The Stride Bank Center is an arena in downtown

Enid, Oklahoma Enid ( ) is the ninth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It is the county seat of Garfield County, Oklahoma, Garfield County. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 51,308. Enid was founded during the openin ...

History

Construction on the Stride Bank Center began in May 2011. The building was designed by Convergence Design and constructed by Key Construction as part of the Enid Renaissance project, a $24 million project which included the renovation of Convention Hall and the addition of 1,100 additional parking spaces in the downtown area. The former Geronimo Motor Company building was torn down for parking accommodations. It opened on June 15, 2013 with the Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce Business Expo. Stride Bank Center was previously named the Enid Event Center & Convention Hall (June 15, 2013 – June 13, 2016), and Central National Bank Center (June 14, 2016 – March 21, 2019). It was renamed the Stride Bank Center on March 22, 2019.

Convention Hall

In 1919, Milton C. Garber, then mayor of Enid, and his commissioner aides, G. W. Pancoast and Jason W. Butts, proposed a bond issue for the construction of a building to memorialize the efforts of Garfield County soldiers in World War I.McKiddy, J.H.,
ENID One of Oklahoma's Fairest and Most Progressive Cities
, ''The Frisco Employes Magazine'', September 1924 Sealed bids were accepted until September 1, 1919 on bonds of $250,000 for the construction of the convention hall. The building was constructed at a cost of $500,000 with an original capacity of 5,000. It was designed by the architectural firm Layton, Smith and Forsyth and constructed by Bass and Frankenfield Builders. It served as a meeting place for the Enid Chamber of Commerce. The hall served as a venue for stage productions including plays such as

Hitchy-Koo ''Hitchy-Koo'' is a 1912 American popular song and a series of musical revues, inspired by the song, staged on Broadway each year from 1917 through 1920 and on tour in 1922. Described by '' Variety'' magazine as a "hit song of 1912", the song wa ...

and Al G. Field minstrel shows and for musicians such as

John Philip Sousa John Philip Sousa ( , ; November 6, 1854 – March 6, 1932) was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic music, Romantic era known primarily for American military March (music), marches. He is known as "The March King" or th ...

Ernestine Schumann-Heink Ernestine Schumann-Heink (15 June 186117 November 1936) was a Bohemian-born Austrian-American operatic dramatic contralto of German Bohemian descent. She was noted for the flexibility and wide range of her voice. Heink and Schumann were her two ...

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, and

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.Lightsey, Eva,
A vision for MARK PRICE ARENA
, ''Enid on the Move'', June 2009. President George Bush spoke at the venue while campaigning in 1992. The original hall was four stories tall, and had two balconies: the first of which holds 995 people and the second 667 people. The floor measures at long by wide, and can hold 600 people. The ceiling is high, and the stage measures at wide and nearly long.

Mark Price Arena

The Mark Price Arena was a 2,500-seat multi-purpose

arena An arena is a large enclosed venue, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, Music, musical performances or Sport, sporting events. It comprises a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for specta ...

located in Convention Hall, named in 1993 after basketball player

Mark Price William Mark Price (born February 15, 1964) is an American former professional basketball player and coach. The last coaching job he held was as head coach of the Charlotte 49ers men's basketball, Charlotte 49ers. As a four-time NBA All-Star and ...

who played for Georgia Tech and the

Cleveland Cavaliers The Cleveland Cavaliers, often referred to as the Cavs, are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland. The Cavaliers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Divis ...

. In addition to hosting concerts and high school sports, the arena was home to the

Oklahoma Storm The Oklahoma Storm was a United States Basketball League (USBL) team in Enid, Oklahoma. Founded by sports agent and attorney James Sears Bryant, the Storm won the USBL championship under head coach Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 2002, defeating Kansas wit ...

, a

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

team in the

USBL The United States Basketball League (USBL) was a professional men's spring basketball league. The league was formed in 1985 and ceased operations in 2008. The USBL started in 1985 as one of the first basketball leagues to play a late-spring to ...

. The Skeltur Conference Tournament was held at the arena from 1964 to 2012.

Renovations

In May 2011, city officials attended a groundbreaking to begin the Enid Renaissance Project which would renovate Convention Hall.Malan, Joe,
Groundbreaking: City of Enid's Renaissance Project under way
, ''Enid News & Eagle'', May 20, 2011 W. L. McNatt and Company, of Oklahoma City was awarded a $7,082,000 renovation contract to update the building. The project added a 11,000 sq ft ballroom, a 3,000 sq ft ballroom and 5,500 sq ft of meeting areas.Barron, Robert,
Renaissance Project contracts' meeting turns testy
, ''Enid News & Eagle'', October 11, 2011 The renovated location is the home of the Stride Bank Center, previously named the Enid Event Center and Central National Bank Center.Barron, Robert,
Buildings being demolished for parking
, ''Enid News & Eagle'', September 2, 2012 Convention Hall underwent renovations and reopened on November 18, 2012 as part of Veteran's Day festivities.Barron, Robert,
Convention Hall to open again Nov 18 at open house
, ''Enid News & Eagle'', October 4, 2012

Gallery

Notable performers

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References

{{Coord, 36, 23, 40, N, 97, 52, 44, W, format=dms, display=title, type:landmark_region:US-OK Buildings and structures in Enid, Oklahoma Indoor arenas in Oklahoma Basketball venues in Oklahoma Tourist attractions in Enid, Oklahoma Sports venues completed in 2013 2013 establishments in Oklahoma