner aides, G. W. Pancoast and Jason W. Butts, proposed a bond issue for the construction of a building to memorialize the efforts of Garfield County soldiers in World War I.[3] Sealed bids were accepted until September 1, 1919 on bonds of $250,000 for the construction of the convention hall.[4][5] The building was constructed at a cost of $500,000 with an original capacity of 5,000.[3] It was designed by the architectural firm Layton, Smith and Forsyth and constructed by Bass and Frankenfield Builders. It served as a meeting place for the Enid Chamber of Commerce.[3] The hall served as a venue for stage productions including plays such as Hitchy-Koo and Al G. Field minstrel shows[3] and for musicians such as John Philip Sousa, Ernestine Schumann-Heink, Bob Wills, and Fred Waring.[6] President George Bush spoke at the venue while campaigning in 1992.

The original hall was four stories tall, and had two balconies: the first of which holds 995 people and the second 667 people. The floor measures at 109 feet (33 m) long by 67 feet (20 m) wide, and can hold 600 people. The ceiling is 40 feet (12 m) high, and the stage measures at 37 feet (11 m) wide and nearly 30 feet (9.1 m) long.[7] The 2,500 seat basketball arena in Convention Hall was renamed in 1993 to Mark Price Arena after basketball player Mark Price who played for Georgia Tech and the Cleveland Cavaliers. In addition to hosting concerts and high school sports, the arena was home to the Oklahoma Storm, a basketball team in the USBL. The Skeltur Conference Tournament was held at the arena from 1964 to 2012.[8]

Renovations

In May 2011, city officials attended a groundbreaking to begin the Enid Renaissance Project which would build a new Enid Event Center and renovate Convention Hall.[9] W. L. McNatt and Company, of Oklahoma City was awarded a 7,082,000 dollar renovation contract for the building, including creation of an 11,000 sq ft ballroom, a 3,000 sq ft ballroom and 5,500 sq ft of meeting areas.[10]

Convention Hall during the construction of the Enid Event Center

References
  1. Barron, Robert, "Convention Hall to open again Nov 18 at open house", Enid News & Eagle, October 4, 2012
  2. http://www.enideventcenter.com/ConventionHall.aspx%5B%5D
  3. McKiddy, J.H., "ENID One of Oklahoma's Fairest and Most Progressive Cities", The Frisco Employes Magazine, September 1924
  4. Municipal Journal & Public Works, Volume 47, No 8., page 28
  5. Industrial employment survey bulletin, Volumes 1-2, United States Employment Service, page 20
  6. Lightsey, Eva, "A vision for MARK PRICE ARENA", Enid on the Move, June 2009.
  7. Mark Price Arena
  8. Skeltur adjusts to new site The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, Oklahoma
  9. Malan, Joe, "Groundbreaking: City of Enid's Renaissance Project under way", Enid News & Eagle, May 20, 2011
  10. Barron, Robert, "Renaissance Project contracts' meeting turns testy", Enid News & Eagle, October 11, 2011

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