A campaign promise by former Tulsa mayor Bill LaFortune to hold a municipal planning conference was fulfilled within months of taking office in 2002. Although voters rejected tax packages for arenas in 1997 and 2000, a third plan for a downtown arena was the brainchild of the conference, along with dozens of other projects throughout Tulsa County, including a renovation of the nearby Tulsa Convention Center costing $42 million.
Former Tulsa mayor Bill LaFortune kept his promise to host a municipal planning conference shortly after taking office in 2002. Despite voters rejecting arena tax packages in 1997 and 2000, a new downtown arena plan emerged from the conference, along with numerous other projects in Tulsa County, including a $42 million renovation of the nearby convention center.