State Senate approves bill to exempt certain sports tickets from taxes

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Gov. Brad Henry's desk is the next stop for legislation its supporters believe could attract a high-dollar collegiate sports tournament to the state.<br><br>The Oklahoma Senate

Tuesday, March 30th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Gov. Brad Henry's desk is the next stop for legislation its supporters believe could attract a high-dollar collegiate sports tournament to the state.

The Oklahoma Senate on Monday passed House Bill 1383 by Sen. Angela Monson, D-Oklahoma City.

The measure will grant a sales tax exemption on tickets sold to certain collegiate athletic events.

"It will provide Oklahoma the opportunity to showcase itself on a national level by attracting regional tournament champions to Oklahoma," said James Milner, who represented Oklahoma City in advocating the measure.

Such a tournament could bring $30 million to $40 million to the city, Milner estimated.

Oklahoma City already is in the bidding process to bring the Big 12 Conference's baseball and basketball tournaments to town, said Tim Brassfield, executive director of the Oklahoma City All Sports Association.

The bill also exempts sales to, or by, the Oklahoma City National Memorial.

Henry will decide whether to sign the bill after he reviews it, said Paul Sund, Henry's communications director.

The sales tax exemption would be on tickets for admission to a collegiate athletic event, such as a conference tournament championship, conference championship or a national championship.

The exemption would apply on ticket sales to events in a building owned or operated by a municipality or public trust of which the municipality is the sole beneficiary.