Gold Dome venue plans move forward with questions, doubts

OKLAHOMA CITY — The historic Gold Dome building on Classen Boulevard could be getting a new, costly lease on life even as some city leaders have expressed concerns about the plan.

The idea is to convert it to a music venue funded in part by Oklahoma City tax dollars.

That’s the plan that’s been discussed this week in review committees and public meetings considering a proposal by music venue developer-operators Kismet Koncerts to renovate the historic building into a 2,500-person capacity venue using $3 million of city funding from the Classen Corridor TIF (tax increment finance district.)

In total, the renovation plans are projected to cost at least $10 million, with the remaining $7 million raised by Kismet Koncerts themselves.

The plan would finally bring major renovations to an iconic – but long-abandoned – city landmark plagued by notorious structural and design challenges.

gold dome
Southern exposure of the Gold Dome building at NW 23rd and Classen in Oklahoma City in December 2024. (B.DICKERSON/Okla City Free Press)

Speaking to the OKC Economic Development Trust in a public meeting on Tuesday, Kismet Koncerts president Mike Brown put it bluntly, stating: “This is the last thing that we think can be done to save the building.”

The Classen Corridor TIF Review Committee approved the proposal on Monday and passed 3-1 by the Economic Development Trust on Tuesday. 

It’s now expected to go before city council in coming weeks, but some city leaders – including at least one city council member – are remaining cautious about the project’s viability.

‘A few more hurdles’

Plans by Brown to create a music venue in an historic building in OKC stretch back years, beginning with considerations for renovating the uniquely shaped First Christian Church at 36th and Walker before it was unexpectedly demolished in September of 2022.

He also led considerations for the same type of project for the Gold Dome once before as part of the Temple Live team that considered the space for a venue in 2021 before those plans fell through in the early stages.

This new attempt by Brown and Kismet Koncerts to turn the building into a music venue has already been rejected for funding assistance through both the Historic Tax Credit and the Route 66 Revitalization Grant.

In a press release to announce the new, TIF-supported plans Kismet Koncerts acknowledged “a few more hurdles to overcome,” in particular reaching an agreement with Chase Bank, the previous owner of the Gold Dome and the current holder of a deed restriction prohibiting construction on more than half the site.

‘A low-interest loan’

The new plan to renovate the Gold Dome by utilizing TIF funding was developed by Brown and Kismet Koncerts working directly with metro finance leaders like Kenton Tsoodle, president of the Alliance for Economic Development in OKC.

At Tuesday’s Economic Development Trust meeting, Tsoodle described the $3 million proposal as “a low-interest loan” that would be paid for with funds from the city’s General Obligation Limited Tax (GOLT) bond and would be paid back through interest and profit-sharing over time.

That would be $3 million not available for GOLT bond projects until it gets paid back.

“Since the Classen Corridor TIF is a new TIF and doesn’t have money, we would have to borrow this money from the GOLT fund, which is an allowable use,” Tsoodle said from the dais. “This would be structured with a lot of different protections to cover the city.”

Viability concerns

At least one of the Oklahoma City Council members who will be hearing this proposal soon is already expressing concerns over the viability of a large-scale music venue in the middle of Classen Boulevard.

“I don’t know if a venue will be a success,” Ward 2 counselor James Cooper told Free Press by phone Tuesday night. “As someone who represented Ward 2 during the pandemic, I’m very aware of the struggles of music venues.”

… even if the venue fails, at least we’ll have it in better condition than before.”

Ward 2 OKC City Councilman James Cooper

Ward 2 contains several popular OKC music venues, including Tower Theatre and Blue Note Lounge.

Cooper made it clear that he’s concerned a venue in the Gold Dome won’t be viable without the support of the surrounding community and neighborhoods, something he believes is contingent upon the new TIF’s intended focus of housing development.

He said he plans to push the housing component in City Council considerations before the vote on the Gold Dome proposal.

“More housing along the Classen Corridor would mean more people, more foot traffic, and more success for a venue,” he said. “So I’m just going to trust the process and let it play out.”

James Cooper
Ward 2 OKC City Councilmember James Cooper argues a point during the Sept. 26, 2023, OKC City Council meeting. (B.DICKERSON/Okla City Free Press)

However, Cooper is encouraged that funding the proposed renovations could be good for the building even if the venue operation is not a success.

“If this is what it takes to save that building,” he told Free Press, “then even if the venue fails, at least we’ll have it in better condition than before.”

No market research

Cooper isn’t the only city leader who’s expressed concerns over the financial viability of a music venue at 23rd and Classen.

Maurianna Adams, the only member of the Economic Development Trust to vote against the proposal on Tuesday, asked Brown directly if any market research had been done to determine the likelihood of success for a venue in the area.

“We’ve just used our own internal data that we have from operating in multiple cities,” Brown said. “And I grew up in Oklahoma and have been coming to Oklahoma City and I’m active in the concert market.”

Adams then questioned the decision to create and operate a large-scale music venue less than one mile from the Tower Theatre, itself a 1000-person capacity venue catering primarily to the touring market.

“I wouldn’t think that it’s any different than a Chili’s being next door to an Applebee’s,” Brown said.

“I think that there’s a difference,” Adams responded. “But okay.”


Author Profile

Brett Fieldcamp has been covering arts, entertainment, news, housing, and culture in Oklahoma for nearly 15 years, writing for several local and state publications. He’s also a musician and songwriter and holds a certification as Specialist of Spirits from The Society of Wine Educators.