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But while the building was structurally impressive, its nickname – “The Big House” – became increasingly controversial. Though it originated with a basketball coach referencing the arena’s size, critics pointed out that “The Big House” was also a term used for plantation homes during the era of slavery in the American South. “I’ve always thought about it that way. It’s always been offensive,” said Monique Bruner, a MAPS 4 Citizens Advisory Board member, in an interview with The Oklahoman. As a result, the new coliseum was intentionally designed to start fresh – with a new name and a new identity.

Funded through the city’s MAPS 4 initiative – a debt-free public improvement program that will raise over $1.1 billion via a temporary penny sales tax – the OG&E Coliseum marks the final major development planned for the fairgrounds. The facility features 4,700 fixed padded seats for horse shows, with the ability to expand to 7,500 seats using retractable configurations for concerts, sporting events and more.

“It’s a big deal for Oklahoma City,” said Brett Long, MAPEI Sales Representative for the project. “This venue is going to host everything from livestock shows to basketball games, and it needed a tile installation system that could stand up to that kind of foot traffic and still look great doing it.”