Prairie Surf Studios facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Prairie Surf Studios

Former names	Myriad Convention Center (1972–2002) Cox Convention Center (2002–2021)
Address	1 Myriad Gardens Oklahoma City, OK 73102-9219
Location	Downtown Oklahoma City
Public transit	OKC Streetcar Century Center OKC Streetcar Arena
Owner	City of Oklahoma City
Operator	SMG
Capacity	Basketball: 13,846 Ice hockey: 13,399 Arena football: 13,231 Concerts: 15,634
Construction
Broke ground	1969
Opened	November 5, 1972
Construction cost	$23 million ($184 million in 2022 dollars )
Architect	Bozalis, Dickinson & Roloff
General contractor	H.A. Lott Inc.
Tenants
Oklahoma City Blazers (CHL) (1973–77) Oklahoma City Stars (CHL) (1978–82) Oklahoma City Cavalry (CBA) (1990–97) Oklahoma City Blazers (CHL) (1992–2002) Oklahoma Coyotes (RHI) (1995–96) Oklahoma Wranglers (AFL) (2000–01) Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (af2/AFL) (2009–10) Oklahoma City Barons (AHL) (2010–15) Bricktown Brawlers (IFL) (2011) Oklahoma City Blue (NBA G League) (2014–2019)

Prairie Surf Studios is a large building in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Today, it is a special place where movies and TV shows are made. It has big sound stages and offices for film production companies.

Before 2021, this building was a busy convention center. It was known as the Cox Convention Center and, even earlier, the Myriad Convention Center. It hosted many events, from sports games to concerts.

A Look Back: The History of Prairie Surf Studios

The building opened on November 5, 1972. It was first called the Myriad Convention Center. It was a key part of a big plan to make downtown Oklahoma City better. This plan helped remove old, run-down areas. It also led to the creation of the Myriad Botanical Gardens nearby.

In 2003, its name changed to the Cox Convention Center. Then, on January 1, 2021, it became Prairie Surf Studios. This happened when Prairie Surf Media took over the building. They turned it into a modern space for making films.

The studios are located in the heart of downtown. They are close to hotels and the Chesapeake Energy Arena. This arena is Oklahoma City's biggest sports and event venue.

What Happens at Prairie Surf Studios Now?

Today, Prairie Surf Studios is a private space. It is used by the Prairie Surf Media company. They use it to create movies and TV shows. The building has special sound stages. These are like giant, quiet rooms where filming takes place. It also has areas for set design and production offices.

Before 2021, the building was a public convention center. It had many meeting rooms and large spaces for events. It hosted big conferences and trade shows. It also had a large arena that could seat about 15,000 people.

When it first opened, it was the main place for indoor sports and concerts in Oklahoma City. It held this title for 30 years. Then, the Ford Center (now the Chesapeake Energy Arena) opened in 2002.

Past Sports and Entertainment Events

The arena was home to several sports teams over the years.

• The Oklahoma City Blazers hockey team played there from 1973 to 1977 and again from 1992 to 2002.
• The Oklahoma City Blue basketball team played their games there from 2014 to 2020.
• The Oklahoma City Barons hockey team also played there from 2010 to 2015.

The building also hosted many college basketball games. These included early rounds of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. It also held the Big 12 Women's Basketball Tournament in 2007 and 2009. Other events included UFC Fight Night: Diaz vs. Guillard and indoor track and field championships.

Improvements and Upgrades

The building has been updated several times. As the Myriad, it had a big renovation in the late 1990s. This project cost $55.8 million. It added new features and made the space more modern.

Later, as the Cox Convention Center, it received another upgrade. This $4.5 million project helped prepare the arena for the Oklahoma City Barons hockey team. These improvements kept the building ready for big events.

Notable Past Events

Before the Chesapeake Energy Arena opened, the Myriad was the top spot for sports and entertainment in Oklahoma City.

Some famous events held here include:

• The National Finals Rodeo from 1979 to 1984.
• A large religious event called the Billy Graham Oklahoma Crusade in 1983.
• Exhibition games for the NBA and NHL.
• Events for the 1989 U.S. Olympic Festival.
• Professional wrestling shows from WWF and WCW.
• The beatification of Stanley Rother in 2017. This was a very special religious event.

Images for kids

• 

  The exterior of the building, formerly known as Cox Convention Center.

See also

In Spanish: Cox Convention Center para niños