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SMG will continue to reign as the ultimate source for meetings and events in Oklahoma City. In July, by unanimous vote, the City of Oklahoma City approved the renewal of their agreement with SMG to continue managing the Cox Business Convention Center and Ford Center.

SMG has been operating the facilities since 1999. The new, renewal agreement is for a five year term with options for two additional five year periods. "The unanimous vote from the Oklahoma City Council is a testament to the partnership Oklahoma City and SMG have built over the past nine years," said Gary Desjardins, General Manager of the Ford Center and Cox Business Convention Center. "At the same time, it demonstrates the quality of the performance the SMG staff provides."

"SMG is a true partner with Oklahoma City and its residents," said Tom Anderson, Executive Manager of Special Projects under the Office of City Manager. "The City of Oklahoma City has been very pleased with the overall performance provided by SMG. While managing our facilities, SMG has increased the quality of services provided during the many events and venues hosted at the Ford Center and Cox Convention Center."

Opening in 2002, the Ford Center is a multi-purpose sports and entertainment facility. This spacious 586,000-square-foot arena seats up to 20,817 for concerts in-the-round, 20,231 with an end stage, 19,675 for basketball, 18,178 for hockey and 17,884 for arena football. The venue has played host to the likes of Paul McCartney, Elton John and Billy Joel, and recently ranked 36th worldwide (18th nationally) in ticket sales for the first quarter of 2008. Home of arenafootball2’s Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz, and the Oklahoma City Blazers of the Central Hockey League. In its biggest coupe of the year, The Ford will soon have its own NBA franchise (the team was formerly known as the Seattle Supersonics and has yet to be officially named).

One of the most centrally located venues of its kind, the Cox Business Services Convention Center, directly adjacent to the Ford Center, offers over 100,000 square feet of exhibit space, including a 25,000-square-foot ballroom, a 105,000-square-foot Meeting Room complex with 21 meeting rooms and a 15,000-seat arena, all just steps away from a growing number of downtown hotels and a vibrant entertainment district featuring a variety of canal-side restaurants, clubs, music venues and attractions. The venue includes a 100,000 square-foot Exhibit Hall that can be divided into eight smaller halls or combined with the Arena floor for 132,000 square feet of total exhibit space. Along with the Ford Center, the arena at the Cox Business Convention Center hosted the Men’s and Women’s Big 12 basketball tournaments in 2007.

"SMG shares with the City of Oklahoma City an understanding of our community's goals and objectives; including the importance to attract world-class events to our area and has exemplified that vision by playing an integral role in assisting with bringing the NBA and numerous top-notch performers to Oklahoma City," added Anderson.

Desjardins agreed: "SMG will continue to build upon our relationship with the City of Oklahoma City and will stay dedicated to providing first-class management to Oklahoma City residents and the patrons of their facilities."