Bixby Is New Home Of 66ers

The News On 6 was the first to tell you the Tulsa 66ers were on their way to the suburbs. On Tuesday, the minor-league basketball franchise made it official. The News On 6's Steve Berg reports the new facility in Bixby will be state-of-the-art. 

"It's really going to put Bixby on the map, per se," said Tim Remy with The Remy Companies.

Bixby developer, Tim Remy, says as of a couple years ago, Bixby didn't even have a hotel.

Now, Remy has persuaded a pro sports franchise to move into The SpiritBank Events Center.

"We started building it, and then from that met a few people in the organization. And from there, a conversation started," said Remy.

66ers owner David Kahn says the NBA developmental franchise wasn't unhappy at the Tulsa County Fairgrounds Pavilion. But, in Bixby they'll have more upscale features like luxury suites and a center court scoreboard with video.

"It's going to be a brand-new facility. I think it'll really help our attendance. And there are other features here that we simply would not have had otherwise," said Tulsa 66ers owner David Kahn.

The 66ers don't just get the benefits of a new event center; they also get 140,000 square feet of shopping and restaurants next door.

"I think that people, when they come to events, like to sort of feel other activity around them and it creates that sense of anticipation. And I think that'll be felt here," said Kahn.

"It's just a good fit. It was a good fit for them, and it's a good fit for us," said Remy.

The arena is set to open in the fall. It will have about 4,000 seats for basketball. The News On 6 doesn't have exact details on the 66ers lease, but it will be for at least five years.