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Pioneer Cellular Event Center
The Pioneer Cellular Event Center is a state of the art, 93,000 square-foot event center located in the heart of Weatherford, Oklahoma and serving as the home of the Bulldog basketball and volleyball teams. Additionally, the SWOSU Athletic offices are housed on the main floor of the building while a brand new athletic training room is located in the locker room corridor.
The Pioneer Cellular Event Center is a state of the art, 93,000 square-foot event center located in the heart of Weatherford, Oklahoma and serving as the home of the Bulldog basketball and volleyball teams. Additionally, the SWOSU Athletic offices are housed on the main floor of the building while a brand new athletic training room is located in the locker room corridor.The event center project was initiated by the City of Weatherford’s “Vision 2020” strategic planning process and made possible by the “Yes! Weatherford” sales tax campaign, SWOSU students and Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
The project broke ground in December 2011 and opened its doors for business in January 2014. The Pioneer Cellular Event Center has a seating capacity in the arena of around 4,000. Everyone has a piece of this venture as the facility was partially funded by city of Weatherford sales tax ($7 million), university students ($7 million) and the University ($7 million). In addition, the University has secured more than $90,000 from past students for an alumni center on the lower level of the building.
The new facility was built adjacent to Fast Lane Field, allowing it to provide additional suite and bathroom facilities during home SWOSU football games. The pride and joy of the facility is the top floor VIP suite, which will look over both the football field and the arena. It will be used to entertain donors, hold meetings and be used as a multifunctional suite for gameday and events. The facility has new locker rooms, coaches’ offices, the Legacy Bank Media Room, the Dr. Michael E. Kiehn Athletic Training Facility and a number of multifunctional rooms that can be used for athletics matches, as well as university and community events. The newest feature of the building is a brand new SWOSU Athletics Hall of Fame kiosk, located on the north side of the concourse on the main floor.
Economic impact projections estimate that the Event Center will draw an average of at least 25,500 visitors per year into Western Oklahoma for concerts, corporate events, trade shows, state tournament and much more. The activities of this state-of-the-art facility could generate annual visitors spending $870,000, making an astounding positive impact for Weatherford, Western Oklahoma and the entire state.
It was announced on August 5, 2013 that the building would don the name of Pioneer Cellular Event Center. Pioneer Cellular announced the joint venture with SWOSU and the City of Weatherford giving the company exclusive naming rights for the facility.
The first collegiate basketball games were held on January 25, 2014 as the Bulldogs hosted rival Northwestern Oklahoma State in front of a raucous crowd of 2,545. As part of the SWOSU Panorama series, comedian Bill Cosby became the first performer in the Pioneer Cellular Event Center when he took the stage in front of a packed house on April 3, 2014.
Directions to Southwestern Oklahoma State University
To SWOSU from the West:
Take I-40 to Weatherford Exit 80A. Exit 80A and follow the curve (you are on Main St.) until you reach the 2nd stoplight. At the 2nd stoplight, turn left (north) onto Custer Street. Proceed north on Custer until you reach the SWOSU campus.
To SWOSU from the East:
Take I-40 to Weatherford Exit 82. Take Exit 82 (you will be on Main St.) and continue straight for 3 stoplights. Turn right at the 3rd stoplight (north) onto Custer Street. Proceed north on Custer until you reach the SWOSU campus.