Scott Booker on Proposed Thunder NBA Arena and Its Impact on OKC's Music Scene
Scott Booker, the CEO and executive director of the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma and the manager of The Flaming Lips, offers a unique perspective on the proposed new arena in Oklahoma City. As a key figure in the local music scene, Booker's insights shed light on how this development could transform OKC's musical landscape.
Booker's personal experiences underscore his passion for music and his desire for Oklahoma City to host more major concerts. His occasional trips to Tulsa to catch live shows reflect a gap in the OKC music scene that he hopes the new arena will fill. “But I don't want to do it every time one of my favorite bands comes to Oklahoma,” Booker states, expressing a common sentiment among local music enthusiasts.
For years, Booker has been instrumental in promoting OKC as a center for musical creativity and performance. His support for the new arena is rooted in this vision. While he admits to not being a huge sports fan, Booker sees the proposed arena as a pivotal development for enhancing the city's appeal to top-tier musical artists. “A bigger, better venue just means we're going to have bigger, better musical artists coming in here,” he explains.
The new arena, according to Booker, is not just about keeping the Thunder in town; it's about elevating OKC's stature in the music industry. This development is expected to draw a wider array of prominent artists and bands, significantly enriching the city's cultural offerings. The prospect excites Booker, who has dedicated much of his career to nurturing the local music scene.
Booker’s enthusiasm for the new arena reflects a long-standing ambition to see Oklahoma City emerge as a major player in the music industry. He believes that the arena will not only attract big names but also inspire local musicians and contribute to the city's overall cultural vibrancy. “It’s a great way to say, ‘We’re one of the 20 largest cities in the United States, and we need to start being a market for entertainment that levels up to that’ – because we’re not yet,” he asserts.
In Scott Booker's view, the proposed Thunder NBA arena represents more than a sports venue; it's a beacon of hope for transforming Oklahoma City into a distinguished hub for music. His insights paint a picture of a city on the cusp of a cultural renaissance, with the new arena serving as a key catalyst in this exciting evolution.
