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BOK Center To Hold Two-Day Bull Riding Event With Fans This Weekend

Chris Polansky
/
KWGS News

Months after hosting President Trump's controversial, mid-pandemic campaign rally in June, downtown Tulsa's BOK Center will be the site of another large indoor gathering this weekend. 

The Professional Bull Riders' two-day "Unleash the Beast" competition will be held in Tulsa for its 16th consecutive year this Saturday and Sunday. According to the arena's website, the venue will be capped at 30% capacity, about 5,760 people. 

The Tulsa City Council voted 8-0 Wednesday to approve PBR's special event application. Councilor Kara Joy McKee was the lone abstention.

"With all due respect to BOK, I have no desire to surprise any organization with voting down their event when they've been told they comply with everything we've asked," McKee said. "But I don't think that we at the state, federal or local levels are asking enough to keep Oklahomans, to keep Tulsans safe."

"I know that they have turned in their safety plan to the health department just like every other organization. I don't believe, at this point, the health department has rejected any of our safety plans," McKee said. "I know they've been working to make things as safe as possible as per the guidelines that we have put forward, but it's not working, y'all."

In addition to limiting capacity and setting up seating to require physical distancing, BOK Center management also says on the event's website that sanitization will be increased, and masks will be required of all fans, staff and competitors at all times, except while eating or drinking.

"All PBR staff, riders and stock contractors will be required to take a COVID-19 medical test PRIOR to traveling to Tulsa," the site says. "They will also be subject to additional tests at any time, including daily temperature checks prior to entering BOK Center."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's COVID-19 guidelines for events and gatherings, "Large in-person gatherings where it is difficult for individuals to remain spaced at least 6 feet apart and attendees travel from outside the local area" are considered to be the highest risk events.

The White House coronavirus task force, led by Vice President Mike Pence, considers Tulsa to be in the "red zone" in terms of community transmission of the virus as of their most recent report, published Sunday and released by the state on Wednesday.

Chris joined Public Radio Tulsa as a news anchor and reporter in April 2020. He’s a graduate of Hunter College and the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, both at the City University of New York.
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