$20 Million More Available For State Fair Arena In Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Oklahoma City council approves spending $20 million more on renovations and improvements at State Fair Arena and its nearby horse barns. <br/><br/>In 2004, voters approved an increase

Wednesday, June 20th 2007, 7:42 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Oklahoma City council approves spending $20 million more on renovations and improvements at State Fair Arena and its nearby horse barns.

In 2004, voters approved an increase in Oklahoma City's hotel-motel tax from 2% to 5 1/2%.

The majority of the money raised by the tax increase is financing $55 million worth of bonds to pay for the upgrade of equine facilities at State Fair Park.

Revenues from the tax were higher than expected, providing fair officials with the additional $20 million.

The fair's general manager, Tim O'Toole, says $7.5 million of the new money will be spent on new seating, a new scoreboard, restrooms, meeting space, a roof replacement and other interior renovations at State Fair Arena, which hosts about 15 major horse shows annually.

About $8.5 million will be spent on a new entrance, security improvements, signage, parking lots and drainage improvements.